Alien 3 - Theatrical or Special Edition?

Secret_Window

Secret_Window

Secret_Window

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I've recently been revisiting the Alien movies and after recently watching the first 2 films, I've now made my way to the controversial 3rd film which has so many fans divided on. The problem is I can't decide which version to watch first (I've only seen bits of the movie in the past - never the full film!). The DVD includes both the Theatrical and the new Special Edition Cut and since this is my first proper viewing of Alien 3, I want to make sure I choose the right one first - hopefully that makes sense.

Also no spoilers please.

Thanks
 
If you want to get close to the Book then watch the 'Extended' version!.. there's a few degraded video scenes, and the sound goes a little flakey in these scenes!..

But its the better way to watch the movie!

Likewise 'Resurection' (Alien 4)... the Extended version is better!!..

Basicaly I'd say the same for all the movies!.. Especially the first two... The Cocooned Dallas in the nest!... and of course... the Sentry Guns!!.. :cool:
 
I dont know why Alien 3 gets slated so much I really enjoyed it..I recently watched it again and was like wtf I dont remember any of this..I found I was watching the directors cut and makes it even better imo!

Its a great film not as good as one and 2 but good! and different :)
 
Special edition, makes more sense and seems a more rounded film. I think fans are unhappy with 3 because we all read the original script and vision of the movie and because of studio/budget cuts/Weaver problems it turned into a shadow of what it could have been.
 
I do remember Ms Weaver being difficult and not wanting to carry guns etc etc. Guess for the fourth film her leverage powers had diminished.

I actually watched the "special edition" version before Alien 3 even officially came out anywhere. I was still in secondary school and a mate had it. I can't remember the full story but I seem to remember something about his sister dating some lad who worked on the set - he'd also worked on the first one apparently. I also read that they originally wanted the Alien to come out of the Grox and I saw a pic of a dog in an Alien costume but IIRC they couldn't get the dog to do what they wanted.

I like very much but it was dogged with issues all the way along - the director went on to make some fine films like 7 & Fight Club and not a bad effort for a first attempt. It also came out the same time as Batman Returns and given a choice between a bald Sigourney Weaver or sex on a stick Michelle Pfeiffer in a black catsuit it was never going to win the box office fight.

Simian said:
The Cocooned Dallas in the nest!
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Did they put that in as part of the film or kept it as one of the deleted scenes? She finds all of them at one point but I think thats in the deleted scenes.

In Aliens, Ripley does find a cocooned Burke but they didn't put it into the SE version.

burke.jpg
 
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Still can't make up my mind.

I've been trying to read some reviews about the two cuts but some of them contain too many spoilers, so I had to stop reading.

From what I've read though, it seems like the Extended/SE cut has replaced some stuff as well as just adding/extending scenes and it seems a lot of people are divided on the changes and pacing of the film - is this true?

Remember this is my first Alien 3 experience and I want it to be good (although I obviously know it won't be as good as the first two) so I want to give myself the best possible continuation from Aliens as possible. I just want you to all be honest about whether the extended cut holds anything crucial that would further enhance the story of the film or whether it just merely adds stuff for the sake of showing something new and different?
 
The SE is the better film, it doesnt take anything away from the story and add's just the right amount of stuff so as to not make you think it's all filler for the sake of screen time. Remember the SE is what Fincher wanted us to see before everyone got involved and started hacking/changing/cutting the thing up.
Either way if you loved the first two, 3 will be a marmite experience, at first it left a bitter taste in my mouth then as time went on i realised how good it actually is....then 4 came out and you realize what a work of genius it is:D
 
Firstly - I'm sorry for not adding a spoiler warning in my post - I've taken it all out.

Second - its not really worth not watching the extended version. I'm assuming you've seen Aliens BTW if not don't read on (the bit I mention above you don't even see so not sure if its a spoiler :) )

Its not like in Aliens where you could argue the sentry guns make the Aliens seem too easy to kill or the Hadleys Hope bits take out some of the tense-ness of the film. The missing scenes from Alien 3 are an integral part of the film - if you watch the extended first then the original release you'll see the continuity errors in some scenes - it just doesn't work.

Extended every time.


(I like 4 even though its mostly a rip off of a comic story :) - I went to watch it at the cinema and theres a bit thats been taken out of every version I've seen since)
 
EddScott said:
Did they put that in as part of the film or kept it as one of the deleted scenes? She finds all of them at one point but I think thats in the deleted scenes.
Click to expand...

Dunno about the UK version of the Directors Cut.. but I've got the R1 Quadrilogy and its definatly part of the movie!.. :)
 
Ok finally watched the Special Edition/Extended Cut and I must say that was a very weird movie experience! :eek:

The movie started off really interesting, and the relationship Ripley had with the medical officer looked promising for a similar type of Ripley and Hicks team-up like Aliens, but the whole possibility of that happening gets wiped out. As soon as it hit the middle of the film, the pacing, the plot, the action, everything just kinda got worse and worse. It's just so weird because the film started off very promising then it just progressively destroys itself. If I hadn't seen the extra scenes in this Speciel Edition/Extended Cut I can definitely see how the film would be atrocious but seeing the new cut just slightly salvaged it a bit.

Oh well, was worth checking out anyway. :)
 
Mikoyan said:
I dont know why Alien 3 gets slated so much I really enjoyed it..I recently watched it again and was like wtf I dont remember any of this..I found I was watching the directors cut and makes it even better imo!

Its a great film not as good as one and 2 but good! and different :)
Click to expand...

I agree

I haven't watched any of the Alien films for ages but personally I really enjoyed Alien 3, like you said it's different that the first two; Alien being the more scary orientated film, Aliens being more action packed, Alien 3 being a bit more story driven. Of all 3 Alien is the one I struggle to get to grips with the most tbh

Looking forward to getting them all on Blu Ray when they're finally released :)
 
It was fairly enjoyable. I wouldn't say it was extremely terrible like so many fans have made out, but the way it started off so great and just kind of dropped half way through was disappointing. It wasn't as bad as I was expecting but I could see why without the addition of the extra scenes how it could be seen as being very inconsistent and confusing.

I really hope that David Fincher one day decides to revisit it and clean up the effects and add/re-film new content because I still believe there is a very decent film in there somewhere. It's just a shame for a long time he's felt so angry and upset about the final product because of the studio's constant interference with the filming that he no longer wants any involvement.
 
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