tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post2909473568554124028..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Guest Review: Alien3 (1992)AndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-4430983184968153632018-09-22T16:44:18.213-04:002018-09-22T16:44:18.213-04:00Ehh, I'm not afraid to say that Aliens is tedi...Ehh, I'm not afraid to say that Aliens is tediously overrated. It took the franchise in a less interesting direction IMO. I hope for one day for them to go back to the more Lovecraftian atmosphere and cunning monster, as opposed to a slightly smart animal.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-65949174791183475292013-12-02T18:56:32.318-05:002013-12-02T18:56:32.318-05:00John -
Sorry for the late reply, but you're ...John - <br /><br />Sorry for the late reply, but you're welcome!! :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-29330085634799355062013-10-23T18:29:58.347-04:002013-10-23T18:29:58.347-04:00Thank you Scott. Sorry for the late reply. I don&#...Thank you Scott. Sorry for the late reply. I don't have a set which is called the 'DVD Quadrilogy' and certainly not a Blue-Ray version. I'll see if I can obtain it. I must have it after reading this blog entry. Thanks for your excellent contribution by the way!John Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15040106071973128389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-16147720581041379832013-10-14T15:11:48.758-04:002013-10-14T15:11:48.758-04:00John -
If you own the DVD "Quadrilogy"...John - <br /><br />If you own the DVD "Quadrilogy" set or the Blu-Ray version, then you own both versions. My preferred cut is the longer Assembly Cut for the reasons mentioned above.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-45374715379513601092013-10-14T14:55:25.026-04:002013-10-14T14:55:25.026-04:00Wait a minute... So which version should I have?Wait a minute... So which version should I have?John Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15040106071973128389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-16516842264359379902013-10-10T10:55:56.758-04:002013-10-10T10:55:56.758-04:00Andrew
Isn't that just like an evil parasitic...Andrew<br /><br />Isn't that just like an evil parasitic man eating alien....<br /><br />Here we had a great political story about Unions in space and he has to come up in there eating people and #@$%..... it's the Man keeping everyone down even in the broad emptiness of space where there is no down....<br /><br />I tell ya....Individualisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11005025873042230314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-11661584620011273892013-10-10T00:00:17.154-04:002013-10-10T00:00:17.154-04:00Rustbelt, I get that too sometimes. When everyone...Rustbelt, I get that too sometimes. When everyone praises something effusively, it's often not well deserved.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-21548733819587812192013-10-09T23:55:21.530-04:002013-10-09T23:55:21.530-04:00Rustbelt -
I assume the all-male cast comes from...Rustbelt - <br /><br />I assume the all-male cast comes from VIncent Ward's version in which they would've been monks on a wooden planet. Why did they have to all be British (sans Charles Dutton)? I have no idea. :-)<br /><br />It was FIncher's idea for everyone to shave their heads, including Weaver - I assume lice was simply added as the justification. (This is more evident in the Assembly Cut opening when Clemens discovers Ripley on the beach.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-18581249248604245872013-10-09T23:45:45.617-04:002013-10-09T23:45:45.617-04:00T-Rav, I should've known better. Of course, Co...T-Rav, I should've known better. Of course, Commentarama is abound with MSTies. I must've spent too much time on Dr. Forrester's Tough Seat Seat. Deep Hurting can really bruise someone's common sense. <br /><br />Anyway, I swear on the Cartuner and Fridge Largemeat/Bulk Van Der Huge/Thick McRunfast/Rip Steakface/Big McLargehuge that I will never make the same mistake again. Unless, of course, Magic Voice or Brain Guy, messes with my mind again.