Plot: What’s it about?
The original Alien is a landmark of cinema, a brash blend of sci/fi and horror that terrified audiences to no end. No one could hear people scream in space, but everyone was hearing screams in theaters, as Alien scared audiences across the world. In the movie, we were introduced to Ripley, the intense and incredible woman who fueled the picture. Sigourney Weaver (Ghostbusters, Copycat) had the role and made history with her performance, earning a place as one of the toughest females in cinematic legend, not to mention an icon for fanboys everywhere. An immense success with both critics and audiences, Alien was a lock to be graced with a sequel, but not just another sequel would suffice. James Cameron (Titanic, True Lies) directed that sequel, Aliens and once again took audiences by storm. The sequel amped up the action and visual splendor, with wild and fun results that audiences loved. David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club) would be pegged to helm Alien 3, but his vision was lost in the shuffle, thanks to forced cuts to his version of the film and assorted other production troubles. A third sequel would also follow, as Alien: Resurrection was released, but it never made much of a splash. But this franchise has a stored past and now, we can explore it in this release, The Alien Saga.
I love the Alien movies, all the slime, sleek visuals, tense moments, and of course, the ultra cool performances from Sigourney Weaver. Each volume in the series has its moments, though the first two films stand above the others, as the last two sequels never garnered much attention. But the first two pictures are verified blockbusters, with the original Alien serving as inspiration for filmmakers to follow in the realm of sci/fi and horror cinema. I hold the original Alien in the highest regard, as it harkens back to the classic sci/fi movies, with a strong jolt of monster movies tossed in, though those films never had this kind of tension. In The Alien Saga, we’re taken behind the scenes of this classic, as well as the three sequels it spawned. The program is not some lost promotional piece either, instead it over one hundred minutes of insightful content. In addition to the expected clips from each movie, The Alien Saga includes a wealth of rare elements, the kind of stuff fans will be thrilled to see released. Thanks to home movies, screen tests, outtakes, and tons of interviews, you will see an in depth look into how this franchise was produced. You’ll see most of the prominent cast & crew members interviewed, not to mention time spent on the special effects process. As I said before, I love the Alien series, so this piece was a real pleasure to watch. So if you’re a fan too, don’t miss out on The Alien Saga.
Video: How does it look?
The Alien Saga is presented in full frame, as intended. The film clips, as well as most outtakes and such, are shown in their proper widescreen form, though as expected, they’re not enhanced for widescreen televisions. I was just pleased to see them in proper form however, so I won’t complain too much. The movie clips look solid, as do most of the more vintage materials on display in The Alien Saga. Of course, time has worn some of the elements you’ll see here, but all in all, the entire program looks quite good. The interviews are sharp and crisp, with no problems to report and in the end, we couldn’t ask for much more here.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a made for television documentary, so all we need is a basic and effective presentation in terms of audio. That is just what we’re given here, which means all the elements come across in fine fashion. The movie clips lack the bold surround sound we’re used to, but given the nature of this program, that is to be expected. Those clips still sound passable, which is about all we can ask in this case, so no worries. John Hurt’s narration is crystal clear however, so every last word is clear and audible. The dialogue is crisp in the interviews, though time has taken a toll on some of the vintage materials used in this piece. In the end, the audio sounds solid and given the material, that proves to be more than adequate.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You can view an original Alien featurette, as well as not one, but two featurettes on Aliens, all worth a look. This disc also includes camera & screen tests, some talent files, and theatrical trailers for all four films in the Alien series.
