Rating: Summary: WHA? Review: A little confused. How exactly are there used copies of Quadrilogy when it hasn't been released as yet? As a big Alien fan,I check in here to get the skinny and lo and behold...bogus skinny.Come on Amazon,get with it.How about a release date instead of "used" prices?
Rating: Summary: So you are wondering what this is? Review: Ok, for those of you who dont know what this Quadrilogy is, it is simply the 25th anniversary edition of the films. This boxset has the newest version of Alien: Directors cut, Aliens: Special Edition, Alien 3, and Alien Resurection. The first two Alien movies were the best in my opinion and last two were somewhat lacking in what made this seris so popular amoung Sci-Fi freaks in the first place. This item should be available for purchase before this Christmas and will be packaged in a boxset similar to the Alien Legacy. For those of you who have the Alien Legacy you are the lucky few who will be able to remember what the original version of the film looked like. For those of you who waited to grab the Alien Legacy (bet you are punching yourselves) here is your chance to own some of the best Sci-Fi movies that have ever been made. Pick this boxset up, you'll be pleased, I promise. 'Nuff said
Rating: Summary: Awesome box set! Review: This box set is extraordinary!!! Nine DVDs filled to the brim of amazing extras and extended cuts of all four Alien movies makes the "Alien Legacy" box set nothing but recycling bin material. While many detest the third and fourth movies, I love them all and I am proud to own them on this Quadrilogy. Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley is phenemonal throughout all four of the movies. DVDs don't get any better than this!!!!!!!!
Rating: Summary: Bashful's DVD Summary #024 Review: Best:1) The "Alien" movies are well-known for their high production values, great acting, realistic sets, outstanding creature effects and eerie atmospheres. 2) For all 4 films, there's an original theatrical version (the best for pacing) and an expanded DVD version (with deleted scenes restored). The original versions are still the best, but the expanded versions add more character information and answer questions that diehard fans have asked for years. 3) People who weren't huge fans of "Alien 3" or "Alien Resurrection" have a new incentive (through restored scenes) to give each another look. 4) In addition to newly-made commentary tracks for each film, there's enough special features to choke an elephant. With the many hours of extras, you get SO much behind-the-scenes information you might say "enough already". Worst: 1) The plastic spindle plates that hold the discs in place come loose easily, so you may have to get out the glue. 2) I, like many, am still ticked that I already spent good money on the "Alien Legacy" set (that we THOUGHT was the definitive collection at one time) only to turn around and spend an equal amount to get this REAL definitive collection. Recommendation: This movie series is absolutely legendary and the special features for this collection are simply tremendous. It's a no-brainer - get this set NOW (whether "Quadrilogy" is really a word or not).
Rating: Summary: the ultimate edition of the Alien saga Review: If you are a fan of the Alien saga, or a buyer of blockbuster movies, you must have this collection. Not only are the extras (see the Amazon review by Dalkin for all the technical details including; documentaries, commentaries, storyboards, illustrations and post-production notes) what you would expect from any serious DVD package these days, you also get two versions of each movie. It is an interesting exercise to compare the different versions of each film. Alien Resurrection isn't altered much, and the director's cut of Alien is inferior to the theatrical version. Cameron's director's cut of Aliens enhances the original while a special edition version of Alien 3 (not endorsed by Fincher) is worth having, despite some flaws with sound and overall quality. Some reviews have criticised the packaging and quality of the DVD's. My DVD's were in perfect condition with no scatches or glitches while playing. These complaints may be related to a certain batch, and couldn't possibly be typical of the product. While the packaging isn't brilliant, these criticisms should not disuade any prospective buyer. If you take care it should last. But really, who buys a DVD package for the cardboard? As I wrote above, if you are a fan of the series you must have this product. I also recommend collectors of box sets to invest in this superior product. I doubt the Alien saga box set can or will be improved upon in the future. This is the ultimate edition, despite a slightly cheap package.
Rating: Summary: Superb Review: Though I did not become a fan of the Alien Saga until the Sequel Aliens. The first Alien movie did not do it for me and was just to plain and boring. But in the Sequel aliens with the MArines and all the shooting, not to mention the aliens were a little more scary looking and more aggressive, not to mention there were about 1,000,000 of them compared to the one little alien in the first movie. Aliens 3 was okay not as good as Aliens 2 but it was not a bad flick, but again there was only one alien and no guns to combat it with. Aliens Ressurrection was darn good with the guns and the way how they explain Ripley's return when she died in th third film, lots of shooting and lots of aliens, but was not as good as Aliens 2 although it did come close to being as good as aliens 2. Overall Aliens Quadrilogy is a must get although I find the first alien film relatively boring, it still is a must get particulary just to complete the collection, but other than that the remaining three are excellent jaw dropping thrillers worth watching over and over again.
Rating: Summary: The ultimate DVD box set Review: Unlike Friday the 13th which has tons of sequels mainly for milking, the Alien series was made with installments hoping to continue what could be a long running series. Halfway through it fell apart despite some genius scenes. Fox packaged all 4 films including special edition type films, and many other goodies for a set that is just massive to get through.
