Alien: Resurrection Blu-ray Review

The Alien Anthology's transition to Blu-ray is a monumental leap in visual fidelity for the series, ushering the iconic franchise into the highest echelons of home cinema quality available to date, albeit with slight variations across the individual films. The original Alien benefits from a brand-new 4K master and 1080p/AVC encode, presenting an immaculate print that maintains the film’s natural grain while significantly enhancing clarity and detail. The meticulous restoration ensures deep, inky blacks and perfect contrast, illuminating intricate details of the Nostromo and the alien creature without succumbing to noise or compression artifacts. Colors are impactful, breathing life into the film's intentionally bleak palette with vivid moments that stand out with newfound intensity. This presentation sets a high standard, making Alien appear almost revelatory in its Blu-ray incarnation.

James Cameron's Aliens, however, approaches its remastering with a different philosophy, as highlighted by Cameron’s intent to eliminate the original film stock's graininess through de-noising and up-rezzing processes. While this has raised concerns of potential overuse of noise reduction techniques, the actual result is a balanced treatment where the film retains its natural, filmic appearance without succumbing to the pitfalls of excessive digital noise reduction (DNR). Despite minor instances where characters' faces might appear slightly softened, the remaster does justice to the film’s visual aesthetics, offering a picture quality that surpasses its original cinematic release. However, Aliens does not achieve the same level of awe as its predecessor due to these interventions and the high-speed negative's inherent limitations.

Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, while not reaching the pinnacle set by Alien’s restoration, still mark significant improvements over past DVD releases. The films exhibit a stable grain structure with well-balanced colors and no significant compression issues, though they present a slightly softer image that may reflect the lesser financial investment in their restoration. Alien Resurrection, in particular, benefits from Jean-Pierre Jeunet's use of a rich, high-contrast color palette, making it visually more striking among the latter entries. While minor picture quality issues are noted across the films, they are largely overshadowed by the overall excellence of the presentations. Collectively, these Blu-ray releases offer a compelling reason to upgrade, faithfully enhancing each film's intended visual atmosphere while setting a new standard for their presentation in the digital age.

The audio presentation of "Alien: Resurrection" on Blu-ray is a stellar example of how modern technology can breathe new life into classic cinema. The transition from DVD to the crystal-clear lossless DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround sound tracks is nothing short of transformative, offering an auditory experience that complements the leap in picture quality perfectly. The incredible depth and clarity of sound draw you into the heart of the action, with the LFE channel consistently delivering an atmospheric, chest-vibrating prowess that excels during spaceship encounters. This aural enhancement applies not just to "Resurrection" but extends across the Alien quadrilogy, each film benefiting from heightened audio that ranges from the creeping dread of the Nostromo’s corridors to the overwhelming chaos of battle.

"Alien: Resurrection," specifically, taps into an action-heroics vibe that sees a significant uptick in dynamic, engaging audio effects. Gunshots resonate with precision across the channels, embodying an almost tangible presence, while explosive sequences and the roar of the evac pod showcase expert use of cross-channel movements that envelop the listener. Dialogue remains crisply defined against this backdrop, ensuring that every spoken word is heard amid the frenetic energy of the film's more intense moments. The scores, contributed by a talented lineage of composers including John Frizzell for "Resurrection," are presented with such clarity and dynamism that they almost act as additional characters within the narrative.

Indeed, the commitment to audio excellence is evident in every aspect of this Blu-ray's presentation. From the meticulous balancing of dialogue against the thunderous lows and piercing highs of the soundtrack to the immersive, room-shaking effects that make every moment feel like an event, it’s a testament to how far home cinema has come. Fans, whether they’re revisiting or experiencing the saga for the first time, are treated to a sonic feast that matches the visual upgrade step for step, making this collection a must-have for aficionados of both film and high-fidelity audio.

The Blu-ray release of "Alien: Resurrection" as part of the Alien Anthology presents a monumental achievement in the preservation and celebration of sci-fi cinema history. Integral to its acclaim is the staggering array of extras, meticulously carried over from the Alien Quadrilogy DVD and supplemented by additional content exclusive to this Blu-ray collection. Noteworthy is the inclusive "Wreckage and Rage: The Making of Alien 3" in its uncensored entirety, paying homage to directorial vision amid studio conflicts. The exhaustive collection spans over 60 hours of special features and houses an archive of 12,000 images, ranging from production stills to concept art, ensuring that enthusiasts can plunge into the Alien universe with unparalleled depth. The compilation is navigated through an intuitive menu system, enhanced by the innovative MU-TH-UR Mode, although it's acknowledged that its utility may not appeal universally. The overall presentation, encompassed within robust packaging, reflects a deep respect for both the material and its audience, promising an immersive exploration far beyond the films themselves.

