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Extras: Brand New Q&A With
Ridley Scott, “Experience The Terror” Vintage 1979 Featurette, “Alien
Evolution” Documentary, Complete Laserdisc Archives For “Alien” &
“Aliens”, Theatrical Trailers and TV Spots, “Aliens In The Basement –
Inside Bob Burns’ Alien Collection” Featurette, Dark Horse Comics Cover
Gallery, Script-To Screen Comparisons – DVD-ROM
Languages: English Stereo Sound
Subtitles: N/A
Packaging: Nine-Disc Digipack
Gatefold Within A Glossy Cardboard Slipcase
Sound: Stereo Sound
Year of DVD Release: 2003
Home Video Distributor: Twentieth
Century Fox Home Entertainment
Reviewer: Mark A. Rivera
The ninth disc within Twentieth
Century Fox Home Entertainment’s “Alien Quadrilogy” DVD box set is
exclusive to the box set only. As far as I know none of these materials will
accompany any of the two-disc “Collector’s Edition” sets that will be
released and sold individually on Tuesday, January 6, 2003. The ninth disc is
like the desert after the eight-course meal. It is not at all superficial and in
a very nice way it brings the set to a satisfying conclusion. The disc menus
focus on the “Alien Queen,” but it might as well be the warrior since the
extreme close-up and text meant to duplicate the “Weyland-Yuani” computer
files obscure the image. The DVD is divided into several sections with the first
four focusing exclusively on the movies. Under “Alien” there is a
“Q&A” with Director Ridley Scott that was recorded after a screening of
“Alien” on September 14, 2001. This is supported by the U.K. Channel 4
documentary “Alien Evolution,” which features more interviews with the cast
and filmmakers behind the making of the first film. If you have watched all the
extra features on the first eight discs then this will not really be a huge
revelation, but it is a well-done television documentary never the less. Next
are the theatrical teaser, original theatrical trailer, and two TV spots.
Finally the entire archive section from the 1992 “Alien” laserdisc is
presented with the option to examine the materials linearly as laserdisc owners
had done to some extent or according to whatever order one chooses.
The same option is presented for
the complete laserdisc archives for the 1991 release of “Aliens.” The
theatrical teaser, theatrical trailer, domestic trailer, and international
trailer and a TV spot for “Aliens” are also included. Under “Alien 3” is
a short EPK featurette, five theatrical trailers and seven TV spots. The EPK
featurette for “Alien 3” is not the same one that was included on the 1999
DVD and within the three-tape sell-through video of “Alien” and “Aliens”
that was released in 1992. Under “Alien Resurrection” is the theatrical
teaser, theatrical trailer, a TV spot, and three pay per view TV spots.
Next is a look at Bob Burns’
“Alien Collection,” which he has stored on behalf of Fox and loaned out as
needed to Fox for the feature films. Viewers of the old Sci-Fi Channel magazine
series “Sci-Fi Buzz” will remember Bob Burns from the frequent appearances
he made whenever the show would tour his amazing basement. Burns probably has
one of the largest private collections of sci-fi, horror, and fantasy
memorabilia in the care of any one person that is not a filmmaker. It’s a
great featurette and Burns is a great guy. Next is a still gallery of
compendiums as well as single issue series covers of various Dark Horse Comics
“Aliens” publications that include the comic book adaptations of “Alien
3” and “Alien Resurrection” as well as the beautifully illustrated graphic
novel, “Aliens: Tribes.” A blurb about each cover is included for each issue
cover displayed. There are even the original black and white “Aliens” comic
book covers as well as the re-issue color ones where the character names were
changed following the release of “Alien 3,” since Newt, Hicks, and Ripley
were all killed off. Finally both Windows and Macintosh DVD-ROM users can enjoy
select Script-To-Screen Comparisons for all four films.
This has got to be without a doubt
one of the most comprehensive DVD releases devoted to an entire franchise to be
released this year and it truly sets the benchmark for all sets like this to
follow. A huge amount of credit belongs to everyone involved in making this
terrific DVD box set a reality. The “Alien Quadrilogy” DVD box set is
available now at retailers on and offline from Twentieth Century Fox Home
Entertainment.
© Copyright 2003 By Mark A.
Rivera
All Rights Reserved.
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