Alien 3 at 30: How does it hold up?

It is the 30th anniversary of Alien 3, and I take a look at my own memories of first seeing the film and how it has held up over the years.
Facebook: / alientheoryyt
Twitter: / alien_theory
ELLEN RIPLEY TIER OF EXCELLENCE: Lady Anne ^^ö^^(Jessica M Kandal, PhD)
WEYLAND YUTANI EXECUTIVES: NanashiFx, Nicholas Butta, Wesley A Weaver Jr.
QUEENS: Ronni Jensen, XenoShadowMorph, Alyssane, Grizz4756
PRAETORIAN: John Griggs
WARRIORS: Kurt Venetis, Blockerman, Savanna Lamaison
DRONES: KuroNyra, Grace Ryder, Matthew Coleman, Yunners, Waya525
CHESTBURSTERS: Anne Mac, James Aponte, Rafael Aguila, Oliver, Stewart Crichton, Matt Bro, BWXenogears, Thomas Watvedt, Gregor Mundell. John C Jones, Sean Arme, Thomas J Gettings, Commodore Erickson, Tariq_RUH, Arkuras, Ambrosia. Project Acheron, Robert Johnson, Axel R. Garcia, Adam LaZerte, David Hokanson, Mark Lennon

[@dabund2]

A3 is a classic in it's own way. Alien is a horror movie in Ridley Scott style, Aliens an action movie in James Cameron style and Alien 3 is a dark stoic movie in David Fincher style.

[@LoganWood121]

Stating some obvious facts here. They directed these films.

[@floonman]

Thanks for clearing that up.

[@MrCostaC]

I’m not sure any style can be attributed to Fincher when he had very little to do with the film

[@dabund2]

@@MrCostaC I'm talking about the tone and dark style of Alien 3. If you watch Fincher's other films they have same type of camera quality, color schemes and all seem pretty stoic.

[@MaryBrownIsTheBlairWitch]

@@MrCostaC Fincher conceived of the lice infestation-necessitated shaven (and barcoded) heads, for which, in part, the movie is remembered.

[@endersblade]

It took me a while to accept Alien 3...and then Resurrection came out. Suddenly Alien 3 looked amazing.

[@davidnicholls5303]

100% agree, Resurrection is a giant, steaming turd of an Alien film

[@braxxian]

Yea I know what you mean. Alien Resurrection was probably then the Alien franchise "jumped the shark". It certainly didn't with Alien 3. A3 while flawed is still a very good movie.

[@IrishCarney]

I much preferred 4 over 3. 4 brought back guns, had a queen, etc etc. Not saying 4 could hold a candle to 1 or 2, but better than 3

[@nathanlevesque7812]

@@IrishCarney I'd rather watch Res over 3 as well.

[@TruthNowX99]

yeah resurrection doesn't even exist to me. watched it once half heartedly. 3 is the perfect end to Ripley's story

[@jsb1944]

Dillons speech before the final confrontation is still one of the most epic movie speeches of all time. I love alien 3.

[@LiirThropp2687]

Sigourney arguably gives her strongest performance in Alien 3. She's always been amazing in this role but here, she brings so much tragedy to it. Ripley has lost everything because of her encounters with the aliens. She lost her daughter, her crew, her Marine comrades, Newt, Hicks. And to add one final blow, her worse fear has happened. An alien is in her chest. And it's a queen. Her constant nightmares in Aliens are now a reality. She's so exhausted and now doomed. But she still fights to her very last breath to make sure every single Alien is destroyed. As bleak and tragic as Ripley's story is, she still remained one of the best film heroes in history. I know most Alien fans hate part 3. And that's understandable. But I love it. Mostly because of Sigourney and what a powerful actress she is.

[@deliciousexperience689]

Exactly, i said the same. She really is great in this film 🙂

[@badgerden7080]

People can hate Alien 3 all they want, but I think that Charles Dance's performance in this film was terrific.

[@pavelhanek9790]

Indeed, he and the prison chief both were

[@00nick7]

He was great! Totally underrated!

[@braxxian]

Agree. The only problem was that he was killed off way to soon.

[@davidkieltyka9]

Yes, Dance is great. Which is why I was really bummed when his character was abruptly offed.

[@daveruda]

he should not have been killed so early. Thats one of many mistakes of alien 3

[@mwright_boomer]

Movies of this era are right in the sweet spot of practical effects. CGI wasn’t very good yet so movies like Terminator 2, Jurassic Park, and Alien 3 went all out with practical effects and it was a thing to behold. Movies these days are so full of CGI that it’s like watching a cartoon.

[@mcz1945]

Terminator 2 uses plenty of CGI. Especially for T-1000.

[@mwright_boomer]

@@mcz1945 Yeah good point. They do a lot of things practically though that I think would’ve been done with CGI just a few years later

[@jimbowlan5804]

Cameron wanted to do terminator 2 earlier but cgi hadn’t progressed enough yet after the abyss he was like I can do it know and Jurassic park was split half and half but they used it so well you can’t tell

[@southlondon86]

Exactly. CGI was used sparingly in T2 & Jurassic Park so in combo with practicals looks incredible and very life-like. CGI today just resembles video games.

[@davidpaylor5666]

The xenomorphs in Alien3 are largely CGI and I think that's the main problem with it. If they were redone to modern standards they could transform this movie. Actually that's not true, maybe to the standards of about ten~fifteen years ago, contemporary CGI all looks like video games.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

Having the Assembly Cut of Alien 3 makes me wish we could have the director's cut of Event Horizon. I know the background, but I so wish they could magically find the footage intact and show us the full picture. Love the theatrical cut, but still.

[@Meg_Lovegood]

Event Horizon, opening day with Grandma...... I loved and still watch from time to time.

[@YourBoyWang]

Directors cut of A3 is so much better and it makes sense. But I like both versions. Event Horizon is bad ass because it gave me nightmares. Wished the cut footages was found and restored. I watched a video saying it made the movie really hardcore.

[@Raziel236]

There's a Director's Cut of Event Horizon!? Gimme!

[@YourBoyWang]

@@Raziel236 Yeah. search for it on here. Explains about the missing footage and how hardcore the movie would have been. There is even one or two cut scenes that are in the video, but hard to salvage. One of them should have stayed in the final cut.

[@allengreene9954]

@@YourBoyWang Seeing that small snippet of how the entire crew went crazy and started Raping, Mutilating and Murdering had as me shook for weeks😮😮😮😮😮 I still can’t watch the scene.

[@burakcz631]

Every time I rewatch Alien 3 I like it more and more. Just the premise alone and the inevitability of it all really sells it

[@MikefromTexas1]

I always liked A3. I get it may not have been what people wanted, but as someone who first saw it when I was a kid, and have rewatched more than once, I think it's still a good movie.

[@scottcantdance804]

I'm not sure which version I originally saw, but later in life I saw the directors / extended cut, and that was the first time that I really liked Alien 3.

[@generaldamage3282]

Yeah directors cut made it slightly better

[@extraplain2412]

Me too. I watched all 4 of them on video and loved them all for different reasons. Alien 3 was the first film to ever blow my mind in terms of how bleak it was.

