![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.moviemansguide.com\/images\/reviews\/2011\/alienanthology-cover.jpg\" "\\"Buy")
<\/a><\/p>\nAlien Anthology (1979 – 1997)
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Genre(s): <\/strong>Sci-Fi\/Action
\nFox | R \u2013 477 min. \u2013 $139.99 | October 26, 2010<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
MOVIE INFO:<\/span>
\nDirected by: <\/strong>Ridley Scott, James Cameron, David Fincher, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
\nWriter(s): <\/strong>Dan O\u2019Bannon and Ronald Shusett (characters); Alien<\/em> \u2014 Dan O\u2019Bannon and Ronald Shusett (story), Dan O\u2019Bannon (screenplay); Aliens<\/em> \u2014 James Cameron and David Giler & Walter Hill (story), James Cameron (screenplay); Alien 3<\/em> \u2014 Vincent Ward (story), David Giler & Walter Hill and Larry Ferguson (screenplay); Alien Resurrection<\/em> \u2014 Joss Whedon (written by)
\nCast: <\/strong>Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Paul Reiser, Bill Paxton, Charles S. Dutton, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Michael Wincott, Dan Hedaya, Brad Dourif<\/p>\nTheatrical Release Date: <\/strong>Alien<\/em> \u2014 May 25, 1979, Aliens<\/em> \u2014 July 18, 1986, Alien 3<\/em> \u2014 May 22, 1992, Alien Resurrection<\/em> \u2014 November 26, 1997<\/p>\nDISC INFO:<\/span>
\nFeatures: <\/strong>MU-TH-UR Interactive Mode, Cast and Crew Commentaries, Documentaries, Featurettes, Deleted Scenes, Image Galleries, Test Footage, TV Specials, Isolated Scores, Trailers, TV Spots
\nNumber of Discs: <\/strong>6<\/p>\nAudio: <\/strong>All Films \u2014 English (DTS-HD MA 5.1), French (DTS 5.1), Portuguese (Dolby Digital 5.1), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1); Alien<\/em> and Aliens<\/em> \u2014 English (Dolby Surround 4.1), English (Dolby Surround)
\nVideo: <\/strong>1080p\/Widescreen (Various ARs)
\nSubtitles: <\/strong>English SDH, French, Spanish, Portuguese
\nCodec: <\/strong>AVC<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.moviemansguide.com\/images\/main\/bar_blue.gif\" "\\"*\\"")
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THE MOVIES<\/strong> \u2013 4.25\/5<\/strong><\/h2>\nSince most people already know the Alien<\/em> franchise and the first four movies in particular (discounting the Alien vs. Predator<\/em> movies), I\u2019m not going to spend a whole lot of time on the movie review portion only giving my brief thoughts and then will move along to the features and audio\/video categories which I feel are more important.<\/p>\nAlien (1979)<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 4.5\/5
\nRidley Scott\u2019s sci-fi\/horror show is a brilliant piece of filmmaking that traps the viewer as the alien wreaks havoc upon a crew, taking them on one by one and thanks in large part to writers Dan O\u2019Bannon and Ronald Shusett, they started a new subgenre that so many others have tried and failed to copy, hell one could argue some of the sequels failed at copying the formula.<\/p>\nOne also has to commend O\u2019Bannon, Shusett and, of course, a young and new-ish Sigourney Weaver for bringing forth one of the first strong female leads in an action movie. Her Ripley character showed that women can kick ass and look good doing it leading perhaps to other great and memorable characters across all platforms including Lara Croft in the video game realm. The supporting cast is also sharp with Tom Skerritt as the lead with John Hurt and Ian Holm making the biggest impact of the bunch as the corporate hack that caused everything to go into motion (including Alien Resurrection<\/em>).<\/p>\nAliens (1986)<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 5\/5
\nWhile Ridley Scott brought us one of the best sci-fi\/horror movies, it would seem that James Cameron, a decade before he became \u201cKing of the World\u201d, perfected it with one of the few sequels that managed to actually surpass the original. Like Scott, Cameron took the concept of the horror on a spaceship and expanded it to not only a ship but onto a foreign planet and giving more aliens to scare the crap out of the characters and in turn, us the audience.<\/p>\nOf course, Sigourney Weaver puts in a fantastic performance since at this point she is<\/em> Ripley but it seems she encompasses the character and now she gets yet another amazing supporting cast headlined by Michael Biehn making a great action counterpart to Ripley while pre-\u201cMad About You\u201d Paul Reiser fills in as the corporate hack quite well…<\/p>\nAlien\u00b3 (1992)<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 3\/5
