You could potentially explain the decision to return to this type of technology due to space suit wearing workers needing big buttons with tactile feedback. And touch screens propensity to be broken by objects floating around in zero-g. One of the biggest problems I have with Prometheus is that they didn't keep the Alien aesthetic.
@@jonniemactyler7929 agree Alien thru Alien3 had that dirty industrial look the new movies were prequels but looked farther in the future. They can never get that look back.
@@jonniemactyler7929 Agreed. Same director. Zero reason to pull a Star Wars prequel fuckup and make the past look MORE advanced for the sake of looking like every cookie cutter sci-fi movie made in the last 20 years.
@@jonniemactyler7929 Yup. Also demand for absolute reliability over long periods of time in extreme conditions on a hopefully radiation shielded ship, manned by the smallest and least educated crew possible. The Nostromo was after all a tow truck, not the ISS. Go to any factory today and the controls are big shiny buttons and blinking lights, after a century of advancement. And nobody get me started on the absolute stupidity of the transparent screen fad of today's sci fi.
I remember an interview in Starlog Magazine with the director and he said that Outland was intended to be set in the time frame and same "universe" as Alien. That was back when the film had just been released in 1981. The connection was intentional.
Way to tug at the nostalgia strings. I was a big collector of Starlog Magazine starting with issue 29 (December 1979) that featured the movie METEOR, which happened to star Sean Connery. One of the first films after Pink Panther Strikes Again, Star Wars, and Superman, I saw more than once in a theater.
When you play Alien Isolation, the safe haven of the Marshal's Station on Sevastopol features Marshal Waits and Deputy Ricardo - their costumes are not unlike the look of Sean Connery's Marshal O'Niel in Outland. Hands down, this is my favorite Alien Theory video. It encapsulates the channel's name - a well grounded theory taking place (possibly) within the Alien universe.
I think his role in OUTLAND was brilliantly understate, given his larger than life Bond role. In fact the whole cast was chosen well. This is such a great movie, one of my favorites.
This may be Connery's best role *because* he was understated. Looking at the scenes shown alongside, Sigourney Weaver literally has more stage-presence than him. But... in a film like Outland, we don't WANT the lead to look like a hero.
The poster, the trailer, and the TV ads made "Outland" look like it was going to be a better movie than it turned out to be. Hyams was always a better director than he was a writer. "Outland" was a very clever, well produced effort to make an outer space western; unfortunately, Hyams ended up making a routine space western that fizzled at the box office after a strong opening week. The same thing happened a year later with "Blade Runner". I saw both movies on opening week on a Saturday night, and both movies were met with pretty much the same response from the audience: indifference. Both movies had brilliant production designs, top acting talent, and some exciting action sequences; but both movies also featured very cynical, largely uninteresting stories that mass audiences just did not go for in the early 1980's. The ending of "Outland" was changed multiple times after poor test screenings, and even the head of the studio admitted that the ending that was finally chosen was weak.
That's funny, I always recommend Outland to people by saying: "It looks like a western set in the world of Alien" and then they agree that it does. The sets, the atmosphere, the grimness of it all, Goldsmith's score... It easily could have been made as a spin off of Alien. And Alan Dean Foster even wrote novelizations of them both!
Coincidentally, Outland was _originally_ supposed to be a western! Director Peter Hyams decided to move it into space due to the influence of Alien. So the reason it looks like a western set in outer space is because it _is_ a western set in outer space!
@@richin2123 True that! In my youth I even regarded Alan Dean Foster has the best writer in the world because the books of my favorite movies were all writen by himself ( yes, till then I didn´t understood they were just novelizations...).
Fun fact: "Con-Am" is short for "Consolidated Amalgamated". This is the name of the fictional company made the faulty life support system that doomed the Mars Lander in the movie "Capricorn One" (1978).
@@davidlean1060 Yes, 'Con-Am' pops up in all of Hyams movies. And Hyams ficticious stimulant from 'Outland', "polydichloric euthimal" is also the explosive used to blow up the Cyberdyne building in 'Terminator 2'.
@@JaredP1976 So Cameron is a fan of his. I do like it when film makers do that in honour of their favorite film makers, or when film makes reference their own work. Hyams also had a character called Spoto in all his movies too, usually in a small role.
Fun fact: the EVA suits worn in Outland are the ACTUAL SAME SUITS worn by the salvage crew at the beginning of Aliens minus the helmets. Soooo...... Sounds plausible to me. :-)
It's not unusual for filmmakers to recycle props from other movies. The body armor from Starship Troopers was recycled with modifications in the TV show Firefly. It was worn by Alliance soldiers. There's no reason to believe those two productions are from the same Universe, and plenty of reasons to believe they aren't.
While an interesting notion, that's all it is, a notion. Hollywood will often reuse and repurpose props and outfits, rather than pay out a wad of cash to have new costumes and props made for each film. It's just more cost effective to reuse what's already available. Would be cool though, if it was true.
@@dcanaday Exactly. That armor was also recycled for Power Rangers and Babylon 5: Crusade. Then we have the reuse of the original Doctor Who cyberman suits from the 1950s for Bossk in Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back.
Peter Hyams was a very, very underrated director. While earlier years had great science fiction, the 1980s pushed the envelope . We've not seen heady and creative days like those since.
I saw Alien and Outland both in 1981, when I was 10. I was immediately struck by how similar the look and feel of both films were; I was convinced they were in the same continuity. Great video on the subject; well done.
they certainly exist in similarly industrial worlds though this similarly is largely predicated by the reuse of sets from Alien which were originally designed for Jodorowsky's Dune
I strongly suspect that Outland was intended to exist is the Alien universe, but for copy-write reasons, they couldn't directly say so or included anything definitive. The two movies are just too similar for this not to be the case IMHO.
What ‘Outland’ and ‘Alien’ did was build really interesting worlds. Many modern titles skip this in lieu of more pace and action. World building is so important when creating stories outside of our time. It envelops us and captures our imagination and thus we empathise with the characters more. Just found your channel. Great stuff 👍
Your point about world building was what struck me with 'Mute' (Netflix). It's not a great movie for various reasons but I loved the world that had been created; it felt like a believable depiction of a European city a few decades from now, with a mixture of historic and modern architecture, modern technology taken a step further etc.
I'm embarrassed. Like probably everyone here, I've watched Allen countless times. I remembered seeing parts of Outland as a kid when it was on broadcast TV, so when I had a chance to watch it as an adult just a few months ago I jumped at the chance and really enjoyed it. My embarrassment comes from pointing out so many stylistic similarities between the two but never even considering the possibility that they could share a universe. But you're absolutely right. I get the strong sense that Outland takes place well before Alien, mostly because I don't recall anything that hints that humanity had yet ventured behind our solar system, but that's not definitive. They could absolutely be in the same universe, and easily at least within a lifetime of each other. I love the idea of Outland being a side story that adds detail and richness to the Alien universe without needing to involve the xenomorphs at all.
Imo , ”Alien” , ”Outland” , ”Blade runner” and then later , ”Soldier” takes place in the same movie universe. But HEY , that’s just my view. Everyone can make up their own mind.
Blade Runner 2049 had very similar garbage dump ships as the one that dumps Kurt Russell on the planet in Soldier, I wonder if that was done on purpose to honor the BR-Soldier connection...
yeah but that's not fair - Alien and Outland were made around the same time - whilst Prometheus and Covenant are both set way in the past from the original Alien
@@wcg66 Incorrect, it’s a prequel. It’s set in the Alien universe but isn’t about the alien. It focuses on the engineers and how the alien could have been created and it’s possible origins.