[@bigdaddytrips6197]

Yeah it was a pretty good movie 👍

[@bronxho]

@@scottcantdance804 same, that cut made the history alot more interesting

[@crakatoot5480]

Alien 3: The Assembly Cut is a MASTERPIECE. Frankly the producers were CRAZY for editing the film the way they did.

[@ballshippin3809]

I'm one of the few minority Alien fans who thinks Alien 3 is a good film, the directors edition anyway as the cinematic release had a lot of plot holes in it

[@cp070476]

Director's cut is a must. Totally different film! Very underrated.

[@Floppy-1235]

Will look for

[@XenomorphLV426]

No directors cut exists, only assembly cut.

[@steviegbcool]

hows it a different film lol it just plugs a few holes

[@DangerDulli]

i dont like the assembly cut. it certainly has some good bits but it botched the finale, which is one of the best thing a3 did

[@Peer165]

You mean with the Alien queen bursting out of Ripley? I agree, Assembley Cut messed that up and for some reason cut it out all together.

[@danilalikhachev341]

Alien 3 is the end. Not a powerful conclusion, but a picture of decay and irreversibility of consequences, the end of days, the death. That's it, it's not a ride into sunset, not a bombastic high-point, but a masterfully crafted death of the alien story. I think it clicks much more with the first movie than Aliens, which got kind of sidetracked and carried away, becoming a great action spin-off, but certainly not a spiritual successor to Ridley's film. This one definitely is a spiritual successor, it has different themes, ideas and even the tone, but it's a conclusion that fits perfectly with the beginning of the story. Surely it's a downer, but I think it's absolutely appropriate for this tale. Yeah some technical aspects like puppets or blue-screen effects don't hold up (and I'm sure they looked like a failure even on release, just like some of the effects from Alien Covenant, for example). But the whole picture, the creative core behind it, is, in my opinion, absolutely brilliant. Just like the first one, you can pick it apart and see the style of each of its creators, you can see how it took the best of their approaches to complement each other. And yes, Sigourney's acting is at the absolute height here

[@MintythecatIsABeast]

A wonderful write-up of the film, mate. It's one of my favourite for the theme and look. The SNES A3 game is really good too and well worth playing.

[@themcadamsminute8494]

Absolutely beautifully stated!

[@adamduffield7782]

I wouldnt say aliens got side tracked and Carried away. Cameron didn't want to copy Dan Obannons and Ridley Scott's masterpiece. Yes the films are different, but that's a good thing. Whilst alien 3 goes back to the more straight up horror side of things, and we agree the flaws with alien 3 was due to studio interference. Which film is the better horror scifi? Alien or alien 3?. Think most fans would say Alien, and is most likely the least rewatched out of the 3.

[@UncleScorch]

Well said Danila! As much as I enjoy Aliens it is the action romp with a happy ending. A3 re-centered the universe which most people don’t realize is Lovecraftian (and we all know how things usually go for a Lovecraft tale and the poor souls involved). Thanks for your viewpoints!

[@deliciousexperience689]

Yeah i hate Hollywood happy endings, like a Fairytale. This is reality based as a film. It should of ended the way it did, i'd of hated it to of been "& they lived happily ever after" urgh VOMIT. To be impactful sometimes even America needs to tell it like it is. European cinema pulls no punches in that way. American cinema can be so saccurine and sweet, and it's just not real to life. The best films are made of this: (Alien 3, & the whole franchise) 🙂

[@turdeyeblind]

It has its charm, at least its gritty. Theres a purity to it. In retrospect

[@craigbeasley3120]

Without delusions of morality... a perfect organism, uh, film.

[@olliesmith2890]

Thanks to Ellen Ripley and Dana Barrett from Ghostbusters 1-3, Sigourney Weaver is my favorite actress ever.

[@anthonymarando8417]

I love it. And I know I'm in the extreme minority but it's my favorite out of the 4, or 6 if you count Prometheus and Covenant. It's weird but I've always kinda gotten this Shakespearean vibe from the film. I kinda wish there was a version that included both footage from the Theatrical Cut and the Assembly Cut.

[@Kevinschart]

you're not in the minority...nerds rule the internet, so those are the only strong opinions you'll find here. there were fantastic performances in the film, and the concept was A-1. i've watched alien 3 more than any in the franchise.

[@truthskr7127]

Totally agree. You also get the feel that this is how a barren prison planet would look like in the future. All of the sets looked functional too. It's what I really love about Alien 1-3 is the accurate portrayal of people in the future.

[@brandonlance3601]

Completely understand the Shakespearean vibe assessment. So true.. very dark.. very fincher.. very different than all the others

[@JohnDavidSullivan]

I do love this film and I can never agree with the hate for it.

[@alaric_]

Alien3 needs to be "downer" as you said it. Every fictional movie universe has a sewer and vast majority of them never shows it. Where the beginning of 2 was big paying corporate and clean offices, 3 is the total opposite of it. The bulk of the 2 was a transition between those two extremes. Alien-saga (trilogy, quadrilogy, new movies, however you like it) is not and never will be a one to bring good feels, the alien-race itself cannot be without humans dying. And i think Fincher did a good job considering the difficulties thrown at him as a first time director.

[@javiersantanaaviles5885]

Alien 3 is a guilty pleasure for me, after the amazings Aliens this movie goes the wrong way and try to copy the environment of the first movie with a Ripley that has lost everyone she cared again just because the film makers couldn´t get the previous actors, the most amazing thing is a skinhead Ripley, and yes the directors cut makes the movie better but I would still prefered that the script of William Gibson had become the original movie, that would have changed everything and we would have one of the greatest trilogy of all time

[@Jaxbauer23]

The Director's cut of Alien 3 really elevates it to a fairly decent movie in my opinion, much better than the disappointing theatrical release. My biggest problem with this film though is the killing off of Hicks and Newt, particularly after what they went through in the previous film. I recommend reading the Dark Horse comic book version of William Gibson's script for Alien 3, which shows what could have been.

[@brosephyolonarovichstalin2915]

They wanted Hicks in. It was contractual issues I think (?) it would make sense because of the director pulling out and the production generally was a shit show for a long time

[@idiot_city5444]

Them being killed off is the best thing this movie does

[@ITSREALLYNOTYOURFAULT]

It's a great movie, especially so with the 2003 cut! Now, Resurrection is near unwatchable, much like the Prometheus movies, where i find i can not bare to watch the movies beyond a certain point (still havn't managed to watch one of them all the way through to the end).

[@sombient]

I was 11 when Aliens showed on cable in my parts. I didn't sleep for 3 nights. The creature burned into my psyche. Ghost, demons, or whatever else all good watching. But I don't think I ever looked into the sky the same way again after watching Aliens. The bugs man, they're out there.

[@linuxzone92]

same when I saw Predator 1987, and alien 1, not just horror, mysterious too

[@n.b.l.5709]

Lol damm, that was me with freddy

[@olroyohboy1119]

Game over, man! GaAme overr!

