Aliens

[Dwarfman]

So after watching some alien movies recently, it didn't take long for me to notice that all aliens are humanoids. Or at least most of them. I may take this in the broadest way possible, but even if you take a closer look at them, they all look like us. This somewhat bothers me. Yeah, there are movies which do get pretty creative like War of the Worlds, but most of them don't. Is it just me, or does this bother more of you guys?

Ahhh yes the Martians...Huge rounded bulks larger than a bear and composed almost enirely of brain, with leather triangular beaks, big yellow eyes and writhing tentacles. Yep good old HG Welles had a great imagination (Better than the guys who adapted his aliens to the movies at least)

Expense I think is a big deal when it comes to movies and TV. It's a lot easier to have a guy in a body suit pretending to be scary than some ghastly anthropromophic terror - although stay tuned for the Prequel of Jon Carpenter's 'The Thing'

That being said the basic 'humanoid' shape is a very ideal evolutionary shape. Strong bipedal legs for quick decisive movement; Appendages ending with opposed digits for better grip and manipulation; A good solid core structure to house vital organs and what not; A top flexable appendage housing the brain and most sensory organs allowing for better acuracy when using these items.

 

[Random berk]

It seems likely that aliens would have relatively large heads, if they are intelligent enough to use technology, and similarly they'd need arms with opposable digits, so in certain ways they'd have look similar to us, but at the same time, there's no reason for them to have the same number of limbs, or be the same size, or anything like that.

Has it occurred to you that they might have developed technology that can be used without opposable digits?

I think they'd need two eyes, though - I can't imagine a civilization getting advanced enough for us to come into contact with them without being able to judge distances.

What would they manipulate the technology with? Their mouths? Psychic powers? I think most complex technology would require opposable digits or something similar to construct, even if it could be operated without it.

EDIT: Although tentacles would actually be a plausible option as well.

 

[Liam Turpin]

wouldn't aliens have to be humanoid at least to leave their own planet? you know, opposable thumbs to build and use tools?