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[Prospero]

So last night I finally got around to watching the "assembly cut" or "workprint" edition of Alien 3 that came in the Alien Quadrilogy boxset (which I bought back in 2003--that's how ridiculous my backlog is). Some fans would have me believe that this cut restores David Fincher's "vision," or something.

Anyway--better than the theatrical cut? Arguably. Still a bad movie? Sadly enough, yes.

Pros:

+ the opening of the assembly cut (first ten minutes) rules--I wish the pacing of the whole film had been like that
+ Some nice bits of dialogue in the assembly cut, including the bit where one of the prisoners goes into a monologue where he fantasizes about hitting on Ripley ("I'd give her the wink and the dirty smile--she'd soon get the picture.")
+ The alien bursting from an ox instead of a dog is cooler
+ Some events in the assembly cut make more sense than they do in the theatrical cut, like why the prisoners are lighting rows of candles in corridors

Cons:

- Killing off Newt and Hicks still sucks
- The dialogue in the last hour still sucks: fuck this, fuck that, fuck you, etc. Compare to the cursing in Aliens, which is a thing of beauty
- That final chase scene in the leadworks still doesn't make any sense, because you can never tell who's in what corridor and you can't get a sense of how the corridors are laid out--again, compare this to the atmosphere processor in Aliens, where you can easily figure out how the entire place is laid out
- At 144 minutes, the assembly cut is too long (which is why it's called an "assembly cut," I guess, but still).

I might watch Alien Resurrection tonight, but I seem to remember that one being as bad as Alien 3, if not worse. I've pretty much blanked it from memory, though--I could be wrong.

 

[SteveMeister]

Alien Resurrection is much, much, MUCH worse than Alien3.

 

[Manics]

Alien Resurrection is much, much, MUCH worse than Alien3.

I have to rewatch Alien3 and give it another chance. I remember not liking it when it was first out, but now that I've gotten to like Fincher movies, I'll give it another shot.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I thought Alien 3 was ok. Kinda got back to it's roots, but still had problems, but overall, it was just ok. Alien Resurrection was a terrible film.

 

[Xenon]

Alien Resurrection is much, much, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH worse than Alien3.

fixed. I'm talking Batman & Robin bad.

 

[heavy liquid]

Yeah, the Alien 3 Workprint is still flawed, but I think it's much, much better than the theatrical cut. I've never been in the camp that absolutely hated the move. I would LOVE to have seen what Fincher might have done with it had he decided to go back and make a director's cut (or at least as close to what he wanted to do). The workprint suffices in its place, but still...

 

[Warm Machine]

At the very least Alien 3 has the right mood and tone in the writing and situations. A4 is like a comic book.

 

[ManaByte]

Yeah, the Alien 3 Workprint is still flawed, but I think it's much, much better than the theatrical cut. I've never been in the camp that absolutely hated the move. I would LOVE to have seen what Fincher might have done with it had he decided to go back and make a director's cut (or at least as close to what he wanted to do). The workprint suffices in its place, but still...

The workprint technically is the director's cut. Fox couldn't legally call it that however because Fincher has disowned the movie completely. It's the cut Fincher wanted before Fox got their hands on it.

 

[nathkenn]

The workprint technically is the director's cut. Fox couldn't legally call it that however because Fincher has disowned the movie completely. It's the cut Fincher wanted before Fox got their hands on it.

Alien 3 rocks so much, I wish it could have been completed as planned rather than execufucked by fox. The special edition of alien resurrection is somehow even worse than the theatrical, the opening wtf

Watch the behind the scenes of alien 3 theres some hilarious stuff, like when they made a suit for a dog the be the baby alien after the chest burster scene.

 

[brooklyngooner]

Sacrilege I know, but I personally liked Alien3 more than Aliens (I'm talking Director's Cuts for both, I have the Quadrilogy). I agree with all your points concerning its problems, particularly that climactic scene, but found it far more atmospheric and claustrophobic than Aliens. Aliens to me was typical Cameron -- in your face bark but little bite (I am not a fan of Cameron's). There are lots of bits about Aliens that annoy me -- for one, the fact that they're totally unbelievable as marines, and it's that a great deal of time is spent on the bookends of the discovery of the aliens, but little itself of any kind of suspenseful buildup when they go down to the planet.

Although it was some great lines. I loved "Did IQs just drop sharply while I was away?" and "We're on an express elevator to hell, going down!" along with the obligator "Game over."

I thought Resurrection was shizophrenic and awful.

 

[borghe]

alien ressurection was a great movie up until humalien. that was possibly the dumbest shit I've seen. I mean during the middle of the movie exclaiming "this is possibly the dumbest thing I have ever seen". but before humalien it was pretty decent.

I never got the hate for Alien 3. No it wasn't anywhere near as great as Alien or Aliens, but it was still an entertaining movie IMHO. more than can be said for Alien Res with the humalien (yes I'll say it a hundred times. it sounds just as fucking stupid as it was).

