What's THE best version of the movie Aliens?...

[dave4shmups]

I am HUGE Aliens fan, and I have Aliens on the Special Edition, which came out on DVD in 1999. But, having watched Aliens on VHS back in the late 1980's, I know that there are several scenes missing: the chestburster scene with Ripley near the beginning of the movie is cut short, and the part where Ripley finds Burke entombed and gives him a hand grenade is also missing.

Recently, I have discovered the Aliens Two-Disc Collector's edition, but I don't know if it has those missing scenes. I don't have a VHS player anymore, but I have thought about LaserDisc.

[Stormwatch]

I'd rather pretend that Alien had no sequel.

[Specineff]

This seems like a job for...

PC ENGINE FAN X!

*hits the button on his watch to emit a sub-sonic signal to summon him*

[Mortificator]

Are you sure you memory's not playing tricks on you, Dave? The bit with Ripley's assisted suicide of Burke is in the novelization, but it's never been included in any release. I doubt it was even filmed. And when I look at Movie-Censorship's comparison of the theatrical version and the director's cut, there's no mention of the chestburster dream sequence being altered.

[greg]

The original theatrical release is great on its own: there is the suspense when they arrive at the Hadley's Hope colony and the audience doesn't know what to expect, since the prior scenes weren't shown. The robot sentry scenes didn't add a whole lot to the plot, so removing these scenes did make the movie tighter. However, my favorite is the directors/special edition, especially because of these added scenes. It's great to see the derelict ship appear again, and it's interesting to see the colony before the invasion. Plus it adds to the fact that Newt lost her family because you get to see them alive before the invasion. Hardcore fans will also notice the Weyland Yutani logos everywhere, too.

I remember when the laserdisc version of the director's cut came out. Boy, that was very much coveted because the VHS release was just the theatrical release. There was also another version of the film for TV only, which was essentially the theatrical version, plus the robot sentry scenes.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~
(oops, I meant Greg)

[BIL]

Burke's alternate demise was filmed - I've no idea if it's actually included in any version of the movie, though.

[PROMETHEUS]

I'd rather pretend that Alien had no sequel.

+1

[BryanM]

I'd like to pretend the sequel to Aliens wasn't a punch to the nuts followed by a bukkake surprise on the face.

[GaijinPunch]

Burke's alternate demise was filmed - I've no idea if it's actually included in any version of the movie, though.

No explosion? What a rip.

I'd like to pretend the sequel to Aliens wasn't a punch to the nuts followed by a bukkake surprise on the face.

I like Fincher better than the other two guys. Always have. The 3rd has it's issues but I've always felt it beat the other two in a lot of ways: ambiance for starters... acting... soundtrack by miles... too bad the budget wasn't there. The cut scenes from it were pretty interesting as well.

[dave4shmups]

Are you sure you memory's not playing tricks on you, Dave? The bit with Ripley's assisted suicide of Burke is in the novelization, but it's never been included in any release. I doubt it was even filmed. And when I look at Movie-Censorship's comparison of the theatrical version and the director's cut, there's no mention of the chestburster dream sequence being altered.

Probably, I did read that book. I LOVE the sentry scenes! Those guns rock!

The only movie in the series that I really didn't care for was resurrection-Rider's character is trafficking in human beings, and she's concerned about Ripley . Plus it just moved too fast, and they took out the company-which added a LOT to the series, IMO.

OT, I'm REALLY excited for Aliens Infestation, which is coming out for the DS! This interview is worth watching: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zqnKO5e2QY

[Daigohji]

The Alien Anthology blu-ray release is the first time the Burke cocooned scene has even been included as a special feature. It's never been cut into the movie, and once I saw it I could tell why. Like the Dallas cocooned scene in Alien it's slotted into the script at precisely the wrong moment, just when Ripley is focused on something else and the tension is building. Aside from censored TV versions, there have only been two cuts of Aliens: the 1986 theatrical version and the 1991 special edition.

The 3rd has it's issues but I've always felt it beat the other two in a lot of ways: ambiance for starters... acting... soundtrack by miles... too bad the budget wasn't there.

Lack of budget wasn't Alien 3's problem; Fincher having no creative control was. The producers throttled him throughout production, showing no confidence in the ability of the director they had selected. I've heard he didn't even have a full shooting script during most of principal photography.

[Herr Schatten]

The original theatrical release is great on its own: there is the suspense when they arrive at the Hadley's Hope colony and the audience doesn't know what to expect, since the prior scenes weren't shown. The robot sentry scenes didn't add a whole lot to the plot, so removing these scenes did make the movie tighter.

This. Obviously, Cameron is one of the directors who need someone else to look over their shoulders and tell them to cut out the crap. All his director's cuts are just longer, but not the least bit better than the theatrical releases.

[greg]

The Alien Anthology blu-ray release is the first time the Burke cocooned scene has even been included as a special feature. It's never been cut into the movie, and once I saw it I could tell why. Like the Dallas cocooned scene in Alien it's slotted into the script at precisely the wrong moment, just when Ripley is focused on something else and the tension is building. Aside from censored TV versions, there have only been two cuts of Aliens: the 1986 theatrical version and the 1991 special edition.

The other problem I have with the scene is that Burke probably should still be in the face hugger stage at this point. He'd just been taken away from them, and already the face hugger has fallen off his face? The one on Kane stayed there for about a day or so. I've never seen this deleted scene yet, but it's strange how Burke already has a chestburster inside him. This is similar to one of the common complaints about the horrible Alien vs Predator movie. The whole incubation process was greatly shortened.

