Alien 3: Theatrical Cut or Assembly Cut?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 21 Apr 2006, 22:17

I must've missed that. But I'll take your word for it. Peter Jackson said the same about The Frighteners that the TC was HIS DC and that the 'DC' was merely an SE.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 22 Apr 2006, 00:02

EvaUnit02 wrote:Nah, All the DVDs in the Quadrilogy (except the 9th disc) were released separately as 2-discer SEs.

Bad choice of wording sorry I meant this release as in box set and 2 Disc SE.

Markgway wrote:I must've missed that. But I'll take your word for it. Peter Jackson said the same about The Frighteners that the TC was HIS DC and that the 'DC' was merely an SE.

He/they should put their foot down and not call it a DC then as obviously people will opt to watch that version.

HungFist · Post by **HungFist** » 24 Apr 2006, 13:39

I definitely liked the 'Assembly Cut' more. I loved the new beginning. Also, the part where they manage trap the alien (the big "fire" scene) doesn't make any sense in the TC. How did the alien get out?

Everything looked so great until the last scene. I loved the original ending, and now those fuckers go and remove some great footage. Damn. One day I'm gonna try to author my own version taking the first 134 minutes from the assembly cut and the last 10 from the TC. I should try the same with BR. Though I have no idea how to do it...

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 24 Apr 2006, 14:48

HungFist wrote:Also, the part where they manage trap the alien (the big "fire" scene) doesn't make any sense in the TC. How did the alien get out?

In the Theatrical Cut they never catch the Alien in the first place. The plan goes tits up when the explosions go off too early and half of the prisoners get burned. It was felt that catching the Alien halfway diminished the threat by showing how easily it could be caught before release. I can see their point.

Everything looked so great until the last scene. I loved the original ending, and now those fuckers go and remove some great footage. Damn.

The SFX in the final scene are abysmal; cutting the chestburster into the theatrical cut somewhat demphasises this.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 17 Oct 2007, 13:45

A local toystore has Alien 3 2disc SE for 5 euro, so I'll probably pick that up.

It also has Alien 1 or 2 SE for that same price. I've seen the TC of those first 2 movies, and I liked them very much. Is the director's cut for those even better?
Cause I believe I've read that Alien TC and Aliens TC were the best versions for those movies.
So I should just pick up Alien 3 SE?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Oct 2007, 14:43

Most people seem to prefer Aliens: EC (it's not a DC, that's the TC). Alien:DC is also an EC. Scott says so much I believe on the DVD. The TC is his DC. It was Fox's idea to call Alien: DC a DC when it's really an EC. As to which is better I don't know.

By all accounts the Alien 3: EC is better than the TC. I've not seen it but liked the TC, the few who did.

What a strange post I've just written

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 17 Oct 2007, 14:46

Alien DC is a market tactic by Fox. Ridley's true DC is the original '79 TC.

EvaUnit02 wrote:Watch Ridley's intro again, he clearly states he prefers the 1979 TC. He just made the 2003 Alternative Cut cuz Fox wanted it.

Alien SE is worth owning for the stunning reference quality remastered transfer and really effective DTS 5.1 remix - both were supervised by Scott.

The Alien Alternative Cut is even less effective than the original TC. We're shown more of the xenomorph, that detracts from the film. Plus there's the cacooning scene that totally screws up the xenomorph lifecycle and continuity. With that scene back in, the Queen in Aliens is entirely redundant.

Alien 3 is not a terrible film at all, it's just not very good either. The extended cut is a vast improvement over the TC, restoring entire plot points and story threads. By the editing style alone it's immediately a signature Fincher film; the cinematography is stunning is also stunning. EVen great director's failures are often really interesting to watch (like Scorsese's New York, New York).

You still care for the characters in Alien 3 (well Ripley at least and Charles Dutton). The film does take it's own original twist to the vanilla formula of Alien (not Aliens). They're on a planet with "neutered" men and there's no traditional weapons like guns at all. Since the

Some terrific filmmaking is of course on display in Alien 3. The scene that stands out in my mind:- the "monks" act as decoys as they're being chased by the dog-alien through the blast corridors to the furnace. Highly exhilatering stuff IMO.

