Rating: 
Summary: Great box set. Too bad for the glitch on the first disc
Review: As noted elsewhere, there is a glitch on the first disc (freezes then skips ahead or chapters back). This glitch occurs in the original Alien theatrical version in chapter 18 at approximately 1:10 (not the director's cut). Interestingly, the scene that skips in the original theatrical version has actually been cut from the director's cut (director's cut is 1 minute shorter). Not really a big deal though... the extras and transfers more than make up for this problem which appears to be fairly widespread.
Rating:
Summary: But I didn't want all four ......
Review: Almost everything one wants to know. The pluses are the huge amounts of details shown and the negatives are that there is a lot of repetition of information in the audio commentaries. In the supplemental background information each individual is identified as they come on screen each time so it is easy to keep track of their role in the process.
Alien (1979) still holds up as a very scary movie and Aliens (1986) as a rip roaring thrill ride. As indicated at the start of each DVD the comments within do not reflect the comments of the film company, etc., and that is certainly true for Aliens3. The background and commentary cleary spell out the turmoil behind the film and what happens when 'suits' exert detailed control over the film, and shooting without a finished script. The major emphasis on this audio commentary is on how the look of the film was conceived. Also, as noted, Alien3 had only one digital effect.
Alien Resurrection is the only film with any amount of computer digital effects and this process was in its infancy. Miniatures, rod puppets and hand puppets were used and there is mention of the rotoscope process to remove the rods, etc., but no background on how this actually worked. Alien Resurrection has good background features, especially on the water scenes, and the audio commentary was primarily on the look of the film. The 200 years (chronological) between the 3rd and 4th film saw the demise of the 'evil' fictional Wayland-Yutani Corp. The company that bought them out is mentioned by name, and some may find this name amusing, and others perhaps more scary than the Alien Queen.
Of the four film commentaries, I enjoyed the one for Aliens best, especially the comments by Bill Paxton.
Of the nine DVD's, I found a technical glitch on disc 1, with two quick and successive freezes, duplicated on a DVD payer with progressive scan and one without that ability.
I wasn't initially happy to have to purchase all four films when I only felt strongly about two. This collection has made me appreciate the last two better.
Clearly Alien (1979) is superior. The next films were not meant to be sequels but as new treatments of the menace.
This collection is a must for fans of SciFi and for anyone who appreciates a superb movie (Aliens, 1979) or a great thrill ride, (Aliens, 1986).
By the way, be prepared to see a lot of cigarette smoking, in the movies and in the background features.
Rating: 
Summary: A colection of the greatest movies of all time
Review: 9 discs filed with horror action grusome aliens and fotige never seen before by human eyes,a must have for alien fans and will make any one an alien fan after watching.
Rating:
Summary: Most of the things you need, and a lot that you don't
Review: Let's be honest, folks, how many of you out there who have bought this have actually viewed all these extras? Ahhh... that's what I thought. And how many of you will some day be able to say you've seen every extra? Well, that's about 0.004% of you.Extras are nice to have, but the real question is, how do the movies look and sound? Great--the best they've ever looked and sounded. Satisfied? You should be. That said, the movies vary dramatically in quality--the first movie being an undisputed masterpiece, the second being merely fun, the third being inconsistent and confused, and the fourth being unspeakably inane and worthy of a long, drawn-out death. Alright now, what happened to the isolated score for Alien? I felt slightly ripped off when i bought this--perhaps the most enjoyable extra (with the also-missing Scott commentary a close second)--is mysteriously missing from the new set. How depressing! So sad that isolated scores are seldom offered on newly-made DVD sets. Ahhh well.... buy this set for the fabulous look of the movies--particularly the first one. If there's one movie that I can watch two nights in a row and not get bored for a second, it's Alien. And now we can all enjoy it in its full glory.
Rating:
Summary: THE ULTIMATE ALIEN BOX SET!!!
Review: What more could you ask for! The perfect box set! Any science fiction fan would love to have it!!!
