Alien3 (1992) Review

Written by: gabs1515   

Paragraphs with ** contain spoilers. "Guys! My door ain't workin...we ought to rethink this!!" My favorite line in the film.  I'm not sure if I'm the only one, but this is my personal favorite of the alien quadrilogy.  They are ALL superb films, but this one stands out as my favorite, combining the suspense and terror of the first one and the movement and action of the second one.

Alien3 takes place after the events of the second film.  The cryo-escape pod launched and crash landed on a planet that also happens to be the home to several prisoners....and that's all.  Of course, there's an alien on board.

**The third film in the series bring on a new aspect to the alien creature which I found not only logical but very intriguing and unique.  The alien embryo inherits traits of the host.  Thus far its all been human host, so they've all walked around upright and looked like a humanoid life form. In this installment the facehugger attaches to a dog, so this "new" alien creeps around on all fours and is a tad smaller than its humanoid brothers.  Otherwise its a good ol alien.

**The movie is with its flaws though.  Some arguable inconsistencies.  Most notably the one that comes to mind is how long an embryo takes to "hatch."  I dont think there was ever a time table established in the first two films, but it sure does take a while for Ripley's to blow.  Also some of the effects with the alien running around aren't the greatest, but there is very little screen time attributed with it so I never found it bothersome.

There were a lot of cool shots I thought worth pointing out.  The side shot with Ripley and the Alien meeting face to face was priceless.  The look on her face says it all.  The back and forth from the speech to the dog was good, and the finale with Ripley was awesome.

**I absolutely loved the ending.  A fitting end to a wonderful trilogy....if it was the end.  I just found the music as she gives her final leap holding the alien in her chest and falling to her death so....moving.  I felt such relief...its finally over for her.  All the movies link to one another in succession and Ripley has been there through it all.  It's a nice relief to see that her suffering, if you can call it that, is over.  Well done. (applauds)

Alien3

Directed by David Fincher (Fight Club)
Written by David Giler & Walter Hill (Aliens)
Co-written with Larry Ferguson

My Personal Feelings on the Film

Characters - 8/10.  I liked the inmates and Ripley is still good as ever.  One little pansy, but I guess that goes with most horror films eh?

Setting - Maximum Security Prison...without any weapons or means of escape.  Nothing works and the things that do...hardly work.  My favorite kind of situation in a horror movie, working with little to kill the monster.  Very dark and creepy with a few elements of the original ship tied in as well.  Good times.

Gore - You betcha, all kinds of blood in this one.  My favorite scene was when the guy was impaled by the alien and the things "tongue" burst through the back of his skull and shattered the glass behind his head.  Classic.

Nudity - Nope...Ripley is the only girl on the planet, and she stays clothed so no.

Shock Level - 8/10.  More than once I sat and waiting for the alien to pop out and scare me.  Worked for me, I liked it.

Humor - The one inmate always had something funny to say, even in face of death.  Always screwing around.

Realism - 8/10.  All the actors did a convincing job with their characters and the f/x made most of all the film very believable.

Ending - 9/10.  I liked it.  I thought it was very classy and a great way to (at the time) end the series.

Interest Level - 10/10.  They wasted little time at the beginning getting down to business and the alien always kept showing up at opportune times.

Classification - Futuristic Alien film.

Sequel - This is the third film in the series following the original, Alien, and after that, Aliens.  One more comes after this one called Alien: Resurrection.  There is also two spin-offs with AVP: Alien vs Predator and the upcoming AVP:R - Aliens vs Predator: Requiem.

If you've read this entire review, I want to point out if you haven't read my post that this entire week I will be watching the Alien and Predator series and writing a review for each.  So please check back, let me know what you think.  I like criticism.  Thank you and Enjoy!