Alien & Predator Total Destruction Box Set [DVD]

Ah the old chest burster scene, I recall seeing a documentary about that and saw how people jumped when that scene happened in the first Alien movie back in 1979. Still a classic scene to this day.

This is a review for the Alien/Predator Total Destruction box set, 8 discs all in those lovely slim line boxes. So on to the review:

Alien: If you've not seen this movie, then you're either still too young to see it, scared of 18 rated movies or just don't like the idea of that chest burster scene. This movie came in 1979 and was a hit, it introduced the character of Ripley who was part of a crew on the space ship Nostromo, they respond to what appears to be a distress and land on this waste land of a planet.
Shortly after landing however, one of their crew has a lovely encounter with a facehugger, which impregnates him with an Alien. After the aforementioned chest burster scene, the surviving crew try to survive against an opponent that is fast, deadly and quite fond of his munchies, I mean the crew.
A classic movie that set the standard for space horror. This comes in both Director's Cut and Original versions, all on one disc.

Aliens: Alien had been a hit and it was clear that a sequel was needed, so along came Aliens in 1986. This time it's not just one Alien. Ripley is recovered from the escape craft after the events of the first movie and reluctently, after a nightmare and a meeting, agrees to go with a team of space marines to the world from the first movie, which now has a human colony on it.
Shortly after arriving they find that the only survivour is a young child and the Aliens have been having a party. Even the marines can't handle the Aliens and it becomes a fight for survival and escape.

It's still a good movie and a worthy sequel, it's got the gore, the violence and a lot of noise when the bullets start flying. And some classic scenes, like the loader scene at the end for example. This also has both the Director's Cut, excellent version, and the Original version on one disc.

Alien 3: Many regard this as a weaker sequel since it went back to one Alien and was directed by someone else. The movie isn't all that bad really.

After the events of Aliens, Ripley, Newt, the remains of Bishop and the one surviving Marine crash land on the prison world of Florina 161, Ripley survives the crash, Newt and the Marine die and Bishop's remains are thrown into the bin, though he comes back for a very brief moment during the movie.
Shortly after the memorial service for Newt and the marine, a new Alien is born and causes the typical carnage and terror as before. And Ripley finds out a secret about herself.

Not an incredible movie, but it is good and carries on the usual gore and violence as previous movies. It's worth watching, this also has the Director's Cut and Original versions on one disc.

Alien Resurrection: It's been two hundred years since the events of Alien 3 and Ripley is back, but not quite. The Aliens are back and after a rag tag band of mercenary's for hire dock with a large science ship, the Aliens soon get out and go out to meet, I mean kill, everyone.
Ripley teams up with the mercanary's in an effort to escape the ship and stop the Aliens by destroying the ship, which is on a course for Earth.

This movie is regarded as the weakest of the four due to the different approach for it, it has it's twists, it's violence and it's gore, but you can tell that the francise is beginning to wind down. It's still watchable with some great scenes though. This also has the Director's Cut and Original versions on one disc.

Predator: Back to the past and a different race this time. A team of highly trained killing machines, Marines of course, are sent in by the CIA to rescue hostages held by guerrilla fighers in South America. But things turn out to not be as they expected when a hunter, a Predator, turns them into the prey.
Cue the usual violence, gore, one liners and explosions.

A decent movie, the Predator's various forms of sight make me ill, but if you love the usual noisy action movie, then you'll love this.

Predator 2: Set about a decade or so after the first Predator movie, a new Predator lands on Earth to have himself a nice vacation hunting humans. A police officer becomes involved when his co-workers, as well as people he was trying to arrest, are murdered in very gruesome ways.
Cue the usual violence, gore and action as the officer encounters the Predator. Some good one liners and scenes.

A good movie, not incredible, but it's good. Makes you think Die Hard with a Predator.

Alien vs Predator: Now this is where it begins to go down hill. Every Alien and Predator fan's dream comes true when a team of scientists and adventurers are sent to investigate unusual energy readings in Antarctica. They come across this rather big ancient pyramid and in the process awaken the Aliens who are the prey for Predators, who have also come down to Earth for a right of passage hunt.

Soon the team is facing the Aliens and the Predator, gore, death, violence and action.

A good idea in theory, but the movie feels more like the usual summer CGI heavy blockbuster than anything really worthwhile. It's a shame really since some of the fights aren't too bad. This has an extended version along with the Original version shown in the cinemas.

Alien vs Predator 2 - Requiem: It should have been named 'Flogging a dead horse'. Set shortly after the first AVP movie, the Predator ship from the first movie crash lands near a sleepy town in the state of Colorado and not long after crashing, the face huggers and a Predator looking Alien get loose.
Cue the return of the Aliens as they attack the town and a lone Predator pops on down to investigate the crash and fight the Aliens. Lots of violence, action, gore and CGI.

This movie is terrible, it is very much the summer blockbuster, the mindles action, over use of CGI, plenty to keep teens happy. If you want to watch something mindless and silly, then this movie is perfect for that. It has an extra seven minutes of footage that wasn't shown in the cinemas.

So that's the movies, is the collection worth getting? Hmm, yes and no. Yes because you get some great movies and not so great movies, the great movies thankfully being worth the price. The not so great movies you'll likely be rolling your eyes at.
Alien and Aliens have stood the test of time however and are well worth watching again, just don't watch this if you're a tad on the easily scared or grossed out side. These movies can be quite gory. And they are definitely not for kids, they're 18 rated for a good reason.

No for the AVP movies, I mean really how could the francise be dragged down like this? The idea is so good, but the execution of the idea is little more than an excuse to blow things up or have lots of CGI with people not really having a lot to do.

So the choice is really up to you, eight movies is never anything to scoff at, but the AVP movies do tend to make it hard to decide. Go for the collection if you can get it at a good price, some great popcorn and fancy watching some classic and not so classic movies.
And what's worse is that it's rumoured that a third AVP movie may be in the works - Darth Vader impression time I believe: NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Anyway, enjoy if you decide to get the collection. Just be prepared to roll your eyes and hate whoever ruined such a good francise when you see the AVP movies, good for laughs, bad for recommandation.

all 8 movies of the franchise(except for "Predators"),all in slim line cases.Very good quality,two editions of each movie on each disc(theatrical cut & director's cut),with lots of extras and commentaries.overall,great set.

i love these films and i have always wanted to buy them, but they are so expensive. in HMV it's £80 so when i saw it on here for £10 i was in like a shot...great value for money and a must have to sci fi fans