<br /><br />Oh, and, uh, always make sure your enslaved cats watch for snakes. Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-6121469285590227492013-10-09T23:34:26.355-04:002013-10-09T23:34:26.355-04:00Andrew, sometimes I think I suffer from "Ever...Andrew, sometimes I think I suffer from "Everyone-Praises-Something-So-Much-That-After-a-While-You-Start-to-Gag-On-It Syndrome." I've felt this unnatural disease creep up during viewings of 'Citizen Kane" and "2001" as well. I'm just going to say that 'Alien' is good, but IMO, not that great.<br /><br />And getting back to 'Alien 3'...what is the deal with the double-Y chromosome guys? I don't recall it being mentioned in Hughes' book. Granted, it's been a while since I read it. Was it just another undeveloped plot thread from a previous that was left in for kicks? And how on earth is it genetically possible? Maybe that's another problem for 'Alien 3.' So much is underdeveloped (the prisoners' religion), barely noticed (the double-Y stuff), or has too much of a mundane explanation (Ripley's shaved head the result of lice problems). <br /><br />Also, this brings up a problem I have with the film's presentation of the xenomorph/alien itself. In the expanded universe (comics, games, novels, etc.) the xenomorph takes attributes from its hosts. (Best shown in, interestingly, 'Alien vs. Predator: Requiem,' where a xenomorph uses a Predator as a host and gets the creature's trademark mandibles and dreadlocks.) However, you'd never know that from the first, second, and fourth 'Alien' movies, since the hosts are all human. Here, we actually see the beast take another host- a dog in the theatrical cut, a cow in the assembly cut. They had a chance to show how this changes everything about the creature- how it moves, hunts, and acts. But the sets are so constricting and dull-colored that the filmmakers don't take advantage of this. <br /><br />Yeah, just more nit-picking. But still, another lost opportunity. Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-63028146373968763232013-10-09T23:16:22.565-04:002013-10-09T23:16:22.565-04:00Scott, I agree. If you shot Alien as just pure &q...Scott, I agree. If you shot <i>Alien</i> as just pure "alien chase movie," it would be pretty horrible.<br /><br />As an aside, I've really come to dislike the <i>Pink Panther</i> films.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-86159727992448181012013-10-09T23:14:10.755-04:002013-10-09T23:14:10.755-04:00Rustbelt, No one will be admitted during the rock ...Rustbelt, No one will be admitted during the rock climbing scene!<br /><br />As for <i>Alien</i>, I think you're looking at it the wrong way. Padding is when something gets added for no purpose whatsoever. The purpose in the opening of <i>Alien</i>, just like in most other horror films (and even the conversation between Jackson and Travolta in <i>Pulp Fiction</i>) is meant to (1) give you a point of normalcy as a point of reference, and (2) give you an insight into the relationships of the characters.<br /><br />If they had had the same conversation after the alien was roaming the ship, then I would agree -- it would be pointless filler because at that point, the plot is about killing the alien. But until that point, it's not filler... until they get the alien aboard, the purpose of the story is to tell some other story ("the trip of the Nostromo") that then gets interrupted by the alien. In that regard, it's a very well-written story that gives you a ton of information with a limited number of words.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-45330783425014873182013-10-09T23:12:14.314-04:002013-10-09T23:12:14.314-04:00Rustbelt, EVERYONE here--and I do mean everyone, i...Rustbelt, EVERYONE here--and I do mean everyone, including my enslaved cats--is familiar with the greatness that is MST3K. No explanation necessary.T-Ravhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10861218035729479354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-67059152392370211582013-10-09T23:00:17.920-04:002013-10-09T23:00:17.920-04:00Rustbelt -
(Great Shatner quote!)
