12. Alien: Alien intelligence. Although they have a large cranium,can they really "think"?
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This article is from the Alien Movies FAQ, by Darryll Hobsonand Eelko de Vos E.W.C.deVos@TWI.TUDelft.NL with numerous contributions by others.
12. Alien: Alien intelligence. Although they have a large cranium,can they really "think"?
YES:
- In "ALIENS", when Ripley is in the "hive", several aliens filter in to attack
her; Ripley threatens to flame the eggs and the queen waves them off. This
would indicate that the aliens can communicate and ARE intelligent.
- The alien in "ALIEN^3" acted to protect Ripley (since she was carrying the
queen embryo) when the doctor was going to give her an injection and when
Dillon grabbed her (near the end). This would indicate that the alien can
reason through situations.
- The aliens in "ALIENS" cut the power to the complex. (unless this was just
an "accident")
- A quote from James Cameron [STARLOG #125, DEC 1987]
" One admittedly confusing aspect of this creature's behavior
(which was unclear as well in ALIEN) is the fact that sometimes the
warrior will capture prey for a host, and other times, simply kill it.
For example, Ferro the dropship pilot is killed outright while Newt, and
previously most of the colony members, were only captured and cocooned
within the walls to aid in the Aliens' reproduction cycle. If we assume
the Aliens have intelligence, at least in the central guiding authority
of the Queen, then it is possible that these decisions may have a
tactical basis. For example, Ferro was a greater threat, piloting the
heavily armed dropship than she was a desirable host for reproduction.
Newt, and most of the colonists, were unarmed and relatively helpless,
therefore easily captured for hosting. "
NO:
- On several occasions, the aliens kill potential hosts when they could just
as easily capture them. (from "ALIEN": Parker, Lambert. from "ALIENS":
Ferro, possibly others. from "ALIEN^3": the doctor, several prisoners)
this would indicate that the alien is not intelligent. (unless the alien
kills those people for food, which seems to be sustained by Alien3.)
(A possible explanation for this behaviour, on the other hand, is the fact
that the alien needs something for the facehugger to grow in first: some
kind of egg. The host for the chestburster is not necessary yet.)
- The scene in the "ALIENS" director's cut where the aliens "throw" themselves
at the sentry guns would indicate that they are not intelligent (ie:
sacrificing countless numbers just to get their hands on 7 potential hosts.)
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