 

[themadcowtipper]

Alien3 rules

Charles S Dutton respect Bitches...

 

[nathkenn]

Alien3 rules

Charles S Dutton respect Bitches...

"Is that all you got motherfucka" you gotta respect a man who will hand to hand fight an alien and call it a punk

If you're looking for more hicks and newt adventures you should you should check out the original dark horse aliens series, it's pretty interesting

 

[brooklyngooner]

"Is that all you got motherfucka" you gotta respect a man who will hand to hand fight and alien and call it a punk

and who reeducates some of the brothers with a lead pipe he found in the trash dump

 

[heavy liquid]

The workprint technically is the director's cut. Fox couldn't legally call it that however because Fincher has disowned the movie completely. It's the cut Fincher wanted before Fox got their hands on it.

What I mean is that I really would have loved it if Fincher had gone in and reassembled the movie with fresh eyes. Even better if Fox had let him redo some scenes ala Star Trek: TMP, if he deemed it necessary. Who knows, maybe sometime in the future, but probably not. Right now, it's basically like the Dune "Alan Smithee" version. I'm glad to have it, though.

 

[ManaByte]

What I mean is that I really would have loved it if Fincher had gone in and reassembled the movie with fresh eyes. Even better if Fox had let him redo some scenes ala Star Trek: TMP, if he deemed it necessary. Who knows, maybe sometime in the future, but probably not. Right now, it's basically like the Dune "Alan Smithee" version. I'm glad to have it, though.

HE DOESN'T WANT TO. He doesn't even really want his name on the movie or it to even be credited to him. He doesn't want to have anything to do with the movie at all.

 

[Flynn]

The Newt/Hicks thing isn't Fincher's fault. Newt grew up and Hicks wanted an insane amount of money to star.

It's a bummer, but those characters just weren't gonna happen.

 

[Prospero]

and who reeducates some of the brothers with a lead pipe he found in the trash dump

What makes that scene complete is the brain matter stuck on the end of the pipe as he delivers that line.

 

[brooklyngooner]

What makes that scene complete is the brain matter stuck on the end of the pipe as he delivers that line.

What makes it even better (potentially) is didn't the real-life actor serve time?

 

[Tedesco!]

Yep. From the IMDB:

Charles S. Dutton is an ex-convict who served seven and a half years in prison for fatally stabbing a man in a street fight. While a prisoner, he developed a passion for the theater and completed a two-year college degree course.

 

[Scrow]

Yep. From the IMDB:

Charles S. Dutton is an ex-convict who served seven and a half years in prison for fatally stabbing a man in a street fight. While a prisoner, he developed a passion for the theater and completed a two-year college degree course.

proof the prison system works!

 

[mrklaw]

I like Alien3. Even with the guy from the Tetley tea adverts, its still a good movie.

 

[heavy liquid]

HE DOESN'T WANT TO. He doesn't even really want his name on the movie or it to even be credited to him. He doesn't want to have anything to do with the movie at all.

YES, I KNOW ALL THIS.

 

[Tedesco!]

I like Alien3. Even with the guy from the Tetley tea adverts, its still a good movie.

Who would that be? Pete Postlethwaite?

 

[Leatherface]

Screw the haters Alien 3 was AWESOME.
Loved that they brought back the suspense and atmosphere to the series.

 

[Rlan]

Didn't the guy who played Hicks get paid MORE for the use of his picture on the screen during Alien 3 than what he got paid for his work on Aliens? I think I remember him saying something like that in the Extras..

 

[Tedesco!]

Screw the haters Alien 3 was AWESOME.
Loved that they brought back the suspense and atmosphere to the series.

And then they promptly shit on it and flushed it down the toilet with Alien 4. :lol

 

[Tedesco!]

Didn't the guy who played Hicks get paid MORE for the use of his picture on the screen during Alien 3 than what he got paid for his work on Aliens? I think I remember him saying something like that in the Extras..

I think he filed suit with Fox over the use of his likeness.

 

[Odnetnin]

Aliens 3 was too fucking pommy. Bring back the Americans

Aliens 4 was too fucking french. Bring back the Americans.

That's why they sucked.

 

[Apharmd Battler]

Yep. From the IMDB:

Charles S. Dutton is an ex-convict who served seven and a half years in prison for fatally stabbing a man in a street fight. While a prisoner, he developed a passion for the theater and completed a two-year college degree course.

I still remember the 60 minutes interview from years ago (I mean a LONG time ago). I have to give this man props for really moving on with his life. I wish I could get my handson that clip.

 

[mrklaw]

Who would that be? Pete Postlethwaite?

Brian Glover

 

[Leatherface]

And then they promptly shit on it and flushed it down the toilet with Alien 4. :lol

I agree. Everyone shits on Alien 3 but seems to forget the pure poo that is Alien Resurrection.

