Theres nothing quite like Alien 3. Its environment, visuals and cinematography are amazing. And the acting is brilliant throughout. I never tire of watching it
Same for me. I never tire of watching this film. For one the 2 C.Ds actors Charles Dutton & Charles Dance were excellent in their roles. It could have been a 3 character film with them & Sigourney and it would have worked! This film is so unappreciated. But the love is out there! And right here!
As much as people see this entry as the Black Sheep of the franchise, I still think that the aesthetic & tone of this entry is just as influential as the first two.
The problem is what they pointed out at the start. It's like going to a movie to get depression. Newt and Hicks dying off screen at the start makes Aliens (2) feel almost pointless. Then the only survivor Ripley should be in pure depression mode pretty much the whole movie, meanwhile she's surrounded by religious nutjobs and rapists. It's not exactly as thrilling at is it depressing especially where the previous movie left off. If it was it's own story in the Alien universe not involving Ripley I think it could've been received better, but Aliens was a hit and to this day is preferred even over the original to a lot of people, only to have the sequel to basically erase the outcome of the previous movie lol.
As influential as the original Alien? I really do not think so. I just don't see its influence anywhere. I don't think its as bad as some people say but I feel its a mistake to use the word influence. Alien blazed a trail into sci fi horror atmosphere that pretty much no one was doing at the time and set a new standard that many would follow for years to come. Honestly even Aliens has had more influence on the action genre than Alien 3 has had on anything.
I love Alien3, it's been my favourite since I first saw it, just like you Oliver (I'm around the same age - 42?), it was my first Alien film and it hit me massively. I thought I was the only weirdo in the world who liked it until I read David Pringle's "The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Science Fiction' and the writer described it as "Arguably the best in the series that started with Alien...". Whilst I agree it has its muddled flaws and has its undeniable studio interference (I myself was part of the VHS workprint sharing community nearly 30 years ago online), one of the things I never cease to marvel at is how unbelievably illogical it is as the trilogy closer for a tent-pole science fiction franchise. It's so punk, so downbeat, so against the grain of everything anything anyone was expecting there's something to truly marvel there as an artistic statement. There's all this relentless studio interference, so many producers on the end of a telephone line ordering Fincher to cut corners, yet the end result is not some shallow comic book movie to appease the masses, instead we get "Ken Loach's Alien" or "Kes... in Space". It's so miserably British. They didn't even get the cast to Americanise their pronunciation of 'lieutenant' like Patrick Stewart would in Star Trek TNG; instead she's suddenly and, quite jarringly I imagine, 'leftenant Ripley' to a worldwide audience. The fact that this movie exists in which everyone dies, in which the principal cast are regional British sex offenders, it's so utterly baffling after Aliens; the movie with the cool soldiers, the cool space ships, the cool tank, the cool machine guns... and they followed it up with this manically depressive fusion of Scum, Kes and The Offence, with a parasitic monster thrown in for 5 minutes, I think it's absolutely incredible. Alien3 would never ever get made today, or ever... in fact I'm baffled how it ever got made in the first place. And I love it all the more for that. I'd love for an official hybrid cut that gave us the dog birth and the chestbursting scene at the end, but with the extended scenes that gave life to the rest of the prison, especially if they could just replace all facehugger scenes with the queen facehugger they created but deleted. I cannot fathom why they removed it since it makes so much more sense than to feature a single regular facehugger responsible for two impregnations? To think that somehow there was a studio mandate somewhere amongst its torturous production that seemingly had the message of "complete closure, with little to no possibility of a sequel" is utterly bizarre, oh and cast who you like from regional British telly. And am all the more grateful for it, it was a very bold decision that for me makes it a very special movie. Another interesting observation is, as per your commentary, it feels like it truly ushered in the "90s". It's so grim, gold and grunge, though still consistent in that dilapidated industrial world of retro-futuristic green-text CRT screens and dot-matrix printers. Indeed it makes the recall to Ripley's original final broadcast at the end of Alien3 all the more powerful, because although only 13 years took place between Alien and Alien3, it truly felt like they captured "three decades" in history; literally the 70s, 80s and 90s. Ripley slept for 57 years, but from Alien to Alien3 almost felt like 30, even though it hadn't even hit half of that. When she said "you've been in my life so long, I can't remember anything else" you truly felt it and her final send-off literally felt like decades had past, just as it had for her in the story. Ironically nearly as much time has passed between Prometheus and Romulus, than passed between Alien and Alien3 which I find almost unbelievable. The world seems to move so much slower these days, or is it faster? Anyway, thanks for a great commentary, thoroughly enjoyable as always :)
My friend,very nice comment,or,a "novel" if i may call it so... 😂 Just joking,but i agree totally, I LOVE A3, maybe even most of all,i hate these idiot,which all hate the film bcs of death of Hicks & Newt!? What i jate the most,is i would understand if this happens in a Marvrl/Disney movie,but this is alien,what else do u expect bit it to be depressing,scary,grimy and dark... Did these idiots expect that A3 will be a family comedy,with Rip./Newt/Hicks livin in the suburbs,a big house,with pets,2 cars,and going to work/school every day and Newt saying no to drugs!? A3 is a MASTERPIECE !!!
Alien 3 the assembly cut is NOT a bad movie by any standards. It's a worthy entry as part of the original trilogy. It's visually unique and is as claustrophobic as the first movie.
Alien 3 is a very unique movie. I love it as much as Alien & Aliens. First of all, it has a very interesting atmosphere. The acting was by far the best in the whole franchise. Fantastic soundtrack! Epic finale! And the most important - it has introduced the "xenomorph takes features of its host" idea and royal facehuggers. The tunnel chase & the Ripley/Xeno close-up scenes are among my all-time favorite movie scenes!
@@SA-zoom1 I like bits and pieces of each cut. I like the dog over the ox. It hits harder. I also like the queen birth version it feels more epic than her just falling in
The death of Hicks and Newt grounded the hostility of the universe. Space itself became the monster. Often loved ones pass unexpected and unceremoniously in pointless accidents that's the brutality of the universe. The fact that technology failed them is fitting, aids Ripley descent, and hit the audience harder than any deaths in the series. I'll defend the choice
1:13:27 - Maybe its because the script isnt clear but i thought the film was halfway implying that the dog alien isnt doing the normal alien behavior because Ripley is hosting a queen. It doesnt need to make a nest or do its normal life cycle because it is compelled to protect the queen host. As long as ripley is alive it can just hunt just to sustain itself.