MY RATINGS RANGE FROM 1-5, 5 being the highest, 1 being the lowest. DISK 1: ALIEN
RATING: Theatrical Release-****
Director's Cut-*****
DIRECTED BY: RIDLEY SCOTT
Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) with 5.1 DTS Audio. Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerrit, Veronica Cartwright Disk 1 contains the Theatrical Version (117 min) and the 2003 Director's Cut Version (137 min). Of course I would pick the Director's Cut. It contains footage that was never seen in the Theatrical Version. We also get Commentary with Ridley Scott and crew. We also get anamorphic menus.
Overall Alien is a Kick-Butt film that is scary and suspenseful! DISK 2: Alien Special Features
Rating:***** Disk 2 contains these wonderful special features that you will love to watch over and over! Nine brand new in-depth featurettes on the Making of Alien. Such as Creature Design, On Location, Casting, etc., deleted and Extended Scenes, Sigourney Weaver screen test, and more!!! DISK 3: ALIENS
Rating: Theatrical Version-****
Special Edition-*****
DIRECTED BY: JAMES CAMERON
Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen (1.85:1) Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Lance Henricksen, Jenete Goldstein, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton Disk 3 contains the Theatrical release (137 min) and the Special Edition (154 min). The Special Edition I think is the best. A whole lot of never before seen footage was used to pack this Special Edition. Don't forget the commentary. Overall Aliens is an action packed thrill ride!!! DISK 4: Aliens Special Features
Rating:***** Disk 4 contains many mind blowing features!!! 11 brand new Featurettes!!! Including Weapons, Creature Design, On Location, Casting, and more! Everyone will love these featurettes!
They Will Blow Your Mind!!! DISK 5: Alien 3
Rating: Theatrical Version-***
Special Edition-***1/2
DIRECTED BY: DAVID FINCHER
Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen (2.85:1) Starring: Sigourney Weaver, David Fincher, Charles S. Dutton, Lance Henricksen Disk 5 contains the Theatrical Version (114 min) and the Special Edition (155 min). I am not too big of a fan of this sequel. I think it's the oddball. I like the Special Edition the best. But in the special version when Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) jumps into the fire to keep the alien inside her from surviving, it doesn't show it burst out of her. In the original version it showed the alien burst out of her! And it didn't in the S.E.
We also get commentary with director and crew.
Overall this movie was average. Some of the computer generated alien effects were very fake looking. DISK 6: Alien 3 Special Features
Rating:***** Disk 6 contains 11 featurettes for this average movie.
Storyboards, still galleries, and much more! DISK 7: Alien Resurrection
Rating: Theatrical Version-****
Special Edition-****1/2
DIRECTED BY: JEAN-PIERRE JEUNET
Presented in Anamorphic Widescreen (2.35:1) with 5.1 DTS Audio Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman Disk 7 contains the original and S.E. I guess I would have to go with the S.E. even though it only had 10 minutes added. It also contains commentary. Overall Alien 4 was pretty good. Great computer generated effects!!! Loved the Aliens!!! DISK 8: Alien Resurrection Special Features
Rating:***** Disk 8 contains 12 featurettes! First Draft screenplay by Joss Whedon, still galleries, and much more!!! DISK 9: MORE BONUS FEATURES
Rating:***** Disk 9 includes...
Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots for each Alien film
Comicbook Gallery
"Aliens in the Basement" Featurette
DVD-ROM (Script-to-Screen) OVERALL: THIS BOX SET IS PERFECT!!! THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN!
EXELLENT BONUS FEATURES FOR CLASSIC MOVIES!!!
Rating:
Summary: Forget requisite overview of all 4 and just focus on Alien3
Review: Sure, ALIEN is a masterpiece; it's what started this saga. ALIENS was always a childhood favorite of mine, even though that damn Queen gave me nightmares. ALIEN3, however, has slowly but surely become my favorite of all of them. The 'special edition' featured in this boxset alone is worth the price of admission. Forget ALIEN RESURRECTION; it should have ended with this movie. If you're like me and consider ALIEN3 a magnificent standalone movie as well as great ALIEN movie, then you'll love this fully realized workprint version. I have minor problems with it, ones I'd love to see fixed (re-release another DVD of just ALIEN3, Fox!): 1. Bring back the necessary actors to improve on the ADR that's kinda scratchy in some of the restored scenes.
