Aliens 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Review
Score: 95
from 6 reviewers
Review Date:
The 4K release of "Aliens" delivers a stunning Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos experience, but the overly processed image quality divides fans, despite the rich extras.
Disc Release Date
True 4K
HDR10
Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
DTS-HD MA
Dolby TrueHD
Video: 92
The 4K UHD Blu-ray of *Aliens* showcases an intricately detailed restoration using HEVC/H.265 encoding with Dolby Vision HDR. Significant fine detail, especially in close-ups, contrasts with a somewhat processed look in broader scenes, lacking traditional grain and sometimes resulting in a slightly artificial appearance. Enhanced color grading offers vivid tones, deep blacks, and radiant highlights, while minor artifacts and the minimal grain texture remain points of contention among purists.
Audio: 95
"The Dolby Atmos upgrade on the 4K UHD Blu-ray of Aliens delivers an immersive and spatially engrossing experience with exceptional channel separation, robust low-end, and clear dialogue. Height channels and LFE enhance scenes like the dropship crash and xenomorph attacks, making this a must-have audio presentation."
Extra: 99
The "Aliens" 4K UHD Blu-ray edition impresses with both Theatrical and Special Edition cuts, extensive audio commentaries by James Cameron, Dolby Digital 5.1 isolated scores, and a treasure trove of legacy extras, including the exhaustive "Making Aliens" documentary and new design featurettes, all presented across three discs.
Movie: 95
James Cameron's 'Aliens' (4K UHD) masterfully expands on its predecessor with a perfect balance of frenetic action and emotional depth. The transfer to 4K preserves the film’s stunning practical effects and iconic performances. Both Theatrical and Special Editions are enhanced with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, delivering an immersive experience.
Video: 92
The "Aliens" 4K UHD Blu-ray, released by 20th Century Studios and Disney, has undergone significant restoration and remastering, creating a mixed visual experience. Utilizing an HEVC/H.265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1 aspect ratio, the release boasts native 4K resolution, Dolby Vision, and HDR10. The extensive digital manipulation employed results in a striking clarity in close-up shots, revealing extraordinary details in skin textures, clothing, and props. Yet, it departs markedly from its original film appearance, yielding a digital, somewhat artificial aesthetic. There's an observable inconsistency in background details, where faces and textures tend to smooth out. The color grading shows a shift from the original steely blues to a greener/teal hue, impacting the overall atmosphere of the film. Despite these alterations, Dolby Vision enhances the depth of coloring, providing rich flesh tones, vibrant reds, and deep blacks, though the whites lack the expected HDR intensity.
While the 4K upgrade shows noticeable improvements in fine detail compared to previous 1080p releases, it introduces issues like reduced grain and occasional ringing artifacts. The AI restoration heavily minimizes grain, resulting in an unnaturally clean image that lacks the traditional 35mm film grain fans might expect. Some scenes exhibit smearing and waxy facial textures, particularly in softer focus shots, affecting the overall authenticity of the filmic experience. Bright scenes have been balanced well with enhanced contrast, creating crisp whites without losing detail. However, the increased brightness across the entire image tends to highlight the processed look further.
The new color timing is more accurate with improved skin tones and a vibrant palette due to Dolby Vision HDR. The presentation enhances highlights and provides excellent shadow delineation, enriching the dark scenes that are crucial to the film's atmosphere. Despite minor aliasing and moiré fringes along sharp lines, the transfer retains impressive sharpness in textures and architectural details. Overall, while this release offers the best visual quality yet seen for "Aliens" on home video, its digital manipulation may not satisfy purists seeking a faithful representation of the original 35mm experience.
Audio: 95
The Dolby Atmos upgrade for "Aliens" on the 4K UHD Blu-ray delivers an extraordinary auditory experience, vastly improving upon previous DTS-HD MA versions. The overhead channels create a fully immersive three-dimensional soundscape, particularly noteworthy during scenes like the dropship crash and the frantic alien encounters around the compound. The Atmos track adeptly utilizes overhead effects to enhance the sense of space and atmosphere, from the eerie pitter-patter of alien feet to the atmospheric nuances during exterior shots of spacecraft. Dialogue remains clear, well-prioritized, and directionally accurate, ensuring seamless intelligibility even amidst the most chaotic moments.