[@sombient]

Now just say it with more spittle flying out of your mouth and it'll be perfect@@olroyohboy1119! ;)

[@alienarmament]

Imo, it's what happened. That's how the story goes. A grim reminder of how deadly the xenomorph is. It reminded us that life isn't peaches and lollipops all the time. Iike the film. The main reason is because finished the whole story. It may be sad but that's the way it goes.

[@alienarmament]

The queen brought eggs on board. That's most likely how it happened.

[@kjhuang]

@@group-music When in _Aliens_ did the Queen have time to go to that random hallway or whatever and plop out an egg? The entire time we see her she's chasing Newt.

[@kjhuang]

@@group-music I don't remember the post-credits facehugger but if there was one it was probably just a joke. I highly doubt that the filmmakers knew that six years later there was going to be a sequel featuring a facehugger that supposedly got on board during their movie.

[@kjhuang]

@@group-music But it's the egg that we see in some random hallway (not on the dropship or the hangar bay the dropship was in). How did the egg get there? The queen had to have walked there to lay it. When did she do that? Did she take a break during her chase of Newt? That seems to violate the spirit of the scene as it was written.

[@kjhuang]

@@group-music Well the egg is seen opened, implying that the facehugger we see in _Alien 3_ hatched out of it. We don't see a facehugger get onto the _Sulaco_ any other way. Any ideas about how it did so is just speculation with no support from what's actually in the movies.

[@bomblast2000]

It was the 1st Alien movie I saw in the theatre. I can appreciate the dislike, but I never shared it.

[@JFire1785]

Alien 3. After Aliens scarred me for life, I grew a fierce and intense hatred of the xenomorph. When this movie came out and i was old enough to face my fears, I learned of the production hell it went through. In the end, the movie essentially said, "We're not getting out of this." Truckers, scientists and marines barely made it through with actual weapons and here we are with prisoners and spark flares. And then there was Ripley. When I learned there was no way out for her, that was pretty much it. Sure, she'd killed them all, but died in the process. It crushed my spirit. Alien 3 was supposed to be the last nail in the xenomorph coffin, but they always find a way back. At the end of the film, without the 4th movie at the time, we all were basically defeated. No one made it; no one we cared about anyway. While opinions do differ, it was a downer for many. We all lost when the credits rolled. Some people like that, I guess. I mean, the xenomorph menace was gone, but the price was too high.

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

It’s my favorite alien movie right now. I’m not going to pretend it’s the best one, just my favorite due to its divisiveness

[@MarkyD1967]

What redeemed A3 was obviously the 4th film, Alien Resurrection, and then the tragic dumbing down of the entire franchise when the AvP films came out, rendering both the Alien and Predator to nothing but weekend hijinks films for early teens that have 5 minute attention spans and only care about the blood and gore and could care less about an actual plot, character development, and suspense that builds up throughout the entirety of a film. So i/m/o A3 was a great film considering what came afterwards, and was the last true Alien film in the franchise that could (and should) be taken seriously.

[@brianbaker2884]

Hey I just wanna say that I really appreciate the fandom here, but you can spin it anyway you like;“ it’s good in its own right“,“ the directors cut is actually blah blah blah“. It doesn’t change the fact that it killed two beloved characters and wrote this franchise into a corner that it has never recovered from and for that I hate it…

[@allengreene9954]

I always thought Newt was overrated.

[@jimmypenn]

Coming from the perspective of having seen all the Alien movies as they have been released , when I first watched A3 I was shocked when right at the beginning we lost Hicks ,Newt and Bishop . Shocking but a bold decision which IMO works and sets the tone for the movie to come. I loved how we went back to the almost claustrophobic atmosphere of Alien and having no weapons of any kind was a complete departure from Aliens. I love how each Alien movie has its own style but retains the Ripley v The Alien v The Company running theme . I also love how Ridley Scott is taking us back to the origin of the Alien and I sincerely hope he concludes his vision . Anyway despite A3 having a few issues mainly down to studio interference the theatrical cut but mainly the assembly cut I find an enjoyable watch and I do view all the movies in an episodic way of sorts.

[@craiggallagher4461]

I agree with everything except Ridley making his sequel movies which are visually stunning but utter trash and damaging to the Alien universe and franchise.

[@jimmypenn]

@@craiggallagher4461 Fair enough but I don't understand how they can be damaging. I get they are not to everyone's liking but for me they sit well in the Alien universe unlike the two AVP movies which I think are trash.

[@deliciousexperience689]

Yeah i was peeved that Hicks and Newt didn't survive too, AFTER ALL THAT! I feel like they could of had an appearance in Alien 3 somehow, but i suppose how would of it been possible after so much time passing between films? It was just done lazily, maybe they could of said their pods ported back to home/base and Sigourney's had a fault because of the egg/alien and was the 1 that crashed? I dunno, saying Hicks and Newt were ended was a bit abrupt and out of nowhere. I was like Noooooo! when i first watched it lol

[@NicoParasite]

Wow what an unexpected pleasure this is, AT always with the good content. Love Alien 3, always have because of how unique it is compared to the previous two, regardless of the production issues and the change of script, the movie is awesome and the Assembly Cut is even better.

[@Senior666]

Only thing that's dubious about the film is the CGI. The Original Cut was good, Directors Cut was better and the book would of been mind blowing. Can't wait to see how it holds up for the next 30 ❤️

[@stueystyler]

What CGI? The only CGI in the theatrical cut is where the alien’s dome starts to crack.

[@mattbatesteacher]

Most of it is puppetry, not CGI

[@NerfZombieHunter]

I was just about to mention the "cgi". The alien effects were puppets blue screened into the footage

[@Senior666]

@@mattbatesteacher true but that's not what I said.

[@Senior666]

@@stueystyler The Corridor scene (Alien ceiling running) , weather atmospherics outside, the body snatch before the furnace is turned on and one of the deaths of the prisoner are all CGI. Listen it was small amount and was state of the art for the time. In my eyes its the only part that doesn't hold up but I still love the film(s).

[@dante5h729]

Totally can’t wait for the 4K versions of this n Alien’s, and Fincher still is one of my top 5 directors!

[@frankthecat1660]

Hopefully with the 4k restoration, comes updated creature SFX

[@XenomorphLV426]

@@frankthecat1660 the chase scene needs this.

[@frankthecat1660]

@@XenomorphLV426 the chase scene, a few shots of the EEV, a few shots when they trap the Alien; it's kinda peppered throughout. But it's probably a grand total of less than 2 minutes of footage that needs work.

[@frankthecat1660]

@@XenomorphLV426 Aliens has a few shots that were just as bad: Any of the green screen shots with the drop ship were all really bad. Plus all the rear-projection stuff need a little work.

[@frankthecat1660]

@@XenomorphLV426 but ultimately it's not much that needs an update, and probably easily accomplished with today's technology. I really don't see how Disney misses this golden opportunity; maybe we even get a brief theatrical re-release of the trilogy...one can hope.

[@formallyknownasj.a.2074]

A3 was the first Alien movie I saw in theaters. I was 11 and my dad took me while on vacation at the river in Laughlin NV. Its not the best or my favorite of the franchise, but it will always have a special place in my heart, just like T2, and Jurassic Park. Thanks for the memories pops.