When I first saw this movie years ago (and years after I'd first seen Alien), I immediately thought it could easily be set in the same universe and have always regarded it as being such. THIS is how you can set different films with totally separate non-convergent stories in a single world. You don't need winks, you don't need references, you don't need to crowbar in the same characters.
I was going to say this. So iconic for me. Connery. Lambert. Clancy Brown. classic performances. It's too bad that Brown and Lambert haven't had the opportunity for more mainstream success, although Brown has landed some awesome hits in television, and he was awesome in Cowboys vs. Aliens. Apparently Stahelski is doing a re-make of the original movie, and while remakes tend to suck the life and soul out of the source material. I think if anybody can pull it off and infuse the correct amount of humanity into something so magical, It would have to be John Wicks creator. I can't wait.
I watched Outland for the first time today. It definitely heavily reminded me of Alien. The whole feel was so similar. Even connery’s hat looked like Brett’s from Alien. Wonderful films!
I've always considered Outland to take place with the Alien universe. Conglomerates Amalgamated are competitors to Weyland-Yutani and Seegson International. The Io mining complex could easily be somewhere the crew of the Nostromo stop off at, as they re-enter the Sol system. Martin Bowers brutal insect-like Outland Shuttle looks like it was made by the same people as the Nostromo, but where they just had to build a flying brick. Aerodynamics, aesthetics and comfort weren't a consideration. Connery plays Federal Colonial Marshall William O'Neil. There are Colonial Marshalls on Sevastopol in Alien Isolation. Outland might not be an official entry, but it's got more in common with Alien than Blade Runner has. If Con-Am were name-dropped in an Alien novel, comic or short story, people wouldn't even blink. It fits right in there. Allegedly, there was a sign in the production office, saying "make this movie look like Alien". I think that tells us everything we need to know. If you get the chance, get hold of the remastered version on Blu-Ray. It fees fantastic. Also worth watching sometime is Peter Hyams amazing Nasa conspiracy movie Capricorn One - a real gem of a film.
Alien Isolation really did a great job capturing that awesome scifi/horror look and feel, but I for sure saw a lot of Outland influence there as well. I keep hoping to see more of Amanda Ripley. Spent a lot of time hiding with her.
@@briankriens5645 Agreed. Isolation was made by people who knew exactly how make an Alien game. It felt like I was actually in the movie sometimes. When I played that game, I played it in the dark while streaming it. Bruuuhhh........I can't count the number of times I nearly shit my pants live on stream when I heard the xeno skittering around in the air ducts.
As soon as I saw the thumbnail I jumped to attention "OMG YES!". Outland is so good, dark and effective... and real. The suicide scene is forever burned into my memory. It's a stark gritty noir but it feels absolutely real, not an ounce of cheese. You know this is what life would really be like on a mining operation in space. It's a film that sticks with you. You're left with the metaphor of the cold uncaring reality of space being just like the cold uncaring reality of the corporation, both deadly to any human caught in it. You don't have to suspend your disbelief, you know it's true. There's no spectacular alien monster to distract you from the true monster. You know this monster and you best "stay frosty" as you make your way through the real world. I work for a fairly benign but cynical corporation, they barely even try to convince us that we're not expendable. And the products we make... and the corners they cut... the subpar ingredients they decide to use even thou they shouldn't.... The monsters ARE real, you ARE expendable, you best stay frosty.
"Robin and Marian" starred Sean Connery as Robin Hood and Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian, and is set years after the adventures of Robin's youth. It is an excellent film and is often overlooked by fans. Sean Connery was a brother like few others.
I had the same thoughts and questions after watching Outland. If Alien and Blade Runner can share a universe I see no reason Outland can't be a part of it.
Outland is a better Alien movie than the recent ones we've had from Ridley Scott. I also think Peter Hyams is a brilliant director. I think 2010 is a underrated film.
The last 2 "Alien" movies, and the last "Predator" movies do not exist in my canon. I liked AVPR better than that rubbish Covenant. Just my take on it. Oh, and 2010 was awesome. Introduced me to the concept of rotating ship sections to produce gravity years before Babylon 5 came out.
Always thought Peter Hyams was/is a criminally underrated director. With Outland, Narrow Margin , The Presidio ( again with Mr Connery) and Running Scared to name a few, he's made some really enjoyable and stylish films.
I loved this movie as a kid and can't wait to watch it again. One of the big reasons I loved it, the Alien movies, and even Star Wars was because of that gritty, "lived in," feel they had. It felt "real" compared to Star Trek (which I still love as well, especially the most recent stuff) where it felt sterile and a little too easy. I can completely imagine Outland set in the same universe and the idea of it makes the movie even more fun. And Connery... man is legend.
The TV Tropes website has a page called "What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made On Drugs?" Well, Zardoz literally _was_ made on drugs. In the DVD commentary track, director John Boorman even _admits_ it. (He also admitted he didn't even remember some of it, because he was high at the time.) Explains a lot, doesn't it? xD
I've been saying this for years. 'Outland's re-use of the Nostromo sets, John Mollo as costume designer, music by Jerry Goldsmith as well as original sets that were then re-used in 'Aliens', the mega corporation angle. All adds up to a shared universe imo.
Been a fan of this theory for years, great video. One of my absolute favorite roles from Connery is Pierce in The Great Train Robbery. Sophisticated, manipulating, calculating but also ruthless. It's great how Connery plays that role, it's like it was written for him.
Outland is a very underrated film. Fantastic near future atmosphere. I'd recommend Robin and Marion as another good Sean Connery film. Obviously with a lot of the same talented individuals working on this and Alien there are similarities. But I could definitely imagine them taking place in the same universe. The two companies being rivals or even the one in Outland being a subsidiary
@@themcadamsminute8494 My understanding is that there is a current or recent series remake of NOTR. As often happens, they try to limit access to previous versions, hoping the new version catches on. One of my favorite movies of all time. My favorite Ron Perlman performance, my favorite F Murray Abraham performance, and, until Archer, my favorite Slater performance.
One thing I would say regarding the times in which the the two stories apparently take place is that the colony in Outland is in the solar system and the shuttle on which the assassins are travelling from Earth takes a long time to get there. If vessels were still travelling at such speeds in the time of Alien, where clearly interstellar travel has become commonplace, the crew would have to be in hyper sleep for many, many years rather than a few weeks or months - which is what I've always imagined was going on in Alien. After all, Ripley never intended to leave her daughter on Earth for dozens of years. For me at least, this would suggest that the events in Outland takes place much earlier than Alien
As someone who has run tabletop RPGs set in the Alien universe, Outland is a great source to mine for additional elements and aesthetic to flesh things out a bit. It really supports the development of an expanded universe that makes a sandbox game like a TTRPG much easier to make immersive.
Both being filmed at Pinewood studio in the UK might have meant they shared props from Alien. I can imagine the set designers at least taking inspiration in Alien style. Good film Outland, glad it's getting a mention.
To me they’ll always exist in the same universe. This movie is awesome and it’s always fun talking about the theory. I’m glad you made a video on it. When Alien: Isolation released I got even more excited about the possible connection because of the presence of Colonial Marshals in that game.