Low-frequency effects are robust, providing substantial oomph and punch, especially during intense action sequences like the APC escape and the dropship explosions. The subwoofer is kept busy with deep, resonant booms and punches that elevate the action-packed scenes. Meanwhile, James Horner’s score is expertly layered across the surround environment, enveloping listeners and adding dramatic intensity. Though some users noted a preference for slightly more pronounced bass, the depth and dynamics of the mix are impressive, capturing every nuance from wind howls to screeching xenomorphs.
The overall surround sound presentation boasts exceptional channel separation, delivering continuous and convincing background activity. The sound design ingeniously transitions effects from one channel to another, creating a half-dome, hemispheric effect that enhances the film's tension and excitement. The combination of mid-range clarity and expansive soundfield makes for a remarkable auditory experience. This Dolby Atmos track is a masterclass in mixing, providing an engaging, enveloping, and technically sophisticated audio performance that significantly enhances the viewing experience of this sci-fi classic.
Extra: 99
The "Aliens" 4K UHD Blu-ray is packed with comprehensive, legacy extras making it a treasure trove for enthusiasts. Both the theatrical and special edition cuts are included, alongside features like isolated scores and insightful commentaries by James Cameron and the cast. The standout feature is the exhaustive "Superior Firepower: Making Aliens" documentary, which spans over three hours and dives deeply into every aspect of production. There's also an insightful 30-minute feature on the inspiration behind the film, and extensive pre and post-production galleries and videos, ensuring fans have plenty to explore.
Extras included in this disc:
- James Cameron Introduction: A brief welcoming message from the director.
- 2003 Audio Commentary: In-depth discussion by James Cameron and crew.
- Final Theatrical Isolated Score: James Horner's score in Dolby Digital 5.1.
- Composer’s Original Isolated Score: Original music plans by James Horner.
- Direct Access to New/Additional Scenes: Quick access to special edition scenes.
- The Inspiration and Design of Aliens: Cameron explores the film's design origins.
- Superior Firepower: Making Aliens: Extensive 3-hour documentary on the film's production.
- Superior Firepower Enhancement Pods: Additional featurettes on production aspects.
- Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production Galleries and Videos: Extensive visual and video archives.
- Deleted Scenes Montage: Collection of scene extensions and omitted moments.
- Main Title Exploration: Insight into the main title design.
- Theatrical Trailers: Various promotional trailers for the movie.
Movie: 95
James Cameron’s "Aliens" stands as a monumental achievement in science fiction filmmaking, seamlessly blending intense action with profound character development. Following the iconic "Alien," Cameron evolved the series from a horror-centric narrative to an all-out action-adventure while retaining the essence of the original. Sigourney Weaver’s portrayal of Ripley is masterful, transforming from a haunted survivor into a formidable warrior with a maternal instinct, protecting young Newt against insurmountable odds. The film's exploration of corporate greed and military arrogance adds depth, making "Aliens" relevant even decades after its release. Cameron's script, laden with quotable lines, elevates a typical summer blockbuster to a timeless classic.
Technically, "Aliens" benefits immensely from its exceptional practical effects helmed by Stan Winston, which ensure a grounded and authentic cinematic experience. The film’s atmospheric production design, spearheaded by Ron Cobb and Syd Mead, coupled with James Horner’s haunting score, crafts a retro-futuristic aesthetic that still wows modern audiences. The 4K UHD Blu-ray release capitalizes on these strengths, offering both the Theatrical and Special Edition cuts in stunning 2160p resolution, with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. This edition reaffirms "Aliens" not just as an extraordinary sequel but also as an integral piece of cinematic history that continues to captivate and thrill viewers worldwide.
