Alien3

Movies

Description

The least successful film in this series was directed by stylemaster (and content-underachiever) David Fincher. Ripley, the only survivor of her past mission, awakens on a prison planet in the far corners of the solar system. As she tries to recover, she realizes that not only has an alien gotten loose on the planet, the alien has implanted one of its own within her. As she battles the prison authorities (and is aided by the prisoners) in trying to kill the alien, she must also cope with a distinctly shortened lifespan that awaits her. But the striking imagery makes for muddled action and the script confuses it further. The ending looks startling but it takes a long time--and a not particularly satisfying journey--to get there.

Comments

Kevin Wyatt

Kevin Wyatt

I remember the long wait between the release of this movie and "Aliens" and the great amount of anticipation that was built up around this movie considering how extraordinary the first two films were and just imagining how great this one was "going" to be. Then its release date came and it received generally bad reviews and collectively, the majority of the fans were highly disappointed by it, including myself. That being said, I was quite reluctant to spend the money on this DVD but after reading some of the other positive reviews I decided to give this film one more chance and now, after having watched it again I would have to say I've completely changed my mind.

Alien 3 just wasn't as bad as I remembered it to be from that one time viewing in the theater so many years ago and in fact, stylistically, it's a movie that was ahead of its time. Ultimately, I think what turned so many people off of this film when it was released is that it was so dramatically different from the first two that it initially just didn't seem as though it belonged in the mythos that is the Alien legacy. The one thing about this film that does make it drag is its pacing. What the director appeared to be reaching for was the same feel that "Alien" engendered but in the end, in reaching for that intense atmosphere didn't always work and only resulted in the pace slowing down and too little suspense. As stated above though, thematically it was just years ahead of its time and I believe, were it a movie that were originally released more recently, with some minor changes, it might've garnered much more success in the theaters.

Performance wise, Sigourney Weaver does just as wonderful a job with this film as she did with the first two and, not to mention, she co-produced the film, further showing her support for the script and this addition to the Alien mythos. Charles S. Dutton's role in the film is "over the top," as his acting usually is and it fits quite well with the character.

David Fincher, who took up the directing mantle for "Alien 3" deserves a fair amount of credit for the thematic style of this film, bringing the original story and screenplay to fruition. Twelve years ago, I would've said don't ever let the man direct again, but this second viewing of "Alien 3" and after seeing some of the other films he's directed since, I would definitely have to say that he is a very good director!

This Collector's Edition release comes with two options, the original 1992 Theatrical version or a 2003 Special Edition. One note of caution, the Special Edition doesn't really add too much to the film, but of the small portion that is added, it helps to set up the story that much better. The THX certification and 5.1 Dolby Surround is perfect for the film, bringing out the score beautifully!


The Premise:

As Ripley, Hicks, Newt and Bishop are slumbering away in hyper sleep, hoping to next wake up near Earth, the ship suddenly encounters problems of the alien kind. Being the good futuristic starship that it is, it kindly ejects Ripley and the bodies of her companions on a prison planet. Ripley awakens to find herself on this prison planet and not long thereafter, prisoners start showing up dead and Ripley herself finds that her worst nightmare has come true...

What follows from there, as stated above, is most certainly not the best of the Alien series but it is most definitely a lot better movie than my initial assessment of it had been. I would definitely recommend this film to any and all fans of the Alien series, as I believe it plays an integral part in the mythos.

A viewer from USA

Viewer from USA

I am not one of those die hard fans who will vow on my life that I know everything about this series and I am not usually even a fan of the sci-fi genre, but the Alien movies have always been some of my favorite movies ever made.

After the dissapointing and disturbingly depressing plot of the 3rd movie, I was hoping Resurection would shine a little light on the Alien movies and bring things back into perspective that just dissapeared along with Ripley when she dove into that pool of lava like fluid at the end of A3.

