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The Alien Legacy

The Alien Legacy

List Price: $79.98
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Worth every cent
Review: Picture quality is awsome, sound is incredible, lots of extras. I saw this and had to have it. When I got it I went on an all day alien adventure that was better then any rollercoaster ride that exists. It was worth every cent that I spent. The only thing I can add is that the Aliens version in this set is great it has lots and lots of extra footage that goes into things like how Nwet ended up alone and goes a little into Ripley's daughter. It's alot longer but you don't even notice. Alien Legacy is a collection everyone with a DVD player should have.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: alien legacy box
Review: The alien legacy simply rocks. The first 2 parts have a lot extra's on it, i own it quite a time and have still no time to see everything that's on them. The videoquality is extremely good, even alien1 looks as good as alien4. I would recommend this box because then you got all the alien movies for a great price. If your a alien fan these are the first dvd's you should buy.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A remarkable box set
Review: I couldn't help but feel a little bit cheated when I got hold of this set.Starting off with the first film:Alien.The start menu is great and uses the DVD's capacity to full extend.It's the oldest movie of 'em all but it has the most extra features and hidden menu's.It's absolutely packed to the brim with extra's,and the picture quality is astounding and you can make out all the detail you couldn't quite see on video.Going through all the extra's on this DVD might take you an entire evening!Top notch!

Then comes Aliens.Same story here.Fantastic start menu.Selecting the options really makes you feel like you're a part of the movie.Tons of extra's on this disc too,giving you a good insight on how much director James Cameron really influenced the overall artistic look of all the things used and worn in the film,like for example the loader wich Ripley used to battle the Alien queen.The extra's on this DVD are once again really satisfying and you'll have a great evening diggin' through it.

So then,why not give it a five star rating then? Well because of the next two DVD's:Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection (and my final word). Alien 3 features a 23-minute making of... that doesn't show much about the making of this movie.Instead,it's focus lies on the actors' visions on the alien saga as a whole.The menu is very disappointing after you've witnessed the brilliant menu's of the previous two movies.Furthermore,it has some theatrical trailers and that's basically it.The picture quality and the sound however is of the best quality you'll ever get out of the Alien 3 movie. I would have expected more extra's on this DVD if only for the fact that it's about twelve years younger than the first Alien movie.Certainly,keeping track of a movie's progress was as much of a standard issue in the nineties as it is now?

Wich takes us to the final instalment of this box set:Alien resurrection.The DVD version of resurrection makes the Alien 3 DVD seem like it's packed full of features.There's only a crappy 3-minute featurette on this DVD.I'd agree with you if you'd say that there just isn't a lot to tell about this movie.I could have been that they didn't keep track of the production process,but they did.You see,I've counted 144 pages in this "The making of Alien resurrection" book that I purchased a couple of years ago,so I really expected them to put the "filmed" version of that book on DVD but I guess it wasn't worth the trouble anyway.This DVD is nothing more than a upgraded VHS tape offering nothing more than a better sound and picture quality.

So what choice do you make? If you're an Alien fan the choice is easy:simply buy it because it's the Alien series in the best possible picture and audio quality .If you only really liked the first two Alien movies,like a lot of people only do,you'd be better off buying these discs separately.Finally,and that's the reason why I felt cheated,if you live in Europe you'll want to buy the region 2 version of this box set because that version has a bonus FIFTH disc that is NOT included in the region 1 set.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A remarkable box set
Review: I couldn't help but feel a little bit cheated when I got hold of this set.Starting of with the first film:Alien.The start menu is great and uses the DVD's capacity to full extend.It's the oldest movie of 'em all but it has the most extra features and hidden menu's.It's absolutely packed to the brim with extra's,and the picture quality is astounding and you can make out all the detail you couldn't quite see on video.Going through all the extra's on this DVD might take you an entire evening!Top notch!

Then comes Aliens.Same story here.Fantastic start menu.Selecting the options really makes you feel like you're a part of the movie.Tons of extra's on this disc too,giving you a good insight on how much director James Cameron really influenced the overall artistic look of all the things used and worn in the film,like for example the loader wich Ripley used to battle the Alien queen.The extra's on this DVD are once again really satisfying and you'll have a great evening diggin' through it.