Lack of budget wasn't Alien 3's problem; Fincher having no creative control was. The producers throttled him throughout production, showing no confidence in the ability of the director they had selected. I've heard he didn't even have a full shooting script during most of principal photography.

Yes, they discuss this a lot on the Alien 3 DVD. It seems like they wanted to make an Alien 3 movie for the sake of making an Alien 3 movie.

For myself, I like to pretend there was only the original and the sequel.

[brentsg]

It has to be noted that the Blu-ray Anthology is absolutely essential to any fans of these movies. It's just an amazing package.

[BIL]

No explosion? What a rip.

Just pretend the random reactor explosion after Ripley rescues Newt is Burke exploding offscreen.

[spoot]

It has to be noted that the Blu-ray Anthology is absolutely essential to any fans of these movies. It's just an amazing package.

+1

[TransatlanticFoe]

As has been said, the theatrical release is the best for a newcomer because without the colony intro, it feels so much more tense setting down.

But once you've seen it, I much prefer the special edition. If for no other reason than to see Red Dwarf's captain!

[CMoon]

I'm not sure I could say which version is better. Honestly, I think the theatrical cut is a more effective movie, and in that sense I would call it better. As said elsewhere, fans will want to see the extended edition, but I actually think it is an inferior movie.

The automated gun sequence is actually the one scene I'd like to put back into the theatrical release.

Oh, I'd never seen that Burke scene before and I hate it. Not just because it doesn't make sense, but because the acting feels completely lackluster. I really don't need closure with Burke's character. Really.

And for those people who don't like Aliens, jesus, do you like any movie by Cameron?

[Obiwanshinobi]

And for those people who don't like Aliens, jesus, do you like any movie by Cameron?

Terminators are okay and 2's CG effects don't even look all that tacky. Shame about the bullshit parts of the story, but it's not worse than Chrono Trigger in this regard.
I for one would like to know if people who don't like Resurrection like any film by Jeunet and Caro.

[CMoon]

I actually am not a big fan of Terminator 2 on the grounds that it is a family film. I still don't know how it got an R as it is less violent and far more moralistic than the original.

Maybe people here don't like Cameron at all though. I thought the original Terminator and Aliens were fantastic films, then lost interest.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

20th Century Fox did release the Special Edition of Aliens on VHS many moons ago and I bought it wondering what new footage/scenes it contained. After watching it, I found out that it was based on the earlier 20th Century Fox Aliens Special Edition LaserDisc version release of the same name. Still cool nevertheless.

When the TCF studio finally re-released all four Alien films on VHS format in 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio, it was no problem getting the first three VHS tapes (Alien, Aliens, & Alien 3) but it took a long time for the fourth Alien Resurrection to finally be released on VHS in widescreen format. So yes, it's cool to watch the VHS widescreen versions of all the Alien films from time to time (despite the knowledge of tape degrading upon each successive playback session).

Then when the Alien Quadralogy DVD set was announced, I bought it on day one of release at my local Best Buy and ponying up some serious chunk of change for it. Well worth it just for the DVD extras alone. And when the Blu-Ray disc set of Alien Anthology was announced, I bought it on day one of release at my local Costco since it was a bit cheaper there than at other retailers during it's debut week.

Greg, your PCFX! posting style is spot on and since you beat me to the punch in answering Dave's question, it's all good. ^_~

Blade Runner: Final Cut Factoid: If you pause at the scene when Deckard's carrying a conversation with Rachel on the video phone booth inside Taffy's bar (on the Blu-Ray version of Blade Runner: Final Cut), you can see a stylized Weyland-Yutani logo pasted on in the background scenery (an insider nod/tribute to Director Scott's earlier Alien film). And when Gaff and Deckard are just about to leave in Gaff's police spinner, the monitor shows a cool colored computer animation docking/countdown sequence scene -- this is the very same computer animation sequence shot used in Scott's earlier Alien film as well.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[greg]

I for one would like to know if people who don't like Resurrection like any film by Jeunet and Caro.

I don't even know who they are. I could look them up on IMDB, but I'm too lazy to do that.

Greg, your PCFX! posting style is spot on and since you beat me to the punch in answering Dave's question, it's all good. ^_~

Thanks! The key to your posting style is to mix in trivia along with the nostalgia factor.

Blade Runner: Final Cut Factoid:

A lot of the sound effects were the same as in Alien as well. I think Scott had the same technical guy work on both films.

[dave4shmups]

So, aside from Blu-Ray, what's the best way to get the original theatrical release?? I have Aliens in this collection: http://www.amazon.com/Alien-Triple-Pack ... 528&sr=1-9

I'm wondering if I should get this collection: http://www.amazon.com/Aliens-Two-Disc-C ... 528&sr=1-2

[Specineff]

Interesting Stuff

Took you long enough to answer my call, PCFX.

[Obiwanshinobi]

I for one would like to know if people who don't like Resurrection like any film by Jeunet and Caro.

I don't even know who they are. I could look them up on IMDB, but I'm too lazy to do that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avuovbgoyxU
(The sound is pretty crucial here.)

[GaijinPunch]

Lack of budget wasn't Alien 3's problem; Fincher having no creative control was. The producers throttled him throughout production, showing no confidence in the ability of the director they had selected. I've heard he didn't even have a full shooting script during most of principal photography.

He came in late to the game, if I remember correctly, and that's likely why they were throttling/controlling him. I think all things considered, it came out well. It was obviously a shit experience for him as he didn't participate in the anthology. It's apparently a very sore topic for him.

[RGC]

My ratings:

Alien: 9
Aliens: 10
Alien3: 9
AlienR: 7

lackluster.