MovieChat Forums > Alien³ (1992) Discussion > Why the hate?

Why the hate?

posted 8 years ago by esb90
68 replies | jump to latest

I just watched the 'Assembly cut' of A3 on blu ray earlier and it's a far better movie than the theatrical version in that the characters, (played by a fantastic British ensemble cast i might add), are given attention and development so naturally are more effecting due to the events of the film.

Anyway, this version reminded me of how underrated the film actually is... I can understand how the tragic deaths of Newt and Hicks were depressing to the fans of Aliens; understandably, but hey, did anyone actually watch "Alien" 1979? Almost all the characters on the Nostromo become unlikable by the time the creature takes it's first prey. We see the darkest side to their natures surface in survival mode. They're human: They fight, *beep* each other over, and everybody dies horribly besides Ripley and Jonesy. Is that not depressing? I love "Aliens," don't get me wrong, it's one of the most entertaining action movies and best sequels of all time; but it's roots were in space HORROR, therefore Alien 3 is more in line with the cruel and chaotic universe of the first film. James Cameron's sweet hollywood resolution "on Earth" ceases to be, and that's refreshing and brave when you think about it. And this cut should of been shown in theaters.

David Fincher's gone on record stating he "Hates" this movie. And "more than anyone else." Because he preferred Cameron's vision? Or because of the rough production and script re-writes? Or because he felt the stigma on his head for not pandering to the Aliens fan base? Or all the above? Amazingly, for a first feature, and one he despised, he does an illustrious job with photographing and directing the film (a perfect what's-to-come staple in his supreme talent if you ask me.)
It isn't as if the script is lacking in depth either...

The prisoners are lifers holding onto the only slither of 'humanity' they can achieve: that through religion. They are murderers, child molesters, thieves etc - and through fighting the creature with zero artillery and almost zero comradeship in an unlikely alliance to Ripley, they sort of redeem themselves. Ripley's only mission now is in avenging the dead by wiping out the creatures lineage for good and make sure the Weyland Company fail in ever obtaining the specimen. And she does... in a poetic ending she sacrifices herself. It's an honorable finale to the unwavering bravery of this amazing character. And most importantly: a big *beep* YOU to the Company.
I still prefer to watch the first 2 films, because A3 is bogged down in a dreary atmosphere and some murky scenes. But the film, (the Assembly cut at least), is logically a far better resolution to the franchise than most realize.
And let's just ignore the dire Alien Resurrection...that is the sequel that's best left forgotten.

[–] residentevil6901 8 years ago

Alien 3 is a good movie, I don't hate it, I'm just disappointed with it. After Alien & Aliens it's a total let down. I was so excited to see it in the theater when it came out and left the theater with complete disappointment. To be honest it was a mistake to not bring Hicks & Newt back. I'm happy they're finally going to rectify that mistake with Neill Blomkamp's Alien movie.

[–] TRhett 8 years ago

Or all the above

Watching this with the commentary (and apparently all they could get for the commentary were some of the technical guys and a couple of actors you've never heard of) was almost painful . . . you could tell that all these people worked VERY hard on this, and were very disappointed with the result (which was basically slapped together by studio committee, not a talented editor/director team). The editor actually called it "sad." Although Scott and Cameron were hard acts for ANYONE to follow, you got the feeling that David Fincher (who was vindicated somewhat by his later work), at age 27, was pushed around so by the studio that he finally walked out at the end, and it all turned into a mish-mashed mess. They made a big deal out of the fact that this was the LAST "optical," "photochemical" movie out of the pipeline (In other words, "Sorry, guys, this was pre-digital - we couldn't fix anything after the fact, and the studio d-cked us around so, we couldn't get what we wanted").

Lance Henrikson might have summed it up best when he said, "When I first saw it, my initial thought was, 'Who was I supposed to care about in that? A bunch of murderers and rapists . . . one of whom Ripley sleeps with? Or the evil corporation? Or the alien?' "

That said, I think most of the hate was because Cameron did such a good job selling the Ripley/Newt/Hicks "family" concept, that everyone was very disappointed when that was all jettisoned within the first 5 minutes. After that, no amount of "grungy atmosphere" was going to satisfy. Apparently, it was received better in Europe, where they appreciated that moody, sepia, testosterone overload better, and weren't quite as attached to the little "family" Cameron set up.

As for #4, not sure what Joss Whedon was doing there . . . he seems to REALLY hit or REALLY miss (mostly hit).

[–] Picnic10 8 years ago

I agree that Alien 3 seems better received overall in Europe. It was more of a return to a Ridley Scott vibe, only with a cool, contemporary Smells Like Teen Spirit nihilistic vibe. Ridley Scott studied at my school for a year. Opening shots in Alien 3 were filmed on the industrial north east coast in England. Aliens had partially seemed a Vietnam kind of allegory. We're not used to cosy little families being lynchpins of horror series. In order to not feel like the alien/s been prevented from killing them due to movie rules about morality, one or more of those would be expected to die. But that would cause great anguish to the other two and the longer you delay the death, including in future sequels, the more that accumulated sense of hope feels betrayed. So they were given as much as was feasible 'peaceful' deaths in their sleep.

The alien series has always been unpretentiously metaphorical beyond the basic horror of beast kills most of crew. Newt's death is a lynchpin of the metaphor in Alien 3. Here's a load of people who've been written off by being categorised as merely rapists and murderers. Yet they're the ones sending off Newt to her resting place with sweet words. The implication is that it isn't the 'innocent youth' that the prisoners are angry with / would hurt. It's uncaring adult society. And everyone should feel sorry for them that, in their attempts at redemption, it will involve the kind of physical self sacrifice that Jesus (if existed) would have thought twice about and practically noone will be left to enjoy the peace in an environment that already looks Hell-like anyway.

[–] TRhett 8 years ago

cool, contemporary Smells Like Teen Spirit nihilistic vibe

I love that . . . perfect description. Unfortunately, it didn't click in America - nor did the "religious redemption" allegory. We were expecting more of "Aliens." (If you watch "Aliens" with commentary, JC sarcastically says several times, "Well, I set it up for you guys, and then you went and blew it in the first 5 minutes"). He's an -ss with a God complex, but he DOES know exactly which buttons to push . . . you have to give it to him.
I have read before that one of the movie "rules" in Europe is that you DO NOT put children in harm's way (in America, it's animals that people go crazy about . . . if you've set up an animal "character," they MUST survive . . . go figure).
And I'm not sure that Sigourney Weaver herself shouldn't share some of the blame . . . at that point, she had been nominated for an Oscar, was the highest-paid, most powerful woman in Hollywood, and had a great deal of control over the whole "direction" of the "Alien mythos" (they said that SHE basically "directed" Fincher).
But, let's face it . . . when you try something new in Hollywood, it's always a game of darts. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't. That's why sequels are usually continuations of proven formulas - without too much meddling with the underlying framework.