I fucking love this film! It's SOOO much better than it gets credit for. In the last few years, as I became more aware of the pedigree of the actors populating Fury 161, I became aware of the fact that Sigourney Weaver has been basically marooned in a special prison made for Character Actors!
Nice to see movie reviewers who actually like Alien III. I have always enjoyed this movie. I guess I can understand the criticisms, but they don't diminish the movie for me.
I love Alien 3 as well and is my favorite. I get the how the alien got to the ship as well as the effects criticisms though. But so I'm glad they killed off teakettle-Newt and Hicks.
I agree..I felt that once Ripley leaned over to fall to her death..that ended her story ...I did like the chest bursting as she was falling and she desperately held on to the baby alien to ensure its death too...I didn't watch anymore alien movies after the 3rd installment..
@@laraschauble im a massive fan of the franchise and i also like what prometheus and covenant added to the franchise, but for me Ripley’s story ended in the amazing Alien³, Resurrection was just unnecessary.
Cameron said that he would have wanted to see Ripley, Hicks, and Newt make it back to Earth safely and live as a family. It leaves the question of what would be the inciting incident to drive Alien 3. Having said that, I do love the Assembly Cut and I loved learning about the sordid history behind the making of the film. The quadrilogy box set is great.
I know this is an old comment, but my answer to this has always been the series is called “ALIEN” *not* “Ripley”. Let her story be done with Aliens, and let the universe continue without her. The company itself is enough of a force to continually push the alien into conflict. That also makes it matter more when Ripley, Hicks, or Newt return one day in the future
James Cameron has also said he was really upset that Hicks and Newt was just killed off. He said he made these characters to go beyond Aliens too. He doesn't like Alien3 at all.
"Ripley, Hicks, and Newt make it back to Earth safely and live as a family. It leaves the question of what would be the inciting incident to drive Alien 3." That's actually very simple: Have them return to Earth, and after a timeskip, they're approached by someone (CIA, ECA, whatever works) who works for whatever government exists in this universe and recruits them to return to LV-426 to mess up the Company, which has built a base there and has been experimenting with Xenos under the government's noses.
Bit of trivia: Carl Chase who plays Frank Ellis was a good friend of my sister Fran (passed of cancer in 2018). I've actually met him, a bit of a character, but a really nice guy. I asked him about the shoot, and he signed for me. My sister was a singer in her spare time (a GP in her day job) and she met Carl as he loves open mic nights, live music etc. He's been in Red Dwarf too as old Lister. He got on brilliant with Fincher and knew that Fox, and David Giler (a power hungry, unreasonably nasty little dickhead according to Carl) were on his case. Carl told me Fincher found support with Charles Dutton, Pete Postlethwaite, Brian Glover and Charles Dance (who were very good friends, being both Yorkshire men). The cast had real camaraderie, as the sets, and atmosphere were very oppressive. Ralph Brown and Paul McGann were constantly asked about Withnail & I by Fincher between takes (who adores that film so much, he wanted to cast Richard E. Grant as Clemens as well, a mini Withnail reunion) , and it was funny at lunchtimes when all the "prisoners" are sitting together and Tom Woodruff would join them in the Alien suit without the tail and head! some interesting bts stuff. I asked him why didn't he look up the access pipe and check for aliens before climbing up with a flare and bucket of explosive slop!
I’m not so sure it wasn’t Ripley’s tank the alien was getting into. I’m in the team that say’s there were only the royal face hugger , and one drone who was to protect the queen larvae till it was ready to start laying. Newts tank probably cracked on impact with the beach.
A remnant of a deleted scene shown in the comic book adaptation (and possibly filmed) - the queen chestburster comes out of Newt's mouth (revealing it had originally infected her) in the half-sunken EEV, crawled over to Ripley and entered her mouth. It would have solved the problem of who the chestburster infected, but raises other continuity problems (namely, changing the biology of the chestburster itself).
Not true. When its running around the halls there are obvious CGI shots. The lighting gives it away. The texturing is way off and the light/shadows don't fit the rest of the environment. And it's not really doing the movie any favors to say its practical effects look like shitty CGI.
ZX Spectrum That's even worse because it still looks like shitty CGI. It takes a high level of incompetence to make practical look worse than CGI in 1993.
@@irllcd13 it was actually a new technique that they were trying out. Film a puppet on a green screen. Then superimpose it into the shot they want it in. Yes the technique looks incredibly dated, those shots have aged terribly . But it wasn't practical effects, it was basically the forerunner for full blown cgi. And back in 1993 it was an advancement in what was capable . Don't forget this was at a time the 1st Windows was released(windows 3.1) It's like watching an old 1950s b movie and moaning how bad the special effects are . Well of course they're bad the technology isn't there to do the shot perfectly ! I'm sure with today's technology. If someone went over those frames and fully rendered a cgi xenomorph to replace the puppet one it would look amazing .
My favorite quote from Alien³: _"Buh"_ - Arthur (played by Deobia Oparei) (Right before ignition stick strikes the floor and causes ensuing explosion - Arthur is the 3rd black dude, after Dillon & Boggs)
Poor Ripley she loses all her friends ends up in space for 57 years her daughter grows up and dies of old age she has PTSD goes to the Alien planet loses all the team barring Hicks,Bishop gets a surrogate daughter survives the Alien Queen then crashes on a prison planet loses her friend and surrogate daughter nearly gets raped and then finds out she has a Alien inside her,death was a blessed relief for her.
This film will always hold a special spot in my heart. This was the first alien film I watched (when it finally came on HBO back when it released) I set down with my dad I was very ill and he made us some sandwiches and we watched this at 2 in the morning together. It was our first movie we watched just the two of us and he didn’t even cover my eyes for the bloody scenes been a huge fan of the franchise since when my dad passed I set that night and watched this film with a sandwich and just reminisced
same with me, it's my fave one out of all the Alien films cause it's the first one I saw (as an early teen) it wasn't until much later that I realised long term Alien fans were annoyed at it, and I can understand why. but for me, I love its gritty, dark & raw atmosphere of dread throughout the whole film.
