Alien - Anthology Blu Ray Box Set

Best Price: £24.99

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The Alien franchise has lost some of its gloss in recent years. Some would argue this started much earlier with Alien 3, largely seen to be flawed film, and then Alien: Resurrection, largely seen as a failed film. However, with the release of the truly bad Alien Vs. Predator films, it is a great time to remind ourselves of the utter greatness of the first two Alien films, and the fact that all four offer a solid and timeless body of work.

Here, they are given the full Blu-Ray treatment. Of the four film’s, Ridley Scott’s original still stands the test of time as an innovative, scary, visceral and imaginative piece of dark cinema. Its influence can be felt still across horror and sci-fi films to this day; many owe Alien a big debt. Sigourney Weaver is great in it in her first lead role, and Ian Holm is truly menacing as the strangely implacable Ash. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, there are still scenes here that are as shocking as anything created in horror or sci-fi since.

James Cameron’s sequel is equally great in a different way. It’s high-octane, remarkably well-paced, entertaining, with great characters and even greater guns. Whilst not as dark as the original, the imagination is still there in the set-design, special effects and plot. It too still stands up as a great action movie.

However, what is truly exciting about this Blu-Ray Anthology release are the bucket-load of extra features. Scores, soundtracks, commentaries, director’s cuts and documentaries galore abound across this six-disk set, making it a must have for any Alien, sci-fi or horror fan. The story behind the tortured creative process of Alien 3, with the seeming conclusion that there was a fantastic film on the cusp of being made by director David Fincher, if it were not for studio in-fighting and creative disputes, is almost as entertaining as the films themselves.

So whether you’re new to the films (where have you been?!), a lifelong fan or looking to rediscover what all the fuss was about, this Anthology Blu-Ray box set seems to be the definitive way to enjoy the Alien franchise.

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