 

[Tedesco!]

Alien 3 suffered from poor editing. A lot of opinions of that movie will change once people see the "workprint" edition.

Alien 4 - The only thing Joss Whedon touched that I don't like.

Do you know the what worse thing to happen to the Alien series is? Sigorney Weaver's continued iinvolvement. She has way too much input on how the series should go. It was her involvement that delayed and eventually fucked up the production of Alien 3. I would love to see them shoot an Alien 5, and kill her character off in the first 5 minutes of the movie.

 

[Ollie Pooch]

god, the opening credits of alien 3 were awesome. and visually, the rest of it was stunning - loved the muted greys/browns and the ultra wide distorted lens he used in some scenes (the syringe comes to mind).

OH and the scene where the alien comes right up close to her face is so SO good i reckon the film is a but unsatisfying, and it's a bit of a downer, but the style and tone of it suits the series perfectly.. pity about alien 4 *cries*

 

[VictimOfGrief]

Make way for Alien 5 bitches!

 

[Leatherface]

Do you know the what worse thing to happen to the Alien series is? Sigorney Weaver's continued iinvolvement. She has way too much input on how the series should go. It was her involvement that delayed and eventually fucked up the production of Alien 3. I would love to see them shoot an Alien 5, and kill her character off in the first 5 minutes of the movie.

:lol

I'm with you on that one too! haha

 

[Tedesco!]

I also find it creepy that Siggy constantly brings up wanting to have the next film involve Ripley and an Alien sexing it up. Zuul needs to go!

 

[Jacobi]

Alien 3+4 just sucked. OK,I didn't watch the workprint edition, but I don't think it actually added that much more fun or tension. I even think Alien 4 is a bit better just because there is some more action.

 

[Prospero]

Do you know the what worse thing to happen to the Alien series is? Sigorney Weaver's continued iinvolvement. She has way too much input on how the series should go.

In the commentary for Aliens in the Quadrilogy box, James Cameron says something like, "Sigourney wanted three things for this movie--she wanted not to use guns, she wanted her character to die, and she wanted her character to mate with one of the Aliens. She didn't get those from me, but--ha ha--she got them eventually."

 

[Prospero]

god, the opening credits of alien 3 were awesome.

I will grant you that. The way the 20th Century Fox fanfare goes off the rails and becomes evil, followed by all the little discontinuous shots of bad business going down--it almost makes killing off Newt bearable.

 

[sc0la]

The opening credits score is the shit.

I don't get the hate mostly, I understand if people don't like it more than the others (even if I don't share the pure love of Aliens, I prefer the first one), but I still feel like each of the sequals are intentionally cheesy genre flicks (War movie, Prison movie, Frankenstein Movie).

I like all of them for different reasons, and by no means unconditionally, but really they all pale before the first.

 

[Kung Fu Jedi]

I agree. Everyone shits on Alien 3 but seems to forget the pure poo that is Alien Resurrection.

It's a subconcious thing. We all WANT TO FORGET Alien Resurrection!

For years I kept saying that there was no Highlander 2. They had fucked it up so badly, and when anyone brought it up, as an example of a really shitty movie, I'd always say "What? They made a Highlander 2?" :lol

 

[FortNinety]

My fave part in Alien Resurrection is where the two aliens are talking with each other.

 

[Tedesco!]

OK,I didn't watch the workprint edition, but I don't think it actually added that much more fun or tension.

If you didn't watch it, how can you comment on what it did/did not add? Logic = Flawed

 

[Tedesco!]

My fave part in Alien Resurrection is where the two aliens are talking with each other.

My favorite part was the credits. That meant it was time to go.

 

[Warm Machine]

Alien 3's score is excellent. Hard to choose a favorite score between the first 3 movies. Alien is all minimalist, Aliens is in your face suspense, and Alien 3 is all darkness and mood.

 

[COCKLES]

Alien 3 commits the biggest sin. It's simply dreadfully boring.

AR is a worse movie, but its not as boring as alien 3 - if that makes sense.

 

[Tedesco!]

Alien 3 commits the biggest sin. It's simply dreadfully boring.

AR is a worse movie, but its not as boring as alien 3 - if that makes sense.

How exactly is A3 boring? Are you the kind of person who hates all that pesky "dialogue" that can be found in movies?

 

[pixelated]

Alien 3 is probably my favorite of the series. I loved the mood, the visuals, and the score. I liked how it was a return to the horror. It was a good ending to the series solving Rippley's and the universe's problem with the aliens. Then there was Alien 4 :/ I didn't mind that Hicks and Newt died, they were good characters but Finch kept it real.

 

[Tedesco!]

I was hoping that they would spin the series in a different direction after A3. What with Ripley gone, they could go in a slew of new stories. Alas, that didn't happen, and we got Alien: Res.

Does anyone else think that the Alien : Earth Wars series would make a nice mini-series?