Not to go too...Rustbelt - <br /><br />(Great Shatner quote!)<br /><br />Not to go too off-topic but the <i>Pink Panther</i> movies wear out their welcome pretty fast. The first three are very good. (The first one's more of a romantic caper with Peter Sellers in a supporting role. David Niven is the lead.)<br /><br />Then they just kept cranking them out... even after Sellers died! But they're all 10-15 minutes too long with too much unfunny padding and they grind to a halt whenever Sellers isn't on screen.<br /><br />I don't wanna hate on them but there's maybe an hour of classic comedy in the span of 6 or 7 movies!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-75050797613438399822013-10-09T22:44:44.605-04:002013-10-09T22:44:44.605-04:00Scott, I see what you mean in helping the audience...Scott, I see what you mean in helping the audience connect with the characters. Still, I think it outlives its welcome after a while.<br /><br />I've never seen any of the 'Pink Panther' movies, but I'm more than willing to take your word for it.<br /><br />And...a 'Nemesis' connection instead of an 'Insurrection' connection? I'm honestly not sure if that's an improvement or a downgrade.<br /><br />"Ah, yes. Irony can be pretty ironic at times."<br />-William Shatner, "Airplane II: The SequelRustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-57706111966377359652013-10-09T22:35:44.863-04:002013-10-09T22:35:44.863-04:00Rustbelt -
(reply to parts 2 and 3)
I'm not...Rustbelt - <br /><br />(reply to parts 2 and 3)<br /><br />I'm not sure I agree - <i>Alien</i> doesn't feel padded to me. Yes, it's true that Dan O'Bannon's original script didn't have much in the way of characterization (the genders weren't even specified)... and yes, it's true that Ridley Scott focused more on the visuals than the characters... but this one I think is just right. And we need to relate to the characters so we care about what happens to them. If the "bonus situation" scenes weren't there, people would complain that those characters were as disposable as any number of bald Brits in <i>this</i> movie.<br /><br />You want padding. I was watching one of the <i>Pink Panther</i> sequels on TV the other day - oh God. Unfunny scenes that go on forever and ever!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-84242015194197973132013-10-09T22:26:13.205-04:002013-10-09T22:26:13.205-04:00Rustbelt
(reply to part 1)
I felt The Relic was ...Rustbelt<br /><br />(reply to part 1)<br /><br />I felt <i>The Relic</i> was tooooo dark at times. Part of that is Peter Hyams' naturalistic style but man, at least in <i>Alien 3</i> you could see the walls behind the actors... well, most of the time. :-)<br /><br />Re: the costumes... ironically, the guy who did the costumes for this movie (Bob Ringwood) did the costumes for, not <i>Insurrection</i> but for <i>Nemesis</i>! He's done better work elsewhere (namely Burton's <i>Batman</i> and <i>Demolition Man</i>).<br /><br />Sanja Milkovic Hays did <i>Insurrection</i> and I'm not a fan of that film's costume design either.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-91183834961702795252013-10-09T22:25:56.761-04:002013-10-09T22:25:56.761-04:00First, the 'pay grade' subplot. Praised fo...First, the 'pay grade' subplot. Praised for adding real-life situations to outer space, this suddenly feels like padding. Ultimately, (and the filmmakers have admitted this), the film is just a simple monster terrorizes space ship movie. The banter suddenly feels like its only purpose is to drag things out and delay the beat's arrival. Padding!<br /><br />(Note: the MST3K offshoot, Rifftrax, also took some shots at 'Alien' for this. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd0iDvLiawg" rel="nofollow">LINK</a> The Randy Newman spoof at the start alone is worth the viewing)<br /><br />Second, the meandering dialogue. This kind of goes into the previous pay grade subplot, but it goes on throughout the movie. First the pay grade, then problems with the ship, then "why don't they freeze him?", etc. Again, it suddenly feels like they're dragging out the scene. Meandering chatter!<br /><br />And finally, the appearance of the 'Nostromo.' I believe Scott mentioned that 'Alien' was the first film to show astronauts (or outer space employees) in street clothes. And yes, the ship does look lived-in and cramped. But again, it now seems to be little more than a distraction from the dragged-out opening scenes before the monster finally shows up. Compare that to 'Star Wars.' That movie had a good script in the foreground. Its lived-in sets only added to the experience in the theater. In 'Alien,' the sets almost feel like they're supposed to compensate for the lack of anything happening. Window dressing!<br /><br />So, we have padding, meandering chatter, and window dressing. Hm...(imitates Mr. Plinkett) Oh, my God! 'Alien' is a loony bin for sci-fi geeks! Who would've thought?<br /><br />Well, this is just one crazy man's opinion- and the story of how MST3K ruined 'Alien' for him forever. Curse you, Joel! Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-84893202709875990832013-10-09T22:23:03.923-04:002013-10-09T22:23:03.923-04:00The problem hit me when I watched the classic '...The problem hit me when I watched the classic 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' episode, 'Lost Continent.' While most fans of the cult classic remember it for two words ("rock" and "climbing"), I remember it for the sketch they did at the end. <br /><br />For anyone not familiar with the show, MST3K centered around a guy (Joel, later Mike) stranded on a satellite where mad scientists force him to watch bad movies. He gets through this by making wisecracks ('riffs') while watching the films in silhouette with his 2 robots. <br /><br />Anyway, 'Lost Continent' is famous for coining the phrase 'padding'- adding extra material of the actors performing tasks or saying things that really don 't add to the plot. It just lengthens the movie. At the end of this episode, Joel and the 'bots explain this technique and how it came to be. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkGh9n2Oxfk" rel="nofollow">LINK</a>- fast forward to 1:34:10) Then I watched 'Alien' again and suddenly felt hollow. Everything seen as a strength in the film suddenly became a cheap weakness. <br /><br />(continued...)Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-25810375253340431542013-10-09T22:15:46.671-04:002013-10-09T22:15:46.671-04:005minutes -
Consider yourself counted!! I do thin...5minutes - <br /><br />Consider yourself counted!! I do think the first two are better films: a horror masterpiece and an action masterpiece, respectively. (Though <i>Aliens</i> has dated a bit more than the others.)<br /><br />But in spite of its flaws, this movie is, dare I say it, deeper and hits on a more emotional level.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-73440722312305106272013-10-09T22:14:09.989-04:002013-10-09T22:14:09.989-04:00Andrew -
I get what you're saying and for so...Andrew - <br /><br />I get what you're saying and for some people I realize it is an unpleasant film, visually or otherwise. (It's amazing to see Fincher's style was there from the beginning.)<br /><br />And sound people didn't suck - filmmakers with their new-fangled digital sound sucked. (Dolby Digital and DTS both debuted in the early 90s.) And studio execs who wanted to make their moves louder than the other studios' movies... they sucked.<br /><br />Sound technicians are a talented lot but, like FX artists, they still have to follow the whims of the filmmakers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-25222287523428089622013-10-09T22:03:30.661-04:002013-10-09T22:03:30.661-04:00Scott, I've also read Hughes' book. While ...Scott, I've also read Hughes' book. While I could care less if 'Childhood's End' ever reaches the big screen, (the summary of that story alone is almost as depressing as election night last year), the various ideas tossed out for 'Alien 3' almost make one want to cry. <br />As most have already noted, this film takes chances, which is a good thing. But I have to agree on the color palette. It's so dark and dreary that I really have trouble telling things apart. (It's almost as dark as 'The Relic.') And worst of all, most of the characters are interchangeable. Sadly, the whole thing just screams 'incomplete vision.' <br /><br />By the way...all the costumes are brown and beige in this film. Hm. Could this be where the costume designer for 'Star Trek Insurrection' got all of his ideas for those annoying hippies?<br /><br />And Andrew, in the 'Prometheus' discussion, I believe I said I would explain how an episode of MST3K ruined the original 'Alien' for me. (I'd post it there, but this is the more active thread.) Well, here it is! <br /><br />(continued...) Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-28196255714172805482013-10-09T20:10:06.149-04:002013-10-09T20:10:06.149-04:00Count me as one of the 12 people on the planet who...Count me as one of the 12 people on the planet who consider this film superior to every other film in the series. Yes, it's flawed, but so are the others in their own ways. I don't discount a movie for its flaws - I appreciate it for the story, the characters, and everything else that connects me to it, and Alien3 connected with me.5minutesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-6168702278181926722013-10-09T18:32:21.565-04:002013-10-09T18:32:21.565-04:00Scott, I should add that I don't hate this fil...Scott, I should add that I don't hate this film or anything, it just doesn't attract me. And you've done an excellent job of laying out the problems this one experienced. So nice article. :)AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-31104990034605112402013-10-09T14:57:24.251-04:002013-10-09T14:57:24.251-04:00Scott, There are a lot of ugly films. This one. ...Scott, There are a lot of ugly films. This one. The dragon thing with Matthew McConaughey. Most of the films they filmed in a single color pallet, like gray-blue. There are some action flicks (can't think of the name) where they thought it would be a good idea to bruise up and cut the hero in the opening frame and the whole movie you're staring at this ugly image of someone who is all beat to hell. There are horror films that take place in Hillbilly shacks that are just ugly in all the images they present... not an artistic or beautiful shot in the whole film.<br /><br />I've run into that too, especially in the mid-1990s where I've had to use subtitles to watch several films. Sometimes, it's just garbled sound. Sometimes, it's bad British. The sound people in the 1990s sucked, no matter how much they deny it.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.com