[@MrAdam802]

It's grown on me over time, I like it. I consider it the true ending to the Alien story. Everything after it was either non-canon or just bad.

[@Valorius]

I think resurrection was a vastly superior movie than Alien 3.

[@Sandman_Slim]

Killing off Newt and Hicks was a stupid decision.

[@Valorius]

@@Sandman_Slim obscenely stupid decision.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

I agree. Outside of the comics, that is. In the film universe, though, I agree.

[@turdeyeblind]

Exactly, its pretty bleak, but Aliens ended so well with hicks, newt and bishop what more could they do? But we got the Aliens novels and graphic novels I guess im just parroting what Alien Theory is saying

[@GlidingZephyr]

I never thought that Alien 3 was terrible. It had an excellent cast and good character building, and it was the film that introduced the concept of Xenomorphs taking different forms depending on the host. But I still think that the franchise should have ended there. I don't know what they thought they were doing with the Aliens vs. Predator film. And while I didn't think the prequel films (with Micheal Fassbender) were unwatchable, they changed a lot of the previously established canon shown in Dark Horse anthologies, novels and the like. I don't understand why these studios never try to hash out a deal to work with the material created by these authors. I can promise it's what the fans actually want to see.

[@FixedFace]

well, franchises get milked dry till people are fed up, them the rules

[@kjhuang]

The studios think they can come up with something better than established material. Usually they're wrong (looking at you Disney-era Star Wars).

[@GlidingZephyr]

@@group-music I'll keep that in mind the next time someone tries to produce a Predator movie that feels like an early 2000's teen movie/horror film. Seriously, who actually remembers any of those except the reason that the genre is dead?

[@usmanakhtar1845]

It was a turd

[@thespiken]

I use to hate alien3 but now I don’t,my main reason for that was the death of corporal Dwayne hicks (which made me cry) but after playing aliens colonial marines and seeing a future where he lives made it better and easier to accept what is undeniably the worst thing alien3 does besides not having colonial marines and the action that Aliens gave us,I also should mention that I still find it hard to watch the Theatrical version of the film (along with Aliens’s theatrical version)mainly for the reason that I don’t like shorter films when the original idea was a longer film.lastly alien3’s Theatrical version is also hard to watch because it’s a mess,while Alien3’s Assembly cut is much easier to enjoy,none the less,I love Alien3 like the other Alien films and am glad we got it,but I can’t help but wonder:what if we got William Gibsons script and Neil’s Alien 5?,what if we were given three Alien3’s to which we could all be happy and like Alien3 in some shape or fashion. WHAT IF?

[@emeraldcelestial1058]

I know Cameron considers this movie a 'slap in the face' but I think it's a great ending to a series about corporations crushing the little guy just for profits.

[@Valorius]

I agree with Cameron.

[@emeraldcelestial1058]

@@Valorius I mean it IS a slap in the face, but it's totally earned and makes sense more than 'Ripley and friends went off into the sunset after the big bad corporation was defeated!'

[@Valorius]

@@emeraldcelestial1058 A far, far better sequel would've been a Gateway station infestation, and the defense of Earth itself. Complete with powered battle armor suits, Praetorians, and a lone predator there to hunt. Basically the plot of the old Rebellion AVP game, which was and is an all time great.

[@emeraldcelestial1058]

@@Valorius lmao that sounds awful man

[@Valorius]

@@emeraldcelestial1058 You liked Alien 3 so I cannot take your critique seriously. :-P

[@mistermatix8241]

The extended cut is the one to watch. Yes it does hold up, absolutely. People didn't like the downbeat tone......it's an ALIEN movie! The first one had a downbeat tone! I think David Fincher did a fantastic job, considering he came in late. I've met Pete Postlethwaite, who told me some on set tales, and Carl Chase, who played Frank Ellis in Alien 3, is a very good friend of my sisters! He told me about David Giler and Gordon Carroll, constantly shouting at Fincher, and the cast rallying around him, Fincher found solace with Charles Dance, Brian Glover, and Pete Postlethwaite, all old hands on film sets. Carl said the Fox executives were flapping around the set, screaming, shouting and (literally) stamping their feet. They'd be shouting (particularly Giler) about nothing being shot, money being wasted.....WHILE FINCHER WAS SHOOTING SCENES! David would be setting up a shot/scene and they'd be shouting "that's no good" before it was even in daily rushes. Carl spoke to Sigourney (he said she's absolutely lovely and sees herself as one of the gang), and she said they were worse than with Aliens or Alien, like spoilt children not getting their own way, and felt like their presence was almost sabotaging the film. It is kind of cool having a family friend who was in an Alien film! You bet he signed my Alien (and Red Dwarf (he played old Lister) boxsets! I haven't spoken to Carl in a while, he's a fun bloke, bit of a character.

[@TheOnslaught616]

Grew up with the Alien series, watching Alien/Aliens at my Grandma house on VHS. Alien 3 was my first time watching at a cinema. I was deeply disappointed with killing Hicks, but ultimately enjoyed the dark tone and bleak ending. Would have enjoyed the Gibson version over this, but still good

[@thebigone6071]

I have mixed feelings about Alien 3. I hated that Newt, Hicks and Bishop died and that there was no happy ending for Ripley. Parts of it genuinely scared me. Other parts just felt dark, depressing, claustrophobic and small minded. I guess it’s just not for me.

[@Playingtheangel88]

Alien³ (I like call it in that way more than Alien 3 😅) is an underrated movie, specially the assembly cut with more coherence on the script. Even so, the movie is not perfect, but holds a potential unexploded. Despite its flaws, it is the film that fascinates me the most to talk about because of the debate it generates, instead of the majority consensus of the first two or the failed Alien Resurrection.

[@00nick7]

As much as it's not my favorite of the franchise, I do respect it as a worthy conclusion to Ripley's character. It is by far superior to the forth film in my view. I honestly prefer watching the assembly cut.

[@epicon6]

I've always liked it and it chestbursted my favorite Mega Drive game Alien 3. I think you did a little more apologizing for the movie because half the people don't like it. That doesn't mean it's bad, it just means some don't get it but that happens with all movies. Great unerappreciated films are the best.

[@contranistasband998]

I really wish the rod puppet shots had looked better but the up close, man-in-the-suit shots look beautiful imo.

[@NotMorganFreeman.]

A 4K remaster with the Alien upside down on the ceiling and the pov shots removed would be perfect.

[@Meg_Lovegood]

It was my first, but I think (still to this day) that the third was Great because they killed off Newt & Hick's. The second film she was left with Jonesy, but the third she had NO ONE. it built a tone that you can stop the unstoppable, while giving Ripley the motivation to ... (spoilers) Kill herself in the end, ending this madness once and for all. Ps, I agree with you on most, but this is still my favorite movie.

[@cb8701]

Me and my brother watched this on tape rental when it first came out (ages 10 & 13 at the time), it was the first Alien film we’d seen all the way through and both absolutely loved it, been a huge Alien fan ever since. Aliens is by far the best of the films imo, but Alien 3 is still a great addition to the franchise.