Brilliant video. I absolutely love "Outland" (I agree that this is one of Sean Connery's best roles). I can believe that this film is set in the same universe as "Alien" - Mega Corporations with low morals and their workers as "Crew Expendable". Not to mention the aesthetics of the environments (the comparisons in this video really shine a light on this). ps. Other Sean Connery roles that were brilliant (apart from Bond) was "Untouchables", and "The Hunt for Red October"
I love the atmosphere of this film, it totally fits in the Alien universe. I'd actually love to see Alien sequels like this that don't actually involve the creature. Just a deep dive into the world of Alien, exploring other facets of the universe. I'd love to see an Alien Isolation prequel that shows us an Outland type story on Sevastopol Station.
I belive that's what Ridley Scott wanted to do with Prometheus and Covenant. He would eventually end up at the beginning of ALIEN, but the studio demanded more monsters... I get where they're coming from, but that wasn't really what he wanted to do with those movies.
I imagine the colony on the Alien planet looked a lot like the Outland mining station, maybe with some of the similar social issues before they were forced to fight for their lives. You could almost see how the Outland group could pivot in the same way if faced with an Alien invasion.
Man, you need your own podcast. Your voice was absolutely made for it. Excellent video and I can really see the similarity of the two and could easily see the two shows sharing the same universe.
I came to age with the movies of the 80s, saw Halloween 1978 in the theater as a 9 year old, but missed Alien until it’s first appearance on HBO. I saw Outland in the theater and loved it, but I never made the connection that you’ve made here. I think your analysis is spot on and they absolutely share the feel of the same universe. I’m new to your channel and really enjoy the format of your videos!!! My favorite Sean Connery performances are: Bond, Indiana Jones, The Rock, Outland, Hunt for Red October, First Knight, Untouchables, Entrapment
Outland is such an underrated movie and timely since NASA just found an Iron Nickel asteroid that is worth more money than all the money currently circulating on Earth currently.
Buhahaha. I see you people still don't see - through what money is... there is NO money... only people and slavery. You will see it in time how humanity is robed and enslaved.
I want to believe that these two movies are in the same universe, for no other reason than to have Sean Connery in the Aliens universe. I wanted to picture it so badly that I created a character for the Aliens RPG that is a huge Sean Connery reference. My personal favorite role of Sean Connery is Draco, Dragon Heart is one of the earliest fantasy movies I can remember so it will always hold a place in my heart. RIP to the last dragon.
I really love this idea and yes, I think they are in the same universe. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I have not seen this movie in years but I will watch it again. After Bond, James Bond I loved him in *Darby O'Gill (sp?) and the Little People *the underrated Zardoz *Robin and Marian *Time Bandits *The Untouchables To name a few off the top of my head.
The last time I watched "Outlander", I noticed something with hats, of all things. It looks like when characters have focus or are pursuing their goals, they have a hat on. o The marshal has his hat on when he is focused. Aimless when not wearing one. o The outpost director always wears a hat. Never wavers. o The doctor never wears a hat. o And if you're a miner without a helmet on-- certain death. I need to rewatch it and confirm this theory. Kudos!
So many good movies with Sean Connery, hard to remember them all. I recently rewatched Medicine Man couple of days before learned he left us. He was a great man, a great actor, and definitely one of biggest symbols of the movie industry of the 20th century. We will miss him so much. 😢 RIP Sir Sean Connery.
I play the Alien roleplaying game from Free League and have included Con-Am (and its 30 mining outposts) in the game's setting. I have also turned the Black Goo/accelerant/pathogen into The Thing (and the two different alien lifeforms (the tripod spider and the pilot) into the game. They fit perfectly. My favourite Sean Connery is as a soldier/explorer who is worshipped as a god and goes native leading to horrific results in 'The Man Who Would Be King'.
Assuming they are set in the same universe, I would say Outland looks like it's set about 20-25 years before Alien. Everything feels familiar, but slightly older.
@@mr.badguy8500 The Nostromo is a tugboat. Already taking it into consideration. edit: The Nostromo isn't state of the art either. "The Nostromo was constructed in 2101 as an interstellar cruiser, but was refitted in 2116 as a commercial towing vehicle."
I'd say closer to 50-60 years, assuming the technology seen in Blade Runner, set in 2019, is the baseline. That puts it between Blade Runner and Prometheus. Of course, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant being the odd-ones out because they represent the higher-end shiny new technology end of the spectrum compared to the "lived-in world" of Blade Runner, Outland, Alien and Aliens (and Soldier).
I would say Outland takes place way before Alien as well. In Outland, the method of transport takes a year to get from Earth to IO. It would not make much sense be using sub-light ships if FTL (or near FTL) can take you anywhere in the solar system in minutes or days. It stands to reason WY developed FTL after the events of Outland.
Always remember wondering who exactly the syndicate supplying the drugs and assassins were , the company ,or just future criminals with an expanded market ! That and Boyle playing golf in his office ! Loved the touch of using shotguns rather than rifles or other future weapons in a delicate environment as well ! Nice to see someone reference it , it doesn't get much love !
Outland has always been a favourite for me and loved the atmosphere and Sean Connery in it. An underrated and barely mentioned film so it’s always nice to see something about it.
Interesting theory. I’ve always loved both films but not seen them close enough together to make these connections. A favorite Connery film of mine is Finding Forrester.
Dude, I know this is an old video, but I really appreciate your words on Sir Sean Connery, my all-time favorite actor. Bravo. I already like your videos, but my respect meter just jumped to the very top. Thank you.
After seeing this clip, I watched Outland, which I hadn't seen since I was a kid. Enjoyed it a lot, and I definitely think it's in the same universe, though earlier than Alien. Connery was excellent (though maybe I'm biased as a Scot myself). Thanks for the excellent clip.
Dude. Xeno-zip. The drug is a refined or synthetic version of Xeno-zip. Or maybe an early version. That’s the biggest connection. It fits the symptoms.
The mining company is referred by the name "Con-Amalgamate". This is the same name given to the company that manufactured the defective life support system mentioned in "Capricorn One (1977)" (also written and directed by Peter Hyams). Con-Amalgamate is also the name of the company that Peter Boyle's character, Jack Mitchell, says that he works for in "T.R. Baskin (1971)"
I’ve worked for many years as a Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) workers In Remote mining camps in the Aussie outback. We used to discuss this movie after our shift and compare ourselves to it. Quite frankly because it’s not that different! One of the camps even had the same virtual golf driving range in the rec room! And yes, btw, IMO “THe Name of the Rose” is possibly the best movie SC ever made. Based on the Brilliant novel by Umberto Eco which I read many years ago while laid up in hospital in India after a double whammy from cholera and typhoid.
Well done video. Outland has always been a favorite of mine. While not quite as artistically successful as Alien, it's underrated by critics. You're spot on it citing it as one of Connery's best performances.
I'm gonna say that it simply makes the Alien universe more fun to just place the two together, tuck your knees into your chest, lean forward and roll with it.
The cinematography, costumes, set designs really made it feel like the film it was created by the same people who made the Alien film. The first time I saw Outland, I kept wondering when the xenomorph would make an appearance.
I had always remembered seeing Outland in my movie rental places and never actually saw it. After seeing this post and the possibility that it could be related to my favorite movie series, I gave it a watch just recently. I thought it was a great movie and I can certainly see where they could be in the same universe. Great video my friend!