For me, this is my favourite Alien movie. I just find it's drama so engrossing, and it's mood is one I can sink into, with Sigourney's best performance as Ripley for my money. I think I relate to it so well because of bereavement. Newt and Hicks dying suddenly and without ceremony is something I find so truthful, haunting and relatable. But Rob Hill's view of just not vibing with that is totally valid I think. And for other fans who can't get past the death of Newt, I can't fault you for it. It's good that, even if fictional, you hate the death of a young child. Though while I get why people find it too much, I honestly find it an uplifiting movie because it's all about staring death in the eyes and going out on your own terms, along with the utter worst of humanity finding the grace within themselves to do what's right. The film cleanses me somewhat, even if it is tragic.
I've replied to a couple of other comments so far and am so glad to see it getting love. I totally get why the first 2 are the favourites of the franchise, they are two totally different movies but don't need to break each other's lore. This is my favourite too, it's dark but I never found it depressing. I also think that killing off Newt and Hicks was necessary to keep Ripley at the heart of the franchise. It was a tough thing to see, the characters were in 1 movie and loved. You have to care about something to feel its loss.
@@quicogil4565I appreciate that Romulus paid homage to it, but not segueing into the film but rather the silent Scott Free logo kinda kills the creepy momentum. I see the problem though, there’s no place else to put it.
Charles Dutton is unmatched as Dillon in this film. One of my favorite characters of the series. I also love Goldenthals score. It let's you know from the drop to abandon all hope. The DNA for what he'd bring to Batman Forever is very present here.
I agree. Even though the others all have memorable actors and characters, this has the best ensemble. Charles Dance also added a well needed warmth to the movie. Pete Postlethwaite too, added character to movie and was someone for Ripley to bounce off of in a different way.
Each of the original Alien movies is a different genre. Alien is horror Aliens is an action thriller Alien 3 is a character drama about terminal illness. It works well as an allegory of the AIDS epidemic, especially with the destruction of Ripley's found family, which leaves her alone in a struggle to die with dignity. It could also be thought of as gothic horror, which is more about the mood than the scares (Alien: Resurrection is a dark comedy/50s B-movie revival)
Seems like he just wants a fundamentally different film. Seems like he wants something more like an ALIENS Pt2. Than what Fincher made. Something bleak, mean, and harsh. Not a feel good movie
I grew up with these movies. I saw the first two when they came out on VHS, and I snuck into the cinema to see Alien 3. And I was just not anywhere near as morally or emotionally offended about the death of Hicks and Newt. I always felt that Alien 3 spoke to me in a personal way. I loved the nihilism and cynicism of it all. And I adored the gothic horror and as the incredible performances for such a satisfyingly raw cast of characters. So while I understand people who we're upset at this film about Hicks and Newt, I just can't understand holding a grudge, especially for so long. The film has so many amazing qualities. It's a sight to behold. The atmosphere is dense and authentic. The characters are so interesting You can't look away, because the performances are top-notch. And Ripley's arc and Sigourney portrayal is incredible. I can see why it was this version of the film that enticed her to return. And I can see why she has recently encouraged Fincher to revisit the film.
Personally I found it scary when I rewatched it a few days ago, and I don't think the lack of much technology means it isn't sci-fi, that's almost a sci-fi trope in itself. Sci-fi is more than just rayguns and spaceships, it can also be how people deal with a threat when they don't have all those resources, or space marines.
Glad you brought up Goldenthal's score. I love his distinctive use of horns; you can easily tell that this, Interview with the Vampire and Batman Forever were scored by him just by listening to the horns.
This is absolutely not a bad movie. The first three movie to me are official cannon, I consider the fourth movie as an alternate universe kind of thing.
same here, the fourth movie reminds me one of those comic stories based on the alien universe, a sort of spin off in which we explore the adventures of Ripley's clone...it's just not Ripley.
@@AquaticAbomination It'll be fun to throw Alien:Romulus into the Alien/Aliens mix around Christmas time when it's out on DVD!Prometheus/Covenant fit more in the BladeRunner 2049 (AI Androids,David)world in my esteem:)....
Can't beat the original, but it's really close. My second favourite in the whole franchise and it keeps getting better over the years, while "Aliens" really lost its magic for me.
If you take into account the Directors Cut of Aliens that puts more focus on Ripley waking up to discover and deal with her daughter and family being dead in addition to the overall themes of motherhood, the opening circumstances of Alien3 fits very well. Its SO harsh and abrasive, but it gives the character so much to work with.. And yet so familiar to her.
I love how dark and nihilistic Alien 3 is. To me, it's the most disturbing of all the movies. It has the best score of the series as well, which is saying a lot.
Personally, I loved Alien 3 as much as I did the first two movies. The cinematography with its sepia-like tones and warm colours, the low-angle shots, the amazing score and the great acting from its cast definitely sets it apart from its predecessors. I think most people just have a problem with the beginning of the movie and the fates of Newt nd Hicks. Had it only been Ripley's pod that was ejected, leaving them both on the Sulaco, I feel it would have been better received (and it could have led to the studio potentially producing the William Gibson script sans Ripley... which, I agree, was a terrible script). The prison concept, I believe, was from David Twohy's draft. I do think the alien bursting from the dog made more sense as the alien gains the characteristics from its host - and a dog is fast and can be vicious. As for the egg mystery and how it got aboard the Sulaco. In the scene where Ripley reconnects Bishop and asked it questions as to what happened on the ship, they could have had her ask him how the alien egg got aboard. Bishop could have reviewed the ships computers and video logs and see that it was actually him who unknowingly brought it on board during the final scene of Aliens when he arrived late to pick up Ripley and Newt - realizing that there must have been some secret programming that automatically kicked in at some point which the company installed fearing that Ripley's distrust of androids might compromise its mission ro collect an alien sample. All this to say, that while Alien 3 is not a perfect movie, it is still a great one deserving the same respect that is shown to the films that preceded it.
@IvanMtl I think the egg on the sulaco came from the queen. Before she spears Bishop there is an acid burn in the floor that came from her torn egg sack. There could have been bio material in there and an egg grew from the fluid. Hence why it's awkwardly upside down in the floor. Just a thought.
My controversial opinion is that Alien 3 is the best looking of the films. Nothing looks like a set, even the Nostromo looks like a set in some parts. There is this gothic look with just small hints of sif-fi in the right places. The cinematography is also very unique. Everything is shot from a low angle.
Goldenthal's work is so brilliant in this film. He wears his influences on sleeve in this picture straight Penderecki meets Mahler. Also you can hear in a couple of the aleatoric sections him referencing bits from his teacher Joub Corigliano who scored Altered States. Also love the bit where the violins come in as the alien gets doused by the sprinklers. Always reminds me of the 4 seasons by Vivaldi. Definitely the stand out part of the film
In my opinion this film is underrated. I feel its criticism is mainstream minded audience wanted a James Cameron story type. I respect it as an Alien film that went in that different direction. Yes it has got its problems. But I feel that if David Fincher had made Alien 3 as a second film like Ridley Scott and James Cameron I feel he would of had the respect. It would be interesting if David Fincher didn't make Seven which made his film career and he stopped with just Alien. I feel either he would of either been that obscure filmmaker or like Charles Laughton and made that one film that flopped but had a cult following. Alien 3 is a film that has got that Marmite feel either you love or hate.