@Coy Leigh just got 2 notification one from a year ago and one an hour.. I was ill because I had got shot in the stomach by a bully (yes he went to jail) so I was stuck on the sofa for 3 months because I couldn't climb the stairs.
I watched the original Alien with my dad in its original theatrical release.. After he passed away back in Jan of this year I rewatched it again, with my dads picture turned to the tv think him an I watching it all over again..I really miss him very much..
It is so refreshing to hear someone else talk about the great aspects that Alien 3 has to offer in the Alien series and as a film in general. I also love this film
Alien³ just gets better with time and the soundtrack is timeless, this movie did what Game of Thrones The Red Wedding episode did for TV, 2 decades before
there is no cgi in this movie except for one shot... so ALL of the alien footage is either a guy in a suit or a puppet... the composition/blue screen is terrible, but watching the behind the scenes of the Alien puppet, with like 4 puppeteers operating the creature is fucking amazing... also, the autopsy showed EVERYTHING, every detail, but the studio thought it was too much to show...
I'm so very glad not to be the only one who loves this movie. I think it's brilliant in story, cinematography, direction, acting, etc. I also agree about the bits I prefer from the theatrical cut vs. the assembly cut. ETA more words
Fun fact for you- Brian Glover taught my dad at school as he was a teacher before he became an actor so when we watched this movie when I was young my dad would say “ there’s my teacher “ OTSR 👊👊
I met Paul McGann (Golic) at a con yesterday, and I said I’m sorry FOX messed up Alien 3, and he said “Oh yeah they messed Fincher around, but he had the last laugh though - he’s David Fincher!” He also went onto to say he’s never seen the film, but heard about the Assembly Cut, and the chances of Fincher reclaiming it and doing his own cut were probably zero.
How the hell does he defend the egg being on the ship when the Queen NEVER left the cargo area? She gets off the ship attacks Ripley and immediately attacks Newt then fights Ripley again and thrown out to space, no egg laying time. And he is so blown how the majority of the cast was "Britesh".
Alien 3 Hated it! If a Queen Alien was aboard you shuttle wouldn’t you inspect every square inch of the shuttle before cryogenic sleep? Best line in cinema history, “They think we’re crud.” Yeah that’s brilliant writing right there.
A family friend met Sigourney in a pit while she was filming Alien 3 he gave her some of his food on his lunch hour and said watch out for those Aliens haha they filmed the opening on the blast beach here in the North East England (10 minutes from where i live) it's crazy i've walked that beach so many times and it really is as black and dull as the beginning of the film haha
I was so relieved to see the nihilism of alien3. We all want to be heroes and save the day.. but we just can't. When faced with a threat like the Alien. It's just death.
From what I saw from the first Alien is that a facehugger has one egg to impregnate a host. It can’t do two. So Newt wasn’t facehugged lol. And to do it again to a dog or ox was against their biology.
Alien was a horror movie, Aliens was an action movie. Alien 3 was something else. As a teen it was just a weird film. As an adult who can appreciate movies, I'm digging Alien 3.
I think Alien 3 is getting better with age. Even though the CGI is dated, the cinematography, direction and character development is perhaps better than Aliens. I still hold Alien above all, but I would actually watch Alien 3 before Aliens.
The score is very grand and sweeping - it's fitting for what I consider the final chapter of the Alien Trilogy. This is the perfect ending to a horror story, exactly in agreement - this tale was never meant to have a happy ending. Elliott Goldenthal composed the score for Tom Cruises "Interview With The Vampire" in 1994. I've really enjoyed your reviews - I watched The Thing reviews last night, back to back. On a side note, I think I read somewhere that Sigourney Weaver has family in England, on her mother's side. She's probably pretty at home with English actors.
I never believed Charles Dance’s character’s explanation on why he was imprisoned solely because of the scene with the superintendent who warns him if Ripley knew why he was convicted that she would want nothing to do with him. This statement doesn’t sound to me like he got high and botched an operation but, perhaps, he did something more sinister. It would be typical of Ripley and her run of bad luck to hook up with the Sex Slayer of Sector Six. BTW, I enjoy your reviews immensely.
Considering the queen ditched her egg sack laying thingy to chase after Ripley contradicts how a face-hugger ends up on the ship. What would have been more interesting is after Ripley does her whole wastefulness of ammo in the hive! The camera could have focused on just one egg that was intact, could of laid a strong foundation for the queen planting this on the Sulaco as you don’t see the queen until it steps out from the landing gear.
Alright, I got the 4 movie pack from ITunes..... watched the first 3 on to Resurection! I had never seen these movies as a kid when they came out, its fun now at 30 to dig into these iconic movies with a huge fan base and experience it as a new movie.
Very underrated and never understood why Fincher doesnt want to talk about it. Feels like the guy has been traumatized by the studios interference. It is amazing that he still achieved to make this movie as a debut director when people thought he was just an assistant when he first showed up on set. I also want to note that the CGI shots are not CGI by definition. Its not done digitally, but rather done using old school faking. I do agree that they look bad but it never really bothered me that much. Saw this at teathres when i was 13 and it left such an impression on me i will never forget. Alien was so original and started everything (best sci-fi and monster ever!), but I could agree with Gary here and this might just be the best Alien movie out there. For me, the Alien story stops here with the trilogy. Alien 4 was a joke and a cash grab. :(
I absolutely love Alien 3. It's fits so well within the hostile dark future time of the Alien universe. It's brutal, horrible but beautiful. I actually wish they would do a 3rd cut. There's great bits in the Theatrical Cut that need bringing into the Assembly Cut.
Lots of debate about how and when the egg got onto the Sulaco. What isn’t shown in the film is the return docking procedure of the drop ship back into the cargo bay. That would have taken some time and left plenty of time for the queen to drop an egg.... somewhere. Although why it’s hanging upside down at the start of Alien 3 I’m baffled.
