Lisa Chieco

I first saw this as a 20 something. I was actually repelled by the psychological violence and lacked the maturity to apply any critical analysis to the experience. As a fifty something with the benefit of life experience, higher education which developed critical thought, exposure to anthropologic imagery and influences I was able to comprehend themes beyond my innate reaction to what actually is psychological violence regarding personal freedoms, addictions and xenophobic fear and disgust at the "other." So my gut got it in my twenties and my mind understood it some 30 odd years later. There is heady indulgence in the Ziggy Stardust persona, as well as the actor's raw sexuality interlaced with hedonistic personal destruction. Our world corrupts the naive and selfless newcomer making his mission (spiritual as well as physical) drift further and further from fruition. The Alien's planet and people are desiccating, while the Alien is bloating on Earth in a sea of alcohol. The powers that be on our planet have drained the Alien's ability to rescue his people. His personal power has been so obliterated that locks are no longer necessary in his prison. Also - a snapshot of a "marriage" if you will, as it goes through the process of initial attraction to debauched death throes. I engaged in the film, and connected with the characters' motivations as well a mega dose of Bowie's "well hung with a snow white tan" gorgeousness! As an earlier review on this site suggested, the experience of this movie will not fit the sit and soak normal viewing expectation. Prepare with a synopsis of the novel's plot (read online) and then enjoy the movie. Armed with that, the film's bizarre images and seemingly random progression will not be as distracting and will even make sense!!