Also can't wait for Alien4 commentary. You boys better have it scheduled already! Such an interesting movie. I like it as a weird fan service project, and for a handful of great scenes and set pieces (and some VFX), but it is a weird one and feels like it sheds a lot of Alien(s) atmosphere, while feeling like a natural, logical and safe expansion of the world (mostly) fully established in Aliens. Feels a bit like SW Episode I in some ways. Anyway- hype!
This and Alien are tied for my favorite of the four, tbh, and have been since the first time I saw it. And I saw Alien in the theater. It's a wonderful story, beautifully directed, shot, and acted (cheesy cgi aside). Epic, tragic tale and the correct ending for Ripley.
Hi Oliver will watch the commentary when I next see the film as only watched it the other night. Just wanted to say I watched the documentry you made on prime. Very good work. Just felt I should let you know that I have appreciated your work and insight on movies for many years now. Keep up the stellar job
The tragedy of this movie hits me just as hard as any of the other films in the series. I find it to be beautiful and intriguing, even though it was a disjointed venture to film and create, I still deeply love the finished product.
Alien 3 theatrical cut is not a bad movie either, its just a punching bag for people to talk shit about. Really disappointed from what I got to hear in this audio commentary, but well even Fincher can’t acknowledge one of his greatest achievements and thats maybe because its not entirely of his own, it is actually from a group of creator who usually don’t get credit.
ALIEN 3 Assembly Cut is the true sequel to ALIEN. ALIENS may be one of the best sequels ever (I agree), however it came with a huge cost of making the Xenomorph a “shoot-up up” creature. ALIEN 3 Assembly is like a fine wine that gets better with age!
I’ve come around to loving this movie over the years. It was disappointing at first but there’s just too much good stuff in it for me to not be a fan. The sets and the score really stand out and I love the prison planet setting. The assembly cut helps a lot with making it make sense.
I saw Aliens live with the royal philharmonic playing in time with the movie. You really see how much environmental noise they provide in the score. And aliens is probably is the most scorey score out of the first 3.
I think you fellas need to read the Dark Horse comics 'ALIENS' run from the late eighties, particularly, volume 1. Aside from the fact that it has Hicks and Newt survive, which is interesting enough in itself, that comic thoroughly explores what would happen if the the company did get its hands on the alien, and not only do they get their hands on it, they have it on earth. And what follows, the genuine threat that this species poses, the comic really does it justice in a logical, plausible fashion that, I would say, vindicate Ripley's attitude in Alien 3
I much prefer not seeing the queen burster. It showed her choice didn't matter. She would have popped 5 seconds later regardless of what she chose. Removes her agency from the scene.
I hate this film in general, but it could be argued the queen bursted out prematurely because it instinctively felt it was in imminent danger of death (as her host plunged into a lava pit)
Ripley would've had no problem getting over Newt. Amanda was roughly the same age as her and WAS RIPLEY'S ACTUAL DAUGHTER and Ripley got over her death in only one or two scenes.
Here's something they could have done. They could have made it seem like outer space was larger than Ripley's back pocket and tell a new story with a different character.
I dont think that killing off charles dance was caused by weaver, i think it was trying to establish the real threat of the movie and remove the two characters that could have done something about the situation. It also marks a turning point in the film where it tries to become more action oriented so the two talky characters had to go. Finally, dance was becoming a love interest which would have vastly complicated the ending weaver demanded, he had to die first no matter what.
I was well invested in it. Seen the others on VHS, read the Dark Horse comics. Wasn't old enough to see it the cinema, but had read the novelisation by Alan Dean Foster and played the game. It didn't disappoint, and its a very interesting movie in its own right.....for various reasons. Never thought it was shit or poor.
Very entertaining and informative commentary, thanks! It's crazy how destructive studio meddling was. I do like Alien3, despite its numerous issues. On the surface (visual design, tone, atmosphere, setting) there are a lot of decent/good/promising things, but the film gets messier the deeper you analyze it. I don't really dislike any movie with alien in it, besides AvP2 Requiem. The first one is still acceptable, dumb fan service. Not bad enough to be insulting, just watch decent effects and forget most of it the next day. Especially if you're a younger boy.
Criminally underrated flick. The last great movie in the franchise. I don't have a problem with Resurrection as a concept, but the script and the way the characters are written made it unwatchable for me, that Joss Whedon bs style (wich I must say, I never understood why some people praise him as a writer). Hell, I like the first AVP waay more, I think its a decent popcorn flick. AVP r, Prometheus, and alien Covenant... lets not talk about it haha
People get hung up on Hicks and Newt. They honestly just wanted Aliens again. I love the fact that the first three films are all completely different in tone, yet all seamlessly run together as a complete trilogy.
@@DroosterH True, also, its not like their deaths dont impact Riplay, the rest of the movie she is basically miserable because of that. The Xenomorph is a force of nature, and you cant win, if you encounter them.
@@baronvonslambert I was calling out his shit when Buffy first aired. The constant, never ending quips made me feel ill. He's the kiss of death for anything he's involved in.
@@DroosterH I disagree. They wanted a good movie and continuing the story in a new and interesting direction. This movie pressed reset and turned right back to the end of Alien/start of Aliens. Back to the same dark environments and forced Ripley to be alone again. The reason the first two worked so well was the cast. Alien 3 have too few of those. It was not bravery. It was egos, money and not wanting to share spotlight with other loved characters
I've followed both of your channels for a while, Oliver the longest. Commentaries from you and other content creators are great, I know that many modern movies lack in quality and vision. Physical media needs to be celebrated and protected. I have a massive DVD and Blu-ray collection and whenever I could, I got something that had special features, especially commentaries. I can watch movies over and over and for most things that have a commentary, I've watched the movie more times with the commentary than as the movie itself. Although I totally get why the other two Alien movies are more beloved and I love them too. THIS... is my favourite and I'm Glad to see it getting more love in the comments that I was expecting. I've been really busy lately but have some time off. Hopefully get some things done around the house and catch up on a backlog of videos. One Sunday I finally got around to your Robocop commentary. I intend to do Robocop 2 and then watch the Alien ones in order.
The movie has its moments, the birth of the ALIEN for example, and of course the great music by Elliot Goldenthal. But there are also too many flaws, especially in the second half! Is it the black sheep of the franchise? Absolutely not, the title belongs to ALIEN 4 alone!