I love Alien 3, but I don't think it's better than Aliens IMO, which is my favorite of the bunch. But to each their own. I've heard that some people like Alien 3 the best. I'm just I found 2 guys who actually like Alien 3 as much as I do, and the Theatrical Cut, too!!
David Twohy at one point was one of the writers hired to work on a screenplay for this sequel. Like that of his later film Riddick, it would have been a spin-off with the hero not battling extra-terrestrial monsters from the previous films, but the Fiorina prisoners. Needless to say, it ended up in the Twentieth-Century Fox round file.
Alien 3 isn't the worst in the franchise, it's just no where near the greatness of the 1st two. Summing up this movie is simple. Ripley would have checked out the Sulaco bow to stern, port to starboard, every millimeter. After the 1st movie and the second, she wouldn't want any more surprises. Alien 3 makes no sense.
The bit around 7:45(ish) onward I was sort of on board for, at least in a thematic/motivational sense. Bit too much reliance on outside sources that had nothing to do with the writing of the movie though. Who would ever accept the idea that one must first play a video game or read a comic or novelization (not written by the same hand that penned the script) to get something out of a movie?
Always enjoyed Alien 3, but the Assembly Cut only confirmed what I already knew. There was a great film in there waiting to get out. Whatever your feelings on the film, you can't deny that it signalled the arrival of a great talent. It should be absolutely unwatchable, but because they couldn't take away Fincher's abilities, it is never less than watchable, and for me, better than everything to come since. Have recently given your videos a go and I'm highly impressed, keep it up boys - Dave.
I love Alien 3, underrated and gets far too much of a bad wrap than it truly deserves and i will defend it til the cow's come home. Great video as usual guys \m/
Particularly the extended cut of the movie. It has just as much atmosphere, if not more than the first two. It just happens to be a downer at first. I found the ending to be uplifting; the idea of making the ultimate sacrifice for the good of others.
Couldn’t agree with you more lads. It’s somber and depressing but deliciously feral in its imagery of the xenomorph. Great character depictions and arguably the best riveting score in the franchise
I completely prefer the Assembly Cut. There is so much religious symbolism in the Assembly Cut that, while still not the near the best Alien movie, it makes it far from a shallow Alien film.
What are movies, art, entertainment, money makers . . . ? This movie was not what the audience wanted. If you want a movie to be successful (or any story) don't kill off heros in a non-heroic way. The death of Newt and Hicks spelled doom for this movie.
@@redpillnibbler4423 Alien 3 was a loss all the way around. The sad part is it would have probably found itself much more successful if Ripley wasn't in it and the "prisoners" found a random escape pod with unseen deadly cargo.
The one thing that's always bugged me about these movies. What the heck ended up happening to Jonesy? He got left on Earth in Aliens, did he live the rest of his life in a kennel or something? The one loose thread that as far as I know remains a mystery to this day.
Six years late, but I wanted to say it's still pleasant to encounter a review of this film that appreciates it so well!! (Though, puzzled at your attempt to create plausibility re: _not_ banging Charles Dance. Very bizarre.)
Thanks for this review. I have never understood why people love Alien but hate Alien3. I've always thought both films are not so different. I respect but have never swooned over the first film, though. It was too slow during the first half, and most characters were flat-out boring. I therefore prefer Alien3 to Alien, as the threat is apparent from the beginning and I liked the characters a little more. I wept for Newt and Hicks though. I respect the ending but seeing Ripley die tore my heart out. I love Aliens most. It is in my TOP10 list of favourite films ever. It is the perfect mix of action, interesting stories, cool characters, strong lead characters, emotional investment, suspense, etc. So, I guess, my ranking list goes Aliens > Alien3 > Prometheus > Alien > Alien: Ressurection. I have not watched Alien: Covenant yet, though.
I think because this movie is too cynical. You can have all kinds of dark movies, but somehow, at least one character has to stand for something better, for some kind of applied idealism. And that is what I miss in this movie. For example, to kill off Newt, is just too much after her ordeal in the last movie. She earned her rescue. And now in this she is killed off screen. It’s too much...
I don’t understand the hate this movie gets, I love this movie, specially the assembly Cut which is closer to Finchers vision, however the movie it’s not perfect, there’s a couple of issues, some bad dialogue and bad cgi, but it’s still a good movie to me and it gets 4/5 from me..
As a child watching this upon release, i was shocked and upset. Now, as an adult, i really love this movie. I must admit i love the dark nastiness of the film it grabs you and doesn't let go at all.
This film took the alien back to being scary and giving the alien more character in itself. I can never just watch one film of the trilogy I have to watch all 3. Resurrection was awful but the first 3 are in contention for best trilogy ever
It's nice to finally hear a positive review of Alien 3. I've always enjoyed it as much as the 1st and 2nd ones. And I agree it was a nice ending of a trilogy.
The only problem with the theory that Newt and Hicks would have made me care less about the other characters since I already don't care about the murderers and rapists.
Only seen the OG cut of A3 once; which was many many years ago now and I never understood why it got such a hard time....... I guess it's nice to know that time is kind to some 'mis-treated' greats and that they get their due love & credit in time (none more-so than 'The Thing', but also personal fave Halloween 3 seems to be getting a few flowers now people have slowly got over their "wot no Michael"-isms). Off to to watch the Assembly Cut for the first time now...... 👍 Great review as always, lads.
Always liked the 3rd movie, despited of ppl saying it's a crap, I think for some one it's great on subconscious level, they just liked it like me and for others it's not because of that heroes death and bla bla bla, most if not all things said in this review are correct, but thanks to it now I know exactly why I loved it first place, seems all this was also on subconscious level )
22:05 I've just had a realization! Maybe it's a tribuite to another great but underrated third entry in a horror franchise! Here's the hint: "Where do you want to sleep, Dr. Challis? That's a dumb question, Miss Grimbridge."