[@javiersantanaaviles5885]

My father never liked that I watched the Simpsons when I was 5 years old, he considered them a despicable show, but he never had problems with me watching the Alien franchise, I saw the first three movies in a marathon of a local channel in my country

[@scrappydoo7887]

The Simpsons do promote a very large number of bad stereotypes and other touchy subjects. May I ask which country you were in in your youth?

[@Cargo_Bay]

Lol, parents in the early 90s were clutching their pearls at everything. The Simpsons is so tame

[@scrappydoo7887]

@@Cargo_Bay not really no. You are referring to a time when degenerate behaviour wasn't the norm and parents knew how to raise kids properly

[@wesleywarsmith1113]

Hahaha same here. They hated most T.v. shows but I could watch the Alien movies or any medieval violant movie no problem. They only cared about nudity really.

[@Battledrone]

Parents that let you watch Aliens want to prepare you for a life that from time to time can be pretty dark.

[@Cuttersway]

I think my very first time seeing an Alien film was a fragment of the ending of the original film, with Ripley alone in the shuttle with the creature, which truly terrified me for years to come. That, along with a French and Saunders sketch I’d seen and some video games I’d played made up most of my firsthand experience of the Alien series, and it really whet my appetite for more. The first time I saw any of the films in their entirety though, was at the age of about ten… and it was Alien3. It was about about 1993-94. I had gone over to a friends house, who was a few years older, and we decided to watch a video while his parents were out. I was pretty stoked, as he had taped some films that were 18 certificate, which my parents had tried to keep me from seeing. I remember the main candidates of what to watch coming down to Universal Soldier and Alien3. Due to the mystique the Alien films had held for me, based on my limited exposure to bare moments from the films, while coming across iconography of the monster and it’s female lead - who I would later find out was Ripley - I was leaning heavily towards Alien3. I remember my naive, prepubescent brain being incredibly curious and confused about the relationship between this female human (who I knew as being played by Sigourney Weaver, from Ghostbusters; an early favourite of mine) and this terrifying, elongated-headed creature. As far as I knew, the Alien might have also been Ripley - possibly a different form she could assume to evade apprehension (I had seen Terminator 2 and bits of the b-movie Species around this time also, which doubtless had inspired these outlandish speculations). I remember seeing Ripley with the shaved head in the promotions for this film, and it was so striking, and then the shiny skeletal head of the alien, and I naturally considered their connection could be more than combative. Then I saw the film of course, and learned the truth. But not before watching Universal Soldier, which my older friend assured me was much better than Alien3. I remember watching Universal Soldier in all its schlocky b-movie glory and being pretty blown away to be honest. But couldn’t help feel a bit shortchanged that I still hadn’t been able to watch Alien3. It ended up that I saw it by happenstance on the end of a VHS tape that my dad had been using to record a TV show. I don’t think it had the whole film, but it had enough. I was totally transfixed, and willingly transported to this beautifully rendered cruel world where everything was seemingly covered in shit, and greasy piping, and insects. As if the alien wasn’t off putting enough. Everything about it seemed so vivid and intelligently realised, particularly in the performances - I remember, as a young Brit, wondering why this weird movie had the woman from Ghostbusters surrounded by all these British actors I’d seen on tv in shows like Casualty and Inspector Morse et al. It was a collision of two worlds (Hollywood movies and British television) I had instinctively seen as worlds apart. Yet everything about it worked for me. A couple of years later another friend had a video of Aliens and Alien3 as a double bill he’d recorded off of tv, and a few friends and I watched them back to back. I remember being struck by how different they were, and thinking that Aliens felt less realistic in its performances, and even a little bit corny in parts (it was the extended version with the pretty b-movie Newt family scene). I liked both for very different reasons and found Aliens to be a great ride, but it was quite strange seeing the Ripley character inhabiting this world that was so tonally removed from the third film, which had been my introduction. After a couple more years passed I finally got to see the full original film, having requested my neighbours record it for me, as we didn’t have satellite tv. I remember it being very slow, but very slowly pulling me in and without knowing it having me completely enveloped it it’s world by the end. Alien would come to be my go-to paragon example of a “perfect movie”. Watching the trilogy in backward order is an unusual perspective to have, and of course not the way I’d advise others see it for the first time - but that said, I love all three movies to this day, for very distinct reasons, and it was Alien3 that gripped me first, so it absolutely stands as it’s own experience, and as a piece of art, in my book. It wasn’t until later that I found out about the troubled production and the fact that a lot of people weren’t fans of it, and as I got older I could be more objective about some of the holes and flaws left by its terrible production. That said, while even the Assembly Cut - which I came across later - has its rough edges, I think it absolutely holds up as a visionary work, and worthy of Fincher’s great career, while being undoubtedly one of the most under-appreciated movies of the 90’s. It’s a film I go back to every few years, to skulk through its sweat-soaked world, and re-appraise how well it has aged, in defiance of those naysayers, which to this point, I’d have to say, it’s aged very well indeed. Even better than Universal Soldier.

[@sifunmon]

It’s probably one of the bravest big budget movies ever made. To make a movie this bleak, grim and existential today would be almost impossible, unless I’m forgetting something? I wouldn’t have killed off Newt and Hicks either, and I still don’t like that decision, but there’s no denying the beauty and emotion that this movie has.

[@erikrichardgregory]

Pretty balanced presentation from Alien Theory, neither fully endorsing Alien3 nor completely trashing it, noting the special circumstances by which he first saw this movie and how that may have affected his estimation of it. As for me, well, this is where the Alien franchise died. It's an incredible -looking film but unfortunately that's about its only redeeming quality

[@fredleggett923]

I used to try to mount a defense for A3, but its obvious story shortcomings have made me less inclined to do so. I think the film does have some impressive strengths, such as its score, cast, and cinematography, but the narrative is so problematic that it almost eclipses its bona-fide good traits. I'm not a fan of retcons, as it's the ultimate cop-out (the same with multiverses), but I could make an exception for A3, at least to a degree. If you made what occurred "real", in the sense that a character experienced the events, but in a certain context, like a hypersleep fever dream that some have posited, that might work. Simply ignoring it outright doesn't do it for me, though. I dunno. A3 is a hard nut to crack. Awful decisions were made, but within a sea of genuine talent, which makes the whole affair murky at best. I'd personally like to know why Weaver agreed to help produce and star in a film that murdered Newt, Hicks, and Bishop when she must've known how such a decision would've been pilloried by not only general audiences, but alien enthusiasts while being a clear betrayal of Aliens' conclusion. It's also unfortunate that A3 is clearly when the entire franchise ran off the rails and we (arguably) haven't had a decent entry since. That statement might enrage Prometheus and Covenant fans, but I stand by it. The xenomorph deserves better and good stories are now relegated to books and the odd videogame. A3 is proof positive that there's no guarantee that assembling the best of the best will have a positive outcome.

[@Playingtheangel88]

That's a good question. Why did Sigourney Weaver agree to make a film that kills two such beloved characters as Hicks and Newt? It's a question I don't know if she's ever answered. If not, it wouldn't be wrong for her to talk about it.