THANK YOU for bringing this up! I was pretty sure something was noticed about the similarities, yet I had never seen a widespread validation like this vid. I LOVE Outland! Great movie, 100% accurate as to the themes you expressed.
I agree whole heartedly with your observation, when I saw this movie for the first time when I was younger I had the same thoughts about both cinematic adventures. Outland was and still is my go to scifi movie that has that realistic vibe.
After seeing Outland back in the day, my friends and I felt that it was set in the "off world" of Blade Runner, and that Alien was, perhaps, part of the same universe.
When I saw Outland many years ago I always felt there was a strong resemblance to Alien. The whole film just had that vibe to it. I think it deserves a lot more recognition.
love this awesome movie in Alien the Nostromo is towing a huge bulk refinery - presumably they go to gas-giant planets & pump out chemicals from the atmosphere. since the Nostromo is a tug they maybe just pick up refineries already in orbit & carry them to their destination. these chemicals are processed by the refinery so by the time they get back to earth it's carrying usable petrochemicals. out of curiosity I wonder if any of Alien takes place inside the actual refinery or if it's all aboard the Nostromo - it's possible the crew of the Nostromo doesn't even have access to the refinery. in Outland they are mining titanium on IO but in reality none of IO's surface remains stable. IO is constantly being "squeezed" between Jupiter & Europa & it's such a violently.volcanic world it's surface is constantly being remade. there's also an intensive radiation surrounding IO as in orbits Jupiter. so IO wouldn't be a nice place to work for sure. the first miner that kills himself in Outland hallucinates that giant spiders are inside his space-suit which could be a link to Alien. despite the secrecy surrounding the Xenomorph imagine if enough info leaked out that rumours started to spread amongst the workers. you could easily imagine people that didn't understand the xeno lifecycle thinking the facehugger is a giant spider
The reality is that Alien, Bladerunner, Aliens and Outland look so similar because the art department, SFX, model and props unit crews were pretty much the same freelance people who moved from one production to the next, so it’s no surprise they carried similar ideas and techniques! I was one of those people working on the model units of 90 or so movies from Flash Gordon through to Dark Shadows including the aforementioned Outland etc, Aliens, Event Horizon, Batman, Superman 2 & 3, many 007 etc etc! All of it was a great joy to work on especially being in a group of similarly creative people who regularly worked as a team tackling new challenges and technology to produce ever evolving visuals!
I remember seeing both Alien and Outland when they came and I just assume they were in the same universe with Outland taking place a few decades before Alien and Continental Amalgamated being absorbed by Weyland-Yutani between the movies. What may be telling is that the novelization of both Alien and Outland were written by the prolific novelist Alan Dean Foster. i read both and the feeling of the tie-in was even more prevalent. I love the Outland soundtrack.
The look of Outland is absolutely incredible. It perfectly depicts the evil of 80's excess management. It's smoky, it's dingy, it doesn't feel safe. Space is dangerous. People are worse. I love this movie. In Alien, Ridley Scott understood the importance of lighting. He perforated every corner of his sets with a light layer of fog. This aesthetic set the standard for 80's sci-fi movies. Dark and cold.
I still remember the one and only time I watched Outland, on tv in 1987 with my Dad when he came home after a long business trip. I never forgot that movie. I guess it left an impression on me.
Bond - Thunderball Marko Ramius - The hunt for the Red October Juan Sanchez - Highlander Zed - Zardoz Allan Quartermain -the league of extraordinary gentlemen . . . too many more I'm not mentioning lol He really will be misssed
Nice impression, LOL. I really need to rewatch Outland. It was a bit mature for me when I ttred watching as a kid, although ive always liked the Used Future look. Plot Twist: Silent Running is in the Alien Universe as well: Huey, Dewy and Louie got bored and created the Alien Queen.
I've always thought that Outland copied the world and character designs from Alien as Alien banked a lot of dough for FOX and competitors wanted some of that pie, even if they have to clone it.
I adore the 1980s sci-fi aesthetic. To imagine traveling through space using machines that audibly click and clack when you use them.
You could potentially explain the decision to return to this type of technology due to space suit wearing workers needing big buttons with tactile feedback. And touch screens propensity to be broken by objects floating around in zero-g. One of the biggest problems I have with Prometheus is that they didn't keep the Alien aesthetic.
@@jonniemactyler7929 agree Alien thru Alien3 had that dirty industrial look the new movies were prequels but looked farther in the future. They can never get that look back.
@@jonniemactyler7929 Agreed. Same director. Zero reason to pull a Star Wars prequel fuckup and make the past look MORE advanced for the sake of looking like every cookie cutter sci-fi movie made in the last 20 years.
@@michaelwestmoreland2530 i heard the prometheus was a more advance ship than nostromo
@@jonniemactyler7929 Yup. Also demand for absolute reliability over long periods of time in extreme conditions on a hopefully radiation shielded ship, manned by the smallest and least educated crew possible. The Nostromo was after all a tow truck, not the ISS.
Go to any factory today and the controls are big shiny buttons and blinking lights, after a century of advancement.
And nobody get me started on the absolute stupidity of the transparent screen fad of today's sci fi.
I remember an interview in Starlog Magazine with the director and he said that Outland was intended to be set in the time frame and same "universe" as Alien. That was back when the film had just been released in 1981. The connection was intentional.
Way to tug at the nostalgia strings. I was a big collector of Starlog Magazine starting with issue 29 (December 1979) that featured the movie
METEOR, which happened to star Sean Connery. One of the first films after Pink Panther Strikes Again, Star Wars, and Superman, I saw more than once in a theater.
@@TheLAGopher Memories!
True. I had that issue back in the day. The "Company" was Weyland-Yutani... they just didn't come right out and say it.
When you play Alien Isolation, the safe haven of the Marshal's Station on Sevastopol features Marshal Waits and Deputy Ricardo - their costumes are not unlike the look of Sean Connery's Marshal O'Niel in Outland.
Hands down, this is my favorite Alien Theory video. It encapsulates the channel's name - a well grounded theory taking place (possibly) within the Alien universe.
I think his role in OUTLAND was brilliantly understate, given his larger than life Bond role. In fact the whole cast was chosen well. This is such a great movie, one of my favorites.
Francis Sternhagen was great in this movie.
i worked in the mines for a long time and they really captured the depressing lifestyle of a mine site perfectly!
This may be Connery's best role *because* he was understated. Looking at the scenes shown alongside, Sigourney Weaver literally has more stage-presence than him. But... in a film like Outland, we don't WANT the lead to look like a hero.
@@richardvinsen2385 she would've been an age appropriate Bond girl for Connery if he were still playing Bond.
The poster, the trailer, and the TV ads made "Outland" look like it was going to be a better movie than it turned out to be. Hyams was always a better director than he was a writer. "Outland" was a very clever, well produced effort to make an outer space western; unfortunately, Hyams ended up making a routine space western that fizzled at the box office after a strong opening week. The same thing happened a year later with "Blade Runner". I saw both movies on opening week on a Saturday night, and both movies were met with pretty much the same response from the audience: indifference. Both movies had brilliant production designs, top acting talent, and some exciting action sequences; but both movies also featured very cynical, largely uninteresting stories that mass audiences just did not go for in the early 1980's. The ending of "Outland" was changed multiple times after poor test screenings, and even the head of the studio admitted that the ending that was finally chosen was weak.
