ALIEN: Extended Cut (BD50) (* unfinished project *)

Since I own the ALIEN Anthology UK Blu-ray disc set, it’s fairly much the same between USA and UK albiet packaging differences, and the Deleted Scenes are in 1080p quality, I figured on making a custom Extended Cut for ALIEN.

I’ll be using Handbrake with very high quality and grabbing the film as the Theatrical Cut since I want the same pacing for the Extended Cut. Maybe it should be recolortimed with the 1999 DVD or left as is? There should be some consistency.

It’ll fairly match the custom DVD Fan Edits of other Extended Cuts, this time for a Blu-ray. Most assuredly a BD50. It’ll be movie only.

This is a pre-empt before I get the project started.

Tack said:

What scenes will you be adding/altering? And will you be using any of the original soundtrack?

 All deleted scenes for a longer running time added back in. Cinematic soundtrack? The Blu-ray Anthology set is my source.

I saw a fan edit of Alien once that threw in everything. The deleted scenes quality was horrendous, and this was a DVD fan edit. Have the deleted scenes been tinkered with somewhat for the blu?

TylerDurden389 said:

I saw a fan edit of Alien once that threw in everything. The deleted scenes quality was horrendous, and this was a DVD fan edit. Have the deleted scenes been tinkered with somewhat for the blu?

 All I know is from dvdcompare.net is that the deleted scenes are all in HD. Hopefully 1080p wil remastering. I'd just be adding the deleted scenes back in with the same pacing from the Theatrical 1979 Cut.

This'll be a BD50 with only the movie. No menus or anything. Put the disc in and it plays.

Next question is the infamous "cocoon" scene. I've seen fan edits that've put the scene in before AND after Ripley turns on the self destruct switches. Not sure who said this, but I agree with their analysis: "The scene has no clear starting point. Place the scene before hitting the switch and you lose the suspense of her running from the Alien and getting the final act in motion (scene drags on too long). Place it during the self destruct countdown, and you lose continuity with the countdown (again, scene drags on too long)."

Not an exact quote but you get what they mean. I think they also said that Ridley Scott never really established where this scene would fit into the narrative when he shot it. Probably the reason it got the axe. So the big question now is, where will the scene go in your edit?

TylerDurden389 said:

I saw a fan edit of Alien once that threw in everything. The deleted scenes quality was horrendous, and this was a DVD fan edit. Have the deleted scenes been tinkered with somewhat for the blu?

 The deleted scenes are not remastered.  And the quality of some is just how they looked on the old laserdiscs.  The fan edit was most likely the Redux Virtual Workprint.

I'll have better luck with a PROMETHEUS: Extended Edition Blu-ray disc since all deleted scenes are 1080p native on the extra supplements. Not 3D just 2D and BD50.

For the cocoon scene, I'll use the shooting script or a draft before that.

I would love to see a version of Alien with Goldsmith's music in place (a lot of it was rejected and moved around, even music from his Freud score temped into the movie). But that would require the different audio stems and impossible to pull off without.

This'll just be a cut and splice deal for Version 1. I did keep the 1999 USA DVD for ALIEN of course since it has the alternate production audio track and the Jerry Goldsmith scoring. Also because I want my project to be part of the Remux'd Blu-rays for the ALIEN Appendices discs. Mainly so it can go with the ALIEN Anthology Blu-ray release, of which I own the UK release since it's in a Keep case and not weird packaging.

My guess is this'll go into a 5-Disc or 6-Disc Viva Elite Blu-ray case, if need be. Only if anyone is willing to redo those extras discs as Blu-rays.