[@fredleggett923]

@@Playingtheangel88 It's frankly a bit annoying. Alienphiles place Weaver on this mile-high pedestal and always put her front and center as the perfect Strong Female Character(tm) archetype, so what caused her to sign off on a terribad script where all the survivors of Aliens are killed off, including Ripley herself at the end? Was the story already locked-in at that point? Did she really not have any control over things, even though she occupied a producer position? Could she not've thrown her weight around a little and at least let the other three remain onboard the Sulaco to drift through the darkness? Or was she that taken with the bleakness and nihilism that she genuinely liked the script and thought Newt, Bishop, and Hicks had to unceremoniously die in order to realize that aspect of the film while suiciding herself at the climax? I'm not trying to rag on Weaver specifically and personally, but I >AM< wondering why she gets a pass whenever the pitfalls of A3 are mentioned. It just seems disingenuous.

[@Playingtheangel88]

@@fredleggett923 Personally, I understand that the deaths of Hicks and Newt underscore Ripley's eternal loneliness, but perfectly the two of them could have survived with Hicks supporting Ripley in prison and Newt being taken to safety to lead a quiet life. So we agree that it wasn't entirely necessary. That's why I think Alien³, even with the assembly cut, is perfectly improvable. There are defects that even the best assembly does not fix.

[@greebo7857]

I was around 30 when Alien came out. I stupidly refused to see it based on the tagline "In space, nobody can hear you scream.". When Aliens came out a local art house flea pit had the two as a double header and I thought "why not". Holy sh!t. I couldn't see how A3 could exist after the ending of Aliens but I gave it a go. I was outraged that two seriously important characters were killed off and convinced myself that I hated it. Years later it bobbed up in my Quickflix offerings ( QF was an Australian version of the Netflix posted DVD model ) so I looked again. Without the shock of the deaths of Hicks and Newt to contend with I was able to watch it objectively. Nothing will ever beat Alien in this franchise for me, but I'd rate A3 as nearly alongside Aliens. As David above says, there are three distinct directorial styles here, and each can stand alone, each movie is watchable in its own right. Just don't get me started on Resurrection. The invulnerable and very sexy Ripley aside, it is horrible.

[@Meg_Lovegood]

We don't talk about this 4th (fan made) film....

[@greebo7857]

@@Meg_Lovegood Sorry I mentioned it. 🙃

[@greebo7857]

So, it was time to give it another go, since the question was asked and it's available to stream. I find it has improved even more with time. If it was possible to view A3 as a stand alone movie, get it out of the shadow of Alien, then I think it would be seen very differently. It's actually really good, with some standout performances. It's nice to have preconceptions challenged. Alien 3 is a far more complex movie than I first thought, and deserves to be given a second chance by those who dismiss it.

[@kabuki2804]

I love all 3,i grew up with them and I’m proud of my terrible bias.

[@wesleywarsmith1113]

I know I've said it a dozen times on this channel but Alien 3 is the perfect ending. The point was to show DOOM. That no matter what Ripley did the Aliens would win eventually. There was supposed to be nothing good or fun about it. Just doom and gloom. That is the Aliens legacy.

[@TheGhostofAdam]

I remember seeing A3 in the theatre and liked it, but the Assembly Cut is definitely the superior edition. Now, as for Aliens tying everything up... come on AT - didn't you watch (and listen to) Aliens all the way until AFTER the end credits? Aliens totally sets up A3 :p Great content as always :)

[@grapeshot]

I've always liked it. I also like the Extended Cut.

[@dr.j1416]

Honestly, as dark and depressing Alien 3 is, I actually really enjoy this movie. I respect it’s bold move to take the Alien saga into a new direction to create sympathy for the characters. After all, it’s about a monster running around killing people. You shouldn’t be cheering to see them get killed, you should be feeling sorry for them. Both Alien and Aliens stand as their own films, and Alien 3 should as well. I especially love the music score of this movie. It fits the tone of it perfectly in my opinion. Movies like this shouldn’t be trashed on, they should be appreciated and respected on what it took to make and what it was created into.

[@WeserBlitzEU]

Great video! I have always loved A3 for what it is. In my view it's unpretentious, rough and gloriously filthy in its artistic expression. A3 is really focused on the tension between Ripley and the inhabitants, providing the film with a very interesting dimension. The xenomorph's presence is more of a great backdrop against the interhuman drama that takes place in the midst of the horror. I agree with the comments about Sigourney's wonderful acting (bless her!), as well as cinematography, editing, score, production design and unique style. A3 stands alone, but I think it's truly earned its place in the franchise that I would never have wanted to be without. Happy anniversary, A3!!!

[@shainewhite2781]

HackTheMovies will be doing a video on this movie tomorrow discussing the good the bad and the controversy surrounding ALIEN 3.

[@AlienTheory]

I am very happy with the amount of attention HackTheMovies is giving Alien 3 for the anniversary. We actually had a discussion about the Gibson script.

[@spacejunk3554]

I saw it in the cinema and was disappointed. Years on I love it and all the energy the film has had to revisit and improve it. The Assembly cut is very enjoyable.

[@overtotter8639]

Actually saw the film for the first time this year and I got to say I like the sense of dread it fills you with. Also the cinematography and set design are amazing and give a Warhammer 40k underhive feel to it.

[@firstamericanmanga6827]

Where do you think 40k got alot of its ideas from? 😉

[@overtotter8639]

@@firstamericanmanga6827 I believe Warhammer 40k came out in the eighties but its possible that future aesthetic choices came from the movie since Warhammer was still pretty young.

[@SirMillz]

I also enjoy Aliens 3. ALIENS is my favorite because it's an artistic masterpiece. But 3 is good.

[@Warsie-Fan]

I don't care what anyone sez I loved it. David Fincher is a great director and A3 had a fitting ending for Ripley. Absolutely hated the 4th entry.

[@n.b.l.5709]

I love resurrection 😆

[@Warsie-Fan]

@@n.b.l.5709 Its cool that you do 👍 I'll never bash anyone for loving a movie which I think stinks. I love plenty of films which people think are trash. Resurrection,... ugh. Hated the hybrid towards the end, 'over the top' acting in some scenes (not the actors fault, more the writer & director's direction), and the film overall was a mash of the first 2 films which is kind of a cheat.

[@n.b.l.5709]

@@Warsie-Fan lol yeah the hybrid did suck but he was one brutal baby though 😆

[@n.b.l.5709]

@@Warsie-Fan i love resurrection for its action, the look of the movie being very futuristic, the space mercenaries, that booty scene, cool actors in it from the bad guy from the crow to hellboy to 2 pair dude from training day to wynona ryder to Black model dude to that short actor and on and on...in ways it was a more hard-core guardians of the galaxy 😆 and Ripley made it to Earth, well the clone did...aliens is my favorite alien movie in he saga and than resurrection for me...I've watched them over and over again the most

[@n.b.l.5709]

@@Warsie-Fan I like 3 for its drama and undertones, u feel danger for Ripley and she almost gets raped...also though the whole Ripley does a t2 but u still felt for her cuz the real Ripley dies..but she was such a hero to sacrifice herself, also the rock actor dude was real good as were they all in that movie...it was somber, but again it was set in a Damm jail pues so space prisoners, nice

[@stofosaurus]

Alien³ has a special place in my heart and I enjoy it almost as much as the first movie. Aliens is enjoyable as well but I'm not into the macho marines and that the xenomorph was reduced to an ant drone instead of an apex predator. Alien³ restored the mysticism of the xenomorph. I think the decision to kill off Hicks and Newt was genius. It's sets a tone of despair at the start of the movie.