That's funny, I always recommend Outland to people by saying: "It looks like a western set in the world of Alien" and then they agree that it does. The sets, the atmosphere, the grimness of it all, Goldsmith's score... It easily could have been made as a spin off of Alien. And Alan Dean Foster even wrote novelizations of them both!
Coincidentally, Outland was _originally_ supposed to be a western! Director Peter Hyams decided to move it into space due to the influence of Alien. So the reason it looks like a western set in outer space is because it _is_ a western set in outer space!
Well it's a remake of High Noon so yeah. Great movie!
Alan Dean Foster wrote the novelizations of EVERYTHING at that time! LOL
@@richin2123 And what a great time that was.
Max Allan Collins was right behind him.
@@richin2123 True that! In my youth I even regarded Alan Dean Foster has the best writer in the world because the books of my favorite movies were all writen by himself ( yes, till then I didn´t understood they were just novelizations...).
Fun fact: "Con-Am" is short for "Consolidated Amalgamated". This is the name of the fictional company made the faulty life support system that doomed the Mars Lander in the movie "Capricorn One" (1978).
Also made by Hyams, a nice catch that one, thanks.
I did not know that.
@@davidlean1060 Yes, 'Con-Am' pops up in all of Hyams movies. And Hyams ficticious stimulant from 'Outland', "polydichloric euthimal" is also the explosive used to blow up the Cyberdyne building in 'Terminator 2'.
@@JaredP1976 So Cameron is a fan of his. I do like it when film makers do that in honour of their favorite film makers, or when film makes reference their own work.
Hyams also had a character called Spoto in all his movies too, usually in a small role.
So....Capricorn One Cinematic Universe?
Fun fact: the EVA suits worn in Outland are the ACTUAL SAME SUITS worn by the salvage crew at the beginning of Aliens minus the helmets. Soooo...... Sounds plausible to me. :-)
Damn, just posted the same thing. That'll teach me to read the comments more carefully :)
It's not unusual for filmmakers to recycle props from other movies. The body armor from Starship Troopers was recycled with modifications in the TV show Firefly. It was worn by Alliance soldiers. There's no reason to believe those two productions are from the same Universe, and plenty of reasons to believe they aren't.
While an interesting notion, that's all it is, a notion. Hollywood will often reuse and repurpose props and outfits, rather than pay out a wad of cash to have new costumes and props made for each film. It's just more cost effective to reuse what's already available. Would be cool though, if it was true.
@@dcanaday Night Manager..
@@dcanaday Exactly. That armor was also recycled for Power Rangers and Babylon 5: Crusade.
Then we have the reuse of the original Doctor Who cyberman suits from the 1950s for Bossk in Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back.
Peter Hyams was a very, very underrated director. While earlier years had great science fiction, the 1980s pushed the envelope . We've not seen heady and creative days like those since.
I saw Alien and Outland both in 1981, when I was 10. I was immediately struck by how similar the look and feel of both films were; I was convinced they were in the same continuity. Great video on the subject; well done.
they certainly exist in similarly industrial worlds though this similarly is largely predicated by the reuse of sets from Alien which were originally designed for Jodorowsky's Dune
@Stephen tube. Yeah, its actually the next john Wick movie.
Same prop designers. Sometimes they bring their style with them so it can be recognizable. It's kinda like a signature.
I strongly suspect that Outland was intended to exist is the Alien universe, but for copy-write reasons, they couldn't directly say so or included anything definitive. The two movies are just too similar for this not to be the case IMHO.
What ‘Outland’ and ‘Alien’ did was build really interesting worlds. Many modern titles skip this in lieu of more pace and action.
World building is so important when creating stories outside of our time. It envelops us and captures our imagination and thus we empathise with the characters more.
Just found your channel. Great stuff 👍
Your point about world building was what struck me with 'Mute' (Netflix). It's not a great movie for various reasons but I loved the world that had been created; it felt like a believable depiction of a European city a few decades from now, with a mixture of historic and modern architecture, modern technology taken a step further etc.
My late dad’s favorite actor - Sean Connery.
RIP both of you.
They're hanging out in the next life. You'll meet them when is time.
R.I.P.🙏❤️
R.I.P.🙏
I'm embarrassed. Like probably everyone here, I've watched Allen countless times. I remembered seeing parts of Outland as a kid when it was on broadcast TV, so when I had a chance to watch it as an adult just a few months ago I jumped at the chance and really enjoyed it. My embarrassment comes from pointing out so many stylistic similarities between the two but never even considering the possibility that they could share a universe.
But you're absolutely right. I get the strong sense that Outland takes place well before Alien, mostly because I don't recall anything that hints that humanity had yet ventured behind our solar system, but that's not definitive. They could absolutely be in the same universe, and easily at least within a lifetime of each other. I love the idea of Outland being a side story that adds detail and richness to the Alien universe without needing to involve the xenomorphs at all.
Imo , ”Alien” , ”Outland” , ”Blade runner” and then later , ”Soldier” takes place in the same movie universe. But HEY , that’s just my view. Everyone can make up their own mind.
Idk if it’s controversial or not, but i especially love the Blade Runner/Alien theory. So many great Easter eggs and shared themes
@@noahfortner2 I agree 100%
Blade Runner 2049 had very similar garbage dump ships as the one that dumps Kurt Russell on the planet in Soldier, I wonder if that was done on purpose to honor the BR-Soldier connection...
Totally with you on this one...
@@GeeVanderplas : Yeah , and also Todd’s arm tattoo with names of previous battle campaigns which matches the ones in Roy Batty’s dying speach.
Outland has more in common with Alien than Prometheus and Covenant together.
yeah but that's not fair
- Alien and Outland were made around the same time - whilst Prometheus and Covenant are both set way in the past from the original Alien
Prometheus was not intended to have much in common with Alien. It's a different story.
@@ChazChoppa what? Prometheus is supposed to be a sequel and Ridley Scott has said so.
Oh burn !
@@wcg66 Incorrect, it’s a prequel. It’s set in the Alien universe but isn’t about the alien. It focuses on the engineers and how the alien could have been created and it’s possible origins.
Outland is a great sci-fi film and worth watching...
When I first saw this movie years ago (and years after I'd first seen Alien), I immediately thought it could easily be set in the same universe and have always regarded it as being such. THIS is how you can set different films with totally separate non-convergent stories in a single world. You don't need winks, you don't need references, you don't need to crowbar in the same characters.
Connery .... will forever be Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez to me.
The peacock.
I was going to say this. So iconic for me. Connery. Lambert. Clancy Brown. classic performances. It's too bad that Brown and Lambert haven't had the opportunity for more mainstream success, although Brown has landed some awesome hits in television, and he was awesome in Cowboys vs. Aliens.
Apparently Stahelski is doing a re-make of the original movie, and while remakes tend to suck the life and soul out of the source material. I think if anybody can pull it off and infuse the correct amount of humanity into something so magical, It would have to be John Wicks creator. I can't wait.
For me, he will always be... Zed
For me, he will always be Draco.
That spanish peacock
I watched Outland for the first time today. It definitely heavily reminded me of Alien. The whole feel was so similar. Even connery’s hat looked like Brett’s from Alien. Wonderful films!
I've always considered Outland to take place with the Alien universe. Conglomerates Amalgamated are competitors to Weyland-Yutani and Seegson International. The Io mining complex could easily be somewhere the crew of the Nostromo stop off at, as they re-enter the Sol system. Martin Bowers brutal insect-like Outland Shuttle looks like it was made by the same people as the Nostromo, but where they just had to build a flying brick. Aerodynamics, aesthetics and comfort weren't a consideration.
