Is Alien3 one of the most underrated sequels around?

[Dogma]

This thread contains spoilers for Alien3

I've been re-watching the Alien films recently as I hadn't seen them in several years and recently acquired the box set in a sale.

After watching Alien and Aliens I was dreading following up two brilliant films with the lesser sequels. I've just finished Alien3, and whilst I'm still dreading and having to pump myself up to watching Alien Resurrection, I was pleasantly surprised by Part III.

It has everything you look for in an Alien film. The tension, the dark, moody setting, with the horror of the unknown. Ripley. A high body count. Some cool iconic characters (gotta love the Preacher).

Why is this film so often looked down upon?

One thing that immediately struck me is what a great decision it was to just have the one Alien. Fincher was basically saying, right, Aliens kicked ass, I don't want to just do a carbon copy. How can I make this a great continuation of the series?

Simple. Let's hark back to the first film. One alien. Plenty of humans. Close quarters.

It was a brave decision killing of Ripley, but in my mind it was the perfect end to a brilliant trilogy.

What sucks, is thanks to Resurrection, we now need a 5th film to properly cap off the series in my opinion.

[Lawgick]

I agree with you. Alien 3 was a good movie all around and worthy of the series. Great acting, the setting was unique as was the situation. The Alien was given a new & cool, but believable, twist. As you said everything was there. I only wish it had stayed a trilogy.;)

[poopontheshoes7]

Always loved it. The Assembly Cut is amazing. I'd put it right up there with the first two.

[bourahioro]

I personally think that Alien: Resurrection is far more underrated than 3...

[JJFlamingo]

The weakest of the 4 (Resurrection kicks more ass than it gets credit for), but still a good movie...

[jaw2929]

Agreed with Bourahioro. Resurrection was a really fun movie, I enjoyed the hell outta it. Definitely worthy of the "Alien Franchise" IMO.

[Dogma]

Always loved it. The Assembly Cut is amazing. I'd put it right up there with the first two.

Assembly Cut? In my box set I get two option, the theatrical and special edition (I watched the Special). Is that either of them?

[chinton]

Agreed. very underrated.


Honestly I'm surprised at the love for Alien Ressurrection here. Yes it's pretty but it also has none of the trademarks of the alien franchise. While I love Joss Whedon all the dialogue has the distinct flavor of Whedon characters talking within an alien universe. In fact the film really doesn't hold up for me.

Also Alien 3 always had a nice final cap on it. The idea to ressurrect rRipley via cloning was dumb along with her mutated child at the end. Horrible looking creature. It was just silly looking.

Finally Ressurection contains Winona Ryder's worst performance. It was pathetic. It was also a terrible character.

[Rapture27]

Predator 2 is more underrated imo. Alien 3 wasn't terrible but it was never impressive to me.

[Ratlehed]

Agreed. very underrated.


Honestly I'm surprised at the love for Alien Ressurrection here. Yes it's pretty but it also has none of the trademarks of the alien franchise. While I love Joss Whedon all the dialogue has the distinct flavor of Whedon characters talking within an alien universe. In fact the film really doesn't hold up for me.

Also Alien 3 always had a nice final cap on it. The idea to ressurrect rRipley via cloning was dumb along with her mutated child at the end. Horrible looking creature. It was just silly looking.

Finally Ressurection contains Winona Ryder's worst performance. It was pathetic. It was also a terrible character.


I agree with you agreeing and everything else you wrote. Alien 3 is better than it gets credit for. Alien: Ressurection is just as bad as Halloween: Ressurection. Both are 1 star movies.

Alien 3 has alot going for it. But the main problem was that they had Newt and Hicks from Aliens. Two very good and likeablie charectars. Then they just knock them off. I think alot of people didnt like that. It would've been a more accepted movie if at least one of them stuck around.

[Lost in Space]

Agreed. very underrated.


Honestly I'm surprised at the love for Alien Ressurrection here. Yes it's pretty but it also has none of the trademarks of the alien franchise. While I love Joss Whedon all the dialogue has the distinct flavor of Whedon characters talking within an alien universe. In fact the film really doesn't hold up for me.

Also Alien 3 always had a nice final cap on it. The idea to ressurrect rRipley via cloning was dumb along with her mutated child at the end. Horrible looking creature. It was just silly looking.

Finally Ressurection contains Winona Ryder's worst performance. It was pathetic. It was also a terrible character.

joss whedon = god

[echo_bravo]

Yes it is. Fincher OWNS!

[poopontheshoes7]

Assembly Cut? In my box set I get two option, the theatrical and special edition (I watched the Special). Is that either of them?


Yea, they're the same.

[AshleysDad]

I can understand what you all like the other Alien movies after Aliens, but I did not like the direction they took the series. I hated Aliens3 from the moment it started. I wanted to walk out. I did not like what I saw with the trailers from Resurrection, so I did not see it. I wish Ridley Scott or James Cameron would do what Superman Returns did and forget 3 and 4 and restart from the end of 2. I think those Alien vs Predator movies were a joke. I think Hollywood killed this perfect concept.