[@PhillieCheezeKC]

After discovering the assembly cut on the Quadrilogy I only watch that version. The sacrifice scene especially telling herself, ”you’re crazy” honestly I cry every time.

[@rawheadrex1972]

Alien is top three franchises all time for me, and I like the alternate version of the first three films over the theatrical cuts.

[@Realm-of-Horror]

Alien 3 was the first Alien film I saw at the cinema, having seen the first 2 on TV and video respectively. It was a MAJOR disappointment, I remember when the film finished thinking "Is that it then"? As you said, it was a complete downer and in my view pailed in comparison to the first 2. I loved the first 2, so part 3 was like a kick in the guts. I've grown to hate it less over the years, and think the 4th film was an improvement, but I still tell people to just watch the first 2.

[@dononeeye9912]

It was different but it was and still is a great movie: Ranked: alien, aliens, alien 3 😋

[@theclayshack]

I watched Alien 3 on its release in 92 and was absolutely gutted when i left the Cinema. I hated it! It really was a downer that Newt and Hicks were dead after all they'd been through. However the more I watched it over the years, the more I appreciated it. In fact I now consider it the last great Alien movie because everything we've had since has been poor. In my opinion Alien 3 completes what is a fantastic trilogy and all copies of Resurrection should be burned! Lol!

[@ringbling420]

Especially given what we've gotten in the intervening years - the change that this brought to the formula of the Alien movies I find to be just as interesting to watch as I did when seeing it in the theater back in the day. Fully approve of A3 - would still love to see the ideas that was this movie before this movie was made come to fruition also.

[@erc3338]

The old script has an audiobook!

[@jimbowlan5804]

Gibson had 2 scripts Eric red did the next then there was Ward/fasano and then was another one and then the shooting script

[@erc3338]

@@jimbowlan5804 oh wow

[@adamdesalle6338]

I only recently watched Alien 3 and I loved it - sure the CGI on the xenomorph is iffy, and having a bunch of bald white british men makes characters indiscernible, but it’s a hell of a lot better than whatever Resurrections was.

[@mattbatesteacher]

I love this film (assembly cut) more now then when I first saw it. However, it is a tale of what could have been. The "puma" alien that Giger came up with. The scrapped "meat locker" scene that never was shot. Such a shame we missed out on what could have been.

[@paulicke3483]

Like the first 79 Alien movie I watched & mostly I've watched more then the others when I was younger 👍 and I do like the longer version of Alien3 👍

[@extraplain2412]

I watched Aliens first and many times before the other films. When I finally saw Alien 1 it terrified me it was such a different vibe to Aliens more action tone but I still watched it repeatedly. I rewatched Aliens and then watched Alien 3 on video for the first time and even from the logo introduction and how the iconic music drowns out got my anxiety going. Hicks was my favourite character and from Aliens and I was so dissapointed that he died. Hoping that the film would be another action masterpeice but by the end I felt like I had watched something a lot more mature and gritty compared to other films including all manner of other 18+ films at the time. I call the 4 Alien films, Ripleys story.

[@chaosiscoming9184]

tbh I love Alien 1-3, only Resurrection is bad.. the other two are good too imo and both AvP movies. only Resurrection is bad..

[@shlockofgod]

Starburst magazine gave Alien 3 10 out of 10 when it came out. They considered it a masterpiece and mentioned the score and relentless downbeat as a great positive. They also said the humor in the film made it emotionally bearable. So that review hyped me up.

[@davidbinns1604]

The humor was a bit odd coming from the general but not unbearable considering he was able to bowling ball roll that grenade into the escape pod with the unfortunate soldiers trapped with a xenomorph. Just a weird combo, he seemed like a bumbling badass. Still an alright movie.

[@turbofanlover]

I didn't like it when it came out...and I still don't like it. The first two movies in the series were masterpieces. Everything since has been very forgettable and just not worth rewatching, IMO. Pity.

[@JoeMcGuire]

Aliens was my first of the series, but definitely Alien 3 is a great movie overall. It's so starkly different so I can see why many panned it, but that's the big reason for me loving it. Then again, there isn't a single movie in the series that I dislike tbh.

[@Blizofoz45]

I think Blomkamp had the best concept for an Aliens sequel with the cyberpunk/alien hybrid angle. The alien design is so sleek and biomechanical it seems like the most interesting place to take the series. Definitely better than setting it on a prison colony or a wooden spaceship-planet thing full of priests...

[@pure8591]

I love Alien 3, it's dark, dirty and more violent. Of course Aliens will always be my favourite but Alien 3 has a special place in my heart!

[@davidrolfesrockmetalchanne9152]

I actually loved A3 when i first viewed it. Simply put i didn't have a problem with Hicks and Newt's deaths. It's the Alien world after all and it's never really had a happy ending or beginning for that matter. The assembly cut is a far better version, the only negatives is that the Alien coming out of the dog was far more impressive. And when the queen bursts out of the Ripley at the end in the theatrical cut it's also better. i understand why people didn't like it, but then again it's all about what you expect to be seen. I'll always be a fan of this movie and i know a lot of people who share my opinion.

[@iNINJAgamer]

I believe my first alien movie was 4. As a kid I thought it was cool and scary. Can’t say I seen the previous movies before when I was younger. Maybe movie 2… maybe. But I recently just binge watched all movies from 1-6 in year release maybe in late 2020 or early 2021. I can’t wait to see a new movie and I like to know what happened next in the last prequel movies.

[@JoeBossRedSeven]

IT NEVER "HELD-UP" I DESPISE IT and so do all of my nerd Brothers and Sisters. 🤡🚧💩🤪☢😴

[@jamesalexhowlett]

I think that it’s a meh film, but there’s a couple things in this film that’s super iconic, like Ellen being up against the wall and the Xeno being right beside her.

[@Wingedtravesty]

I always thought of this as the worst entry in the Quadrilogy, it just didn't work for me. In time I heard about the troubled production and the pressure David Fincher was under, but I just couldn't bring myself to watch it again. I recently watched all the core movies with my wife (1st time viewer). Predictably, she had high praise for the first 2 movies, but she really liked 3 as well, especially the first half. I also gained a new appreciation for it, especially the sombre tone it strikes and the interactions between characters. Fair to say, I prefer it to Resurrection now. I still think the final act is a bit silly, but other than that, good movie

[@Monty-or9sb]

Rotten tomatos seems flawed to me...

[@mania4270]

Rotten tomatoes is just a collection of reviews. The score is a percentage of how many critics liked it.