Gotta say, you hit the nail right on the head with the funeral / birth scene. The Assembly cut lacks the power of the theatrical version. Just something about that speech, with the score and then the alien tearing out of that poor dog as Dylan says "...comes new life..." It's perfect.
In the Alien book it was understood that Ripley and Lambert slept with the crew because there was a scene that they were alone and Ripley asked Lambert if she slept with Ash.
@PhasedPlasmaRifle InThe40WattRange I watch the thing many times and the dog scene in there has no effect on me. But the one in Alien 3 hurts me so much I don't know why. Maybe because the monster burst from inside while the dogs in The Thing were attacked from the outside.
The assembly cut is far far better than the total shit theatrical cut..I just wished its musical score was a little more better than just alien fart sounds..
Guys, the alien effects when not man in a suit was not CGI, it was a little puppet. Just watch the making of. The only CGI they used was in the end e some other little stuff. CGI was not able to do alien effects at that time. Please, check this out.
I came here to comment this. The reason it looks like it doesn't belong is because it was composited chemically, which didn't allow for the nuance that digital compositing offers. I'd be interested to see what a revisited version of this film could potentially look like.
@@irllcd13 wtf how do you think the script sucks. For me, Dillon's eulogy at Hicks and Newts funeral is one of the most powerful scenes of the 4 films. Furthermore, his speech motivating the prisoners to essentially lay down their lives in order to lead one last desperate effort to try and kill the creature always gets to me too.
Great Retrospective guys. Sorry for the Necroposting but I've been going through a lot of creators' reviews on Alien3. After recently viewing this movie again last year with my older Daughter, I agree that it has aged very well. The VFX would be a fun fan project to give a facelift to. I would love for this to one day be retconned as a hyperspace nightmare, (Bloomkamp got robbed. Still salty at Ridley Scott for that one.). I'll leave you with my silly fan theory about "Bishop II': Red blood - He was a Custom Cyberdyne model from the Skynet years centuries prior. Weyland Yutani never throws anything away! How's that for a crossover?!
Cudos to you guys, Alien III is an atmospheric ultra horror. It's the alien that I have when I'm having a nightmare. So many things to like in it. Franchise should have ended there. Some shabby treatment of it after this.
I loved alien 3 it was the perfect ending to the series life isn't about rainbows and flip flips to me the ending it ends the series and I fell like the prisoner at the end so it isn't sad its just good.
Neatly, this one is a guilty pleasure. I enjoyed this one and will watch it whenever it is on Telly. The acting is top notch and there were so many behind the scene reasons why no hicks. It solidified my David Fincher fandom and I make no apologies for that.
The more I watch alien 3 the more I like it.
I agree, it does get better with multiple viewings. And finding out the 8th Doctor was in the movie gave it a few cool points for me.
Same here…
Much better than prometheus or covenant rubbish!
Yeah, grew on me over time too - workprint version makes it even better.
The sad thing is, I've nearly watched all of off the shelf reviews, even on films I haven't seen.
Great channel.
🎉
Thats not a sad thing at all. Ive watched a ton of their videos while working just because i enjoy their friendly banter as a background noise
I fucking love this film! It's SOOO much better than it gets credit for. In the last few years, as I became more aware of the pedigree of the actors populating Fury 161, I became aware of the fact that Sigourney Weaver has been basically marooned in a special prison made for Character Actors!
If only those actors were given the opportunity to shine liked they deserved...
Nice to see movie reviewers who actually like Alien III. I have always enjoyed this movie. I guess I can understand the criticisms, but they don't diminish the movie for me.
I love Alien 3 as well and is my favorite. I get the how the alien got to the ship as well as the effects criticisms though. But so I'm glad they killed off teakettle-Newt and Hicks.
“This is Alien³ and this is where the story ends” well said Ian
I agree..I felt that once Ripley leaned over to fall to her death..that ended her story ...I did like the chest bursting as she was falling and she desperately held on to the baby alien to ensure its death too...I didn't watch anymore alien movies after the 3rd installment..
@@laraschauble im a massive fan of the franchise and i also like what prometheus and covenant added to the franchise, but for me Ripley’s story ended in the amazing Alien³, Resurrection was just unnecessary.
Cameron said that he would have wanted to see Ripley, Hicks, and Newt make it back to Earth safely and live as a family. It leaves the question of what would be the inciting incident to drive Alien 3. Having said that, I do love the Assembly Cut and I loved learning about the sordid history behind the making of the film. The quadrilogy box set is great.
I love the assembly cut I don’t watch the theatrical anymore
I know this is an old comment, but my answer to this has always been the series is called “ALIEN” *not* “Ripley”. Let her story be done with Aliens, and let the universe continue without her. The company itself is enough of a force to continually push the alien into conflict. That also makes it matter more when Ripley, Hicks, or Newt return one day in the future
@@camgoodkicks Agreed.
James Cameron has also said he was really upset that Hicks and Newt was just killed off. He said he made these characters to go beyond Aliens too. He doesn't like Alien3 at all.
"Ripley, Hicks, and Newt make it back to Earth safely and live as a family. It leaves the question of what would be the inciting incident to drive Alien 3." That's actually very simple: Have them return to Earth, and after a timeskip, they're approached by someone (CIA, ECA, whatever works) who works for whatever government exists in this universe and recruits them to return to LV-426 to mess up the Company, which has built a base there and has been experimenting with Xenos under the government's noses.
