About me:Paul W. Anderson & Uwe Boll. Stop making bad video game movies.
Member since:16.12.2004
Reviews:61
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Review rated by 12 Ciao members on average: helpful
Aliens is one of the greatest sequels of all time. My feelings on the film are in much greater detail are available in my review of the movie itself. However this review is based more on the content of the DVD and its features. This is a single disc special edition version.
Brief Story Outline
57 years after her first encounter with the alien infested planet ( LV-426 ) Ripley returns with a force of marines to investigate a colony now located there. It soon becomes apparent the alien menance is more than they bargined for.
This movie is largely regarded as one of the few example were a sequel is worthy of its predeccessor. Somehow Cameron was able to make a great horror movie into a great action movie whilst holding onto the feel of the original. Its a remarkable feat indeed given the impact of "Alien." The movies cast is equally memorable for their great performances.
Disc Features
Features the special edition of Aliens and additionally the original theatrical version. The special edition features an additional 17 minutes of footage and is director James Cameron's preferred version. This footage is all high quality and fits in seemlessly with the theatrical release. It begins with a short intro from Cameron. Some of it provides a superb insight into LV-426 before the aliens attack the colony including when the aliens are first discovered by Newts parents. Other scenes hold additional material involving the marines and Ripley being questioned over her actions on the Nustromo. The additional footage is featured in these scenes.
04 the park, 05 the inquest, 06 LV-426, 07 the big score, 08 home alone, 10 sulaco, 14 express elevator to hell, 15 arrival, 16 memories, 26 barracade, 27 a mothers love, 28 speculation, 29 the tunnel, 31 the corridor, 37 ripleys promise, 44 end titles (to credit special addition footage)
The extra footage is far from merely filler, that an awful lot of lesser movies employ in order to just pass of a lackluster special edition to rob people of more cash. Rather the beginning of the movie is changed quite significantly with the Ripleys inquest and the colony on LV-426.
Ripleys inquest is certainly something i felt was lacking from the original cut as her actions on the Nustromo are openly questioned and the life she left behind revealed. I feel we needed more of the corporation hiding the truth and dismissing her claims to further place her in an isolated position. Then learning she left a daughter behind, broke a promise to return to her without chance of redemption is something very real about a person gone for over half a century.
The colonies demise is perhaps made much stronger with the knowledge of seeing it thrive, witnessing children playing and actually viewing Newts family before tragedy strikes. To see this place now in the condition the marines find it makes you feel more aware of the struggle that must have went on, the lives lost. Its definately something i feel that doesnt detract from the original cut but enhances.
Whilst this version of the special edition is perhaps obsolete due to the creation of the 2 disc special edition now in stores. It features a second disc brimming with features sorely missing from this single disc. However it is often cheaper, so its up to how much you love your bonus features.
ger, louder and brasher than before. By the simple expedient of turning the singular beast of the original into a plural, Cameron transforms the franchise's focus from horror ...
ger, louder and brasher than before. By the simple expedient of turning the singular beast of the original into a plural, Cameron transforms the franchise's focus from horror ...
Alien (DVD) Production Year: 1979 - Science Fiction - Director: Ridley Scott - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Tom Skerritt, Harry Dean Stanton, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto, Veronica Cartwright 69 reviews Buy now for only £ 2.44
![Aliens [1986] [DVD]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78518282.jpg)
09.01.2005 19:34
I would loved to have been involved in the making of these movies! Dave
09.01.2005 19:20
A classic among horror films. I am tempted to get the DVD. Maureen
09.01.2005 18:31
I love this series of films. Brian