Beauty.

Hello, On Ripley readers-

I was sent this beautiful fan-made tribute to Ripley, and knew it needed to be shared here.

Symphony no.2: Howard Hansen, composer; Charles Gerhardt conducting the RCA Victor Symphony Orchestra.

The beauty is all hers...

-- SIGH-NING OFF --

Trapped.

Just a friendly note, an excuse and an apology for being so incredibly busy with work morning, noon and night that I've had precious little time to devote to my passions.

Soon, soon.

Enjoy your holidays.

--SIGNING OFF --

Alien Woman.

Hello On Ripley readers.

Mike C. here, with a bit of a book report that should interest all of you.

Seven years ago a fantastic little book was published that somehow, some-freaking-how got past my radar.

It was sent to me as a gift from a dear friend just a few days ago, and I'm on my second reading.

In case you weren't aware of its existence, I am going to commend to all of you a fine little book by Ximena Gallardo-C. and C. Jason Smith called Alien Woman: The Making of Lt. Ellen Ripley.

Gallardo and Smith have approached the character of Ripley with one of the most unique and fascinating tacks I've ever read, and the book is loaded with sometimes debatable, sometimes fun, always interesting arguments for the rationale (and lack of) behind the various 'versions' of Ripley throughout the entire Alien film series.

Couching each film in terms of the era in which it was made, Alien Woman offers Ripley as the ultimate iteration of womanhood in the late 20th century, from her iconoclastic breakout as the first serious female survivor in Alien to her transformation as post-human, monsterish superhero of Alien Resurrection, and makes fascinating explorations into the minds of the filmmakers as well as what Ripley means to femdom, science fiction and the social acceptance of Woman today.

It isn't merely a rehashing of film plots with Freudian insights tagged on as a 'look Ma, I can write' bit of ego-tripping by the co-authors. It is a serious sociological, psychological and cultural exploration of a character who is obviously one of the most enigmatic, unique and powerful in film history.

It essentially says what I wish I could've said from day one, about my favorite movie hero.

And if you aren't in love with her all over again even five pages in, you're at the wrong blog!

Go get yourselves Alien Woman. Just... trust me.

-- SIGNING OFF --

After the battle.

Night closed around the conqueror's way,
And lightnings show'd the distant hill,
Where those who lost that dreadful day
Stood few and faint, but fearless still.
The soldier's hope, the patriot's zeal,
For ever dimm'd, for ever crost --
Oh! who shall say what heroes feel,
When all but life and honour's lost? 

    -from After The Battle, Thomas Moore (1779 - 1852)

-- SIGH-NING OFF --

Needful things.

Just in case anyone had missed this.

These have been out for some time now, but they keep changing the colorways and trying new things. I just noticed that they are trying this colorway again, and for an average $75 a pair, I'm thinking I might be able to actually grab some this time.

Nah, they're not exactly the Ripley sneaks -- no boot top especially -- but they're close to Bishop's in this colorway, and in soft black leather they look damn near fashionable!

Available now without costing $300, here:
Nevermind. Stocks were gone almost as soon as I posted... sorry!

Now if only someone would just reissue this...

Happy hunting.

-- SIGNING OFF --

Deviations.

Fun visions of Our Hero from the deviants at DeviantART.

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For Ripley lovers.

Go to DeviantART, search for Ellen Ripley. Hours of amazement and amusement await you.

Just fillin' in for The Cat, 

Mike C.

-- SIGNING OFF --

Another Alien-iversary.

Celebrate.

Oh yes.

On July 18th, 1986, one of cinema's greatest sci-fi rollercoaster action films was unleashed on an unsuspecting world.

And if she hadn't found some semblance of fame in Alien before, a sleepy Ellen Ripley would wake up 57 years later to become merely the greatest female warrior hero ever.

I first went to see this with a handful of friends -- two of whom were my cohorts sneaking into the drive-in to see Alien seven years before! -- at one of our area's first big, loud, THX-equipped theatres. Needless to say, we ere all blown away by the sheer adrenaline rush of this film.

And, another needless to say, I simply fell in love all over again...

 How could I not?

I'll never forget that night. Do you remember when you saw these now-legendary images for the very first time?

 "Stopitman! S'notfunnyman!"

 "Mostly..."

Man. 25 years of Aliens.

25 years since Ripley became Ellen Ripley, became a mother, became a real hero.

Happy anniversary, longtime Muse. 

-- SIGNING OFF --

Fireworks.

Happy Independence Day.

-- SIGNING OFF --

Tilting.

Yes, I know this one's not a real 'Ripley' shot but it is far too beautifully happy to ignore.

At any angle, pure beauty.

-- SIGNING OFF --