Bit of trivia: Carl Chase who plays Frank Ellis was a good friend of my sister Fran (passed of cancer in 2018). I've actually met him, a bit of a character, but a really nice guy. I asked him about the shoot, and he signed for me. My sister was a singer in her spare time (a GP in her day job) and she met Carl as he loves open mic nights, live music etc. He's been in Red Dwarf too as old Lister. He got on brilliant with Fincher and knew that Fox, and David Giler (a power hungry, unreasonably nasty little dickhead according to Carl) were on his case. Carl told me Fincher found support with Charles Dutton, Pete Postlethwaite, Brian Glover and Charles Dance (who were very good friends, being both Yorkshire men). The cast had real camaraderie, as the sets, and atmosphere were very oppressive. Ralph Brown and Paul McGann were constantly asked about Withnail & I by Fincher between takes (who adores that film so much, he wanted to cast Richard E. Grant as Clemens as well, a mini Withnail reunion) , and it was funny at lunchtimes when all the "prisoners" are sitting together and Tom Woodruff would join them in the Alien suit without the tail and head! some interesting bts stuff. I asked him why didn't he look up the access pipe and check for aliens before climbing up with a flare and bucket of explosive slop!
man I love Withnail & I
@@worldlycashmoneyenterprises So do I, amazing film
awesome
Also the face hugger cracks Newt’s cryotube .... but later we see her tube glass intact. Loads of continuity errors.
I’m not so sure it wasn’t Ripley’s tank the alien was getting into. I’m in the team that say’s there were only the royal face hugger , and one drone who was to protect the queen larvae till it was ready to start laying. Newts tank probably cracked on impact with the beach.
A remnant of a deleted scene shown in the comic book adaptation (and possibly filmed) - the queen chestburster comes out of Newt's mouth (revealing it had originally infected her) in the half-sunken EEV, crawled over to Ripley and entered her mouth. It would have solved the problem of who the chestburster infected, but raises other continuity problems (namely, changing the biology of the chestburster itself).
There is only 1 CGI shot in the film. The scene where the alien cracks from the water. The rest is all puppet work.
Not true. When its running around the halls there are obvious CGI shots. The lighting gives it away. The texturing is way off and the light/shadows don't fit the rest of the environment. And it's not really doing the movie any favors to say its practical effects look like shitty CGI.
Those shots are puppets on a green/blue screen. Watch the making of documentaries
No, those are puppets that have been comped in optically. watch the Making Of.
ZX Spectrum That's even worse because it still looks like shitty CGI. It takes a high level of incompetence to make practical look worse than CGI in 1993.
@@irllcd13 it was actually a new technique that they were trying out.
Film a puppet on a green screen. Then superimpose it into the shot they want it in. Yes the technique looks incredibly dated, those shots have aged terribly . But it wasn't practical effects, it was basically the forerunner for full blown cgi.
And back in 1993 it was an advancement in what was capable . Don't forget this was at a time the 1st Windows was released(windows 3.1)
It's like watching an old 1950s b movie and moaning how bad the special effects are . Well of course they're bad the technology isn't there to do the shot perfectly !
I'm sure with today's technology. If someone went over those frames and fully rendered a cgi xenomorph to replace the puppet one it would look amazing .
My favorite quote from Alien³:
_"Buh"_
- Arthur (played by Deobia Oparei)
(Right before ignition stick strikes the floor and causes ensuing explosion - Arthur is the 3rd black dude, after Dillon & Boggs)
Lol! That part was amazing
Bad editing here
Poor Ripley she loses all her friends ends up in space for 57 years her daughter grows up and dies of old age she has PTSD goes to the Alien planet loses all the team barring Hicks,Bishop gets a surrogate daughter survives the Alien Queen then crashes on a prison planet loses her friend and surrogate daughter nearly gets raped and then finds out she has a Alien inside her,death was a blessed relief for her.
"These aliens don't care, it doesn't matter if you're good or bad , you're meat... "Gary Nicholls"
This film will always hold a special spot in my heart. This was the first alien film I watched (when it finally came on HBO back when it released) I set down with my dad I was very ill and he made us some sandwiches and we watched this at 2 in the morning together.
It was our first movie we watched just the two of us and he didn’t even cover my eyes for the bloody scenes been a huge fan of the franchise since when my dad passed I set that night and watched this film with a sandwich and just reminisced
same with me, it's my fave one out of all the Alien films cause it's the first one I saw (as an early teen) it wasn't until much later that I realised long term Alien fans were annoyed at it, and I can understand why. but for me, I love its gritty, dark & raw atmosphere of dread throughout the whole film.
@Coy Leigh just got 2 notification one from a year ago and one an hour.. I was ill because I had got shot in the stomach by a bully (yes he went to jail) so I was stuck on the sofa for 3 months because I couldn't climb the stairs.
I watched the original Alien with my dad in its original theatrical release.. After he passed away back in Jan of this year I rewatched it again, with my dads picture turned to the tv think him an I watching it all over again..I really miss him very much..
So glad you guys are not trashing this. I love it, loved it when I saw it at the cinema. Such a good film.
It is so refreshing to hear someone else talk about the great aspects that Alien 3 has to offer in the Alien series and as a film in general.
I also love this film
Alien³ just gets better with time and the soundtrack is timeless, this movie did what Game of Thrones The Red Wedding episode did for TV, 2 decades before
Great movie, but I can't get past the deaths of Newt and Hicks.
After all they went through its a complete kick in the nuts for them to be killed off.
I like how instantly when you see and hear the superintendent you immediately recognize he was at the Slaughtered Lamb on American Werewolf in London
THAT'S ENOUGH!!
Just sit down and relax with a cup of Tetley's tea.
there is no cgi in this movie except for one shot... so ALL of the alien footage is either a guy in a suit or a puppet... the composition/blue screen is terrible, but watching the behind the scenes of the Alien puppet, with like 4 puppeteers operating the creature is fucking amazing... also, the autopsy showed EVERYTHING, every detail, but the studio thought it was too much to show...
I'm so very glad not to be the only one who loves this movie. I think it's brilliant in story, cinematography, direction, acting, etc. I also agree about the bits I prefer from the theatrical cut vs. the assembly cut.
ETA more words
I love the part where that guy is pulled into the vent and the blood flies down and the other prisoner is like "FUCK!" haha.
