Alien Project Info:

The basis of this project is to color regrade the Blu-ray (BD) to look more like the 1995 THX laserdisc (LD). While the transfer of the BR is not bad there are a lot off odd things that stick out, particularly in the colors. Overall the appearance looks like a attempt to modernize the look of the film.

There are several reasons for using the 1995 LD as the basis for a regrade. Jonno from the OT has a book of 35mm film scans from the release of the film and the closest in color home video is the 1995 THX LD. Looking at other 35mm cells they look closest to the 1995 LD. The LD has many blues where there are greens in the BD. That added green tint is similar to the green tint that gets added to all modern BDs. The LD also has fleshtones which are warm. The Nostromo looks more gray in color. The interiors have more “earth tones” colors. All of these are in keeping with a late 70’s look. The BD lacks that. Overall through a lot of circumstantial evidence points to the 1995 LD being closest in look to 1979 theatrical release print.

Video:

2010 Blu-Ray (Theatrical Cut) video color regraded to the 1995 THX laserdisc

Audio:

1. 1995 Laserdisc Dolby Digital 5.1 (This soundtrack is a rare 70mm mix that was used to test Alien in the Sensurround format before it was abandoned for conventional Dolby Stereo 70mm, it contains numerous differences with the existing soundtrack)

2. 2010 Blu-Ray (Theatrical Cut) Dolby Digital 4.1 (This soundtrack represents the original Dolby Stereo 70mm mix as heard in theaters on 70mm film)

3. 1992 Laserdisc PCM 2.0 Dolby Stereo/Surround (This soundtrack represents the original Dolby Stereo SVA mix as heard in theaters on 35mm film)

Subtitles:

TBD (mostly all the subs on the existing BR

Pics:

BD/BD regraded to the 1995 LD