Total: 95
James Cameron's "Aliens," particularly in its Special Edition version, is an extraordinary sequel that builds on the groundwork laid by the original film. Displaying an engaging mix of action, horror, and camaraderie, it delivers a dynamic and memorable viewing experience. As a continuation that retains the core essence while forging a unique path forward, "Aliens" has garnered accolades for its narrative and impressive practical effects.
The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of "Aliens" by Disney/Fox presents a mixed bag for videophiles. The Dolby Vision HDR presentation and Dolby Atmos soundtrack have been universally praised for their high quality, significantly improving upon previous Blu-ray releases with stunning highlights and immersive audio. However, the image processing has sparked debate among fans. The removal of grain in favor of an ultra-crisp and sterile image lacks the organic 35mm appearance that some purists prefer. Though the picture is impressively detailed, some viewers find it jarring compared to previous versions. Technical merits remain solid overall, with exhaustive and well-curated bonus content enhancing the package.
Conclusively, the 4K UHD release of "Aliens" is a top-tier addition to any collection, despite some controversy over its visual fidelity. The powerful Dolby Atmos track and valuable extras make it a compelling purchase—showcasing a landmark film that continues to thrill audiences after nearly four decades. While the revised image may require an adjustment period for some fans, it does not detract from the essential qualities and allure of this classic sci-fi action horror masterpiece. Recommended for its significant technical upgrades and comprehensive supplementary features, this is the definitive way to experience "Aliens" in high definition.
avforums review by Simon CrustRead review here
Video: 80
The black level is deep, giving ok shadows and helping with frame depth, but the white scale lacks permanence; one of the benefits of greater resolution and HDR is the intensity and push that the white...
Audio: 90
There is a crispness to the effects, and it is altogether a more robust and enjoyable track....
Extras: 100
Blu-ray Theatrical Version Special Edition Version with Intro Direct Access - New/Additional Scenes from Special Edition Audio Commentary – With James Cameron and the Cast and Crew from 2003 Final Theatrical...
Movie: 100
Going through the paperwork, I discovered that he was an actor, an American, living and working in England, which invariable led to the conversation of what he had been in, he said, “oh just a little thing...
Total: 80
Everyone agrees that the Dolby Atmos track is terrific, and the extras are great; but that picture … why we have to ‘get used to it’, rather than just adore it is the crux of the matter....
Blu-ray.com review by Jeffrey KauffmanRead review here
Video: 70
This is another presentation where anyone wanting a recreation of a traditional 35mm viewing experience is probably going to be disappointed, but as with both of the other Cameron films receiving 4K UHD...
Audio: 90
The Atmos track takes full advantage of both overhead and just general vertical effects in any number of establishing scenes offering spacecraft, but there's even clear engagement of the Atmos speakers...
Extras: 100
Pre-Production offers various galleries, some with video components: Development Original Treatment by James Cameron Footage Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Videomatics offer optional commentary by Pat...
Movie: 80
Aliens is the outlier of the three James Cameron films Disney / Buena Vista is offering in new if evidently to some fans unimproved 4K UHD versions, since, unlike The Abyss 4K and/or True Lies 4K, this...
Total: 100
I'd personally rate the three in terms of video quality as The Abyss, Aliens and True Lies, in that order, in terms of preserving at least some semblance of an organic 35mm appearance, but as with the...
DoBlu review by Matt PaprockiRead review here
Video: 40
Grain does remain, but it’s slight, and the reduction is notable enough to smother anything not in close....
Audio: 80
The landing is mesmerizing, with exterior winds pounding the ship’s interior, and when outside, the howling, whipping air uses all available channels, including some marvelous overhead use....
Extras: 100
This includes an additional hour of features that extend into test footage, pre-production, deleted scenes, and galleries....
Movie: 80
This ensures a grounded reality that makes everything else authentic too, from the unsympathetic corporate values to Ripley’s human, empathy-driven need to save everyone....
Total: 75
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High-Def DigestRead review here
Video: 80
Moreover, the 4K video also boasts razor-sharp details for a significant portion of the runtime with a few poorly-resolved moments that are both to be expected and thankfully, don't depreciate the overall...