2. Update the CGI; get WETA or somebody to redo the alien and Ripley's suicide plunge :)
3. Put back in the 30 minutes that was cut out of the 'Making of' featurette (for those of you who don't know, it was originally called "Wreckage and Rape: The Making of Alien 3"... go to digitalbits.com for more info)
4. And don't forget.... DTS SURROUND SOUND!!! Yeah, that'll probably never be done... but hey, who knows? I'll keep my fingers crossed :) Otherwise, I'll just watch all the discs in this boxset over and over (except RESURRECTION). BUY IT TODAY!
Rating:
Summary: Alien Quadrilogy is the best!
Review: This is the best box set ever put together. I've always loved the Alien Saga, and now I have the Quadrilogy. This should be on every DVD collector's shelfs. You won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: And the movies too...
Review: This boxset is most beneficial if you want to see the process of making an Alien film and why each one turned out the way it did. We follow the journey of each film from its conception, to its production, its release, and finally the reaction it received, both critically and commercially. We see this through extensive interviews with many of the people involved in making these movies, and footage of all stages of production. Plus we are given a view of the films in hindsight through present-day interviews with many members of each film's cast and crew. We also get an insight into each film's particular drama, be it high or low, and how this affected the final product. Having the two versions of each film allows us to view the results of these dramas, and can be also be used as comparative pieces, especially when particular decisions were controversial. So we get the films we know and love/hate, plus a version of the film that tells us what should've/would've/could've been. The Special Edition of each film is either just a curiosity piece, a chance for the makers to fix minor problems, a satisfying completion, and/or an illustration/examination of a production plagued with problems. It would mainly be of interest to the many Alien fans who know the movies inside-out, but it would also be of interest to those wanting to see the relationships between those involved in making a film- particularly a well-known franchise- from the writers, directors, to the studios, the producers, and the cast and crew...to each other and to the Alien story. We can see all the conflicts that occur in this process, as well as the creativity. This boxset seems to include all the available material from all the Alien films, and has great nostalgic appearances by the actors playing the well-known characters, though sorely missed are appearances by some cast members (e.g. Yaphett Koto, Ian Holm and Winona Ryder in particular) and crew (director David Fincher). Also, it does not contain present-day audio commentaries by Sigourney Weaver, though she is interviewed. The previously-released "The Alien Legacy" was sufficient in terms of having the films in their final form and nothing else, but this is the definitive Alien boxset, at least until they possibly make the much talked-about Alien 5 sequel.
Rating:
Summary: This Tetralogy rocks!!!
Review: I'm not gonna go into the whole rundown of the movies. Others here have already done a fine, fine job. I just need to vent about two things. 1) I just got the darn 4-DVD box set about six months ago on ebay, and I thought I was in hog heaven then. Extra scenes, some added footage, small documentaries. I thought I had the definitive DVD set! Imagine if next year, they come out with a 7-DVD set for THE GODFATHER after we've all bought the 5-DVD set, thinking we had the definitive version! I just hope THIS IS IT!!! 2) ALIENS 3 is just NOT a good movie...no matter how you slice it or reedit it. It's got atmosphere to burn, and lots of great-looking sets and sweaty character parts. But when the pedal hits the medal and all heck starts breaking loose with the alien...the action becomes incomprehensible. Lots of shots of men running around and looking scare as they slam doors shut. I still have no real clear concept of just WHAT all these guys did. The climax just TOTALLY disappoints in every possible way. David Fincher went on to direct some great movies, but this ain't one of them. But, even with that big flaw, it's still great to have this set available. Many more years of debate over which is the best (ALIENS) lie ahead, but although there is no definitive answer, this SHOULD BE the definitive set...I hope!
Rating:
Summary: Makes sense
Review: I am still working my way through this monumental set, but I went straight to the extended version of the mess that was Alien 3 to see if they could add some coherence to the film and fill some of the plot holes. They did. Did you ever wonder how Ripley could announce that she was carrying a queen and not just an ordinary Alien? A deleted scene where they find the carcass of a "super-face-hugger" on the floor explains that. A deleted sequence where they actually caught the Alien and a crazed inmate released it gives much more sense to the back half of the film. The film was shot beautifully, but the butchers who cut it down to the magical two hour run are the ones who made it into the confusing mess that we all remember. The added 41 minutes on the extended version make all the difference in the world.
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