Connery plays Federal Colonial Marshall William O'Neil. There are Colonial Marshalls on Sevastopol in Alien Isolation. Outland might not be an official entry, but it's got more in common with Alien than Blade Runner has. If Con-Am were name-dropped in an Alien novel, comic or short story, people wouldn't even blink. It fits right in there.
Allegedly, there was a sign in the production office, saying "make this movie look like Alien". I think that tells us everything we need to know.
If you get the chance, get hold of the remastered version on Blu-Ray. It fees fantastic. Also worth watching sometime is Peter Hyams amazing Nasa conspiracy movie Capricorn One - a real gem of a film.
Alien Isolation really did a great job capturing that awesome scifi/horror look and feel, but I for sure saw a lot of Outland influence there as well. I keep hoping to see more of Amanda Ripley. Spent a lot of time hiding with her.
@@briankriens5645 Agreed. Isolation was made by people who knew exactly how make an Alien game. It felt like I was actually in the movie sometimes. When I played that game, I played it in the dark while streaming it.
Bruuuhhh........I can't count the number of times I nearly shit my pants live on stream when I heard the xeno skittering around in the air ducts.
@@Soldier4USA2005 LOL! Many HOLY SH!Zit! moments with ole' Xeno. Amanda's story is worthy of series of her own.
As soon as I saw the thumbnail I jumped to attention "OMG YES!". Outland is so good, dark and effective... and real. The suicide scene is forever burned into my memory. It's a stark gritty noir but it feels absolutely real, not an ounce of cheese. You know this is what life would really be like on a mining operation in space. It's a film that sticks with you. You're left with the metaphor of the cold uncaring reality of space being just like the cold uncaring reality of the corporation, both deadly to any human caught in it. You don't have to suspend your disbelief, you know it's true. There's no spectacular alien monster to distract you from the true monster. You know this monster and you best "stay frosty" as you make your way through the real world. I work for a fairly benign but cynical corporation, they barely even try to convince us that we're not expendable. And the products we make... and the corners they cut... the subpar ingredients they decide to use even thou they shouldn't.... The monsters ARE real, you ARE expendable, you best stay frosty.
RIP Sir Sean Connery. Although he was retired his years of service to the film industry were golden ones. He will definitely be missed!
My favorite Connery role:
"Oh, rough. Just the way your mother likes it, Trebek."
LMAO...those were great skits.
A crying shame they couldn't bring the man himself to perform in those skits.
"Robin and Marian" starred Sean Connery as Robin Hood and Audrey Hepburn as Maid Marian, and is set years after the adventures of Robin's youth. It is an excellent film and is often overlooked by fans. Sean Connery was a brother like few others.
A good performance by Robert Shaw in that film too, as an ageing Sheriff of Nottingham.
@@ivorbiggun710 Absolutely right.
I had the same thoughts and questions after watching Outland. If Alien and Blade Runner can share a universe I see no reason Outland can't be a part of it.
Outland is a better Alien movie than the recent ones we've had from Ridley Scott. I also think Peter Hyams is a brilliant director. I think 2010 is a underrated film.
Alas, I feel Ridley Scott's best days as a director are far behind him.
Totally agree!
The last 2 "Alien" movies, and the last "Predator" movies do not exist in my canon. I liked AVPR better than that rubbish Covenant. Just my take on it. Oh, and 2010 was awesome. Introduced me to the concept of rotating ship sections to produce gravity years before Babylon 5 came out.
Always thought Peter Hyams was/is a criminally underrated director. With Outland, Narrow Margin , The Presidio ( again with Mr Connery) and Running Scared to name a few, he's made some really enjoyable and stylish films.
@@scootertart How could you leave out “Capricorn One”? 40 years later I still get chills when I hear the Jerry Goldsmith musical score from that film.
I loved this movie as a kid and can't wait to watch it again. One of the big reasons I loved it, the Alien movies, and even Star Wars was because of that gritty, "lived in," feel they had. It felt "real" compared to Star Trek (which I still love as well, especially the most recent stuff) where it felt sterile and a little too easy. I can completely imagine Outland set in the same universe and the idea of it makes the movie even more fun. And Connery... man is legend.
Did anyone else see 'Zardoz' where Connery was a savage in a world where giant floating stone heads puked guns all over the place? It was weird.
The TV Tropes website has a page called "What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made On Drugs?" Well, Zardoz literally _was_ made on drugs. In the DVD commentary track, director John Boorman even _admits_ it. (He also admitted he didn't even remember some of it, because he was high at the time.) Explains a lot, doesn't it? xD
Good movie, good times
I had to look away 🙈
Its outrageous! Gimme more!
No, that's just a weird dream you had, that movie doesn't exist.
I love the idea! They should do a sequel to bind both universes: a space western that turns into a monster movie.
Call it Alien: Outland
I was about to call it a day and go to sleep, then our savior Alien Theory showed up with a new vid.
Literally me lmao
I've been saying this for years. 'Outland's re-use of the Nostromo sets, John Mollo as costume designer, music by Jerry Goldsmith as well as original sets that were then re-used in 'Aliens', the mega corporation angle. All adds up to a shared universe imo.
Been a fan of this theory for years, great video.
One of my absolute favorite roles from Connery is Pierce in The Great Train Robbery.
Sophisticated, manipulating, calculating but also ruthless.
It's great how Connery plays that role, it's like it was written for him.
TIGHT SCREWS
Outland is a very underrated film. Fantastic near future atmosphere. I'd recommend Robin and Marion as another good Sean Connery film. Obviously with a lot of the same talented individuals working on this and Alien there are similarities. But I could definitely imagine them taking place in the same universe. The two companies being rivals or even the one in Outland being a subsidiary
The man who would be king is a Connery classic. Excellent movie
Totally agree! Excellent film.
Also set in the Alien universe. LOL
wonderful film with great chemistry with Mr Connery and Michael Caine.
@@charlesborden8111 I think you meant “The Great Train Robbery”.
Michael and Sean became best friends after this movie and Michael married the Indian girl who bit Sean and the cheek.
I always held that "Outland" took place in the decades before the events of Alien
In the "Name of the Rose" nice shout out! A forgotten gem.
The DVD for The Name of the Rose is asking high prices on eBay!
And it’s not on any streaming services! Does anyone know where we can watch it!
@@themcadamsminute8494 My understanding is that there is a current or recent series remake of NOTR. As often happens, they try to limit access to previous versions, hoping the new version catches on.
One of my favorite movies of all time.
My favorite Ron Perlman performance, my favorite F Murray Abraham performance, and, until Archer, my favorite Slater performance.
@@treydixon5399 do you know anywhere where I can watch it? Or is dvd my only way right now.
@@themcadamsminute8494 I haven't found any alternative to DVD so far. Sorry.
Just watched Outland for the first time a few months ago and instantly fell in love with it!
One thing I would say regarding the times in which the the two stories apparently take place is that the colony in Outland is in the solar system and the shuttle on which the assassins are travelling from Earth takes a long time to get there. If vessels were still travelling at such speeds in the time of Alien, where clearly interstellar travel has become commonplace, the crew would have to be in hyper sleep for many, many years rather than a few weeks or months - which is what I've always imagined was going on in Alien. After all, Ripley never intended to leave her daughter on Earth for dozens of years. For me at least, this would suggest that the events in Outland takes place much earlier than Alien
As someone who has run tabletop RPGs set in the Alien universe, Outland is a great source to mine for additional elements and aesthetic to flesh things out a bit. It really supports the development of an expanded universe that makes a sandbox game like a TTRPG much easier to make immersive.
