What general film/series have you just seen.. marks out of 5

[IronMonkey]

Alien 5/5

Simply one of my favourite films,one i never tire of watching.Suspenseful & creepy,brilliantly acted and directed by a man who despite making this and Gladiator has never really made the amount of great films his talent is capable of.The BD transfer looks superb to my eyes.

Aliens 4.5/5

One of the greatest sequels ever made,this goes off in an action-led direction and is just riveting stuff.Not a lot to criticise here,superb film making.The BD transfer is a stunner and after many years of inadequate home video transfers the film finally gets the release it's status deserves.

Alien 3 2.5/5

Not a disaster but nowhere near the calibre of the first two even in it's longer version.Bleak with mainly unlikeable characters shouting at each other for 2 1/2 hours,this still has some good moments. i thought the Charles Dance character was interesting,then they kill him off in the first hour!.Transfer is ok.

Alien Resurrection 2/5

As a low rent sci-fi actioner this works well enough but as an Alien film it's left badly wanting.not awful but a disappointing ending to the saga nonetheless.Transfer looks a bit weak,possibly down to the source material.

Only Alien and Aliens got the Lowry Digital treatment, the other two they didn't bother with. I wish they had worked on Alien 3 (really underrated in my opinion), and I wish Alien Resurrection had been left out of the set...

[saltysam]

directed by a man who despite making this and Gladiator has never really made the amount of great films his talent is capable of.

I see what you did there. *cough*Blade Runner*cough*

not that old chestnut...

[grim_tales]

Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story - 3.5/5

In some ways not really an accurate account of Bruce's life - as some dates and events are wrong and some stuff is just made up. The source of Bruce's back injury was realy during a weight training accident, not in a fight with somebody. It really happened in 1970, not 1965 (in the film, the Linda Lee character is shown pregnant with Brandon which may mean its then).
The part where he fights a guy to the death on the set of Big Boss probably didnt happen either. Jason Scott Lee and Lauren Holly are good in it I think It's sad thinking of the prejudice and racism Bruce (the real Bruce) endured when growing up.

But it was an entertaining enough film and I still enjoyed it It was better than I thought it would be, and the fights were OK.

[luckystars]

Watching the Anthology I've got as far as Ailen3.


Alien (Theatrical Cut). One of my favourite films of all time - easily top 10, maybe top 5. The restoration is stunning although to me something is off with the colour, like the colour is shifted out out sync..imagine if you took all the red spectrum and shifted it a nats to the left. I'm probably the only person ever to see this though. and also the overall hew of the film now looks a bit modern in sceme (again no one else will think this).

One of the best of all time. Masterful yet accessible. Eery. Hypnotic. Funny. Friendly. Suspenseful. Timeless. 10/10


Aliens (Theatrical Cut). While not as good as the original - it loses on 80's cheese, plasticy acting and sheer dumbness (juxtaposed by the funny cleverness of the Alien, takes the lift gets off at right floor, gets in jumpship, opens doors etc.) the film is a triumph of effects and action set-pieces of the time. I especially love the daringness of the full scale back projected ship crashing behind the actors, and the astonishing anamatronic Alien Queen vs Ripley in Rig suit fight!! Just how many hands were working that out of shot?!!!

An out and out classic. Fun. Surprising. Exhilarating. Gory. Daft. Iconic. Quotable. Explosive. Ever living! 8.5/10


Alien3 (Fincher Reconstruction). This is now one of my favourites too, and it gets better with every viewing. The negative reaction this film gets both then and now still shocks me. Had Fight Club come before this film, I think the critical reaction would've been vastly different (also the studio would've left Fincher to complete his masterpiece of very modern Sci-Fi horror). The new restoration has given the movie another step up. No longer do the jumps in quality interrupt the fluidity of the film and the gripping story, suspense and really unsettling horror elements. I personally think the audience at large wasn't ready for such a striking, grown up and intelligent film and the critics took it to be some kind of pretentious arty farty piece that Fincher should never have dared to unleash on the general public. And what can I say, shit still sticks. And people still continue to trash this fine and challenging film

Something of an acquired taste perhaps, mainly because it is so unique! Beautifully crafted, acted. Gothic. Poignant. Shocking. Powerful. Perfectly imperfect!! 10/10

[Markgway]

Nice to see some love for the much maligned Alien 3.