\nSo with two sci-fi classics in the book and despite some pre-production troubles, Fox moved forward with the Alien<\/em> franchise handing the reins to a then unproven David Fincher coming out of the music video world. Of course, while Fox handed him the reins, they also held tightly on the other end giving it a tug so much and often that Fincher eventually left during post-production citing studio interference.<\/p>\nThe behind-the-scenes soap opera antics aside, Alien 3<\/em><\/strong> is a half-decent film covered up by a confused script and a story that fails to connect on any level. I appreciate that the writers (4 in total) try something new taking Ripley off a ship and onto a barren planet populated by felons turned religious zealots but nothing about the story really interested me and instead kind of bored me even during the alien kill sequences. Would Fox learn its lesson and go back to the basics or perhaps just leave the franchise be? Yeah… right.<\/p>\nAlien Resurrection (1997)<\/em><\/strong> \u2014 2.5\/5
\nSo when you don\u2019t succeed, try, try again. Fox decided to go into the Alien<\/em> well one more time this time bringing Ripley back via cloning, a clone that still has the Alien baby inside of her as the Weyland corporation is trying to get the alien and after several unsuccessful tries (resulting in numerous Ripley clones in various forms), they find success and since Ripley is in good condition, they keep her alive and that\u2019s where the so-called fun begins.<\/p>\nAs a film, I probably find the background for Alien Resurrection<\/em> a tad more intriguing if only because the script was written by an on-the-cusp Joss Whedon (\u201cBuffy the Vampire Slayer\u201d series premiered the same year, 1997). I do commend Whedon for bringing at least an interesting story but still it doesn\u2019t quite come together. Sigourney Weaver (who served as co-producer on the film) does an admirable job playing a different kind of Ripley and the supporting cast is fairly middle-notch with Ron Perlman, Michael Wincott, Dan Hedaya and Winona Ryder who also give it their all.<\/p>\nAlthough indeed Alien Resurrection<\/em><\/strong> is hardly a good movie, on a technical and visual level, I do think it\u2019s a hair above Alien 3<\/em> but still so far away from the first two entries that I really wish Fox had resisted the temptation of even making the last two. It will be interesting to see what Ridley Scott will do with the two prequels, hopefully that will bring the franchise back on course.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
SPECIAL FEATURES \u2013 5\/5<\/strong><\/h2>\nThis 6-disc Blu-ray set is housed in a book with the discs sliding in to the cardboard pages (the backing is smooth making it easy to get the disc) while the book is enclosed in a sleek but sturdy outer case. There is a feature booklet inside; unfortunately they did not bring over the chapter list from the DVD list which was helpful in finding out what new scenes were added back into each film.<\/p>\n
Each disc has something called MU-TH-UR Mode<\/span><\/strong>, a feature where you can choose, while watching the movie, \u201cAuditory\u201d options (commentaries), \u201cVisual\u201d (display and bookmark video\/image options), \u201cDatastream\u201d (fact track) and \u201cData Tags\u201d (display and organize bookmarked visual content made). The most interesting one is \u201cData Tags\u201d where you can select different featurettes for viewing later and it will carry over and available to watch on discs 5 or 6, pretty cool and original feature.<\/p>\nIn regards to each version (theatrical and extended\/director\u2019s cuts), I don\u2019t really have a preference over the other. I do think that perhaps Alien\u00b3<\/em> gets the best out of the bunch, but it\u2019s not a significant improvement. For the first four discs, I will lay out what\u2019s on there, provide a few thoughts but the bulk of my focus will be on disc 5 and the numerous featurettes and documentaries.<\/p>\nDISC 1 \u2013 Alien<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\nThere is the 1979 Theatrical Version (1:56:37)<\/span><\/strong> and 2003 Director\u2019s Cut (1:55:49)<\/span><\/strong> with the latter getting an Introduction (0:57; SD)<\/span><\/strong> by Ridley Scott.<\/p>\nAudio Commentary #1<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Available on both versions, this track features Director Ridley Scott, Writer Dan O\u2019Bannon, Executive Producer Ronald Shusett, Editor Terry Rawlings and Actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt. This track was recorded in 2003.<\/p>\nAudio Commentary #2<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 This track is only available for the theatrical version and is with Ridley Scott. It was recorded in 1999.<\/p>\nYou can also check out the Final Theatrical Isolated Score<\/span><\/strong> and Composer\u2019s Original Isolated Score<\/span><\/strong> from Jerry Goldsmith if that sort of thing interests you (I prefer listening to these in my iPod).<\/p>\nDeleted Scene Index (6:39; HD)<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 With this, you can check out the additional scenes that were inserted into the director\u2019s cut.<\/p>\nDISC 2 \u2013 Aliens<\/em>:
\n1986 Theatrical Version (2:17:14)<\/span><\/strong> and 1991 Special Edition (2:34:26)<\/span><\/strong> with Introduction (0:34; SD)<\/span><\/strong> by James Cameron<\/p>\nAudio Commentary<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 This one features Director James Cameron, Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Alien Effects Creator Stan Winston, Visual Effects Supervisors Robert Skotak and Dennis Skotak, Miniature Effects Supervisor Pat McClung and Actors Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein, Carrie Henn, and Christopher Henn.<\/p>\nAgain, you have the option of listening to either Final Theatrical Isolated Score<\/span><\/strong> or Composer\u2019s Original Isolated Score<\/span><\/strong> by James Horner.<\/p>\nDeleted Scenes Index (19:57; HD)<\/span><\/strong> has the scenes included in the Special Edition version in case you prefer to watch the theatrical version.<\/p>\nDISC 3 \u2013 Alien\u00b3<\/em><\/strong>:
\n1992 Theatrical Version (1:54:52)<\/span><\/strong> and 2003 Special Edition (2:24:52)<\/span><\/strong> which is the \u201cRestored Workprint Version\u201d<\/p>\nAudio Commentary<\/span><\/strong> features Cinematographer Alex Thomson, Editor Terry Rawlings, Alien Effects Designers Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., Visual Effects Producer Richard Edlund and Actors Paul McGann and Lance Henriksen.<\/p>\nFinal Theatrical Isolated Score<\/span><\/strong> by Elliot Goldenthal is available to listen to in case you\u2019re interested.<\/p>\nDeleted Scenes Index (49:28; HD)<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 With this you can check out what scenes were placed into the Special Edition either because you prefer the theatrical version or just want to know what exactly is different (fun to watch after viewing the Special Edition).<\/p>\nDISC 4 \u2013 Alien Resurrection<\/em>:
\n1997 Theatrical Version (1:48:48)<\/span><\/strong> and 2003 Special Edition (1:56:08)<\/span><\/strong> comes with an Introduction (0:46; SD)<\/span><\/strong> by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet<\/p>\nAudio Commentary<\/span><\/strong> features Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Editor Herve Schneid, Alien Effects Creators Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr., Visual Effects Supervistor Pitof (yes, the famed director of Catwoman<\/em>), Conceptual Artist Sylvain Despretz and Actors Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon and Leland Orser.<\/p>\nFinal Theatrical Isolated Score<\/span><\/strong> by John Frizzell is available in case you\u2019re interested.<\/p>\nDeleted Scene Index (11:54; HD)<\/span><\/strong> is once again available in case you want to check out what scenes were inserted into the Special Edition.<\/p>\nDISC 5:
\nDatasearch<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 With this feature, you can search for specific topics by actor or crew member and by film.<\/p>\nThe Best Within: Making Alien<\/em> (TRT 2:57:37; SD<\/span><\/strong>) \u2013 This 9-part documentary takes a look at the origins and production of Alien<\/em> with archival and newish interviews (taped for the Quadrilogy DVD set) with Sigourney Weaver, Ridley Scott, John Hurt, Tom Skerritt and others on the cast and crew.<\/p>\nEnhancement Pods (TRT 1:19:43; SD)<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Each of the film\u2019s documentaries comes with one with this receiving 27 vignettes that expand on certain subjects for, in this case, Alien<\/em>.<\/p>\nSuperior Firepower: Making Aliens<\/em> (TRT 3:04:52; SD)<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 Another massive \u2018making-of\u2019 documentary takes us from the decision to make a sequel, hiring James Cameron and his contribution to the project and bringing together the cast. This one has 11 parts with each examining every aspect of the filmmaking experience.<\/p>\nEnhancement Pods (TRT 58:31; SD)<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 As if 3 hours wasn\u2019t enough, you can check out 25 more vignettes that expand on the documentary.