The stress ball dropping down 😂 this is my favorite scene also
Great line !!!! Lol
Fun fact for you- Brian Glover taught my dad at school as he was a teacher before he became an actor so when we watched this movie when I was young my dad would say “ there’s my teacher “ OTSR 👊👊
I heard too that Brian Glover's teacher colleague was Barry Hines who wrote in the part of the sadistic PE teacher for him in Kes
I met Paul McGann (Golic) at a con yesterday, and I said I’m sorry FOX messed up Alien 3, and he said “Oh yeah they messed Fincher around, but he had the last laugh though - he’s David Fincher!”
He also went onto to say he’s never seen the film, but heard about the Assembly Cut, and the chances of Fincher reclaiming it and doing his own cut were probably zero.
How the hell does he defend the egg being on the ship when the Queen NEVER left the cargo area? She gets off the ship attacks Ripley and immediately attacks Newt then fights Ripley again and thrown out to space, no egg laying time. And he is so blown how the majority of the cast was "Britesh".
charles s dutton is always awesome in any film he's in
Especially in Surviving the Game.
Alien 3
Hated it!
If a Queen Alien was aboard you shuttle wouldn’t you inspect every square inch of the shuttle before cryogenic sleep?
Best line in cinema history, “They think we’re crud.”
Yeah that’s brilliant writing right there.
A family friend met Sigourney in a pit while she was filming Alien 3 he gave her some of his food on his lunch hour and said watch out for those Aliens haha they filmed the opening on the blast beach here in the North East England (10 minutes from where i live) it's crazy i've walked that beach so many times and it really is as black and dull as the beginning of the film haha
Great channel, guys. Love the long form review format!
You guys make the best reviews because you´re authentic and offer so much background knowledge. Stay that way. I wouldn´t mind longer reviews.
Gary, I enjoyed your emotional review
Yours and Iain’s reviews are excellent
I was so relieved to see the nihilism of alien3. We all want to be heroes and save the day.. but we just can't. When faced with a threat like the Alien. It's just death.
Ain't gonna lie. The doctors death was a very shocking death to me
Just being nitpicky...... but Alien 3 was released in 1992, not 1993.........:)
From what I saw from the first Alien is that a facehugger has one egg to impregnate a host. It can’t do two. So Newt wasn’t facehugged lol. And to do it again to a dog or ox was against their biology.
For me the best comedy part was after the superintendent gets pulled up, and another prisoner just shouts “FUCK”
That was Morse again 👍😅 Brilliant character,reminds me of Johnny Rotten!
I love Morse and his volgurness I would like his story to be made a book
@@jimbowlan5804
I like that he turned from bad guy to hero at the end.I thought the film had some memorable characters.
Alien was a horror movie, Aliens was an action movie. Alien 3 was something else. As a teen it was just a weird film. As an adult who can appreciate movies, I'm digging Alien 3.
Alien 3 it's existentialism drama
In other Alien comics Nute survives & lives to become an adult she & Hicks are separated from Ripley & they try to find her.
I didn't have a problem with Alien 3. I thought it was awesome
I always figured Newt was killed off because she would have been a teenager, and grown a ton, unable to be the little kid from Aliens.
I think Alien 3 is getting better with age. Even though the CGI is dated, the cinematography, direction and character development is perhaps better than Aliens. I still hold Alien above all, but I would actually watch Alien 3 before Aliens.
The score is very grand and sweeping - it's fitting for what I consider the final chapter of the Alien Trilogy.
This is the perfect ending to a horror story, exactly in agreement - this tale was never meant to have a happy ending.
Elliott Goldenthal composed the score for Tom Cruises "Interview With The Vampire" in 1994.
I've really enjoyed your reviews - I watched The Thing reviews last night, back to back.
On a side note, I think I read somewhere that Sigourney Weaver has family in England, on her mother's side.
She's probably pretty at home with English actors.
I never believed Charles Dance’s character’s explanation on why he was imprisoned solely because of the scene with the superintendent who warns him if Ripley knew why he was convicted that she would want nothing to do with him. This statement doesn’t sound to me like he got high and botched an operation but, perhaps, he did something more sinister. It would be typical of Ripley and her run of bad luck to hook up with the Sex Slayer of Sector Six. BTW, I enjoy your reviews immensely.
Considering the queen ditched her egg sack laying thingy to chase after Ripley contradicts how a face-hugger ends up on the ship. What would have been more interesting is after Ripley does her whole wastefulness of ammo in the hive! The camera could have focused on just one egg that was intact, could of laid a strong foundation for the queen planting this on the Sulaco as you don’t see the queen until it steps out from the landing gear.
Smarsh that would mean they planned on killing hicks, newt and Ripley from the beginning.. which wasn’t the plan
Alright, I got the 4 movie pack from ITunes..... watched the first 3 on to Resurection! I had never seen these movies as a kid when they came out, its fun now at 30 to dig into these iconic movies with a huge fan base and experience it as a new movie.
I cried when I saw that this comment was posted a year ago, because that means this person most likely watched Resurrection. :(
Planet made of wood would work great. Someone should bring back that concept, it's visually amazing
Space Termites
Very underrated and never understood why Fincher doesnt want to talk about it. Feels like the guy has been traumatized by the studios interference. It is amazing that he still achieved to make this movie as a debut director when people thought he was just an assistant when he first showed up on set. I also want to note that the CGI shots are not CGI by definition. Its not done digitally, but rather done using old school faking. I do agree that they look bad but it never really bothered me that much. Saw this at teathres when i was 13 and it left such an impression on me i will never forget. Alien was so original and started everything (best sci-fi and monster ever!), but I could agree with Gary here and this might just be the best Alien movie out there. For me, the Alien story stops here with the trilogy. Alien 4 was a joke and a cash grab. :(
I absolutely love Alien 3. It's fits so well within the hostile dark future time of the Alien universe. It's brutal, horrible but beautiful. I actually wish they would do a 3rd cut. There's great bits in the Theatrical Cut that need bringing into the Assembly Cut.
All the other Alien movies have airlocks in them except for maybe Prometheus but this one does not have the alien being ejected from an airlock
Lots of debate about how and when the egg got onto the Sulaco. What isn’t shown in the film is the return docking procedure of the drop ship back into the cargo bay. That would have taken some time and left plenty of time for the queen to drop an egg.... somewhere. Although why it’s hanging upside down at the start of Alien 3 I’m baffled.