Alien 3, how NOT to make a movie. The most unlikeable collection of characters from a major studio. One guy is a murderer and rapist, another guy has a low IQ, another guy is a serial killer. These are not character types we root for. If anything, the alien is the hero by getting rid of these awful people!
Alien 3 is not my favorite Alien film, but I always watch it after I watch Alien and Aliens. I don't think that it's a great movie, but I appreciate it. In an alternate universe, Alien 3 is a masterpiece.
I do fan cuts, especially for the first 4 transformers films (fuck 5) and the Hobbit trilogy. I did do an almost Obi-wan series (I didn't agree with that Patterson cut) chat to me if you like to see an Alien 3 Special Special edition lol
While it has a more respectable reception now, I don't feel this film really recovered from killing off Newt etc at the start which instantly aggravated the audience. Setting the film in a prison means that most of the characters are unlikeable by design which doesn't help either.
Loved Alien 3 since the first time I saw it on VHS release with Alien being my favourite all time movie. If you're a fan check out the new trailer of Project A34K which combines the best of both edits in 4K with all the visual effects re-comped. Looks fantastic. th-cam.com/video/Nj_fQLbsB94/w-d-xo.html
I really like the film, despite it's flaws but I too am really into the wooden planet / monk setting. It doesn't feel appropriate for Alien at all, but part of me would still love to see it. Maybe as an anime or something. Regarding the believability, I do think the wooden planet with the tiny atmosphere is a bit too out there, but they could've made a compromise by instead just have be a real planet or moon while still having monks living in a huge wooden monastery or something like that and keep all the themes of demons etc. Could be like an episode of Stargate meets Alien. I really just want to see those Bosch like paintings brought to life on screen. Really cool atmosphere. Also I completely agree with Rob on Sigourney Weaver at around 50 mins in. I like her performances and the alien franchise is one of my favourites but i do get the impression she is a bit of a diva in real life and I don't really trust anything she says.
Interesting to hear you didn’t see the first two prior to seeing this. I saw the first two on vhs at god knows what age (also born in ‘82) and was hooked. I remember being hyped to see this and feeling let down, it felt really grim and the charm just wasn’t there.
Since your terrific 2016 retro of it I’ve warmed to the film, but only a small amount. Like a really expensive fanfic was produced; on it's own an intriguing 6/10 but in the context of following the first two, it’s a mess and immediately shoots itself in both feet with the tone and early deaths sadly.
Did you ever read 2000AD? The Durham Red 'Scarlet Cantos' story from the mid 90s features a wooden planet - clearly inspired by this. It certainly fits the Strontium Dog universe better than Alien!
I have mixed feelings about 3. On the one hand I will always be very annoyed that Hicks and Newt were just done away with after everything that happened in Aliens. However.... on the other side of the coin that same heartless elimination of those characters is sort of in keeping with Alien, because anyone can die and there is no happy ending that is ever guaranteed in this cruel movie universe. Its that aspect that I loved about the ending of alien covenant, David won, the bad guy won. In alien 3 the xenos still won, because they will relentlessly chase you through sequels until you are a goner. That is the cruel reality of the xenomorph.
The death of Hicks and Newt grounded the hostility of the universe. Space itself became the monster. Often loved ones pass unexpected and unceremoniously in pointless accidents that's the brutality of the universe. The fact that technology failed them is fitting, aids Ripley descent, and hit the audience harder than any deaths in the series. I'll defend the choice
@@mikeadams7904 its not the best in terms of story or special effects but real fans know you cant beat the score and the acting of Alien³, this movie did what the Red Wedding episode of Game of Thrones did for television series but it did two decades before
Theres nothing quite like Alien 3. Its environment, visuals and cinematography are amazing. And the acting is brilliant throughout. I never tire of watching it
I'm so glad to see Alien 3 getting love in the comments. It's still my favourite of the Alien Franchise for all the reasons you've listed.
@@symmie666 💯% agree
2nd 100% agree!
Same for me. I never tire of watching this film. For one the 2 C.Ds actors Charles Dutton & Charles Dance were excellent in their roles. It could have been a 3 character film with them & Sigourney and it would have worked! This film is so unappreciated. But the love is out there! And right here!
As much as people see this entry as the Black Sheep of the franchise, I still think that the aesthetic & tone of this entry is just as influential as the first two.
I agree, it’s aged very well.
The music is amazing too
@@leejones8582 yes! The score is amazing.
The problem is what they pointed out at the start. It's like going to a movie to get depression. Newt and Hicks dying off screen at the start makes Aliens (2) feel almost pointless. Then the only survivor Ripley should be in pure depression mode pretty much the whole movie, meanwhile she's surrounded by religious nutjobs and rapists. It's not exactly as thrilling at is it depressing especially where the previous movie left off.
If it was it's own story in the Alien universe not involving Ripley I think it could've been received better, but Aliens was a hit and to this day is preferred even over the original to a lot of people, only to have the sequel to basically erase the outcome of the previous movie lol.
As influential as the original Alien? I really do not think so. I just don't see its influence anywhere. I don't think its as bad as some people say but I feel its a mistake to use the word influence. Alien blazed a trail into sci fi horror atmosphere that pretty much no one was doing at the time and set a new standard that many would follow for years to come. Honestly even Aliens has had more influence on the action genre than Alien 3 has had on anything.
I love Alien3, it's been my favourite since I first saw it, just like you Oliver (I'm around the same age - 42?), it was my first Alien film and it hit me massively. I thought I was the only weirdo in the world who liked it until I read David Pringle's "The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Science Fiction' and the writer described it as "Arguably the best in the series that started with Alien...". Whilst I agree it has its muddled flaws and has its undeniable studio interference (I myself was part of the VHS workprint sharing community nearly 30 years ago online), one of the things I never cease to marvel at is how unbelievably illogical it is as the trilogy closer for a tent-pole science fiction franchise. It's so punk, so downbeat, so against the grain of everything anything anyone was expecting there's something to truly marvel there as an artistic statement. There's all this relentless studio interference, so many producers on the end of a telephone line ordering Fincher to cut corners, yet the end result is not some shallow comic book movie to appease the masses, instead we get "Ken Loach's Alien" or "Kes... in Space". It's so miserably British.
