Alien Anthology (Blu-Ray release) review thread

[LitmusDragon]

Not RoJoHen wrote:

---

I almost bought it today, but I didn't realize it was so expensive! I'm not paying $100 for 4 movies. I don't care how pretty they are.

There's also 50+ hours of extras. Not that I'd actually watch all 50 hours, but I would definitely watch the documentaries about the making of each movie.

[Rarewolf]

Not RoJoHen wrote:

---

I almost bought it today, but I didn't realize it was so expensive! I'm not paying $100 for 4 movies. I don't care how pretty they are.

I paid £70 for the first DVD set, since most films were £20 each, it seemed a pretty good deal for 5 discs.

Then the 9 disc set came along for £50, it was very good deal.

The BluRay set I can get for £35. It's just getting silly.

Mind you I suffered extra fatique by the end of the 8th DVD disc. Not sure I'm ready for the new set yet!

[RoJoHen]

LitmusDragon wrote:

---

There's also 50+ hours of extras. Not that I'd actually watch all 50 hours, but I would definitely watch the documentaries about the making of each movie.

See, extra features have never been a selling point for me. I almost never watch them.

I honestly think I might wait 10 years or so when they come out with the super ultimate Alien and Predator box set that contain every single movie for both franchises. It's bound to happen sooner or later.

[LOKAI of CHERON]

In terms of PQ, Aliens is remarkable. Yes, DNR has been applied - but most skillfully IMO. We now have a very natural and filmic veneer of grain as opposed to previous home video versions apparently having been "sandpapered" prior to transfer! But rest assured, the DNR used is NOT to the detriment of detail. Easily the best this movie has ever looked.

[LitmusDragon]

^ Agree. Finally picked it up this weekend and Aliens looks really great.

I guess we all know this already but Alien and Aliens both have some remarkable F/X for their period. This is especially noticeable now on the Blu-ray and on the larger TV I have nowadays. I'm not sure how Cameron pulled off some of the creature sequences he did back then without CG. I guess I'll find out on the making-of.

Something I picked up on this time that I had never noticed before- and maybe I'm just crazy- but do you think that the sort-of odd way that Ripley is cupping one of her hands towards her face here in the final shot of Alien (link) is a visual callback to the facehugger? Certainly seemed that way to me on this watch-through. There's another shot from directly above the hypersleep chamber where it's more noticeable but I couldn't find it on the intertubes.

[Kirkman1987]

RoJoHen wrote:

---

See, extra features have never been a selling point for me. I almost never watch them.

I honestly think I might wait 10 years or so when they come out with the super ultimate Alien and Predator box set that contain every single movie for both franchises. It's bound to happen sooner or later.

They did release that box set, although it lacked the vast majority of the special features so was a pointless release for hardcore fans.

As much as I love the first Predator Movie, that franchise can't compete at all with Alien.

I haven't gone Blu yet, but All the talk this week made me revisit a few of the films on my Quad set.

[RoJoHen]

The Invisible Kirkman wrote:

---

They did release that box set

Since they are still making both Alien and Predator movies, I would have to say that they did not.

[crouteru]

Just watched the uncut version of the Alien 3 documentary and I found it... unremarkable. I mean, the documentary is good, it gives an honest and candid portrayal of the difficulties making the film, but the restored footage is basically Fincher cursing FOX on camera.

[Kirkman1987]

RoJoHen wrote:

---

Since they are still making both Alien and Predator movies, I would have to say that they did not.

At the time it was complete, but I see what you mean.

[Tulin]

crouteru wrote:

---

Just watched the uncut version of the Alien 3 documentary and I found it... unremarkable. I mean, the documentary is good, it gives an honest and candid portrayal of the difficulties making the film, but the restored footage is basically Fincher cursing FOX on camera.

Are the documentaries on the new set any different to the ones on the quad set?

[LitmusDragon]

Tulin wrote:

---

Are the documentaries on the new set any different to the ones on the quad set?

The original documentaries are included but there's lots of new stuff as well. linky

As you all know, there is MUCH new content here as well, created or upgraded specifically for Blu-ray. First of all, there are the new isolated score tracks for each film. Next, in the Quadrilogy set, about 100 of director Ridley Scott's original Ridleygram sketches were inaccessible due to an authoring error. They're ALL now available here. And in fact, the Ridleygrams - and indeed ALL of the artwork, photographs, sketches and other material from the Quad - are upgraded here to full high-def, so you're going to get a better look at them than ever before. As many of you know, the original Alien³ documentary from the Quad set, Wreckage and Rage, was censored by Fox back in 2003, with some 21 minutes cut prior to release - footage detailing director David Fincher's struggles and frustrations on the set. You'll be pleased to know that ALL of that lost footage been restored, making this the most complete version of the documentary to date. On top of that, each of the four feature-length, "making of" documentaries from the Quad set have been enhanced with scores of additional Enhancement Pod featurettes - nearly 4 hours' worth of material over the whole set. This includes great interview stories and anecdotes by cast and crew members, unused outtake footage and more. There's a piece on the influence of Jodorowsky's aborted Dune project on the Alien films, a piece in which Giger describes his philosophy, a piece in which actor Jon Finch talks about how he was originally cast as Kane but couldn't play the part - just great stuff.

[jefferiestubes8]

Amazon also has the Alien Anthology [Blu-ray] Alien Anthology Blu-ray Collection on sale this week for $70.49, This deal is good through November 27th 2010.

in case you were wondering Best Buy currently has the Blu-ray of the anthology for $109.


via
http://www.slashfilm.com/geek-deal-a...s-classics-56/

[RoJoHen]

jefferiestubes8 wrote:

---

in case you were wondering Best Buy currently has the Blu-ray of the anthology for $109.


via
http://www.slashfilm.com/geek-deal-a...s-classics-56/

That's just their normal price. They had it on sale for about $80 when it first came out.

[Candlelight]

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Alien-...-Blu-ray/5090/

Currently $70!

[RoJoHen]

Whaaaaaaat? Dammit, now I might have to buy it.