So then,why not give it a five star rating then? Well because of the next two DVD's:Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection (and my final word). Alien 3 features a 23-minute making of... that doesn't show much about the making of this movie.Instead,it's focus lies on the actors' visions on the alien saga as a whole.The menu is very disappointing after you've witnessed the brilliant menu's of the previous two movies.Furthermore,it has some theatrical trailers and that's basically it.The picture quality and the sound however is of the best quality you'll ever get out of the Alien 3 movie. I would have expected more extra's on this DVD if only for the fact that it's about twelve years younger than the first Alien movie.Certainly,keeping track of a movie's progress was as much of a standard issue in the nineties as it is now?

Wich takes us to the final instalment of this box set:Alien resurrection.The DVD version of resurrection makes the Alien 3 DVD seem like it's packed full of features.There's only a ... 3-minute featurette on this DVD.I'd agree with you if you'd say that there just isn't a lot to tell about this movie.It could have been that they didn't keep track of the production process,but they did.You see,I've counted 144 pages in this "The making of Alien resurrection" book that I purchased a couple of years ago,so I really expected them to put the "filmed" version of that book on DVD but I guess it wasn't worth the trouble anyway.This DVD is nothing more than a upgraded VHS tape offering nothing more than a better sound and picture quality.

So what choice do you make? If you're an Alien fan the choice is easy:simply buy it because it's the Alien series in the best possible picture and audio quality .If you only really liked the first two Alien movies,like a lot of people only do,you'd be better off buying these discs separately.Finally,and that's the reason why I felt cheated,if you live in Europe you'll want to buy the region 2 version of this box set because that version has a bonus FIFTH disc that is NOT included in the region 1 set.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: 20th Century Masterpiece:IT ROCKS!
Review: I know that only very few people haven't seen any of the Alien films yet,so i'll keep this "review" short and direct for those who haven't: it is the BEST and most IMPORTANT sci-fi saga of ALL TIME,fullstop.Alien and Aliens are true classics,Alien3(despite the frequent bashing it has received) is a great addition to the series,Ripley(Weaver)having a more dominant role in this film than the alien and Resurrection which even though lacks the scares of the first and the power surge of the second is still a HIGHLY entertaining movie.One of the most important elements of the Alien Legacy is that each movie was directed by a different(and new at the time) director by choice of the studios.So each movie has something special to offer while still working on the same concept.All in all,a must buy box-set.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The best money can buy
Review: Alien Legacy sets the standard which all other DVD titles should seek to emulate. A wonderful package of four great films plus a fifth one hour bonus disc (at least for UK editions) which tells of the sory behind the making of the first film.

If there was a slight complaint it would be that the extras on the discs grow smaller with each film. 'Alien' is chock fall of stuff, 'Aliens' has less, 'Alien 3' less still and 'Alien Resurrection' barely anything at all. Still, to be fair, you're spoiled by all the extras on the first film and it's fair to point out that the extras on the last movie are in line with what you tend to get on many other DVD titles.

As for the films themselves.... well, I'd personally rate them in the order they appeared on screen;-

Alien is a wonderful study of terror and its impact when first released in the cinema is now the stuff of legend. I can remember seeing it myself on the night it opened in the UK and the reaction of the audience was unforgettable!

Aliens was a worthy successor to Alien but it didn't quite eclipse it. The action was good and I enjoyed the realisation from the space marines that they were in way over their heads (slight complaint here.... would a corporation really only send TEN lightly armed space marines to try and capture a beast of such ferocity that may have wiped out an entire colony as well as the crew of the Nostromo?) but it didn't have the style or feel of the first movie. Nevertheless, still an awesome movie in its own right.

Alien 3 was slated by many on its release but, like Blade Runner, time has been kind to it. Once you actually sit and study the film properly it offers much more than you first thought. For the people trapped on the planet there is little or no hope of salvation and the suspense plays well.