I did prefer the theatrical cut but that maybe because the extended cut isn't a director's cut - it's just longer. Who knows what Fincher would have done had he had final cut?

[Shingster]

Who knows what Fincher would have done had he had final cut?

Something much closer to the extended cut than the final cut. I'm currently working on an endless review of the Extras Discs for the BD anthology and have tonight finished watching all the content on the "Making Ofs" discs and the Alien 3 making of gives a sort of semi-clear idea of what Fincher wanted. The theatrical cut is very much the "studio cut".

[grim_tales]

Perhaps some of the names had to be slightly changed in Dragon too, but still a few things seem wrong. For example, the book The Tao of Jeet Kune Do was published after Lee's death - he didn't write it while he was injured and then recieve it in the mail.
Who is Philip Tan supposed to be? Raymond Chow I imagine.
William Dozier was the producer of the Green Hornet not Bill Kreiger. It was a nice touch having Van Williams as the "director" on the Green Hornet set in the movie, as he acted with Bruce in the show in the 60's.
Bruce began his training under Yip Man at age 13, not at an earlier age as the movie suggests. He is shown watching "Kung Fu" on TV (which was conceived for him) sometime between 1967 and 1970 but really Kung Fu didnt begin until 1972.
I think the film was still cut too, odd

[luckystars]

I did prefer the theatrical cut but that maybe because the extended cut isn't a director's cut - it's just longer. Who knows what Fincher would have done had he had final cut?

I saw the Theatrical cut many times on TV in the 90's and 2000's and never 'got' it til a viewing about 3 years ago (after quite a break and many 100's of very good films under my cap!). I liked it so much I sought out the Extended cut and watched them back to back. The extended cut makes a good but cramped Theatrical cut some thing up a few notches. The Restoration on the Blu Ray just gives it the polish of a finished movie and makes for even better viewing. The Circle is now complete

Btw the 'Fincher' cut is pretty much the same as his workprint I think. The Dog alternate sequence was shot by Fincher as he felt the facsimile Ox was too fake. I thought it looked fine - perhaps he just wanted an alternate perspective to show the studio in the Edit?

[Xenon]

Alien3 (Fincher Reconstruction). This is now one of my favourites too, and it gets better with every viewing. The negative reaction this film gets both then and now still shocks me. Had Fight Club come before this film, I think the critical reaction would've been vastly different (also the studio would've left Fincher to complete his masterpiece of very modern Sci-Fi horror). The new restoration has given the movie another step up. No longer do the jumps in quality interrupt the fluidity of the film and the gripping story, suspense and really unsettling horror elements. I personally think the audience at large wasn't ready for such a striking, grown up and intelligent film and the critics took it to be some kind of pretentious arty farty piece that Fincher should never have dared to unleash on the general public. And what can I say, shit still sticks. And people still continue to trash this fine and challenging film

Something of an acquired taste perhaps, mainly because it is so unique! Beautifully crafted, acted. Gothic. Poignant. Shocking. Powerful. Perfectly imperfect!! 10/10

Somebody prefers Alien3 over Aliens? I'm gonna go kill myself now, since the apocalypse has obviously already started...

[HungFist]

Alien3 (Fincher Reconstruction). This is now one of my favourites too, and it gets better with every viewing. The negative reaction this film gets both then and now still shocks me. Had Fight Club come before this film, I think the critical reaction would've been vastly different (also the studio would've left Fincher to complete his masterpiece of very modern Sci-Fi horror). The new restoration has given the movie another step up. No longer do the jumps in quality interrupt the fluidity of the film and the gripping story, suspense and really unsettling horror elements. I personally think the audience at large wasn't ready for such a striking, grown up and intelligent film and the critics took it to be some kind of pretentious arty farty piece that Fincher should never have dared to unleash on the general public. And what can I say, shit still sticks. And people still continue to trash this fine and challenging film

Something of an acquired taste perhaps, mainly because it is so unique! Beautifully crafted, acted. Gothic. Poignant. Shocking. Powerful. Perfectly imperfect!! 10/10

Somebody prefers Alien3 over Aliens? I'm gonna go kill myself now, since the apocalypse has obviously already started...

Alien 3 may indeed be a bit better than Aliens. Or the same. Both are 4.5/5.

[luckystars]

Of course it comes down to taste. I respect that. If I was scoring for enjoyment alone Aliens could be a 12/10

[Markgway]

Who knows what Fincher would have done had he had final cut?