Him as the dragon in the first dragon heart. Such a good movie
Both being filmed at Pinewood studio in the UK might have meant they shared props from Alien. I can imagine the set designers at least taking inspiration in Alien style. Good film Outland, glad it's getting a mention.
To me they’ll always exist in the same universe. This movie is awesome and it’s always fun talking about the theory. I’m glad you made a video on it.
When Alien: Isolation released I got even more excited about the possible connection because of the presence of Colonial Marshals in that game.
Brilliant video. I absolutely love "Outland" (I agree that this is one of Sean Connery's best roles). I can believe that this film is set in the same universe as "Alien" - Mega Corporations with low morals and their workers as "Crew Expendable". Not to mention the aesthetics of the environments (the comparisons in this video really shine a light on this).
ps. Other Sean Connery roles that were brilliant (apart from Bond) was "Untouchables", and "The Hunt for Red October"
I love the atmosphere of this film, it totally fits in the Alien universe. I'd actually love to see Alien sequels like this that don't actually involve the creature. Just a deep dive into the world of Alien, exploring other facets of the universe. I'd love to see an Alien Isolation prequel that shows us an Outland type story on Sevastopol Station.
I belive that's what Ridley Scott wanted to do with Prometheus and Covenant. He would eventually end up at the beginning of ALIEN, but the studio demanded more monsters...
I get where they're coming from, but that wasn't really what he wanted to do with those movies.
I imagine the colony on the Alien planet looked a lot like the Outland mining station, maybe with some of the similar social issues before they were forced to fight for their lives. You could almost see how the Outland group could pivot in the same way if faced with an Alien invasion.
Man, you need your own podcast. Your voice was absolutely made for it. Excellent video and I can really see the similarity of the two and could easily see the two shows sharing the same universe.
It's almost like they borrowed the set from Alien and just updated it a little for Outland.
I came to age with the movies of the 80s, saw Halloween 1978 in the theater as a 9 year old, but missed Alien until it’s first appearance on HBO. I saw Outland in the theater and loved it, but I never made the connection that you’ve made here. I think your analysis is spot on and they absolutely share the feel of the same universe. I’m new to your channel and really enjoy the format of your videos!!!
My favorite Sean Connery performances are:
Bond, Indiana Jones, The Rock, Outland, Hunt for Red October, First Knight, Untouchables, Entrapment
My favorite Sean Connery role is when he did the outro for this Alien Theory video.
When Outland came out, the critics referred to the movie as "ALIEN without the alien."
Outland is such an underrated movie and timely since NASA just found an Iron Nickel asteroid that is worth more money than all the money currently circulating on Earth currently.
And even more than there will be circulating in the future......
NASA hasn't found shit
@@jegjrtp87 Psyche!
NASA=LIES
Buhahaha. I see you people still don't see - through what money is... there is NO money... only people and slavery. You will see it in time how humanity is robed and enslaved.
I want to believe that these two movies are in the same universe, for no other reason than to have Sean Connery in the Aliens universe. I wanted to picture it so badly that I created a character for the Aliens RPG that is a huge Sean Connery reference.
My personal favorite role of Sean Connery is Draco, Dragon Heart is one of the earliest fantasy movies I can remember so it will always hold a place in my heart. RIP to the last dragon.
Love the video. Highlander and Zardoz stand out the most but he was in so much through my lifetime and before
I really love this idea and yes, I think they are in the same universe. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I have not seen this movie in years but I will watch it again.
After Bond, James Bond I loved him in *Darby O'Gill (sp?) and the Little People
*the underrated Zardoz
*Robin and Marian
*Time Bandits
*The Untouchables
To name a few off the top of my head.
4:30, great tagline, "Even in space, the ultimate enemy is man."
The last time I watched "Outlander", I noticed something with hats, of all things. It looks like when characters have focus or are pursuing their goals, they have a hat on.
o The marshal has his hat on when he is focused. Aimless when not wearing one.
o The outpost director always wears a hat. Never wavers.
o The doctor never wears a hat.
o And if you're a miner without a helmet on-- certain death.
I need to rewatch it and confirm this theory.
Kudos!
So many good movies with Sean Connery, hard to remember them all.
I recently rewatched Medicine Man couple of days before learned he left us.
He was a great man, a great actor, and definitely one of biggest symbols of the movie industry of the 20th century.
We will miss him so much. 😢
RIP Sir Sean Connery.
Dragonheart :)
*a big fan of that particular film*
I play the Alien roleplaying game from Free League and have included Con-Am (and its 30 mining outposts) in the game's setting. I have also turned the Black Goo/accelerant/pathogen into The Thing (and the two different alien lifeforms (the tripod spider and the pilot) into the game. They fit perfectly.
My favourite Sean Connery is as a soldier/explorer who is worshipped as a god and goes native leading to horrific results in 'The Man Who Would Be King'.
Assuming they are set in the same universe, I would say Outland looks like it's set about 20-25 years before Alien. Everything feels familiar, but slightly older.
You could attribute that to being a mining facility.
@@mr.badguy8500 The Nostromo is a tugboat. Already taking it into consideration.
edit: The Nostromo isn't state of the art either. "The Nostromo was constructed in 2101 as an interstellar cruiser, but was refitted in 2116 as a commercial towing vehicle."
I'd say closer to 50-60 years, assuming the technology seen in Blade Runner, set in 2019, is the baseline. That puts it between Blade Runner and Prometheus. Of course, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant being the odd-ones out because they represent the higher-end shiny new technology end of the spectrum compared to the "lived-in world" of Blade Runner, Outland, Alien and Aliens (and Soldier).
I would say Outland takes place way before Alien as well. In Outland, the method of transport takes a year to get from Earth to IO. It would not make much sense be using sub-light ships if FTL (or near FTL) can take you anywhere in the solar system in minutes or days. It stands to reason WY developed FTL after the events of Outland.
@@GenXur were the Ships in the Alien universe FTL ?
Great video, thanks for the recommendation, I had not heard of Outland before.
Untouchables
Last Crusade
Red October
The Rock
Highlander
Zardoz
Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Dragonheart
The Offence at number one , The Hill at number two .
I would add The Wind and The Lion and A Bridge Too Far to that list.
The Original James Bond
For me, Sean will never be gone, just out playing golf.
Always remember wondering who exactly the syndicate supplying the drugs and assassins were , the company ,or just future criminals with an expanded market ! That and Boyle playing golf in his office ! Loved the touch of using shotguns rather than rifles or other future weapons in a delicate environment as well ! Nice to see someone reference it , it doesn't get much love !
Buckshots travel slower?
Outland has always been a favourite for me and loved the atmosphere and Sean Connery in it. An underrated and barely mentioned film so it’s always nice to see something about it.
Interesting theory. I’ve always loved both films but not seen them close enough together to make these connections.
A favorite Connery film of mine is Finding Forrester.
Dude, I know this is an old video, but I really appreciate your words on Sir Sean Connery, my all-time favorite actor. Bravo. I already like your videos, but my respect meter just jumped to the very top. Thank you.