As for Alien Resurrection, well, it's not the worst sci-fi movie you'll ever see (not by a long way) but as a member of the Alien family it is stand-out black sheep. It tries to be all things to all people and falls short on many counts. I enjoy to watch it now and again but am always aware of its shortcomings.

All in all, I believe that Alien Legacy offers the best value for money available on the DVD format at the moment. If you're a fan of the Alien films or just somebody who enjoys watching great movies then this set is for you... just be sure to watch them in the right order! :-)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The Legacy Lives On
Review: Despite the obvious impact Star Wars has had on nearly every science fiction film since 1977, the Alien series has managed to stand on its own, with its own imitators.

Often imitated, never duplicated, the original Alien remains the best. But if you're a fan of the series to even the slightest degree, then this set is a must-have. Aliens has been expanded with previously-deleted scenes, and the entire feel of the movie is improved. Originally screened as an action/thriller shoot-em-up, the movie becomes throught provoking after merely ten or so minutes of additional footage. It's amazing how much character development ten minutes can give you!

Alien3, though often overlooked, is also an intriguing film. The action gets underplayed here, but a cat-and-mouse sense of impending doom pervades in its place. This one has a grittier, more thoughtful feel, bringing back the aura of the first film.

Alien Resurrection tries to play the middle ground. Action, tension, character development -- some might argue this film conflicts with its own goals too much. Personally, I think it holds up quite well in the series. I had the first three on VHS, I have no regrets getting all four on DVD.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Nerds will die in ecstasy!
Review: ALIEN The best of the lot, in my opinion. The DVD features have deleted scenes and alternate sountracks with Director's commentary to keep film buffs interested. The movie itself is excellent. Because we never clearly see the alien until the very end, we build on the flashes of techno-organic limbs, causing us to fear the creature even more. This is no Godzilla monster. This is one that waits at the back of your brain. Now noted for introducing Ripley, series heroine sans pareil, it actually studies its characters well. It is not only the alien that needs be feared - the crewmates cannot trust each other, adding to the tension.

ALIENS Less thoughtful than ALIEN, this one is more exciting and studies the fierceness of motherhood. Ripley awakes after fifity-seven years asleep, losing her daughter in the process. She returns to the planet Acheron to rescue the lone surviving child of a destroyed colony. This film is so in your face that it covers the fact that it mirrors events in ALIEN closely. Again the characerization is good-particularly Ripley, who ceases to be an annoying, prissy officer and becomes a hard warrior. The marines are annoying but they emerge as sympathetic characters towards the end. This is the Special Edition with new footage, SO GET IT! And there is commentary from James "Titanic" Cameron.

ALIEN3 Er. After ALIENS we had been prepped for further mythos expansion. Dark Horse had given us THE EARTH WAR trilogy in comic form, detailing the further adventures of Newt and Hicks. Instead we got this movie, where Newt and Hicks die! Arrggh! But it is very good in its own right. I have never seen a more beautiful, poetic movie. We don't have aliens in your face, we have a beautiful study of terror. True the script and plot are a mess, but David Fincher makes an extraordinary debut and produces an unforgettable movie. The soundtrack is the best in the series. No, the story should not have gone this way, but this most definitely is NOT a waste of time. It is indispensable.Sadly the DVD has a lack of extras.

ALIEN RESURRECTION ALIEN3 was such a neat conclusion. Why this? With a blatant disregard to basic science and Giger's vision, we have a cheap film for TEENAGERS. This is a poor movie. What the hell is Winona Ryder doing in Outer Space! And why are those CGI graphics so bad? I could mention the hybrid at the end but why embarrass it any further? For completists only.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Legacy Set Right on Target
Review: This is definitely one of the better box sets available. Not that it's appearance has anything to do with it's content, but it must be pointed out that this set is pretty well put together. The silver embossed alien and logo on the case is pretty creepy. As a set these films couldn't be more different in style and tone. From the methodic, slow build of Scott's direction in the first film, to the high budget James Cameron extravaganza in Aliens. The third and fourth adopt a post apocalyptic, prison feel under Jeunet and a human genetic, philosophical, platform with Fincher, but are not nearly as clever or creepy as the first two films.

