Alien 3 (1992)
People bag on this film all the time, but I still think it’s pretty good. It has great acting, a passable story, some great suspense, and characters that I like. Ripley is further developed, and once more Sigourney Weaver is outstanding, I’d probably say that she gives her best performance as Ripley in this film. Clemens and Dillon are other standouts, and are both likable and deep characters. The Xenomorph is made threatening again, after being watered down in Aliens. The deaths of Newt, Hicks, and Bishop are a common complaint, but I think it was a good idea, and it introduces the theme of no one being safe, which is seen throughout the films, as all the characters die, including Ripley. It does have flaws, like being a slightly worse version of the original films story, and some plot holes and contrivances, but I really like it regardless. Also, I’m reviewing the theatrical cut, I’ve yet to see the extended Assembly Cut.
7/10
I’m with ya! I actually might rank it a little higher, maybe an 8/10. I really like the theatrical cut of Alien3 and think the Assembly Cut is way inferior, but I don’t think I know anybody who agrees with me.
The change to the alien’s host makes no sense based on the design used for the creature. The way it moves, it’s size and it’s stance all say it came from a dog. And the original set up was great with the dog digging through the wreckage and finding the creature. The dog and his owner were well established characters. The owners death has a bit of tragic irony with him thinking he’s found his friend only to find his friend isn’t what it used to be. That’s gone in the Assembly Cut. Changing the host to a random Ox with no connection to anything or anyone else is weak and the thing doesn’t look or act like I imagine an Ox/Alien hybrid would.
Anyways, I think Alien3 is a great end to the franchise.