This is great. I hope you do another video exploring more of the shared universe between Blade Runner and Alien.
After seeing this clip, I watched Outland, which I hadn't seen since I was a kid. Enjoyed it a lot, and I definitely think it's in the same universe, though earlier than Alien. Connery was excellent (though maybe I'm biased as a Scot myself). Thanks for the excellent clip.
Dude. Xeno-zip. The drug is a refined or synthetic version of Xeno-zip. Or maybe an early version. That’s the biggest connection. It fits the symptoms.
The mining company is referred by the name "Con-Amalgamate". This is the same name given to the company that manufactured the defective life support system mentioned in "Capricorn One (1977)" (also written and directed by Peter Hyams). Con-Amalgamate is also the name of the company that Peter Boyle's character, Jack Mitchell, says that he works for in "T.R. Baskin (1971)"
I’ve worked for many years as a Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) workers In Remote mining camps in the Aussie outback. We used to discuss this movie after our shift and compare ourselves to it. Quite frankly because it’s not that different! One of the camps even had the same virtual golf driving range in the rec room! And yes, btw, IMO “THe Name of the Rose” is possibly the best movie SC ever made. Based on the Brilliant novel by Umberto Eco which I read many years ago while laid up in hospital in India after a double whammy from cholera and typhoid.
Well done video. Outland has always been a favorite of mine. While not quite as artistically successful as Alien, it's underrated by critics. You're spot on it citing it as one of Connery's best performances.
I'm gonna say that it simply makes the Alien universe more fun to just place the two together, tuck your knees into your chest, lean forward and roll with it.
Federal Marshal William O'Niel is definitely a recurring character in my Alien RPG campaign ;) The "incident at Con-AM 27" is referenced specifically
To me it looks like Alien: Covenant borrowed a lot from Outland. White corridors, watching through cameras, closing doors to trap the enemy...
The cinematography, costumes, set designs really made it feel like the film it was created by the same people who made the Alien film. The first time I saw Outland, I kept wondering when the xenomorph would make an appearance.
My most favorite Sean Connory performances are hard to sort among themselves, but in no particular order: Outland, ZardOz and "Robin and Marian".
Beautiful movie, Robin and Marian
I had always remembered seeing Outland in my movie rental places and never actually saw it. After seeing this post and the possibility that it could be related to my favorite movie series, I gave it a watch just recently. I thought it was a great movie and I can certainly see where they could be in the same universe. Great video my friend!
Ran an Alien Rpg session using Outlander mining facility as a backround, change the drug as one synthesised from alien Royal jelly.
THANK YOU for bringing this up! I was pretty sure something was noticed about the similarities, yet I had never seen a widespread validation like this vid. I LOVE Outland! Great movie, 100% accurate as to the themes you expressed.
Imagine that instead of Io, it's LV-426, and instead of drugs, it's colonists disappearing.
I agree whole heartedly with your observation, when I saw this movie for the first time when I was younger I had the same thoughts about both cinematic adventures. Outland was and still is my go to scifi movie that has that realistic vibe.
After seeing Outland back in the day, my friends and I felt that it was set in the "off world" of Blade Runner, and that Alien was, perhaps, part of the same universe.
When I saw Outland many years ago I always felt there was a strong resemblance to Alien. The whole film just had that vibe to it. I think it deserves a lot more recognition.
love this awesome movie
in Alien the Nostromo is towing a huge bulk refinery - presumably they go to gas-giant planets & pump out chemicals from the atmosphere.
since the Nostromo is a tug they maybe just pick up refineries already in orbit & carry them to their destination.
these chemicals are processed by the refinery so by the time they get back to earth it's carrying usable petrochemicals.
out of curiosity I wonder if any of Alien takes place inside the actual refinery or if it's all aboard the Nostromo - it's possible the crew of the Nostromo doesn't even have access to the refinery.
in Outland they are mining titanium on IO but in reality none of IO's surface remains stable. IO is constantly being "squeezed" between Jupiter & Europa & it's such a violently.volcanic world it's surface is constantly being remade. there's also an intensive radiation surrounding IO as in orbits Jupiter. so IO wouldn't be a nice place to work for sure.
the first miner that kills himself in Outland hallucinates that giant spiders are inside his space-suit which could be a link to Alien. despite the secrecy surrounding the Xenomorph imagine if enough info leaked out that rumours started to spread amongst the workers. you could easily imagine people that didn't understand the xeno lifecycle thinking the facehugger is a giant spider
The reality is that Alien, Bladerunner, Aliens and Outland look so similar because the art department, SFX, model and props unit crews were pretty much the same freelance people who moved from one production to the next, so it’s no surprise they carried similar ideas and techniques!
I was one of those people working on the model units of 90 or so movies from Flash Gordon through to Dark Shadows including the aforementioned Outland etc, Aliens, Event Horizon, Batman, Superman 2 & 3, many 007 etc etc!
All of it was a great joy to work on especially being in a group of similarly creative people who regularly worked as a team tackling new challenges and technology to produce ever evolving visuals!
"The Offence", starring Connery as a jaded and violent police detective, is well worth a watch.
Outland is a great movie. I always thought they could be in the same universe - definitely similar vibes due to a lot of the same production crew.
I remember seeing both Alien and Outland when they came and I just assume they were in the same universe with Outland taking place a few decades before Alien and Continental Amalgamated being absorbed by Weyland-Yutani between the movies.
What may be telling is that the novelization of both Alien and Outland were written by the prolific novelist Alan Dean Foster. i read both and the feeling of the tie-in was even more prevalent.
I love the Outland soundtrack.
The late 80s miniseries "Something Is Out There" seems to be in the same Universe as it mentions the Xenomorph by name.
The look of Outland is absolutely incredible. It perfectly depicts the evil of 80's excess management. It's smoky, it's dingy, it doesn't feel safe. Space is dangerous. People are worse. I love this movie. In Alien, Ridley Scott understood the importance of lighting. He perforated every corner of his sets with a light layer of fog. This aesthetic set the standard for 80's sci-fi movies. Dark and cold.
'Darby O'Gill and the Little People' was his best work, hands down.
I saw this when i was a kid. Great video, never expected this movie to be featured.
Nice to hear someone give Sean Connery some props. His death got lost in the shuffle of COVID.
I still remember the one and only time I watched Outland, on tv in 1987 with my Dad when he came home after a long business trip. I never forgot that movie. I guess it left an impression on me.
Bond - Thunderball
Marko Ramius - The hunt for the Red October
Juan Sanchez - Highlander
Zed - Zardoz
Allan Quartermain -the league of extraordinary gentlemen
. . .
too many more I'm not mentioning lol
He really will be misssed
Nice impression, LOL. I really need to rewatch Outland. It was a bit mature for me when I ttred watching as a kid, although ive always liked the Used Future look.
Plot Twist: Silent Running is in the Alien Universe as well: Huey, Dewy and Louie got bored and created the Alien Queen.
Outland is a hidden gem.
I was lucky enough to have been around to see both of these in the theaters. I noticed the similarities immediately
I've always thought that Outland copied the world and character designs from Alien as Alien banked a lot of dough for FOX and competitors wanted some of that pie, even if they have to clone it.
Saw Outland at the movies on release. Pretty good movie, but I too came away feeling like this was a question. Well done.
I'm surprised anyone else knows of this movie. Its in my top 5 sci-fi but I've never heard anyone talk about it.