However, Alien: Resurection basically sucks. I was shocked at how typical the movie looked, and how the computer animated Aliens just ruined the overall creativeness that ALIENS shone on the world. The movie was too glossy and it was hard to form any emotional bonds with any of the characters. Ripley is just weird in this movie. She's half Alien now and I honestly don't understand or really like that aspect of the movie. Ripley fought and basically gave up her life to kill these creatures and now she is "the mother of the monster" in this movie, which, I can see how that could be Shakespearian in it's depth, but it just falls flat and Sigourney Weaver just looks stupid with her long greasy black hair, black nails, and tilted head as she makes some witty yet darkly creepy comment about being half monster.

I don't think I ever really recovered after seeing Alien 3 and learning that Newt had died. That alone even made the 3rd movie a waste of time to me. I mean, we see this movie, where the plot clearly ends up revolving around Ripley saving this little girl and in some way getting a replacement daughter for the one she lost through being stuck in hyper space or whatever it's called for so long...and then in the beginning of the 3rd movie she is just dead??? C'MON! That just makes Aliens a waste of time, and that movie rocked! Alien Resurection could have been a great movie...but, the sloppy script, almost comedicly gory deaths (That scene with Dan Hedaya pulling a peice of flesh off the back of his head), glossy cinematograpy, bogus computer animation, and bad acting just ruin this movie.

They should stop making these movies, or go back to Aliens and start over somehow. Make it all a dream somehow and use less computer animation! It barely deserves the 1 star I am giving it.

The Jackel

The Jackel

I can't believe people said this was better than Alien 3! The shody come-back of Ripley just for the sake of putting Ripley back in the franchise was a mistake from the start. Than adding the idea of her connection to the Aliens made it even worse and ruined her character. Then there was the newborn...less said about that the better. It's only saving grace were the very cool Xeno fight scenes.

42commando

42commando

These films are excellent all of them im a big aliens fan and I must say that Alien 2 was my all time favourite yes ok some of the graphics on Alien Resurrection weren't all that good but they still managed to make the film good Aliens vs Predator was a good film you see the three characters battle it out for domination the humans wana, the reds wana live and so does the aliens n as it says on the case WHOEVER WINS WE LOOSE im not gona say much else but all i am gona say is hope the bring out another Aliens vs Predator 2 follow up from the first film were you see the predalien burst from his chest that should be good well im done for this part now personaly i love all the films everybody has different tastes on things bye for now.

Jay4life

Jay4life

Completely fell short The first too movis were freakin awsome, in Alien 3 (which sucks) Ripley gets killed. Why on Earth do they bring her back, I mean even the bad ass Alien look like what comes out of the directors butt. I'm a screen writer, and I can write a much better script, but no! Hollywood If you can hear me throw awy this crap! I'd make a better director!

Alien 3 was ahead of its time

Keith

Without a doubt, the first time I watched alien 3 I was very upset with the killing off of the main characters from Aliens, just like many people were. However, the more times I watched it, I actually felt that this movie was a very strong contender. The first Alien had a very spooky, slow, and dramatic feel to it. James Camerons Aliens was entirely different in the sense that it was more of a bone crushing thrill ride. Finchers Alien 3 was the perfect way to end the series. This movie appeals to me more and more because of its dark and depressing feel to it. It delivers the "everyones screwed" without ever letting up. Its one of those movies that just dont have a happy ending. Back in the early 90's that might have been too hard to people to take. Today, I respect any director who can deliver a movie without a happy ending. Alien Resurrection in my brutal honest oppinion, was just a mistake. An obvious hollywood attempt to bring in cash. The Alien saga should have been left as a trilogy.

I really don't know why this movie gets such bad reviews

alien man

I really don't know why this movie gets such bad reviews, It is very good in the plot and how it mixes real life and action-horror( as most alien movies do). the one thing I did not like is the cheepo graphics of the alien when it was running past the criminals. I like it though when it was chasing them how it showed it in the aliens view

The movie would have been a lot better

slayer88

The movie would have been a lot better if they found a way to bring back the aliens without having two (or one carrying two embryos) mysteriously aboard the ship. That could never of happened unless the Queen hid some in her back pocket. All the eggs were destroyed and theres no way to have had the eggs on the inside of the Sulaco next to the cryo tubes...just not possible. As I said the movie would have been better if they found a more realistic way to get the aliens back.