I love Alien 3, but I don't think it's better than Aliens IMO, which is my favorite of the bunch. But to each their own.
I've heard that some people like Alien 3 the best. I'm just I found 2 guys who actually like Alien 3 as much as I do, and the Theatrical Cut, too!!
David Twohy at one point was one of the writers hired to work on a screenplay for this sequel. Like that of his later film Riddick, it would have been a spin-off with the hero not battling extra-terrestrial monsters from the previous films, but the Fiorina prisoners. Needless to say, it ended up in the Twentieth-Century Fox round file.
This is my favorite review from you guys, I think Alien 3 might be the most underrated movie ever.
Same, Alien 3 (Assembly Cut) is a masterpiece.
DesROWUnited ive always watched aliens 3 on VHS back in the day. This video is the first hearing of assembly cut. Now I gotta buy the Blu Ray box set.
Alien 3 isn't the worst in the franchise, it's just no where near the greatness of the 1st two.
Summing up this movie is simple. Ripley would have checked out the Sulaco bow to stern, port to starboard, every millimeter. After the 1st movie and the second, she wouldn't want any more surprises. Alien 3 makes no sense.
The bit around 7:45(ish) onward I was sort of on board for, at least in a thematic/motivational sense. Bit too much reliance on outside sources that had nothing to do with the writing of the movie though. Who would ever accept the idea that one must first play a video game or read a comic or novelization (not written by the same hand that penned the script) to get something out of a movie?
Always enjoyed Alien 3, but the Assembly Cut only confirmed what I already knew. There was a great film in there waiting to get out. Whatever your feelings on the film, you can't deny that it signalled the arrival of a great talent. It should be absolutely unwatchable, but because they couldn't take away Fincher's abilities, it is never less than watchable, and for me, better than everything to come since. Have recently given your videos a go and I'm highly impressed, keep it up boys - Dave.
I love Alien 3, underrated and gets far too much of a bad wrap than it truly deserves and i will defend it til the cow's come home. Great video as usual guys \m/
moo!
Particularly the extended cut of the movie. It has just as much atmosphere, if not more than the first two. It just happens to be a downer at first. I found the ending to be uplifting; the idea of making the ultimate sacrifice for the good of others.
Couldn’t agree with you more lads. It’s somber and depressing but deliciously feral in its imagery of the xenomorph. Great character depictions and arguably the best riveting score in the franchise
I completely prefer the Assembly Cut. There is so much religious symbolism in the Assembly Cut that, while still not the near the best Alien movie, it makes it far from a shallow Alien film.
I agree... a slight pity that this cut couldn't clean up some of the cgi..... budget to do so I guess.
Note Ripleys Christ cruxifiction pose when grabbing onto the bars waiting for Dylan to whack her, then later on whilst falling into the fire
What are movies, art, entertainment, money makers . . . ? This movie was not what the audience wanted. If you want a movie to be successful (or any story) don't kill off heros in a non-heroic way. The death of Newt and Hicks spelled doom for this movie.
I admire Alien 3,it had the balls to not play it safe.An alien movie is meant to be frightening,not Little house on the prairie.
@@redpillnibbler4423 Alien 3 was a loss all the way around. The sad part is it would have probably found itself much more successful if Ripley wasn't in it and the "prisoners" found a random escape pod with unseen deadly cargo.
@@equals-kl9hm
It may have been a critical and financial loss but to me it’s one of my favourite films.I absolutely love it.
12:15 Sigourney was just going for the Sinead O'Connor look haha
The one thing that's always bugged me about these movies. What the heck ended up happening to Jonesy? He got left on Earth in Aliens, did he live the rest of his life in a kennel or something? The one loose thread that as far as I know remains a mystery to this day.
Best version of Alien 3 is the Assembly Cut. If you haven't seen that, you haven't really seen Alien 3.
Not really, each version has their benefits
Six years late, but I wanted to say it's still pleasant to encounter a review of this film that appreciates it so well!!
(Though, puzzled at your attempt to create plausibility re: _not_ banging Charles Dance. Very bizarre.)
Assembly cut is far superior to the rest of all versions.
The assembly cut is better, yes. But it's still bad. It's like being peed on or shit on. Neither is good, but one is clearly worse.
Thanks for this review. I have never understood why people love Alien but hate Alien3. I've always thought both films are not so different.
I respect but have never swooned over the first film, though. It was too slow during the first half, and most characters were flat-out boring. I therefore prefer Alien3 to Alien, as the threat is apparent from the beginning and I liked the characters a little more. I wept for Newt and Hicks though. I respect the ending but seeing Ripley die tore my heart out.
I love Aliens most. It is in my TOP10 list of favourite films ever. It is the perfect mix of action, interesting stories, cool characters, strong lead characters, emotional investment, suspense, etc.
So, I guess, my ranking list goes Aliens > Alien3 > Prometheus > Alien > Alien: Ressurection. I have not watched Alien: Covenant yet, though.
I think because this movie is too cynical. You can have all kinds of dark movies, but somehow, at least one character has to stand for something better, for some kind of applied idealism. And that is what I miss in this movie. For example, to kill off Newt, is just too much after her ordeal in the last movie. She earned her rescue. And now in this she is killed off screen. It’s too much...
Why have Newt survive just to be exposed to child molesters, rapists, and murderers.... IMP they did her a kindness.
I don’t understand the hate this movie gets, I love this movie, specially the assembly Cut which is closer to Finchers vision, however the movie it’s not perfect, there’s a couple of issues, some bad dialogue and bad cgi, but it’s still a good movie to me and it gets 4/5 from me..
Great review guys!! I am forever an Alien franchise fan! Am also a fan of David Finchers work in all his films.
As a child watching this upon release, i was shocked and upset. Now, as an adult, i really love this movie. I must admit i love the dark nastiness of the film it grabs you and doesn't let go at all.