<\/p>\nWreckage and Rage: Making Alien\u00b3<\/em> (TRT 2:59:55; SD)<\/span><\/strong> is by far the most interesting of the four documentaries as it is brutally honest about what went wrong with the production as certain members of the cast and crew point fingers at others as to how it just fell apart. Unfortunately David Fincher was not a part of this discussion and is only features in some behind-the-scenes footage but if you\u2019re interested in the more chaotic side of Hollywood, this is the one for you. Interviewees included Sigourney Weaver, the writers, producers, Composer Elliot Goldenthal, Visual Effects Supervisors and the original hired director, Renny Harlin.<\/p>\nEnhancement Pods (TRT 1:14:03; SD)<\/span><\/strong> includes 29 more segments that didn\u2019t quite fit into the documentary.<\/p>\nOne Step Beyond: Making Alien Resurrection<\/em> (TRT 2:54:05; SD)<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 The \u201cshorter\u201d of the documentaries, this one is much like the first two taking a look at the process of making one more Alien<\/em> sequel and how certain producers felt it was a bad idea. Like the others, we get to hear from the cast and crew the experience. There is some newer interview footage which include Ron Perlman, director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, writer Joss Whedon, Leland Orser and others although Weaver\u2019s seemed to be from the set. A couple of the highlights in this one include filming underwater for 4 weeks and Sigourney Weaver\u2019s amazing over-the-shoulder, nothing but net, basketball shot.<\/p>\nEnhancement Pods (TRT 1:15:17)<\/span><\/strong> include 15 vignettes to learn even more about the filming of Resurrection<\/em>.<\/p>\nDISC 6:<\/strong>
\nThis disc contains mainly still galleries and some random vignettes. I\u2019ll comment on a couple of these, but for the most part they are self explanatory. Each movie gets something, one more than the others.<\/p>\nAlien<\/em><\/strong>:<\/strong>
\nUnder \u201cPre-Production\u201d we get Dan O\u2019Bannon\u2019s First Draft Screenplay<\/span><\/strong>; Ridleygrams: Original Thumbnails and Notes<\/span><\/strong> which are Ridley Scott\u2019s personal notes; a Storyboard Archive<\/span><\/strong> with six of them to check out; The Art of Alien<\/em>: Conceptual Art Portfolio<\/span><\/strong> contains four portfolios; Sigourney Weaver Screen Tests (4:39; SD)<\/span><\/strong> have four tests and has an optional commentary with Ridley Scott; and a Cast Portrait Gallery<\/span><\/strong> with pics of, well, the cast.<\/p>\n\u201cProduction\u201d contains The Chestburster: Multi-Angle Sequence (5:28; SD)<\/span><\/strong> with various angles of the famous scene with an optional Ridley Scott commentary; Video Graphics Gallery (5:31; SD<\/span><\/strong>) is a cool feature where you can check out the on-screen displays from the movie; 9 Production Image Galleries<\/span><\/strong>; some Continuity Polaroids<\/span><\/strong>; images of The Set of Aliens<\/em><\/span><\/strong>; view pics from Alien creature creator H.R. Giger\u2019s Workshop<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\nAnd in \u201cPost-Production and Aftermath\u201d there are 7 Additional Deleted Scenes (16:33; SD)<\/span><\/strong>; 6 Image Galleries<\/span><\/strong> (including Model Shop, Visual Effects, Premiere pics, etc); the 1979 original featurette, Experience in Terror (7:10; SD)<\/span><\/strong>; the Laserdisc <\/span><\/strong> which are text info and images; The Alien Legacy (1:06:53; SD)<\/span><\/strong>, a 1999 featurette; American Cinemathque: Ridley Scott Q&A (15:40; SD)<\/span><\/strong> filmed on September 14, 2001 and was a screening for Aliens<\/em> after which Scott answers questions; last are a few Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots (3:28; SD)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\nAliens<\/em><\/strong>:<\/strong>
\nIn \u201cPre-Production\u201d there is the Original Treatment by James Cameron<\/span><\/strong>; Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Videomatics (3:13; SD)<\/span><\/strong> with optional commentary by Miniature Effects Supervisor Pat McClung; Storyboard Archive<\/span><\/strong>; The Art of Aliens<\/em><\/span><\/strong>; and another Cast Portrait Gallery<\/span><\/strong>.<\/p>\nUnder \u201cProduction\u201d we have a few photographs including a Production Image Galleries<\/span><\/strong> (9 in fact), Continuity Polaroids<\/span><\/strong>,
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.moviemansguide.com\/images\/main\/logos\/foxhe-sm.jpg\" "\\"Alien")
After a long delay, I finally got the entire review done of this massive 6-disc Blu-ray set and I will admit, this is easily the best movie collection on Blu-ray that I’ve encountered as it not only ported over every feature from not only the 9-disc DVD set.<\/p>\n