Alien(1979): Ridley Scott directed the first one which is my second favorite. It had a really slow build and what freaks people out about it is the unknown. A creature who can blend into the architecture of the ship and it was a claustrophic and paranoid type of fear, like knowing something's there but not knowing when it'll appear. It has the legendary chestburster scene and Sigourney in those cute panties.
Aliens(1986): James Cameron directed this one and it's my favorite. Again slow build but this one is more intense. More action and combat driven, arguably a gorier chestburster scene, a character's outcome which I can't help but feel sorry for(hint: he's not like his original counterpart) and a cool ending fight. The deleted scenes flesh out Ripley's character more and her relationship with Newt.
Alien 3(1992): David Fincher directed this one and he practically disowns it from his filmography. It's not THAT bad but it does have weak storyline and script problems but it's great visually. The "alien vision" in the tunnels is cool but it has oddly bad CG.
Alien Resurrection(1997): Jean-Pierre Jeunet directed this one and it's pretty bad too but the underwater chase is thrilling and the end gore scene is quite brutal but the script just seems too convenient or just odd(200 years for a Ripley clone? Who just happens to have all memories intact? And is pregnant no less?) Plus quite a bit gorier than the others which is interesting cause I always thought the series worked when there wasn't a lot of gore.
There's 9 discs in all, one for each film in it's entirety plus the extended editions and commentaries etc and the 2nd disc delving into the making of the films. The 9th disc is stuff like trailers for each film and extra stuff. I doubt they would make a 5th considering the box office intake and just general lacklusterness of the last 2 but here's hoping it takes it into a good and new direction before it gets stale. But for now, marvel at the first 2, and just try to entertain yourself with the last 2.
Rating: Summary: A Masterpiece Review: I've been a film buff for at least 5 years, and the only movies that still scare the bejesus outta me are the Alien movies. Now, for the 25th anniversary of the original, Fox has released this *kiss* giftset. Although they were already available in '99 for 20th anniversary, which you may consider milked, Fox was releasing the new Director's Cut of the film, which is a mangled piece of crap. That is why this giftset came out.
The THX digital masters are superior to the originals in every way. I managed to feel more LFE activity in the subwoofer for the original. Otherwise, the 5.1 tracks for Aliens, Alien3 and Alien Resurrection are the same. Picture is incredibly vibrant and smooth, with no fleckles or dust anywhere, and vibrant colour to top it off. Looking great after 25 years.
Incredibly, two versions of each film are included. The Theatrical Version and the Special Edtion. The most fascinating of the Special Editions is the Alien3 Assembly Cut, presented to Fox in 1991. Many have felt that the theatrical version was a mess, and Fox should have fired its editors for being so cold with what is really a great film. But ho, the Assembly Cut is now restored to the highest imaginable quality using the kind of technology Criterion uses (god bless THX). It's really a fascinating look into the lost work of David Fincher, a truly remarkable director.
Special features are obviously great, with one disc for each film and a bonus disc in itself. It's great to learn the effects in the chestburster sequence, watch the Queen Alien being operated (a great piece of puppeteering, by the way. Stan Winston has been quoted as saying "she was a living work of art that performed"), yada, yada, yada. A substantial addition to your DVD library.
If you're looking for non-stop excitement, rip-roaring action, and enough suspense to crack your heart, these are the films for you. I've liked these films since I was young, and are still great movies to me, a part of my culture. This beautiful box set gives us a whole new position on great films. Buy it quickly.
Rating: Summary: Excellent! Review: Excellent. Hours and hours of suspenseful entertainment. And that's just the movies (original release & director's cut). There are hours of behind the scenes features and cast interviews. In a way, they take away a bit of the fear the alien inspires. When you see how they do what they do, it's much less creepy, and still, pretty amazing.
I'm really squeamish these days, but for some reason, I still like this series. Maybe because there is less gore (though still some) and more that leads up to the implication of it.
My favorite is Aliens (Alien 2). I just like the Ripley and Newt interaction. Mom protecting her new young. How sweet. (then you see #3...oh no!)
I know "it's just a movie" but after watching these movies back to back to back to back (we had an Alien marathon, it was great!), what struck me most was how "the company" and these "aliens" just ruined this woman's life. And afterlife... so to speak. I wouldn't want some company to have that kind of power over anyone. (but do they anyway to a lesser degree? hmm...)
As for entertainment, if you like Alien (1-4), and you like director's cuts, commentary, behind the scenes "how they did that" and "who did it," plus additional goodies like story boards, photos, and whatever easter eggs are present and yet unfound (by me anyway), you just might like this 9 dvd set. A lot.
One minor but important detail... the packaging. Though sleek and quite compact, it isn't the most secure. So be careful when you first open it. Accordion folds and loosely glued plastic holders make it very easy to drop one.
Rating: Summary: A mammoth combo of films and supplements Review: I feel kind of screwed over after having bought the "Alien Legacy" box set. It, too, had all 4 titles. But after seeing what was assembled for this project, I bit down and bought it AGAIN. It is terrifically packaged and has an orgy of features you may never fully get around to watching. I'm most pleased to see the extras carried over from the original LaserDisc "Aliens" box set. Disappointed for the lack of an isolated score-only or score/effects-only track (luckily this IS included in the original dvd box. Alien Res kind of sucked. If you like your dvds overflowing with extra stuff you must add this to your collection.
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