Alien³ (1992)

Director:

David Fincher

Writers (WGA):

Dan O'Bannon (characters) and
Ronald Shusett (characters) ...

Release Date:

22 May 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Horror | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

In 1979, we discovered in space no one can hear you scream. In 1992, we will discover, on Earth, EVERYONE can hear you scream.

Plot:

Ripley continues to be stalked by a savage alien, after her escape pod crashes on a prison planet.

Plot Keywords:

Planet | Prison | Crash | Murderer | Space

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 16 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Sigourney Weaver	...	Ellen Ripley
Charles S. Dutton	...	Dillon
Charles Dance	...	Clemens
Paul McGann	...	Golic
Brian Glover	...	Andrews
Ralph Brown	...	Aaron
Danny Webb	...	Morse
Christopher John Fields	...	Rains
Holt McCallany	...	Junior
Lance Henriksen	...	Bishop II
Christopher Fairbank	...	Murphy (as Chris Fairbank)
Carl Chase	...	Frank
Leon Herbert	...	Boggs
Vincenzo Nicoli	...	Jude
Pete Postlethwaite	...	David

Also Known As:

Alien 3 (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for monster violence, and for language.

Runtime:

114 min | 145 min (2003 Special 'Assembly Cut' Edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Canada:R (Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Italy:T | Finland:K-15 (director's cut) (DVD rating) | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Brazil:16 | USA:R (Certificate #31302) | Mexico:B | India:A | Australia:MA (director's cut) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:18 | Singapore:NC-16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 (DVD rating) (2003) | UK:15 (video re-rating) (2003) | UK:18 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Albert R. Broccoli 007 Stage, Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

Brandywine Productions

Trivia:

At one point, David Fincher was denied permission by the film's producers to shoot a crucial scene in the prison understructure between Ripley and the alien. Against orders, Fincher grabbed Sigourney Weaver, a camera and shot the scene anyway. This scene appears in the final cut.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ripley says to Dillon that she has an egg inside of her and that he has to kill her, during the discussion his glasses is on top of his head. Just before he's about to deliver the kill, his glasses are hanging on his shirt. After the short "fight", when Dillon leaves, his glasses are back on top of his head.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Computer Voice: Stasis interrupted. Fire in cryogenic compartment. Repeat, fire in cryogenic compartment. All personnel report to emergency escape vehicle launch pod. Deep-space flight will commence in T-minus twenty seconds.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Smoking Room (2002)

Soundtrack:

IN THE YEAR 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)

The Weakest Of The Four

My Rating: ** out of ****.

Alien 3 is a big disappointment. There are many flaws in the film plus one possible plot hole. Many will argue that Alien: Resurrection is worse, but I found many more aspects of that better than Alien 3.

The first problem with this movie is the story is basically a rehash of the first Alien. The only difference is that Alien was much more effective. The story is in no way thrilling at all. Also, the tagline for the film "On Earth everyone can hear you scream". What the hell? This movie doesn't take place anywhere near earth.

Another problem is the characters which are really poor. I know I did complain about some of Alien's characters, but they were ten times more interesting and likable compared to some of these characters. There are basically too many characters, its obvious there just here to get killed. One of the only characters to have a personality is Charles S. Dutton's characters, but when he talks he sounds more like a reverend. We do not need religious people in an Alien film. It doesnt fit at all.

The film does contain good visual effects, one of its strengths. The film also has a dark atmosphere thats suitable. It also has some style by director David Fincher, I liked his point of view shots of the Alien. I also liked the ending, it was the perfect way to end a disappointing film. Unfortunately, these are just about the only strengths Alien 3 has.

The action scenes werent that suspenseful. The scene where The Alien pins Ripley against the wall was the only part I felt that was suspenseful. The other scenes I just didnt feel anything. Something else I found disappointing was the killing of Newt and Hicks. I cared much about those characters and they just kill them off here. Overall, Alien 3 is worth watching just to see all of the films but other than that its really disappointing.