Aliens Extended cut vs TC is a different story though. Both cuts have their merits.
TC:- No footage of the living colonists at start gives the film an even grimer feeling for when the Marine party first explore the empty and "haunted" colony hallways.
-TC has superior pacing.

EC:- Characters have greater depth, especially Ripley. She's devastated when she finds out that she had outlived her then young daughter; witness her staring at the photo of her daughter as an old woman. This knowledge gives the faux-materal relationship between Riply and Newt even more gravity.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Oct 2007, 15:24

Since the what?

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 17 Oct 2007, 17:22

Thanks guys. So most definately get the SE of Alien 3, and MAYBE also pick up the SE of Aliens!?

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Oct 2007, 17:27

All the DVDs have both cuts Yi. If you don't like it you'll still have the other cut.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 17 Oct 2007, 19:25

EvaUnit02 wrote:You still care for the characters in Alien 3 (well Ripley at least and Charles Dutton).

I thought Charles Dance was rather good as the medical officer (a man who made a tragic mistake and has spent the rest of his life paying the price).

I'm officially the only person on the planet who prefers the TC.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 17 Oct 2007, 19:32

I recently re-watched both cuts.

The extended cut is a better film, just becuase it adds so much more charecter work to the film and you really get to know the prisoners a lot more. The shorter cut means a lot of charecters never even get a name, never mind scenes to get to know them. Knowing some of these guys better makes it a better cut.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 17 Oct 2007, 23:57

Yi-Long wrote:Thanks guys. So most definately get the SE of Alien 3, and MAYBE also pick up the SE of Aliens!?

Just buy them all. Hell, even Resurrection has it's good points. Eg Joss Whedon's black humour; the chemistry between the mercenaries; Ron Perlman as a bad ass. The stupid third act with the New Born ruins it though.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 18 Oct 2007, 00:00

EvaUnit02 wrote:
Yi-Long wrote:Thanks guys. So most definately get the SE of Alien 3, and MAYBE also pick up the SE of Aliens!?
Just buy them all. Hell, even Resurrection has it's good points. Eg Joss Whedon's black humour; the chemistry between the mercenaries; Ron Perlman as a bad ass. The stupid third act with the New Born ruins it though.

Well.. I already have the TC's of the 4 Alien movies. Only seen the first 2 though, as I had heard/read that the TC's of those 2 were the best versions. For pt3 I heard the EC was the best version, so didnt watch the TC yet. (I got all 4 movies as a 'goodbye and fuck off' present at my internship

)

I'm actually kinda curious about Alien 4/Resurrection, as it has Wyona Ryder and is directed by that french guy that did Amelie ...

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 18 Oct 2007, 06:38

Yi-Long wrote:Well.. I already have the TC's of the 4 Alien movies. Only seen the first 2 though, as I had heard/read that the TC's of those 2 were the best versions.

Ummm, no. The 2-disc SE marked the first time that the Aliens TC was available on DVD. The old 1-discer only had the Extended cut.

The remastered transfer of Alien is stunning and is a significant improvement over the old one.

In conclusion:- Buy the 2-disc SEs for the first three films, at least.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 18 Oct 2007, 06:45

EvaUnit02 wrote:
Yi-Long wrote:Well.. I already have the TC's of the 4 Alien movies. Only seen the first 2 though, as I had heard/read that the TC's of those 2 were the best versions.
Ummm, no. The 2-disc SE marked the first time that the Aliens TC was available on DVD. The old 1-discer only had the Extended cut.

The remastered transfer of Alien is stunning and is a significant improvement over the old one.

In conclusion:- Buy the 2-disc SEs for the first three films, at least.

Hmm... My Alien DVD is 112 minutes long, and my Aliens DVD is 148 minutes long..., so those are the extended cuts? (PAL dvd btw)

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 18 Oct 2007, 06:49

If Alien has NO DTS track, but DOES have a solo Ridley commentary, then it you only have the TC.

If Aliens has NO commentary, then you ONLY have the extended cut.

Bullets 'n' Babes

Alien 3: Theatrical Cut or Assembly Cut?

Which do you prefer and why?