They didn't even get the cast to Americanise their pronunciation of 'lieutenant' like Patrick Stewart would in Star Trek TNG; instead she's suddenly and, quite jarringly I imagine, 'leftenant Ripley' to a worldwide audience. The fact that this movie exists in which everyone dies, in which the principal cast are regional British sex offenders, it's so utterly baffling after Aliens; the movie with the cool soldiers, the cool space ships, the cool tank, the cool machine guns... and they followed it up with this manically depressive fusion of Scum, Kes and The Offence, with a parasitic monster thrown in for 5 minutes, I think it's absolutely incredible. Alien3 would never ever get made today, or ever... in fact I'm baffled how it ever got made in the first place. And I love it all the more for that. I'd love for an official hybrid cut that gave us the dog birth and the chestbursting scene at the end, but with the extended scenes that gave life to the rest of the prison, especially if they could just replace all facehugger scenes with the queen facehugger they created but deleted. I cannot fathom why they removed it since it makes so much more sense than to feature a single regular facehugger responsible for two impregnations?
To think that somehow there was a studio mandate somewhere amongst its torturous production that seemingly had the message of "complete closure, with little to no possibility of a sequel" is utterly bizarre, oh and cast who you like from regional British telly. And am all the more grateful for it, it was a very bold decision that for me makes it a very special movie.
Another interesting observation is, as per your commentary, it feels like it truly ushered in the "90s". It's so grim, gold and grunge, though still consistent in that dilapidated industrial world of retro-futuristic green-text CRT screens and dot-matrix printers. Indeed it makes the recall to Ripley's original final broadcast at the end of Alien3 all the more powerful, because although only 13 years took place between Alien and Alien3, it truly felt like they captured "three decades" in history; literally the 70s, 80s and 90s. Ripley slept for 57 years, but from Alien to Alien3 almost felt like 30, even though it hadn't even hit half of that. When she said "you've been in my life so long, I can't remember anything else" you truly felt it and her final send-off literally felt like decades had past, just as it had for her in the story. Ironically nearly as much time has passed between Prometheus and Romulus, than passed between Alien and Alien3 which I find almost unbelievable. The world seems to move so much slower these days, or is it faster?
Anyway, thanks for a great commentary, thoroughly enjoyable as always :)
My friend,very nice comment,or,a "novel" if i may call it so... 😂
Just joking,but i agree totally, I LOVE A3, maybe even most of all,i hate these idiot,which all hate the film bcs of death of Hicks & Newt!?
What i jate the most,is i would understand if this happens in a Marvrl/Disney movie,but this is alien,what else do u expect bit it to be depressing,scary,grimy and dark...
Did these idiots expect that A3 will be a family comedy,with Rip./Newt/Hicks livin in the suburbs,a big house,with pets,2 cars,and going to work/school every day and Newt saying no to drugs!?
A3 is a MASTERPIECE !!!
The commentaries are the best thing you do.
You and Rob are more than the sum of your parts. The best collaborations you have done.
Alien 3 the assembly cut is NOT a bad movie by any standards. It's a worthy entry as part of the original trilogy. It's visually unique and is as claustrophobic as the first movie.
The stillness and silence after Andrews (Brian Glover) is taken by the Alien being broken by “F*CK!” remains one of my favorite reaction shots in film
You're one of my favourite TH-camrs, glad to see you do a commentary for this under rated gem!
Thanks very much!
The beach at the start is actually in Seaham in county Durham, it's called blast beach, really nice place to visit.
Alien 3 is a very unique movie. I love it as much as Alien & Aliens. First of all, it has a very interesting atmosphere. The acting was by far the best in the whole franchise. Fantastic soundtrack! Epic finale! And the most important - it has introduced the "xenomorph takes features of its host" idea and royal facehuggers. The tunnel chase & the Ripley/Xeno close-up scenes are among my all-time favorite movie scenes!
The assembly or extended cut is a very good film. I absolutely love it.
@@SA-zoom1 I like bits and pieces of each cut. I like the dog over the ox. It hits harder. I also like the queen birth version it feels more epic than her just falling in
The death of Hicks and Newt grounded the hostility of the universe. Space itself became the monster. Often loved ones pass unexpected and unceremoniously in pointless accidents that's the brutality of the universe. The fact that technology failed them is fitting, aids Ripley descent, and hit the audience harder than any deaths in the series. I'll defend the choice
Agreed 💯
1:13:27 - Maybe its because the script isnt clear but i thought the film was halfway implying that the dog alien isnt doing the normal alien behavior because Ripley is hosting a queen. It doesnt need to make a nest or do its normal life cycle because it is compelled to protect the queen host. As long as ripley is alive it can just hunt just to sustain itself.
For me, this is my favourite Alien movie. I just find it's drama so engrossing, and it's mood is one I can sink into, with Sigourney's best performance as Ripley for my money. I think I relate to it so well because of bereavement. Newt and Hicks dying suddenly and without ceremony is something I find so truthful, haunting and relatable.
But Rob Hill's view of just not vibing with that is totally valid I think. And for other fans who can't get past the death of Newt, I can't fault you for it. It's good that, even if fictional, you hate the death of a young child.
Though while I get why people find it too much, I honestly find it an uplifiting movie because it's all about staring death in the eyes and going out on your own terms, along with the utter worst of humanity finding the grace within themselves to do what's right. The film cleanses me somewhat, even if it is tragic.
I've replied to a couple of other comments so far and am so glad to see it getting love. I totally get why the first 2 are the favourites of the franchise, they are two totally different movies but don't need to break each other's lore. This is my favourite too, it's dark but I never found it depressing. I also think that killing off Newt and Hicks was necessary to keep Ripley at the heart of the franchise. It was a tough thing to see, the characters were in 1 movie and loved. You have to care about something to feel its loss.
I think that's hogwash. Some of the decisions made in the production, and things forced by the studio are basically unforgivable.
Just ask Fincher.
Both the performances and the score is what makes this movie great
RIchard E.Grant emerges from the shadows: “We’ve gone on holiday by mistake.”
The altered 20th Century FOX fanfare is killer. Glad you guys brought that up. It’s so eerie
They did it again on Rumulus, only much less impactfully, since the first scene of Alien 3 is where everything goes wrong.
@@quicogil4565I appreciate that Romulus paid homage to it, but not segueing into the film but rather the silent Scott Free logo kinda kills the creepy momentum.
I see the problem though, there’s no place else to put it.
just want to say i appreciate the thumbnails on this channel, nothing feels like click bait and you dont insult the audience.
Charles Dutton is unmatched as Dillon in this film. One of my favorite characters of the series.
I also love Goldenthals score. It let's you know from the drop to abandon all hope. The DNA for what he'd bring to Batman Forever is very present here.
He recycled some of his score for the bike chase scene in Batman and Robin
I agree. Even though the others all have memorable actors and characters, this has the best ensemble. Charles Dance also added a well needed warmth to the movie. Pete Postlethwaite too, added character to movie and was someone for Ripley to bounce off of in a different way.