Something much closer to the extended cut than the final cut. I'm currently working on an endless review of the Extras Discs for the BD anthology and have tonight finished watching all the content on the "Making Ofs" discs and the Alien 3 making of gives a sort of semi-clear idea of what Fincher wanted. The theatrical cut is very much the "studio cut".

I remember that they brought in a producer to keep the budget down and that drove Fincher crazy. The bigwigs in L.A were livid that the production was hemorrhaging money. Isn't that when Fincher walked away? I don't think he ever assembled any cut and refused to go back to the film for the reconstruction. The TC is the tighter, faster-paced version. To me the EC is more like a cleaned up workprint, a bit flabby and unfocused. The only real improvement for me is that it explains the fate of Paul McGann's character who disappears in the TC. Otherwise I don't think that the extra half hour adds a great deal.

[gasteropod]

The Omen (1976): All right
Paranormal Activity: Good
Paranormal Activity 2: Redundant

[luckystars]

To Mark. Far from flabby and unfocussed, the longer cut gives the characters depth and real human qualities. Ripley was never such a strong character than in that cut.

Gastro the Omen is a classic event movie - really great for one viewing. Highly memorable but it goes on shocks and sensational setpieces. It felt a bit corny for me to go back over.

[gasteropod]

Yeah I only really enjoyed the decapitation, other than that it's a bit dated and not my kind of style for a horror film.

[luckystars]

Funny to say you really enjoyed that bit but it did rule

[Markgway]

To Mark. Far from flabby and unfocussed, the longer cut gives the characters depth and real human qualities. Ripley was never such a strong character than in that cut.

If I get the BD someday I'll rewatch the EC. But going from memory that's how I felt. Look how concise the opening of the TC is compared to the EC (which makes everything longer). Many of the scenes cut didn't really need to be there. I don't recall any important additions as we got with the EC of Aliens. Feel free to refresh my memory.

[luckystars]

From dvdtimes:


The key additions to the first half are as follows:

- Dillon begins the meeting with a prayer.
- Clemens asks Ripley if Newt was her daughter.
- Two abattoir workers discuss Ripley and the dead cow – the confusing dog scenes have vanished.
- Ripley replies to Clemens’ assertion that she is very direct with “I’ve been out here for a long time”
- Dillon asks other prisoners to light a candle for Murphy, the first victim.
- A much longer scene between Clemens and Andrews
- A scene explaining how Golic gets to the infirmary
- Golic explains the madness of the world
- Golic expresses approval of the alien’s killing of Clemens as “Magnificent”

All are good reasons this cut is better

[grim_tales]

Mark what do you think of "Dragon"?
I watched it for research on my project.

[Shingster]

Grim if you're using Dragon as a template to get an accurate history of Bruce Lee's life then I'd urge you to stop now, Dragon is more fantastical than Zu Warriors!

[luckystars]

Grim if you're using Dragon as a template to get an accurate history of Bruce Lee's life then I'd urge you to stop now, Dragon is more fantastical than Zu Warriors!

[Shingster]

I remember that they brought in a producer to keep the budget down and that drove Fincher crazy. The bigwigs in L.A were livid that the production was hemorrhaging money. Isn't that when Fincher walked away? I don't think he ever assembled any cut and refused to go back to the film for the reconstruction. The TC is the tighter, faster-paced version. To me the EC is more like a cleaned up workprint, a bit flabby and unfocused. The only real improvement for me is that it explains the fate of Paul McGann's character who disappears in the TC. Otherwise I don't think that the extra half hour adds a great deal.

The main problem with Alien 3 is that the studio screwed Vincent Ward over on his original script at the very last minute then hastily did a rough draft that changed the entire concept and started building sets at Pinewood before they had a finalised script or a gameplan on how they were going to shoot the sets, so Fincher was fighting an uphill battle from the start in order to get a creative grasp of the story. Most of the problems later on in the shoot stemmed from Fincher being labourious and wanting more and more cash to shoot new scenes, but then Terry Rawlings was the closest guy to Fincher in some regards towards the end and he's adamant that most of the procrastination towards the end came from the studios holding meeting after meeting to asses what Fincher could and could not shoot.

