although I’m not entirely convinced that Uef is the most sympathetic representation of alien civilization tbh.

Yeah but it shows the racism and Manichaeism of Hollywood. The outsider to Americans is monstrous, fundamentally inhumane, while the outsider to Soviets is seen as potentially human, potentially relatable and possible to ally, even if that’s not always the case in the end.

I think the ocean on Solaris counts too!