Alien Anthology: Exclusive Steelbook Edition (Blu-ray)

A remarkable set of films in one awesome set, the alien franchise is one of the greatest sci-fi stories of our time, the best disc is without doubt Alien 3 with 30mins of added and restored footage which makes the film so much longer and better, a must buy at any cost to add to your Blu-ray collection.

I love the Alien series and bought the anthology on Blu-Ray already. Couldn't resist this gorgeous steelbook though.
You get the anthology versions of the movies with both theatrical and directors/special cuts.
Sadly you're missing two discs from the first anthology, The Making Of and The Archives discs.
For this, for me it loses a star, othwise, lovely set.

Lovely box, but it's the 4 disc anthology at twice the price. It does have two versions of each film: the extra scene in Alien (a rare director's cut in that rather than being over-indulgent and bloated is actually 2 minutes shorter) is remarkable and had it been in the original cut, you wouldn't have the sequel- at least not in the way Cameron made it. Cameron's director's cut is the one that's been in circulation the longest, but does add some tragedy and pathos- and ultimately humanity- to characters that could have just been monster fodder in the hands of another filmmaker. The revelation of what Ripley has left behind adds extra emotional gravity to the ending; one that some people believe should have been left well alone. But then you wouldn't have the extraordinary experience of the reassembled Alien3 which is practically a different film, and you suddenly understand what Paul McGann's in it for. It's still flawed, but it is an effective and stylish horror, in which we are resigned to a noble sacrifice and a fittingly melancholy finale. And it does seem pretty final. Then there's Alien Resurrection which is the weakest of the four, despite Jeunet's apolyptic rustiness (his future is a dirty one, akin to Serenity- both films share the same scribe in Joss Whedon). It loses its way in trying to change the threat and something gets lost in translation between Jeunet's usually strikingly original approach to science fiction (see Delicatessen or City of Lost Children) and Whedon's own witty and character driven absurdity (the queen grows a womb, and after Ripley's encounter we can only assume how messed up the planned sequel would get... although those themes do actually pop up in Prometheus... hmmm...). The extra scenes (bookends really) for Resurrection add little, other than the crushing disappointment of an arrival on a ruined Earth. But for the first two movies, it's a good package. Not for 20pounds though, when you can get all four for a tenner. You can get the extra features for less than 20pounds in the six disc set, and that's worth it for the information about the development of Alien 3- something that would warrant an indepth documentary of its own one day (maybe even a book, if you could get some of these peopel talking again). Basically, if you've got 20pounds to waste on lovely steel boxes, buy this. If you more interested in what's in the box- buy the 6 disc anthology.

This anthology contains 4 discs, 1 for each film and each film has two viewing modes: The first is the theatrical release, the second is the directors cut with little introductions from the directors. Ridley Scott obviously for the first and so on..

Each movie has had the bluray picture and sound improvements and its definetly been worthwhile. Most noticably with the first film which was released in 1979. Grain still exists but skin tones, close facial shots and the Alien itself all very clear. Also the background clear-up picture where before it was very dark now you can really see pieces of the set, hidden things you would'nt have noticed on the DVD. I never realised the similarities 'Prometheus' had with the first Alien film untill now with the clearer bluray picture.

The same can be said for the next three movies where picture quality improves more and more as you would expect the recent releases to have had less picture grain if any at all.

Alien
In the first chapter of the terrifying Alien saga, the crew of the spaceship Nostromo answers a distress signal from a desolate planet, only to discover a deadly life form that breeds within human hosts. Now the crew members must fight not only for their own survival, but for the survival of all mankind.

Aliens
The terror continues as Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story about the alien encounter is met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of high-tech marines back to LV-246... and this time it's war.

Alien 3
In the third chapter of the terrifying sci-fi saga, Ripley's crippled spaceship crash-lands on Fiorina 161, a bleak wasteland inhabited by former inmates of the planet's maximum security prison. But an alien was aboard her craft... and soon the body count begins to mount.

Alien Resurrection
Terror is reborn in the stunning conclusion to the Alien sci-fi saga. Two hundred years have passed since Ripley made the ultimate sacrifice on Fiorina 161, but now a group of scientists has cloned her--along with the Alien queen inside her--hoping to breed the ultimate weapon.

Overall a very good set to add to any collection and one of the best looking steelbooks yet.

This anthology contains 4 discs, 1 for each film and each film has two viewing modes: The first is the theatrical release, the second is the directors cut with little introductions from the directors. Ridley Scott obviously for the first and so on..

Each movie has had the bluray picture and sound improvements and its definetly been worthwhile. Most noticably with the first film which was released in 1979. Grain still exists but skin tones, close facial shots and the Alien itself all very clear. Also the background clear-up picture where before it was very dark now you can really see pieces of the set, hidden things you would'nt have noticed on the DVD. I never realised the similarities 'Prometheus' had with the first Alien film untill now with the clearer bluray picture.

The same can be said for the next three movies where picture quality improves more and more as you would expect the recent releases to have had less picture grain if any at all.

Alien
In the first chapter of the terrifying Alien saga, the crew of the spaceship Nostromo answers a distress signal from a desolate planet, only to discover a deadly life form that breeds within human hosts. Now the crew members must fight not only for their own survival, but for the survival of all mankind.

Aliens
The terror continues as Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story about the alien encounter is met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of high-tech marines back to LV-246... and this time it's war.

Alien 3
In the third chapter of the terrifying sci-fi saga, Ripley's crippled spaceship crash-lands on Fiorina 161, a bleak wasteland inhabited by former inmates of the planet's maximum security prison. But an alien was aboard her craft... and soon the body count begins to mount.

Alien Resurrection
Terror is reborn in the stunning conclusion to the Alien sci-fi saga. Two hundred years have passed since Ripley made the ultimate sacrifice on Fiorina 161, but now a group of scientists has cloned her--along with the Alien queen inside her--hoping to breed the ultimate weapon.

Overall a very good set to add to any collection and one of the best looking steelbooks yet.