Audio: 80
Imagining continuously feels broad and spacious with outstanding channel separation as background activity convincingly moves across the screen and to the top heights, generating a sweeping, half-dome...
Extras: 100
Direct Access to New/Additional Scenes from Special Edition Blu-ray Disc 1 Audio Commentaries Introduction (SD, 1 min) Isolated Scores Direct Access to New/Additional Scenes from Special Edition Blu-ray...
Movie: 80
Just as in the previous film, she is compelled to prove herself as a woman within a masculine society, which is in sharp contrast to Vasquez's just-one-of-the-boys appearance and posture....
Total: 80
A couple years shy of its 40th anniversary, the sci-fi actioner still holds up after four decades, delivering a suspenseful thrill-ride of action, adventure and horror with brains, a rare treat that can...
Home Theater Forum review by Neil MiddlemissRead review here
Video: 100
In the visual effects, the Dropship still has Matte lines noticeable during the initial descent over the white clouds of the planet and when it flies into the superstructure as Ripley goes to rescue Newt,...
Audio: 100
The Dropship descent to the planet, the dripping water through the colony barricades, and acid-damaged ceilings and floors as the rain falls in offer a sense of abandonment and eerie echo....
Extras: 100
While there weren’t any new special features created for the UHD release of Aliens (or the 4K digital release back in December), the legacy special features are plentiful and absorbing....
Movie: 100
Luckily, despite the tough shoot and personnel difficulties, Cameron, Hurd, and the crew made it work and the resulting film, a masterful assembly of filmmaking greatness, potent performances, and astute...
Total: 100
The Ultra High-Definition Disc release of Aliens is exceptional, though the grain situation, or rather the lack of pronounced grain compared to how we’ve seen this film in the past, will cause (and already...
Why So Blu?Read review here
Video: 100
As with Titanic, The Abyss, and True Lies, Aliens comes to 4K UHD Blu-ray with the use of AI to help things have improved clarity and more range in sharpness....
Audio: 100
Low-Frequency Extension: Music, spaceships, landings, explosions, flame throwers and more, light up the subwoofer with nice bass extension....
Extras: 100
Also, you have a myriad of features to dive into!Special Features:James Cameron Introduction – A message from writer/director James Cameron introducing the Special Edition version of the film.2003 Audio...
Movie: 100
As she heads back into space with the macho group of Marines to LV-426, you just know something is amiss....
Total: 100
The new Dolby Vision and Atmos upgrade is worth the price of admission, and you’ll be reminded of just how different yet complimentary this film is to its original....
Director: James Cameron
Actors: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Henn
PlotAfter drifting in space for 57 years in cryostasis, Ripley, the sole survivor of the commercial spacecraft Nostromo, is rescued by a deep-space salvage team. Upon her return to Earth, she discovers that the planetoid where her crew first encountered the deadly alien species is now home to a terraforming colony known as Hadley's Hope. When contact with the colony is mysteriously lost, Ripley reluctantly agrees to accompany a unit of high-tech colonial marines on a rescue mission to investigate the situation. Still haunted by her previous encounter, Ripley is driven by a need to confront her fears and ensure that the aliens are destroyed.
The team arrives at Hadley's Hope to find it deserted, with signs of a violent struggle everywhere. As they search the desolate settlement, they slowly piece together the horrifying fate of the colonists, confirming Ripley's worst fears. They encounter a traumatized young girl named Newt, the only apparent survivor, who provides insight into the aliens' nightmarish onslaught. With the terraforming station compromised and the situation increasingly dire, Ripley and the marines must work together to secure a means of escape while facing a deadly and relentless enemy, superior in number and adaptability. Their survival hinges on Ripley's experience, quick thinking, and the marines' firepower, as they confront the ruthless bio-engineered creatures that spared no one in their previous encounter.
Writers: James Cameron, David Giler, Walter Hill
Release Date: 18 Jul 1986
Runtime: 137 min
Rating: R
Country: United Kingdom, United States
Language: English, Spanish