Alien (1979) | Blu-ray Review
By thisguyoverhere | May 10, 2011
Cast: Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Tom Skerritt
Directed by: Ridley Scott
Written by: Dan O’Bannon
Genre: Horror, Science Fiction
Rating:
Video:
Audio:
Extras: 1/2
Value:
Review:
Video:
Wow. This is the closest thing I can think of as a textbook definition of how to present a catalogue release. Obvious care has been put into preserving the original prints, which allow for a picture quality that is absolutely void of any kind of debris, fading, grain, wear and tear. It’s absolutely the best picture I have seen for a film that wasn’t shot digitally. There is also no hint of distracting DNR filters, edge enhancement, or aliasing issues. If you’ll allow a metaphor, it is as perfect as the Alien itself.
Presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC, 2.35:1
Audio:
Holy cow. For a film where sound design is so important, the aural track really goes the extra mile to not only present the film’s audio as clearly as possible, but as faithful to the original mood as possible. The high-def track never peaks beyond when it intends to for suspense, the eerie drips and clanks of the ship fill out the surround speakers, and Jerry Goldsmith’s score is flawlessly preserved. In fact, the audio presentation here is so immersive that it will make viewers who are already a fan of the film feel as though they are experiencing this film for the first time.
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS 5.1
Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese: Dolby Digital 5.1
Extras: 1/2
Even without the massive amounts of special features on the supplemental discs in the Alien Anthology, the extras provided here are very informative. There are not one, but two versions of the film – the Theatrical Version and the Directors Cut (which Ridley Scott admits is more of an experiment in curiosity than an ideal version of the film) – as well as two commentaries, and additional scenes.
Also, to note, there are two Isolated Score tracks, which is to demonstrate the difference between the Theatrical Version (which is preferable, in my opinion, when viewed with the film) and Jerry Goldsmith’s Original Score, which was severely cut down for the final version (a very fine score that tells a scary tale when listened to on its own). It’s a great comparison for changes that studios usually make, but rarely ever advertise.
1979 Theatrical Version (HD, 01:56:37)
2003 Director’s Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction (HD, 01:55:49)
In a rare move, this “director’s cut” is actually shorter than the original – and it even includes additional footage! The footage can also be found under the Deleted and Extended Scenes.
Audio Commentary by director Ridley Scott, writer Dan O’Bannon, executive producer Ronald Susett, editor Terry Rawlings, actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Hurt [Special Edition Only]
This is a wonderfully produced commentary that pieces together separate audio tracks into a very comprehensive experience. Ridley provides information that refrains from being too redundant from his previous commentary, and the other commentators provide unique insights into their specific roles on the film. It’s a shame that Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, and Dan O’Bannon are only given a small bit of audio time as they seem to have incredible intelligence when speaking about the film. Overall, it’s an amazing track worthy of your time.
Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott [Theatrical Version Only]
Recorded in 1999 for the 20th anniversary of the film, Ridley Scott shares his insights on the filmmaking process. His perspective is on a very technical level – even when he gets into theory, it’s how it applies to achieving practical effects, the impact on the overall product, and performances. For anyone interested in filmmaking (on any level), Scott’s commentary is incredibly educational.
Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith
Composer’s Original Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith
Deleted and Extended Scenes (HD, 06:39)
These scenes are interesting in terms of character development, as well as the mythos of the race of Alien. These have become infamous, particularly in a moment where Tom Skerritt appears at the end of the film plastered to the wall of the ship awaiting impregnation by a facehugger.
Value:
If you’re only interested in owning this singular film from the franchise, there could be a lot worse. Most of the supplements that are found in the Alien Anthology really allow for further appreciation, so I can only recommend this if extra features and the other three films are not of interest to you. Otherwise, the audio and video are impeccable and make this a very commendable release.
Highly Recommended.
Will There Be A Double Dip?
Fox may release additional Anniversary Editions, with additions from the Anthology (and perhaps a digital copy), but for the most part, this is as good as it will ever look and sound – and considering the supplements already exist in the box set, I can’t imagine that another release of this film will be of any real value. I highly recommend the Anthology, but if you must buy this, do so with confidence.
Worth The Upgrade?
If you own this film on DVD and you’re considering the Blu-ray version, do not hesitate. Watching the tremendous upgrade in audio and video is like discovering the film for the first time. For the right price, this can gladly replace your existing DVD on your shelf.