Extras included in this disc:

MU-TH-UR Mode: Interactive experience for accessing special features related to specific scenes.

Wreckage and Rage: Making Alien 3: Restored original documentary detailing David Fincher's challenging experience with studio intervention.

Interactive Menus: Seamless navigation through an extensive collection of extra content including making-of documentaries, visual effects breakdowns, and archival materials across all four films.

Enhancement Pods: Nearly five hours of new content featuring behind-the-scenes footage, interviews, and raw dailies exclusive to the Blu-ray edition.

LaserDisc Supplements: Legacy content from previous releases is preserved, offering fans access to historical extras.

Archival Imagery: A comprehensive gallery featuring 12,000 items such as storyboards, production stills, and cast portraits, providing an encyclopedic view into the making of the films.

Making the Anthology Documentaries: In-depth documentaries for each film, covering all aspects from pre-production through post-production and aftermath, including “The Beast Within”, “Superior Firepower”, “Wreckage and Rage”, and “One Step Beyond”.

Deleted Scenes: An array of deleted and extended scenes from each movie, presented in high-definition.

Audio Commentaries and Isolated Scores: Rich audio content including multiple commentaries by filmmakers and a variety of isolated scores that enhance the viewing experience.

The assembly of these facets into one collection underlines the anthology’s stature as a definitive resource for Alien franchise enthusiasts, delivering both a breadth and depth of material that surpasses conventional expectations for supplementary content.

In the vast hemisphere of sci-fi classics, "Alien: Resurrection" reasserts its place within the pivotal Alien Anthology, now delivered in a Blu-ray rendition that promises a revivification of the series' indelible mark upon the genre. The film, while not scaling the terrifying zeniths of its predecessors, crafts its own distinct narrative vein with a blend of unique visual styles and an uneasily engaging plot. This offering from Jean-Pierre Jeunet, augmented by Joss Whedon’s scriptwork, ventures into the realms of genetic experimentation and the moral quandaries it ensues, giving us a Ripley reborn with unsettling new ties to her alien adversaries.

The Blu-ray version does not shy away from delivering a seamless audio-visual feast that heightens the ambiance and tension ingrained in the film's DNA. The high definition transfer showcases the grimy, shadow-drenched corridors and the fluid, menacing movement of the xenomorphs with an almost tactile clarity that plunges the viewer into the depths of the narrative's chilling premise. The audio complements this eerie tableau with meticulous sound mixing that encapsulates the viewer in a cocoon of dread-inducing echoes and silences, punctuated by the heart-racing sounds of alien encounters.

What sets this release apart is not simply its technological enhancements but its adherence to delivering a package that respects and expands upon the legacy of the Alien franchise. Inclusion of both versions of the film, alongside over 60 hours of special features, positions this Blu-ray edition as an indispensable compendium for aficionados and newcomers alike. It's a testament to the saga's continual evolution, offering insights and behind-the-scenes glimpses that enrich the viewing experience. "Alien: Resurrection" on Blu-ray stands as a beacon of science fiction storytelling's potential to mesmerize and provoke, ensuring its place in the annals of cinematic achievements within the genre.

The Blu-ray release of "Alien: Resurrection" as part of the Alien Anthology collection stands as a monumental tribute to the sci-fi horror genre, exceeding expectations set by its DVD predecessor, the Alien Quadrilogy. This collection is meticulously crafted, catering to both new fans and devout followers of the Alien saga. The restoration of visual and audio elements is exemplary, showcasing the film in unparalleled clarity and immersion that is bound to captivate any viewer. With an emphasis on technical superiority and content completeness, this release asserts itself as a definitive edition for any collection.

Further enhancing its appeal, the Anthology is packed with an extensive array of special features and behind-the-scenes content that provide an in-depth look at "Alien: Resurrection" and its place within the epic Alien franchise. From comprehensive documentaries to detailed commentaries from the filmmakers, these extras offer a rich tapestry of information, making it an indispensable resource for both enthusiasts and scholars alike. The inclusion of these features not only enriches the viewing experience but also elevates the Blu-ray edition beyond a mere cinematic spectacle to a profound exploration of the Alien legacy.

In conclusion, the Blu-ray presentation of "Alien: Resurrection" within the Alien Anthology is an outstanding compilation that significantly improves upon previous releases in every conceivable way. It combines technical brilliance with a treasure trove of extras, providing an immersive and comprehensive viewing experience. This release is not just recommended but deemed essential for fans and collectors alike. It stands as a testament to the enduring allure of the Alien series, meriting our highest endorsement and suggesting that one should indeed go out and secure this remarkable collection without hesitation.