@HumanHamCube well it probably wasn't him. It was probably temped with it and then Schumacher probably decided to keep it
You and Rob work well together. I'm looking forward to your alien resurrection commentary next!
So nice to see some love for 3 in the comments here. There's a LOT to appreciate in this movie despite some flaws.
Each of the original Alien movies is a different genre.
Alien is horror
Aliens is an action thriller
Alien 3 is a character drama about terminal illness. It works well as an allegory of the AIDS epidemic, especially with the destruction of Ripley's found family, which leaves her alone in a struggle to die with dignity. It could also be thought of as gothic horror, which is more about the mood than the scares
(Alien: Resurrection is a dark comedy/50s B-movie revival)
2:26:33 - omg... its clear Rob is not getting the whole fucking movie. I was rolling my eyes every time he speaks.
Seems like he just wants a fundamentally different film. Seems like he wants something more like an ALIENS Pt2. Than what Fincher made. Something bleak, mean, and harsh. Not a feel good movie
I grew up with these movies. I saw the first two when they came out on VHS, and I snuck into the cinema to see Alien 3. And I was just not anywhere near as morally or emotionally offended about the death of Hicks and Newt. I always felt that Alien 3 spoke to me in a personal way. I loved the nihilism and cynicism of it all. And I adored the gothic horror and as the incredible performances for such a satisfyingly raw cast of characters.
So while I understand people who we're upset at this film about Hicks and Newt, I just can't understand holding a grudge, especially for so long. The film has so many amazing qualities. It's a sight to behold. The atmosphere is dense and authentic. The characters are so interesting You can't look away, because the performances are top-notch. And Ripley's arc and Sigourney portrayal is incredible.
I can see why it was this version of the film that enticed her to return. And I can see why she has recently encouraged Fincher to revisit the film.
Personally I found it scary when I rewatched it a few days ago, and I don't think the lack of much technology means it isn't sci-fi, that's almost a sci-fi trope in itself. Sci-fi is more than just rayguns and spaceships, it can also be how people deal with a threat when they don't have all those resources, or space marines.
Glad you brought up Goldenthal's score. I love his distinctive use of horns; you can easily tell that this, Interview with the Vampire and Batman Forever were scored by him just by listening to the horns.
Looking forward to checking this out.
Love the channel.
Robocop 3 and Resurrection on the Horizon 😈
Also I like Alien 3 flaws and all 👽
The film was perfect if not damn near perfect. I really enjoyed it.
This is absolutely not a bad movie. The first three movie to me are official cannon, I consider the fourth movie as an alternate universe kind of thing.
Spot On Correct-the Alien Trilogy as they used to say for the VHS ads....
same here, the fourth movie reminds me one of those comic stories based on the alien universe, a sort of spin off in which we explore the adventures of Ripley's clone...it's just not Ripley.
Still my favorite Alien movie.
Mine as well. Is going to be great rewatching it while listening to the commentary.
I'd much rather rewatch this one than Prometheus, Covenant or Resurrection.
It has it's flaws but the ambience and the characters are great.
@@AquaticAbomination It'll be fun to throw Alien:Romulus into the Alien/Aliens mix around Christmas time when it's out on DVD!Prometheus/Covenant fit more in the BladeRunner 2049 (AI Androids,David)world in my esteem:)....
Can't beat the original, but it's really close. My second favourite in the whole franchise and it keeps getting better over the years, while "Aliens" really lost its magic for me.
Why? How? 😅
If you take into account the Directors Cut of Aliens that puts more focus on Ripley waking up to discover and deal with her daughter and family being dead in addition to the overall themes of motherhood, the opening circumstances of Alien3 fits very well.
Its SO harsh and abrasive, but it gives the character so much to work with.. And yet so familiar to her.
I love how dark and nihilistic Alien 3 is. To me, it's the most disturbing of all the movies. It has the best score of the series as well, which is saying a lot.
Personally, I loved Alien 3 as much as I did the first two movies. The cinematography with its sepia-like tones and warm colours, the low-angle shots, the amazing score and the great acting from its cast definitely sets it apart from its predecessors. I think most people just have a problem with the beginning of the movie and the fates of Newt nd Hicks. Had it only been Ripley's pod that was ejected, leaving them both on the Sulaco, I feel it would have been better received (and it could have led to the studio potentially producing the William Gibson script sans Ripley... which, I agree, was a terrible script). The prison concept, I believe, was from David Twohy's draft. I do think the alien bursting from the dog made more sense as the alien gains the characteristics from its host - and a dog is fast and can be vicious. As for the egg mystery and how it got aboard the Sulaco. In the scene where Ripley reconnects Bishop and asked it questions as to what happened on the ship, they could have had her ask him how the alien egg got aboard. Bishop could have reviewed the ships computers and video logs and see that it was actually him who unknowingly brought it on board during the final scene of Aliens when he arrived late to pick up Ripley and Newt - realizing that there must have been some secret programming that automatically kicked in at some point which the company installed fearing that Ripley's distrust of androids might compromise its mission ro collect an alien sample. All this to say, that while Alien 3 is not a perfect movie, it is still a great one deserving the same respect that is shown to the films that preceded it.
@IvanMtl I think the egg on the sulaco came from the queen. Before she spears Bishop there is an acid burn in the floor that came from her torn egg sack. There could have been bio material in there and an egg grew from the fluid. Hence why it's awkwardly upside down in the floor. Just a thought.
My controversial opinion is that Alien 3 is the best looking of the films. Nothing looks like a set, even the Nostromo looks like a set in some parts. There is this gothic look with just small hints of sif-fi in the right places. The cinematography is also very unique. Everything is shot from a low angle.
Goldenthal's work is so brilliant in this film. He wears his influences on sleeve in this picture straight Penderecki meets Mahler. Also you can hear in a couple of the aleatoric sections him referencing bits from his teacher Joub Corigliano who scored Altered States. Also love the bit where the violins come in as the alien gets doused by the sprinklers. Always reminds me of the 4 seasons by Vivaldi. Definitely the stand out part of the film
lol is this commentary just Rob saying how disappointed he was over and over
In my opinion this film is underrated. I feel its criticism is mainstream minded audience wanted a James Cameron story type. I respect it as an Alien film that went in that different direction. Yes it has got its problems. But I feel that if David Fincher had made Alien 3 as a second film like Ridley Scott and James Cameron I feel he would of had the respect. It would be interesting if David Fincher didn't make Seven which made his film career and he stopped with just Alien. I feel either he would of either been that obscure filmmaker or like Charles Laughton and made that one film that flopped but had a cult following. Alien 3 is a film that has got that Marmite feel either you love or hate.
As Jay Baumann described in the RLM commentary for Alien, this movie is "a perfect little nightmare."