[Zizou]

The first two, Alien and Aliens, are probably my two favourite films of all time. The suspense (Alien) and action (Aliens) is a joy to behold.

The bar was set so high that Alien3 was bound to disappoint. And it did. I thought it was quite a good idea to use the anatomical structure of a dog, but too often the CGI was poor and undermined what could have been brilliant. The acting was reasonable. The dialogue was, at times, the most hideous creation on display. Yet all that said and done, Alien3 is still likely to be in my top100. I can't blame Alien3 for not reaching the heights of its predecessors, as no other film has managed it either.

[Zizou]

I wish Ridley Scott or James Cameron would do what Superman Returns did and forget 3 and 4 and restart from the end of 2.

From then end of Alien2 to the time she's discovered, Ripley shouldn't have aged, yet Sigourney has so very much.

The two brilliant directors could continue the series with another character. Afterall, those 'things' are still out there.

[poguesfan]

I think the main reason why the fanboy population doesn't like this film, is due to the fact that the powers that be decided to kill off Newt and Hicks in the beginning. I actually rather enjoyed Alien 3. Sure it wasn't the kick ass action movie that Aliens was, but I found it to be more in the realm of the first Alien. Very dark, surreal, and creepy. I loved how they tried something different, I loved the prison camp environment, the alien effects were very well done (sure some of the CGI hasn't aged well,) but that entire chase scene through the bowels of the prison system was fantastic. My only complaints here is that they killed off one of the best characters of the franchise; Medical Officer Clemens. I fucking loved that dude and they killed him off an hour into the movie, what a fucking gip!!!! He was the only guy that always seemed on Ripley's side from beginning to end. Overall, I say give Alien 3 another watch, especially the assembly cut (which should have been the film they originally should have released.) Not quite as good as Aliens (then again what is!!!!!) but actually in my opinion on par with the original and a lot better than the dreadful fourth installment.

[spacemonkey]

I love Alien 3 because of its bleakness. It never lets up. Everything in this movie is dreadful in tone, every character you loved is fucked up somehow. Nobody is happy on this prison planet, Hicks and Newt both died, Newt had a fucking alien inside of her all along, I mean, can things get any worse! Of course they can! Ripley dies!

I love the movie for precisely this. Its dark and depressive mood.

The fourth movie I love as well. I dont get why it gets all the hate. Sure its different, but so is every single film in this series. Thats what they are known for, every film gets a special view of the Alien universe depending on the director it gets. On the fourth Alien we simply got yet another unique view. And I like it! Its visually interesting. Lots of great visuals on it.

[poguesfan]

I love Alien 3 because of its bleakness. It never lets up. Everything in this movie is dreadful in tone, every character you loved is fucked up somehow. Nobody is happy on this prison planet, Hicks and Newt both died, Newt had a fucking alien inside of her all along, I mean, can things get any worse! Of course they can! Ripley dies!

I love the movie for precisely this. Its dark and depressive mood.

The fourth movie I love as well. I dont get why it gets all the hate. Sure its different, but so is every single film in this series. Thats what they are known for, every film gets a special view of the Alien universe depending on the director it gets. On the fourth Alien we simply got yet another unique view. And I like it! Its visually interesting. Lots of great visuals on it.

Actually spacemonkey, Ripley was the one that had the alien inside of her the entire time, Newt didn't, this was confirmed during the autopsy scene.

[poguesfan]

I just couldn't get into Alien 4. I hated the entire cloning ploy, the movie itself dragged and there just wasn't much action in this one. I loved the entire underwater sequence and the part where the alien is attacking the crew on the ladder, but other than that nothing really that exciting. Most of the characters were fucking stupid (especially the character of Elgin, motherfucker why in the hell he decided to go down a deserted dark hallway was beyond me, I knew the second he went down there he was going to die, smooth move ace!!!!) Winona Ryder was awful as Cole, hell I didn't even really like Sigourney Weaver in this one. However, I thought Ron Pearlman fucking rocked the house and the token black dude was cool as hell as well. Overall, being that the film was directed by a French dude, that was the whole atmospheric impression that I was envisioning. The entire film just felt too Frenchy for my tastes.

[jaw2929]

I don't know what "Frenchy" means.... But no action? Alien 4 has one of the BEST fucking death scenes I've ever seen, when the dude with a chestburster grabs the guy (can't remember who) in front of him.... Then the chestburster pops out of his chest, THROUGH the guy's fucking head/face that he had put in front of him.... That was one fucking hell of an action scene! :p

[echo_bravo]

ABSOLUTELY! Alien 3 is my favorite of the Alien films.

A lot of the complaints from critics thought it was "too mean spirited" I guess.

[spacemonkey]

Actually spacemonkey, Ripley was the one that had the alien inside of her the entire time, Newt didn't, this was confirmed during the autopsy scene.

Thats right...it was the dog who got impregnated (and the cow, depending of which cut of the film you see)...sorry about that havent seen it in a while!

[spacemonkey]

Winona Ryder was awful as Cole, hell I didn't even really like Sigourney Weaver in this one.