This film took the alien back to being scary and giving the alien more character in itself. I can never just watch one film of the trilogy I have to watch all 3. Resurrection was awful but the first 3 are in contention for best trilogy ever
It's nice to finally hear a positive review of Alien 3. I've always enjoyed it as much as the 1st and 2nd ones. And I agree it was a nice ending of a trilogy.
The only problem with the theory that Newt and Hicks would have made me care less about the other characters since I already don't care about the murderers and rapists.
watching it at this very moment...had to put it on after hearing this
The best of the Alien sequels. Criminally underrated.
Only seen the OG cut of A3 once; which was many many years ago now and I never understood why it got such a hard time....... I guess it's nice to know that time is kind to some 'mis-treated' greats and that they get their due love & credit in time (none more-so than 'The Thing', but also personal fave Halloween 3 seems to be getting a few flowers now people have slowly got over their "wot no Michael"-isms).
Off to to watch the Assembly Cut for the first time now...... 👍
Great review as always, lads.
Always liked the 3rd movie, despited of ppl saying it's a crap, I think for some one it's great on subconscious level, they just liked it like me and for others it's not because of that heroes death and bla bla bla, most if not all things said in this review are correct, but thanks to it now I know exactly why I loved it first place, seems all this was also on subconscious level )
... I really liked it. The writing and direction worked, the performances were terrific.
22:05 I've just had a realization!
Maybe it's a tribuite to another great but underrated third entry in a horror franchise!
Here's the hint:
"Where do you want to sleep, Dr. Challis?
That's a dumb question, Miss Grimbridge."
Gotta say, you hit the nail right on the head with the funeral / birth scene. The Assembly cut lacks the power of the theatrical version. Just something about that speech, with the score and then the alien tearing out of that poor dog as Dylan says "...comes new life..." It's perfect.
You guys are awesome. I actually prefer this to Aliens. Alien is, of course, No. 1.
Over the years I’ve reached the same conclusion.I like that all three films are so different.
seriously, this was taken down. I knew something was missing... gosh, youtube is going to hell.
Did it really came out in 1993? I remember buying a pirate VHS copy from Cyprus in summer of '92.
Sorry about that. Even your synopsis says 1992. I was just listening and at point 31'30" 1993 was mentioned.
In the Alien book it was understood that Ripley and Lambert slept with the crew because there was a scene that they were alone and Ripley asked Lambert if she slept with Ash.
I always leave the room when it's the dog chest buster scene ): Can't handle it.
@PhasedPlasmaRifle InThe40WattRange I watch the thing many times and the dog scene in there has no effect on me. But the one in Alien 3 hurts me so much I don't know why. Maybe because the monster burst from inside while the dogs in The Thing were attacked from the outside.
One thing I know about horror monsters in film,. Forget Jason, forget Freddy and Candyman: Alien has top billing for sheer terror.
The assembly cut is far far better than the total shit theatrical cut..I just wished its musical score was a little more better than just alien fart sounds..
Another great review lads, interesting fact, the alien wasn't cgi it was a puppet that was composited on to the film.
Guys, the alien effects when not man in a suit was not CGI, it was a little puppet. Just watch the making of. The only CGI they used was in the end e some other little stuff. CGI was not able to do alien effects at that time. Please, check this out.
I came here to comment this. The reason it looks like it doesn't belong is because it was composited chemically, which didn't allow for the nuance that digital compositing offers. I'd be interested to see what a revisited version of this film could potentially look like.
The Alien effects were made by a pupett. The only CGI appears when the guy thows a torch in the Alien and when his head cracks at the end.
It's clearly CGI. The lighting and shadows is completely off. And either way, it still looks like shit.
Love the way these guys love alien 3
I wish David Fincher would return and release his version of Alien³ as a really good film is hiding within Alien³
It must be a master of disguise then.
A good Alien3 would be an entirely new movie. The script was a piece of shit and it's impossible to turn it into a good movie.
@@irllcd13 wtf how do you think the script sucks. For me, Dillon's eulogy at Hicks and Newts funeral is one of the most powerful scenes of the 4 films. Furthermore, his speech motivating the prisoners to essentially lay down their lives in order to lead one last desperate effort to try and kill the creature always gets to me too.
Great Retrospective guys. Sorry for the Necroposting but I've been going through a lot of creators' reviews on Alien3. After recently viewing this movie again last year with my older Daughter, I agree that it has aged very well. The VFX would be a fun fan project to give a facelift to. I would love for this to one day be retconned as a hyperspace nightmare, (Bloomkamp got robbed. Still salty at Ridley Scott for that one.). I'll leave you with my silly fan theory about "Bishop II': Red blood - He was a Custom Cyberdyne model from the Skynet years centuries prior. Weyland Yutani never throws anything away! How's that for a crossover?!
Cudos to you guys, Alien III is an atmospheric ultra horror. It's the alien that I have when I'm having a nightmare. So many things to like in it. Franchise should have ended there. Some shabby treatment of it after this.
My mates dad played Frank the prisoner in this, nice fella.. He Was in pirates of the Caribbean aswell.
I loved alien 3 it was the perfect ending to the series life isn't about rainbows and flip flips to me the ending it ends the series and I fell like the prisoner at the end so it isn't sad its just good.
I love alien 3, also love the review 👌🏼
Cleaning up the mess - "Your going to need a bigger bucket"
Neatly, this one is a guilty pleasure. I enjoyed this one and will watch it whenever it is on Telly. The acting is top notch and there were so many behind the scene reasons why no hicks. It solidified my David Fincher fandom and I make no apologies for that.
You guys do a great job on these critiques! BTW, I'm the 1,000 'Thumbs-up' guy!😁👍
I enjoyed Alien 3 and thought it was a good addition to the series. Ok, it wasn’t as good as the first two but what 3rd movie in a trilogy is?
It’s hard to follow two classic films and most third films are always the least favorite of the 3 movies