Hack frauds. Loveable hack frauds.
Also can't wait for Alien4 commentary. You boys better have it scheduled already! Such an interesting movie. I like it as a weird fan service project, and for a handful of great scenes and set pieces (and some VFX), but it is a weird one and feels like it sheds a lot of Alien(s) atmosphere, while feeling like a natural, logical and safe expansion of the world (mostly) fully established in Aliens. Feels a bit like SW Episode I in some ways. Anyway- hype!
This and Alien are tied for my favorite of the four, tbh, and have been since the first time I saw it. And I saw Alien in the theater. It's a wonderful story, beautifully directed, shot, and acted (cheesy cgi aside). Epic, tragic tale and the correct ending for Ripley.
So weird I'm watching Alien3 right now. As I've never seen it before I'm half an hour in it's actually quite good so far.
Hi Oliver will watch the commentary when I next see the film as only watched it the other night. Just wanted to say I watched the documentry you made on prime. Very good work. Just felt I should let you know that I have appreciated your work and insight on movies for many years now. Keep up the stellar job
I think its an underrated gem.so dark , bleak and grim.
Morse was such a fun character. I always wanted to know what happened to him after the events of A3. I love this movie no matter what.
Alien Theory jas a video on him (i think he dies in prison,but writes a book before,abt events on Fiorina 161 , called "Space Beast")!
The tragedy of this movie hits me just as hard as any of the other films in the series. I find it to be beautiful and intriguing, even though it was a disjointed venture to film and create, I still deeply love the finished product.
The "Fuck!" line read always gets me in this movie lol
Great episode! Oliver, you have to commentary Alien: Resurrection!!!
Alien 3's other problem was that fans had been spoilt by the comics that had been released since Aliens.
Alien 3 theatrical cut is not a bad movie either, its just a punching bag for people to talk shit about. Really disappointed from what I got to hear in this audio commentary, but well even Fincher can’t acknowledge one of his greatest achievements and thats maybe because its not entirely of his own, it is actually from a group of creator who usually don’t get credit.
ALIEN 3 Assembly Cut is the true sequel to ALIEN. ALIENS may be one of the best sequels ever (I agree), however it came with a huge cost of making the Xenomorph a “shoot-up up” creature. ALIEN 3 Assembly is like a fine wine that gets better with age!
They did build a cocoon it would have been in the air ducts but it was cut out of the script.
At 1 hour and 2 minutes in to this commentary I began to suspect that Rob works for Wayland Yutani.
Thank you Oliver!
I’ve come around to loving this movie over the years. It was disappointing at first but there’s just too much good stuff in it for me to not be a fan. The sets and the score really stand out and I love the prison planet setting. The assembly cut helps a lot with making it make sense.
I saw Aliens live with the royal philharmonic playing in time with the movie. You really see how much environmental noise they provide in the score. And aliens is probably is the most scorey score out of the first 3.
Oliver your retro on Alien 3 is a true gem
I think you fellas need to read the Dark Horse comics 'ALIENS' run from the late eighties, particularly, volume 1. Aside from the fact that it has Hicks and Newt survive, which is interesting enough in itself, that comic thoroughly explores what would happen if the the company did get its hands on the alien, and not only do they get their hands on it, they have it on earth. And what follows, the genuine threat that this species poses, the comic really does it justice in a logical, plausible fashion that, I would say, vindicate Ripley's attitude in Alien 3
I much prefer not seeing the queen burster. It showed her choice didn't matter. She would have popped 5 seconds later regardless of what she chose. Removes her agency from the scene.
I hate this film in general, but it could be argued the queen bursted out prematurely because it instinctively felt it was in imminent danger of death (as her host plunged into a lava pit)
@@mechinate also a fair take.
I like the burster coming out. It brought out a sense of the series ending in a draw. They poetically/visually off each other.
Ripley would've had no problem getting over Newt. Amanda was roughly the same age as her and WAS RIPLEY'S ACTUAL DAUGHTER and Ripley got over her death in only one or two scenes.
Here's something they could have done. They could have made it seem like outer space was larger than Ripley's back pocket and tell a new story with a different character.
Nah, you saw it in cinemas, not theaters.
Ive always had a soft spot for this movie for some reason!
Just in time to finish my work day. Thanks boys I love the Alien episodes!!
Charles S Dutton was my favorite character in this movie and his speech saying fuck that thing was epic!
I love Alien3. Its my 2nd favourite after Alien.
I dont think that killing off charles dance was caused by weaver, i think it was trying to establish the real threat of the movie and remove the two characters that could have done something about the situation. It also marks a turning point in the film where it tries to become more action oriented so the two talky characters had to go. Finally, dance was becoming a love interest which would have vastly complicated the ending weaver demanded, he had to die first no matter what.
A underrated film the assembly cut is the best.
i can never get these commentary tracks to line up well with watching the movie is there a way to download them like an srt subtitle file?
You can download the audio version via my Patreon which will make it easier to sync dude.
I was well invested in it. Seen the others on VHS, read the Dark Horse comics. Wasn't old enough to see it the cinema, but had read the novelisation by Alan Dean Foster and played the game. It didn't disappoint, and its a very interesting movie in its own right.....for various reasons. Never thought it was shit or poor.
Very entertaining and informative commentary, thanks! It's crazy how destructive studio meddling was.
I do like Alien3, despite its numerous issues. On the surface (visual design, tone, atmosphere, setting) there are a lot of decent/good/promising things, but the film gets messier the deeper you analyze it. I don't really dislike any movie with alien in it, besides AvP2 Requiem. The first one is still acceptable, dumb fan service. Not bad enough to be insulting, just watch decent effects and forget most of it the next day. Especially if you're a younger boy.
Criminally underrated flick. The last great movie in the franchise. I don't have a problem with Resurrection as a concept, but the script and the way the characters are written made it unwatchable for me, that Joss Whedon bs style (wich I must say, I never understood why some people praise him as a writer). Hell, I like the first AVP waay more, I think its a decent popcorn flick. AVP r, Prometheus, and alien Covenant... lets not talk about it haha
People get hung up on Hicks and Newt. They honestly just wanted Aliens again.
I love the fact that the first three films are all completely different in tone, yet all seamlessly run together as a complete trilogy.
@@DroosterH True, also, its not like their deaths dont impact Riplay, the rest of the movie she is basically miserable because of that. The Xenomorph is a force of nature, and you cant win, if you encounter them.
@@baronvonslambert I was calling out his shit when Buffy first aired. The constant, never ending quips made me feel ill. He's the kiss of death for anything he's involved in.