What you've got to bear in mind with the 2003 Special Edition is that it was cut by Charles De Lauzirka and his team, who produced all the extras for the Alien Quadrilogy, so they were in a perfect position to assess what Fincher's original not-fully-formed ideas were and cut the film accordingly, so it's about as close as you're going to get from what footage is available. I've never seen the workprint so I can't compare, but I believe the workprint is only 125mins and this cut is 144mins so there must be differences. Oh and the Special Edition does not feel like a workprint at all to me - at least not in the Alien Anthology where it had been touched up a little, that's the only version fresh in my memory. Mike Sutton's comments on the Special Edition in this review (scroll down a little, it's only 4 paragraphs long) sums up the improvements to the characterisation and thematics.

I'll list some examples of scenes/sequences the Making Of makes clear Fincher wanted in some form:

- Clemens discovering Ripley's body, a simple shot that showed a little more of the planet's harsh exterior and set up immediately that Clemens was a loner.
- Much of the prisoner's faith: Fincher wanted the central theme of the film to be about isolation, despair and what happens when spirituality fails, the studio thought his ideas were too arty and wanted a straight genre film.
- The whole "containing the Alien" sequence and Golic letting it out, this was the whole point of the Golic character and Fincher fought tooth and nail with the studio, who didn't like it because it "weakened" the Alien (that and it was an easy way to cut a chunk out of the story).
- The original ending of Ripley falling into the lead furnace with no drama and no chestburster. Apparently this was one of the biggest arguments between Fincher and the Studio during the production, he really didn't want the chestburster incident because he wanted the ending to be low key and not so much depressing, but uplifting in a rather sad way. Fincher's crew felt having Ripley fight with the Alien made the ending slightly more uplifting and heroic. I think the chestburster ending was thought up by the producers: Walter Hill and David Giler, either way I think most viewers would argue Fincher was wrong on this one.

There are other things as well but they're hazy in my memory, I personally think had Fincher not had so much resistence and not walked off set in the final weeks then his final cut would probably be a more streamlined variance on the Special Edition, maybe about 2hrs 15mins or so.

[HungFist]

Basket Case II (USA, 1990) – 3.5/5

”Let’s just pretend Basket Case II is the only sequel ever made to Basket Case. I made Basket Case 3, but frankly, it’s a terrible piece of shit” – Frank Henenlotter.

The man and his mutant brother –classic Basket Case (1982) was a nod towards the godfather of gore, Herschell Gordon Lewis. The sequel takes influence from Todd Browning’s Freaks (1932). Basket Case 2 gathers a whole bunch of funny, sad, and plain strange freaks under one roof. More humoristic than scary, the film is an amazing showcase of old school special effects design. Certainly politically incorrect by today’s standards, the film managed to pass uncut through MPAA that, seemingly sick and tired of Henenlotter who filed three complaints about Frankenhooker’s X-rating, did not bother this time. Have your R. It’s not a very gory film anyways.

Brain Damage (USA, 1988) – 3.5/5
Frank Henenlotter’s near excellent horror comedy is as much a fictional parasite film as it’s a drug movie. A small creature known as Elmer (basically a talking blue penis) addicts its host by inserting blue liquid causing hallucinatory visions into his brains. In return, it feeds on other people’s brains. Good storyline, some gore effects mixed with a bucketful of humor, and an amazing car dump yard sequence that is cinematic perfection. The source of inspiration isn’t difficult to guess. “Cocaine”, Henenlotter specified, “I was a heavy user at the time”, and added “it’s not a good drug. LSD much is better”.

[Markgway]

Dillon begins the meeting with a prayer - meh
Clemens asks Ripley if Newt was her daughter - we already know
Two abattoir workers discuss Ripley and the dead cow – what was confusing about the dog scenes? Ripley replies to Clemens’ assertion that she is very direct with “I’ve been out here for a long time” - meh
Dillon asks other prisoners to light a candle for Murphy, the first victim - meh
A much longer scene between Clemens and Andrews - meh

These are the only major additions--
A scene explaining how Golic gets to the infirmary
Golic explains the madness of the world
Golic expresses approval of the alien’s killing of Clemens as “Magnificent”

Not saying that the other scenes are bad just that they don't add anything much. The film really doesn't need to be over 2hrs.

[Markgway]

Mark what do you think of "Dragon"?
I watched it for research on my project.

Lol, you're determined to get everyone talking about DRAGON.

Why? It's nonsense.

Jason Scott Lee's performance is good, as is Randy Edelman's score.

That's about it.