Alien Quadrilogy (Alien/ Aliens /Alien 3 /Alien Resurrection)
starring: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Michael Biehn, Winona Ryder
directed by: David Fincher, James Cameron, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Ridley Scott
directed by: David Fincher, James Cameron, Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Ridley Scott
List Price: $59.98
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Product Description:
Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 09/09/2008
Amazon.com essential video:
The Alien Quadrilogy is a nine-disc boxed set devoted to the four Alien films. Although previously available on DVD as the Alien Legacy, here they have been repackaged with vastly more extras and with upgraded sound and picture. For anyone who hasn't been in hypersleep for the last 25 years, this series needs no introduction, though for the first time each film now comes in both original and "special edition" form.
Alien (1979) was so perfect it didn't need fixing, and Ridley Scott's 2003 director's cut is fiddling for the sake of fiddling. Watch it once, then return to the majestic, perfectly paced original. Conversely, the special edition of James Cameron's Aliens (1986) is the definitive version, though it's nice to finally have the theatrical cut on DVD for comparison. Most interesting is the alternative Alien 3 (1992). This isn't a "director's cut"--David Fincher refused to have any involvement with this release--but a 1991 work-print that runs 29 minutes longer than the theatrical version, and has now been restored, remastered, and finished off with (unfortunately) cheap new CGI. Still, it's truly fascinating, offering a different insight into a flawed masterpiece. The expanded opening is visually breathtaking, the central firestorm is much longer, and a subplot involving Paul McGann's character adds considerable depth to story. The ending is also subtly but significantly different. Alien: Resurrection (1997) always was a mess with a handful of brilliant scenes, and the special edition just makes it eight minutes longer.
The Alien Quadrilogy offers the first and fourth films with DTS soundtracks, the others having still fine Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation. All four films sound fantastic, with much low-level detail revealed for the first time. Each is anamorphically enhanced at the correct original aspect ratio, and the prints and transfers are superlative. Every film offers a commentary track that lends insight into the creative process--though the Scott-only commentary and isolated music score from the first Alien DVD release are missing here.
Each movie is complemented by a separate disc packed with hours of seriously detailed documentaries (all presented in full-screen with clips letterboxed), thousands of photos, production stills, and storyboards, giving a level of inside information for the dedicated buff only surpassed by the Lord of the Rings extended DVD sets. A ninth DVD compiles miscellaneous material, including an hourlong documentary and even all the extras from the old Alien laserdisc. "Exhaustive" hardly beings to describe the Alien Quadrilogy, a set that establishes the new DVD benchmark for retrospective releases and looks unlikely to be surpassed for some time. --Gary S. Dalkin
Studio: TcfheRelease Date: 09/09/2008
Amazon.com essential video:
The Alien Quadrilogy is a nine-disc boxed set devoted to the four Alien films. Although previously available on DVD as the Alien Legacy, here they have been repackaged with vastly more extras and with upgraded sound and picture. For anyone who hasn't been in hypersleep for the last 25 years, this series needs no introduction, though for the first time each film now comes in both original and "special edition" form.
Alien (1979) was so perfect it didn't need fixing, and Ridley Scott's 2003 director's cut is fiddling for the sake of fiddling. Watch it once, then return to the majestic, perfectly paced original. Conversely, the special edition of James Cameron's Aliens (1986) is the definitive version, though it's nice to finally have the theatrical cut on DVD for comparison. Most interesting is the alternative Alien 3 (1992). This isn't a "director's cut"--David Fincher refused to have any involvement with this release--but a 1991 work-print that runs 29 minutes longer than the theatrical version, and has now been restored, remastered, and finished off with (unfortunately) cheap new CGI. Still, it's truly fascinating, offering a different insight into a flawed masterpiece. The expanded opening is visually breathtaking, the central firestorm is much longer, and a subplot involving Paul McGann's character adds considerable depth to story. The ending is also subtly but significantly different. Alien: Resurrection (1997) always was a mess with a handful of brilliant scenes, and the special edition just makes it eight minutes longer.
The Alien Quadrilogy offers the first and fourth films with DTS soundtracks, the others having still fine Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation. All four films sound fantastic, with much low-level detail revealed for the first time. Each is anamorphically enhanced at the correct original aspect ratio, and the prints and transfers are superlative. Every film offers a commentary track that lends insight into the creative process--though the Scott-only commentary and isolated music score from the first Alien DVD release are missing here.
Each movie is complemented by a separate disc packed with hours of seriously detailed documentaries (all presented in full-screen with clips letterboxed), thousands of photos, production stills, and storyboards, giving a level of inside information for the dedicated buff only surpassed by the Lord of the Rings extended DVD sets. A ninth DVD compiles miscellaneous material, including an hourlong documentary and even all the extras from the old Alien laserdisc. "Exhaustive" hardly beings to describe the Alien Quadrilogy, a set that establishes the new DVD benchmark for retrospective releases and looks unlikely to be surpassed for some time. --Gary S. Dalkin
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Aliens
The collection is excellent. It was only the CD #1 which came with some scratchs. However the film can run normally. I decided to keep it instead of returning just for that. It's an excellent collection. Now I'm going for another one...
Rating: 
- Alien Movies - Languages
The first 3 movies are in english or spanish with subtitles in either language.This works fine for me since not everyone in my household speaks english. But the last movie is in english or french with subtitles only in english.I don't know if this was a mistake or that is the way they made it. I'd like to think it was a mistake.
Rating: - 9 disks
Everything you wanted to know and see for the 4 Alien Movies a cinamatic adventure on every disk
Rating: - Brilliant sci fi collection
The first two Alien films are amazingly good, & the rest are well worth watching but less excellent. This is a great collection & good value for money.
Rating: - Great set!
This a great box set featuring all 4 Alien movies.I didn't care too much for Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection but this set is quite amazing.Each movie has its original version and director's cut version as well tons of special features with a total of 9 discs.This boxset is HUGE.If you spread it out its like near 3 feet in length.
I actually didn't buy it off Amazon though, I got it for $20 brand new at Circuit City on sale when that God-awful Alien vs. Predator 2 Requiem movie came out ... Read More
- AliensThe collection is excellent. It was only the CD #1 which came with some scratchs. However the film can run normally. I decided to keep it instead of returning just for that. It's an excellent collection. Now I'm going for another one...
- Alien Movies - LanguagesThe first 3 movies are in english or spanish with subtitles in either language.This works fine for me since not everyone in my household speaks english. But the last movie is in english or french with subtitles only in english.I don't know if this was a mistake or that is the way they made it. I'd like to think it was a mistake.
- 9 disksEverything you wanted to know and see for the 4 Alien Movies a cinamatic adventure on every disk
- Brilliant sci fi collection The first two Alien films are amazingly good, & the rest are well worth watching but less excellent. This is a great collection & good value for money.
- Great set!This a great box set featuring all 4 Alien movies.I didn't care too much for Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection but this set is quite amazing.Each movie has its original version and director's cut version as well tons of special features with a total of 9 discs.This boxset is HUGE.If you spread it out its like near 3 feet in length.
I actually didn't buy it off Amazon though, I got it for $20 brand new at Circuit City on sale when that God-awful Alien vs. Predator 2 Requiem movie came out ... Read More