@@DroosterH I disagree. They wanted a good movie and continuing the story in a new and interesting direction. This movie pressed reset and turned right back to the end of Alien/start of Aliens. Back to the same dark environments and forced Ripley to be alone again. The reason the first two worked so well was the cast. Alien 3 have too few of those. It was not bravery. It was egos, money and not wanting to share spotlight with other loved characters
Oliver has restarted canon films well done 😊
I prefer the dog burster despite my love of dogs and would love to see some of the cg updated as it looks bad
I prefer the dog as well. It hits MUCH harder. The ox is pretty tame and lame
Honestly, both cuts of this movie are far better than most detractors claim.
It's certainly far better than 4 aka Resurrection.
@orinanime A³ gets better as modern films are declining so hard in quality, especially franchise entries. Alien ³ was a well made film.
@@HumanHamCube nah. I don't buy into that "back in my day...."/"old movies are better, modern movies suck" mindset.
@orinanime So star wars is just as good now as it was "back in your day?"
I disagree. Resurrection is dumb but I can at least laugh and have fun with it. Alien 3 is just a depressing slog from start to finish.
@@DravenG96 it's too dumb for me to have fun with it. I honestly prefer the bleak tone of Alien 3.
I've followed both of your channels for a while, Oliver the longest. Commentaries from you and other content creators are great, I know that many modern movies lack in quality and vision. Physical media needs to be celebrated and protected. I have a massive DVD and Blu-ray collection and whenever I could, I got something that had special features, especially commentaries. I can watch movies over and over and for most things that have a commentary, I've watched the movie more times with the commentary than as the movie itself.
Although I totally get why the other two Alien movies are more beloved and I love them too. THIS... is my favourite and I'm Glad to see it getting more love in the comments that I was expecting.
I've been really busy lately but have some time off. Hopefully get some things done around the house and catch up on a backlog of videos. One Sunday I finally got around to your Robocop commentary. I intend to do Robocop 2 and then watch the Alien ones in order.
The movie has its moments, the birth of the ALIEN for example, and of course the great music by Elliot Goldenthal. But there are also too many flaws, especially in the second half! Is it the black sheep of the franchise? Absolutely not, the title belongs to ALIEN 4 alone!
I love Alien 3.
Alien 3, how NOT to make a movie. The most unlikeable collection of characters from a major studio. One guy is a murderer and rapist, another guy has a low IQ, another guy is a serial killer. These are not character types we root for. If anything, the alien is the hero by getting rid of these awful people!
Flawed as Hell, but I LOVE this movie.
Alien 3 is not my favorite Alien film, but I always watch it after I watch Alien and Aliens. I don't think that it's a great movie, but I appreciate it. In an alternate universe, Alien 3 is a masterpiece.
27:04 and Moxie from Auf Weidersehn, Pet
He was an arsonist from Kirby
@@TheLongdog78 that’s right! And Oz only remembers his name because it rhymes with poxy 😂
I still like most parts of this movie!
Looking forward to A³4K.
I do fan cuts, especially for the first 4 transformers films (fuck 5) and the Hobbit trilogy. I did do an almost Obi-wan series (I didn't agree with that Patterson cut) chat to me if you like to see an Alien 3 Special Special edition lol
While it has a more respectable reception now, I don't feel this film really recovered from killing off Newt etc at the start which instantly aggravated the audience. Setting the film in a prison means that most of the characters are unlikeable by design which doesn't help either.
Loved Alien 3 since the first time I saw it on VHS release with Alien being my favourite all time movie. If you're a fan check out the new trailer of Project A34K which combines the best of both edits in 4K with all the visual effects re-comped. Looks fantastic. th-cam.com/video/Nj_fQLbsB94/w-d-xo.html
another great commentary :), can't wait for when you do resurrection ;)
Thans for doing the commentary, both interesting and fun :)
Best Score in the Series
Ah, finally; a Red Dwarf commentary. . . wait. . . what is this?
I really like the film, despite it's flaws but I too am really into the wooden planet / monk setting. It doesn't feel appropriate for Alien at all, but part of me would still love to see it. Maybe as an anime or something. Regarding the believability, I do think the wooden planet with the tiny atmosphere is a bit too out there, but they could've made a compromise by instead just have be a real planet or moon while still having monks living in a huge wooden monastery or something like that and keep all the themes of demons etc. Could be like an episode of Stargate meets Alien. I really just want to see those Bosch like paintings brought to life on screen. Really cool atmosphere.
Also I completely agree with Rob on Sigourney Weaver at around 50 mins in. I like her performances and the alien franchise is one of my favourites but i do get the impression she is a bit of a diva in real life and I don't really trust anything she says.
Interesting to hear you didn’t see the first two prior to seeing this. I saw the first two on vhs at god knows what age (also born in ‘82) and was hooked. I remember being hyped to see this and feeling let down, it felt really grim and the charm just wasn’t there.
Who is Aussie there?
Since your terrific 2016 retro of it I’ve warmed to the film, but only a small amount. Like a really expensive fanfic was produced; on it's own an intriguing 6/10 but in the context of following the first two, it’s a mess and immediately shoots itself in both feet with the tone and early deaths sadly.
Did you ever read 2000AD? The Durham Red 'Scarlet Cantos' story from the mid 90s features a wooden planet - clearly inspired by this. It certainly fits the Strontium Dog universe better than Alien!
"Some kind of apocalyptic, millenarian, Christian fundamentalist...uh..." - Clemens about the prisoners' religion
Millenarians believe a falling star, a beast and a harlot will bring about the end times. Kind of cool in this story.
I have mixed feelings about 3. On the one hand I will always be very annoyed that Hicks and Newt were just done away with after everything that happened in Aliens. However.... on the other side of the coin that same heartless elimination of those characters is sort of in keeping with Alien, because anyone can die and there is no happy ending that is ever guaranteed in this cruel movie universe. Its that aspect that I loved about the ending of alien covenant, David won, the bad guy won. In alien 3 the xenos still won, because they will relentlessly chase you through sequels until you are a goner. That is the cruel reality of the xenomorph.
The death of Hicks and Newt grounded the hostility of the universe. Space itself became the monster. Often loved ones pass unexpected and unceremoniously in pointless accidents that's the brutality of the universe. The fact that technology failed them is fitting, aids Ripley descent, and hit the audience harder than any deaths in the series. I'll defend the choice
The biggest problem with this one is the actual xenomorph looks like shit
Not the “hard R rated film” 💀💀💀💀
True Alien fans know this is the best in the franchise
It is absolutely not better than the previous two. There Is no true fan criteria
@@mikeadams7904 its not the best in terms of story or special effects but real fans know you cant beat the score and the acting of Alien³, this movie did what the Red Wedding episode of Game of Thrones did for television series but it did two decades before