Alien Quadrilogy (9 Disc Complete Box Set) [DVD] [1979]

The Alien Quadrilogy is a nine-disc box set devoted to the four Alien films. Although previously available on DVD as the Alien Legacy, here the films have been repackaged with vastly more extras and with upgraded sound and vision. For anyone who hasn't been in hypersleep for the last 25 years this series needs no introduction, though for the first time each film now comes in both original and "Special Edition" form.

Alien (1979) was so perfect it didn't need fixing, and Ridley Scott's 2003 Director's Cut is fiddling for the sake of it. Watch once then return to the majestic, perfectly paced original. Conversely the Special Edition of James Cameron's Aliens (1986) is the definitive version, though it's nice finally to have the theatrical cut on DVD for comparison. Most interesting is the alternative Alien3 (1992). This isn't a "director's cut"--David Fincher refused to have any involvement with this release--but a 1991 work-print that runs 29 minutes longer than the theatrical version, and has now been restored, remastered and finished-off with (unfortunately) cheap new CGI. Still, it's truly fascinating, offering a different insight into a flawed masterpiece. The expanded opening is visually breathtaking, the central firestorm is much longer, and a subplot involving Paul McGann's character adds considerable depth to the story. The ending is also subtly but significantly different. Alien Resurrection (1997) was always a mess with a handful of brilliant scenes, and the Special Edition just makes it eight minutes longer.

On the DVD: Alien Quadrilogy offers all films except Alien3 with DTS soundtracks, the latter having still fine Dolby Digital 5.1 presentation. All four films sound fantastic, with much low-level detail revealed for the first time. Each is anamorphically enhanced at the correct original aspect ratio, and the prints and transfers are superlative. Every film offers a commentary that lends insight into the creative process--though the Scott-only commentary and isolated music score from the first Alien DVD release are missing here--and there are subtitles for hard of hearing both for the films and the commentaries.

Each movie is complemented by a separate disc packed with hours of seriously detailed documentaries (all presented at 4:3 with clips letterboxed), thousands of photos, production stills and storyboards, giving a level of inside information for the dedicated buff only surpassed by the Lord of the Rings extended DVD sets. A ninth DVD compiles miscellaneous material, including a Channel 4 hour-long documentary and even all the extras from the old Alien laserdisc. Exhaustive hardly begins to describe the Alien Quadrilogy, a set which establishes the new DVD benchmark for retrospective releases and which looks unlikely to be surpassed for some time. --Gary S Dalkin

The definitive DVD box set of the most terrifying saga ever created -- over 40 hours of addidional footage. Four discs containing the original theatrical versions of each film in addition to the extended versions with Alien containing the 2003 Director's Cut and Aliens 3 including Fincher's workprint.

An additional four discs containing new, detailed commentaries, interviews, multi-angle anamatics, pre-production, production and post production featurettes, 252 pages of Stan Winston’s fascinating workshop, screenplays and intriguing easter eggs. The final bonus disc contains rare still archives, theatrical and television trailers, interviews and fascinating special effects footage.

Over 40 hours of all new bonus materials on 9 discs:
Disc 1 (ALIEN)
118 minutes viewing the 2003 Theatrical cut with all new commentary and Ridley Scott's new intro
Disc 2 (ALIEN BONUS DISC)
216 minutes of all new, never before seen video features
Disc 3 (ALIENS)
154 minutes viewing the Special Edition cut with all new commentary and James Cameron Intro
Disc 4 (ALIENS BONUS DISC)
198 minutes of all new, never before seen video features
Disc 5 (ALIEN 3)
137 minutes viewing the theatrical cut with the all new commentary
157 minutes viewing the all new Special Edition Cut
Disc 6 (ALIEN 3 BONUS DISC)
174 minutes of all new, never before seen video features
Disc 7 (ALIEN RESURRECTION)
109 minutes viewing the theatrical cut with the all new commentary
120 minutes viewing the all new Special Edition Cut with intro by Jean Pierre Jeunet
Disc 8 (ALIEN RESURRECTION BONUS DISC)
194 minutes of all new, never before seen video features
Disc 9 (BONUS DISC)
104 minutes of all new, never before seen video features

DTS 5.1 sound
Limited edition, numbered and highly collectible packaging with special printing and green digi-stack trays