Thats probably cause she wasnt really Ripley, she was her pissed off clone. Same goes with Cole, she was just a clone. They are all very one note. If you notice, right from the first movie, all clones are devoid of any emotion and give a one note performance.


Overall, being that the film was directed by a French dude, that was the whole atmospheric impression that I was envisioning. The entire film just felt too Frenchy for my tastes.

Well, it was directed by Jean Pier Junet, and part of the cast is his usual gang of actors that he likes to use (like Dominic Pinon and Ron Perlman) so you have to expect a different style all together.

But what I enjoyed about was the visual style. Junet is a very visual guy (check out City of Lost Children or Delicatessen to see what I mean) so when given Alien Resurrection, of course the strength of the movie is on its visuals. I love that scene where Ripley is swimming in all those Alien tentacles...love that scene where Brad Dourif is playing around with the Alien Queen, getting her all pissed off, loved that morphing shot of Ripleys clone growing from little girl to adult! That scene is a seemless use of morphing!

For me, every Alien has something different about it. The first was purely a horror movie. A monster movie. The second was action adventure, the third was more dramatic, and the fourth, well, that ones just a visual trip.

[Elgyn]

Most of the characters were fucking stupid (especially the character of Elgin, motherfucker why in the hell he decided to go down a deserted dark hallway was beyond me, I knew the second he went down there he was going to die, smooth move ace!!!!)


:mad:
Horrible demise......for a very COOL character, thank you very much!
I hate that scene. This guy is the hardened captain of a crew of cutthroat space pirates - NO WAY would he be dumb enough to go wandering down a dark hallway by himself. Sheesh. It was like something a stupid teen in a "Friday the 13th" movie would do.

In the original script he is leading the rest of the people down the corrider, and an alien jumps out of nowhere and gets him. Would`ve been a much better scene.

[poguesfan]

:mad:
Horrible demise......for a very COOL character, thank you very much!
I hate that scene. This guy is the hardened captain of a crew of cutthroat space pirates - NO WAY would he be dumb enough to go wandering down a dark hallway by himself. Sheesh. It was like something a stupid teen in a "Friday the 13th" movie would do.

In the original script he is leading the rest of the people down the corrider, and an alien jumps out of nowhere and gets him. Would`ve been a much better scene.

Much better indeed, at least he would have gone out with some amount of dignity and not just like some punk.

[Danger^Cart]

I'd say it's marginally underrated, but only in the sense it's not the horrendous piece of shit people curse it for. It does falter quite a bit, though, and I become depressed whenever I think of the movie Fincher could have made if Fox (FUCK YOU! FUCK YOU! FUCK YOOOOUUUUUU!) had just left him the fuck alone.

[FireCaptain4]

The first two, Alien and Aliens, are probably my two favourite films of all time. The suspense (Alien) and action (Aliens) is a joy to behold.

The bar was set so high that Alien3 was bound to disappoint. And it did. I thought it was quite a good idea to use the anatomical structure of a dog, but too often the CGI was poor and undermined what could have been brilliant. The acting was reasonable. The dialogue was, at times, the most hideous creation on display. Yet all that said and done, Alien3 is still likely to be in my top100. I can't blame Alien3 for not reaching the heights of its predecessors, as no other film has managed it either.

Actually, there's no CGI in the film. Those scenes that seemingly EVERYONE seems to mistake for CGI is actually the work of miniature puppetry. But, yep, there's no CGI in "Alien3".

[FireCaptain4]

I love ALL of the Alien movies, but the AvP movies don't even count. I agree with everyone's sentiments on the glorious bleakness of "Alien3". Even though Fincher disowns it, I will always stand by and defend it. With this said, the Assembly Cut of "Alien3" is a much, MUCH better film than the originally released theatrical version--lots of footage is restored and it makes much more sense than the original cut. Imagine how great "Alien3" could have been if Fincher was allowed to make the film he WANTED to make? After all, the script went through changes on a daily basis and by the end of production, DF claimed it didn't even resemble what he had signed up to make. Studio interference (a trademark of FOX nowadays) prevented "Alien3" from reaching its full potential, but I still think it's a really good movie that seems to have garnered more respect with age.

I also enjoy "Alien: Resurrection", despite its absurd story and weird sexual atmosphere. The movie is brilliant in technical terms. The sets, cinematography, and casting (with the exception of Ryder, whose performance is dreadful) was top-notch. Like all the directors before him, Jeunet gave the film his own spin to help it stand out from the rest of the series, I just don't think it worked all that well. Still, a solid film and still way above average by both sci-fi and horror standards.

[KcMsterpce]

Based on the thread title alone, this is how I see things:

It's an "ok" movie, but because of the backlash of it being hated on release - and the director being David Fincher - as well as many people learning the issues he had with the project - it has become MORE well-liked than it might deserve.

I never use "over" or "under" rated, because I fucking hate those labels. It's basically "I don't like it when the majority does" or "I like it when most of the majority doesn't", hidden as a term that is OVERused.

[Sonny Corleone]

I agree that Alien Resurrection is far more underrated.