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Alien3 : Special Edition
At the end of Aliens, we find Ripley, Newt & Hicks in hypersleep aboard the Sulaco en route for Earth. Suddenly, a warning klaxon sounds, alerting the vessel that a fire has somehow broken out on board. Engaging emergency protocols, the Sulaco jettisons Ripley, Hicks & Newt in the orbit of Fiorina 161. A double Y chromosome penal facility. After crash landing on the surface of the planet, the planets residents recover Ripley's hypersleep chamber. Once revived, Ripley finds out that Newt & Hicks did not survive the crash. Again, she is all-alone in hostile territory. Desperate to determine the cause of the fire, Ripley goes to the escape pod attempting to access the ship's records moments before the ejection. It is then that she realizes that an Alien somehow got onboard the Sulaco & may have "infected" one of the surviving crewmembers. Fully aware of the danger that she may have brought along, she attempts to explain to the planets "caretakers", the grave danger they are in. Of course, her warnings are met with disbelief & utter disregard. Additionally, the caretakers are not very happy to have her on the planet. After all, she is the only woman on a planet full of men who are "reformed" criminals of every sort. Including, rapists, molesters, murderers ad infinteum. However, once the killings begin, her story begins to bear a ring of truth. Again & again, Ripley comes face to face with the Alien but for some reason, it will not attack her, only those around her. Now, in a race against time, Ripley must marshall the meager forces of the planet in an attempt to destroy the Alien menace for once & for all!
Audio:
All the audio remixes for this collection are fabulous! The 5.1 Digital platform takes the film to another level. I never joined the laserdisc crowd, primarily because; I didn't like the idea of flipping my movie disc(s)at a crucial or not-so crucial point. As such, my only reference for these movies was on P&S & later, WS VHS tapes. This is one major improvement over that format! The audio as on all the discs in this series is simply phenomenal. The surrounds & subs are put to such good use that you are taken right into the center of the action. It's incredible just how much the film improves with a great audio & video transfer!
Video:
The video on Alien 3 is simply marvelous. I didn't notice any pixelation or flecking. The blacks were rich & deep, unlike the blacks of Aliens. The fleshtones were true & the colors though muted for the overall effect, were well presented. The anamorphically enhanced transfer is truly beautiful. Alien 3 is purposely dark & gritty & this transfer captures all these elements & displays them perfectly. As the series progresses the transfers become more & more beautiful, with Alien 3 being the best transfer to date! Overall that is! There is one very annoying video problem that does bear mentioning. When the Alien is onscreen, traversing the ceiling as it were, his color is an annoying green. No doubt that was the key used to "plug" the Alien into the image. Understanding that this is an effect problem
Extras:
The Alien Legacy series first two entries were loaded with effects reels, commentary tracks, behind the scenes segments & the like. Sadly, The next two films suffer from an incredible lack of extra material. Alien 3 has a 30-minute behind the scenes feature entitled "The Making of Alien 3". In it there are interviews with the cast & crew & a very brief moment with Director David Fincher. Additionally, they have included the trailer for the feature as well as trailers for the other three films in the franchise. The featurette was very well done, in that it covered the origins of both of the film's predecessors with interviews with their cast members & directors as well. While I did enjoy the featurette, it was entirely too short & could have been doubled to provide more of an in depth report. That having been said, the documentary though short, is done rather well. Lastly, a trailer for the Alien Resurrection computer game is included as well.
Overall:
Alien 3 is a very gritty & atmospheric film that takes a little warming to before you can enjoy it. The feel of the film is definitely different than the first two films so, if you are looking for a repeat of Alien or Aliens, you are looking in the wrong place. Alien 3 stands on it's own as a peculiar yet entertaining entry in the Alien franchise. The cast is great, the storyline is pretty well done & the ending is totally unexpected! Alien 3 stands on it's own & is a decent follow up for it's unequalled predecessors Alien & Aliens
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