[@someone7345]

A3 is a good movie, but I saw some very obvious FX mistakes and greenscreen cutouts, but apart from that, it's a decent to good movie in my book.

[@WillyDIreland]

I remember my heart pounding for a lot of this movie. And it gave me an oppressive feeling of being stalked for most of it.

[@snakeobias]

Alien 3 is good! Still can't get over the blatant Coke product placement though. Hilarious

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

Honestly, the Assembly Cut is my second favorite Alien movie. It's Aliens, Alien 3, and Alien. And Alien 4 is something I watch when I rarely have an odd hankering (and I do mean odd). I think Alien 3 has aged well for me, but Alien 4 seems more like a high-budget SyFy original when I look back. I loved the Hicks and Newt characters (especially Hicks as I got older 😘), but I can see why they weren't there. Given how many options there were for the story, the Assembly Cut was the best of a bad situation, imo.

[@Elegant_John]

As per your experience Alien 3 was the first alien I saw ( on vcr). I was 9 and I did not sleep for a week. The love for the franchise was born. I still have car keyrings with an alien figure. I loved the atmospheres, colors, lights and tension. As happened to you I went crazy to find the first and second one. And the love engraved on my heart. As per terminator ( 4 years to meet Kyle Reese) the ‘not linear watching’ created fantasies. I watch a3 a couple of years ago and still think it is a great movie that is compared to masterpiece. Anyway it is not ( yet) a Disney movie. So no happy ending.

[@thundermaker313]

I'm old enough to have seen it in the theater in 1992. I was 14 and was expecting "Aliens part 3". I was disappointed. As I've gotten older, I've found new things to not just like but love about Alien³. It's a flawed film, no doubt, but what should be taken into consideration is what was being attempted instead of grousing about what we ultimately got.

[@Spoeism]

I watched a 3 in sequence and I like. 3 Mind you I consider 3 & 4 to be stasis pod nightmares.

[@quinnmiddleton3082]

I can completely agree with this video. As much as when I first saw A3 and realized they killed off two characters I had grown to love and enjoy, the film itself stands alone incredibly

[@S-T-E-V-E]

Alien Theory, Your perspective on Alien 3 reminds me of the kids who's first experience of Star Wars was the prequels, then they saw the 80's movies after, they love the prequels as much as the first three!

[@miyahollands6136]

The "how the hell did that egg get onboard" question is the biggest question, that underpins the film. Don't get me wrong, I like this film - the director's cut is my preferred version, because it makes more sense. But, even the director's cut doesn't answer this one fundamental question. And I think this is the reason alien 3 gets shot down - because its premise is built off of a major plot hole, it invites further criticism. But, as I said, I am a fan of the film, definitely pick alien 3 over alien 4, if I only had those two to watch. But, I feel if the director's cut answered this question, it would of joined the cult club by now, very much like the fifth element, or Shoreshanck . Films that were totally misunderstanding at the time, but have proved themselves to be true greats later on! Funny Alien 3 story: As a self-confessed geek, myself and my fellow geeky friends used to refer to this film as "alien cubed", or "alien to the power of 3". Due to the little superscript 3 at the end 😏

[@miyahollands6136]

@@group-music Maybe, maybe not - this is a major gray area, which have lead third party writers to suggest something happens in between aliens and alien 3 to allow this egg to come abord. The Queen never has an opportunity to leave the loading bay, so can't put an egg in what looks like the crew area. I say crew area, based on the walk-through in Aliens director's cut, as well as the opening sequence of alien 3. Both show ribbed bulkheads close together, both adjacent to the crew lockers in Aliens and the brief look at the open egg in alien 3 - it would make logical sense for the egg to be placed near its potential hosts. The Queen bringing one of her eggs onboard, is the excepted answer to this question, but it doesn't cut it for me. From the moment she appears, she's in serious ass-kicking battle mode. Slicing Bishop, having a Mexican standoff, hunting Newt and trading blows with a power loader. There's no time for her to secretly place an egg somewhere, just in case she failed - they don't think that way either. There an organism driven by the need to dominate, feed and reproduced - they don't plan, they act! So I believe there's a missing piece of the puzzle out there somewhere - just waiting for a deep salvage team to find it, some day....!

[@usmanakhtar1845]

Bad writing, a real turd

[@miyahollands6136]

@@usmanakhtar1845 That's being a bit harsh on it - production was a very rough road, which does show through. But, despite this, there is still some great acting happening - from burning with inner tourmal, to complete madness - and no over-acting in sight! The turd mantle should really go to the fourth film - no end of over-acting there!

[@thecat5872]

To me A3 is the grand finale of one of the greatest Sci-Fi franchises in the history of cinema, I loved the theatrical release but was wowed by the assembly cut. I love the dread the melancholy of the film it is depressing it’s meant to be , no one gets out alive. She survived the first two encounters but a third? Not this time and Morse being the only survivor is kinda throwback to Alien but a bit macabre like the entire film. I’ve always loved the series and couldn’t imagine it without A3 as the conclusion to this woman’s space adventure.

[@Valorius]

Alien is my favorite horror movie of all time. Aliens my favorite action movie of all time. And Alien3 is my greatest disappointment of all time.

[@captainbejo3513]

I saw A3 when it released in the theater. I loved how it was dark and it all goes to hell for her. It makes sense in the trilogy, Wayland Yutani screwed the first crew and the Marines. In the “cyberpunk” universe that this trilogy exists, a tragedy ending for Ripley is appropriate!

[@kjhuang]

I actually like _Alien 3_ a lot, but I can't avoid discussing the biggest problem of the movie: how did that alien egg get on to the _Sulaco_ ? I've heard a bunch of possible explanations, none of them convincing, and it's not some minor detail; it's the reason for the entire story of the movie.

[@drexulgeewrangle]

Same here. I love this film, but that is the one thing that I need a satisfactory explanation for. The only theory that made sense was Bishop taking the egg, following a sub routine he wasn’t even aware of…

[@kjhuang]

@@drexulgeewrangle The Bishop theory makes less sense to me than the Queen theory. It's out of character for him and also I can't see when and how he would've gotten his hands on an egg. If he was an ally of the Aliens, it wouldn't make sense for the Queen to have attacked him. Like with the Queen theory, there's nothing in the movies to support or suggest it.

[@kjhuang]

@@Tomherbs It's possible that a facehugger was with the Queen, but again that's not supported by anything we see in the movies. The egg is clearly not on the dropship or in the hangar bay.

[@kjhuang]

@@Tomherbs I can accept the possibility that a facehugger was with the Queen in the landing gear, though again, the movie never shows that, so it's painfully obvious that wasn't something that _Aliens_ writers had planned in preparation for _Alien 3_ . But that doesn't explain how the egg ended up in a spot that's not on the dropship or the hangar bay.

[@MaryBrownIsTheBlairWitch]

The Queen put it there, obviously - we don't _see_ her stow aboard the dropship either, but accept without question she did.

[@acuyra]

I honestly think if the previous movies hadn’t come out, Aliens 3 would’ve been much better received. It’s an average sci fi horror movie at worst, and honestly better than most of the movies that came after it.