As a whole this set is a lot of fun. Geiger's creature is ugly, mean, and truly scary. I remember the first time I saw Alien when I was a kid (I have just dated myself) and it was the only movie then and since that truly scared me. Freddy, Jason, Michael Meyers did nothing for me, but the first Alien movie freaked me out. It still scares me today. Given that fact, this movie and set are essential for my collection out of respect for making me lose sleep; I would wager the same for any sci-fi fan.

The menu features of the set are well put together. In the case of the first and second disks the menu itself is worth playing with, just to watch the camera navigate itself through the ship. Similar to the films, however, the third and fourth film menu presentations lose something. Not as much time is taken in the actual construction and they, still acceptable, pale when compared to the their predecessors. I bought this set without having seen the last two films, but I am such the sci-fi fan I knew just following the story from the first two films would be worth the watch. I am very glad I did, but am now nervous that the fifth film is being considered for shooting. Rumor has it the alien finds its way to earth.... could be fun.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: top box set
Review: I will start off this review by talking about the movies themselves...

ALIEN: For me, 'Alien' is the best movie of the lot. The atmosphere created by this movie is incredible and the original is by far the most tense and scary Alien movie of them all! The real reason this movie is superior to the others in my opinion is because of the outstanding set pieces and the ground breaking models used for the spaceship shots etc. Also, the characters in this movie are great and you really feel as though they start off hating each other but are slowly forced to work as a team.

ALIENS: This follow up to 'Alien' is much more action orientated then the original but still manages to be fairly scary. The characters in this movie are unforgettable, as is the dialog. The action in this movie comes thick and fast and works Extremely well thanks to the fabulous direction from James Cameron. However, I can't help but feel that this sequel lost some of the charm the original. Never the less, this is a classic movie and is not to be missed by anyone.

Alien 3: This movie was badly recieved by critics and the general public when in was released (i'm afraid this included myself). However, 'Alien 3' is yet another classic movie and deserves to carry the Alien title. This second sequel captures the atmosphere of the original film by not letting us see too much of the alien creature itself. The sets and general feel of the movie seem to be rather gothic and I felt this suited the movie very well. The film is suitably scary although it lacks the tension created by the first two because the creature is so familiar now.

Alien Resurrection: Hmm, oh dear! After such a good track record the Alien series slips up. The main problem with this movie is that all the characters are totally unbelievable and there is no fear in it at all! The aliens have been created using CGI for the most part and as a result we see way too much of them which is a huge mistake because the previous films were scary because we only saw parts of the creature. It upsets me when I look at the first film and then watch this! Overall, one to avoid!

THE EXTRAS: Alien: Wonderful! Not only to we get behind the scenes fottage and deleted scenes but also feature length commentary from director Ridley Scott as well as a whole host of other extras such as outtakes and concept art.

Aliens: There are some top extras such as conept art and an interview with director James Cameron but sadly there is no commentary (a real missed opportunity). However, this is the special edition of 'Aliens' and as such contains 17 minutes of restored footage. Some people claim that the new footage is a waste of time but I disagree and feel it adds greatly to the movie (e.g. we find out that Ripleys daughter is dead so the emotional impact between her and Newt is much stronger).

Alien 3: A short featurette and trailor! What a disappointment.

Alien Resurrection: Again, nothing more than a short featurette and the original trailor. This is less of a disappointment because I really don't care for this film much any way!

Alien Legacy: A bonus 5th disk that looks in depth at the making of the original Alien movie. This is fantastic as it offers real insight!

Conclusion: This DVD box set feels a little rushed! It's as if Fox finished working on the Alien DVD and almost completed the Aliens DVD and the relised they had met their deadline so quickly put some cheap rubbish on the Alien 3 and Resurrection DVDs and released them! However, the Alien movies are absolute classics (with the exception of 'Resurrection') and as such this DVD box set comes highly recommended.


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