Alien trilogy coming to blu-ray?!... - Page 4

http://uk.bluray.ign.com/articles/110/1106154p1.html

Looks awesome!

Includes full specs and official box art.

Deleted and extended scenes for Alien 3!

Full uncut Wreckage and Rape: The Making of Alien 3 Doc!

Disc One: Alien

• 1979 Theatrical Version 
• 2003 Director's Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction 
• Audio Commentary by Director Ridley Scott, Writer Dan O'Bannon, Executive Producer Ronald Shusett, Editor Terry Rawlings, Actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt 
• Audio Commentary (for Theatrical Cut only) by Ridley Scott
• Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith 
• Composer's Original Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith 
• Deleted and Extended Scenes 
• MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream

Disc Two: Aliens

• 1986 Theatrical Version 
• 1991 Special Edition with James Cameron Introduction 
• Audio Commentary by Director James Cameron, Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Alien Effects Creator Stan Winston, Visual Effects Supervisors Robert Skotak and Dennis Skotak, Miniature Effects Supervisor Pat McClung, Actors Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Jenette Goldstein, Carrie Henn and Christopher Henn 
• Final Theatrical Isolated Score by James Horner 
• Composer's Original Isolated Score by James Horner 
• Deleted and Extended Scenes 
• MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream

Disc Three: Alien3

• 1992 Theatrical Version 
• 2003 Special Edition (Restored Workprint Version) 
• Audio Commentary by Cinematographer Alex Thomson, B.S.C., Editor Terry Rawlings, Alien Effects Designers Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., Visual Effects Producer Richard Edlund, A.S.C., Actors Paul McGann and Lance Henriksen 
• Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Elliot Goldenthal 
• Deleted and Extended Scenes 
• MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream

Disc Four: Alien Resurrection

• 1997 Theatrical Version 
• 2003 Special Edition with Jean-Pierre Jeunet Introduction 
• Audio Commentary by Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, Editor Herve Schneid, A.C.E., Alien Effects Creators Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff, Jr., Visual Effects Supervisor Pitof, Conceptual Artist Sylvain Despretz, Actors Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon and Leland Orser 
• Final Theatrical Isolated Score by John Frizzell 
• Deleted and Extended Scenes 
• MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream

Disc 5

• • Star Beast: Developing the Story 
  • The Visualists: Direction and Design 
  • Truckers in Space: Casting 
  • Fear of the Unknown: Shepperton Studios, 1978 
  • The Darkest Reaches: Nostromo and Alien Planet 
  • The Eighth Passenger: Creature Design 
  • Future Tense: Editing and Music 
  • Outward Bound: Visual Effects 
  • A Nightmare Fulfilled: Reaction to the Film 
  • Enhancement Pods
• • 57 Years Later: Continuing the Story 
  • Building Better Worlds: From Concept to Construction 
  • Preparing for Battle: Casting and Characterization 
  • This Time It's War: Pinewood Studios, 1985 
  • The Risk Always Lives: Weapons and Action 
  • Bug Hunt: Creature Design 
  • Beauty and the Bitch: Power Loader vs. Queen Alien 
  • Two Orphans: Sigourney Weaver and Carrie Henn 
  • The Final Countdown: Music, Editing and Sound 
  • The Power of Real Tech: Visual Effects 
  • Aliens Unleashed: Reaction to the Film 
  • Enhancement Pods
• • Development Hell: Concluding the Story 
  • Tales of the Wooden Planet: Vincent Ward's Vision 
  • Stasis Interrupted: David Fincher's Vision 
  • Xeno-Erotic: H.R. Giger's Redesign 
  • The Color of Blood: Pinewood Studios, 1991 
  • Adaptive Organism: Creature Design 
  • The Downward Spiral: Creative Differences 
  • Where the Sun Burns Cold: Fox Studios, L.A. 1992 
  • Optical Fury: Visual Effects 
  • Requiem for a Scream: Music, Editing and Sound 
  • Post-Mortem: Reaction to the Film 
  • Enhancement Pods
• • From the Ashes: Reviving the Story 
  • French Twist: Direction and Design 
  • Under the Skin: Casting and Characterization 
  • Death from Below: Fox Studios, Los Angeles, 1996 
  • In the Zone: The Basketball Scene 
  • Unnatural Mutation: Creature Design 
  • Genetic Composition: Music 
  • Virtual Aliens: Computer Generated Imagery 
  • A Matter of Scale: Miniature Photography 
  • Critical Juncture: Reaction to the Film 
  • Enhancement Pods 
  • MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience to Access and Control Enhancement Pods

Disc Six: The Anthology Archives 
Alien

• Pre-Production
  • First Draft Screenplay by Dan O'Bannon 
  • Ridleygrams: Original Thumbnails and Notes 
  • Storyboard Archive 
  • The Art of Alien: Conceptual Art Portfolio 
  • Sigourney Weaver Screen Tests with Select Director Commentary 
  • Cast Portrait Gallery
• Production
  • The Chestbuster: Multi-Angle Sequence with Commentary 
  • Video Graphics Gallery 
  • Production Image Galleries 
  • Continuity Polaroids 
  • The Sets of Alien 
  • H.R. Giger's Workshop Gallery
• Post-Production and Aftermath
  • Additional Deleted Scenes 
  • Image & Poster Galleries
• Experience in Terror 
• Special Collector's Edition LaserDisc Archive 
• The Alien Legacy 
• American Cinematheque: Ridley Scott Q&A 
• Trailers & TV Spots

Aliens

• Pre-Production
  • Original Treatment by James Cameron 
  • Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Videomatics with Commentary 
  • Storyboard Archive 
  • The Art of Aliens: Image Galleries 
  • Cast Portrait Gallery
• Production
  • Production Image Galleries 
  • Continuity Polaroids 
  • Weapons and Vehicles 
  • Stan Winston's Workshop 
  • Colonial Marine Helmet Cameras 
  • Video Graphics Gallery 
  • Weyland-Yutani Inquest: Nostromo Dossiers
• Post-Production and Aftermath
  • Deleted Scene: Burke Cocooned 
  • Deleted Scene Montage 
  • Image Galleries 
  • Special Collector's Edition LaserDisc Archive 
  • Main Title Exploration 
  • Aliens: Ride at the Speed of Fright
  • Trailers & TV Spots

Alien3

• Pre-Production
  • Storyboard Archive 
  • The Art of Arceon 
  • The Art of Fiorina
• Production
  • Furnace Construction: Time-Lapse Sequence 
  • EEV Bioscan: Multi-Angle Vignette with Commentary
  • Production Image Galleries 
  • A.D.I.'s Workshop
• Post-Production and Aftermath
  • Visual Effects Gallery 
  • Special Shoot: Promotional Photo Archive
• Alien3 Advance Featurette 
• The Making of Alien3 Promotional Featurette 
• Trailers & TV Spots

Alien Resurrection

• Pre-Production
  • First Draft Screenplay by Joss Whedon 
  • Test Footage: A.D.I. Creature Shop with Commentary 
  • Test Footage: Costumes, Hair and Makeup 
  • Pre-Visualizations: Multi-Angle Rehearsals 
  • Storyboard Archive 
  • The Marc Caro Portfolio: Character Designs 
  • The Art of Resurrection: Image Galleries
• Production
  • Production Image Galleries 
  • A.D.I.'s Workshop
• Post-Production and Aftermath
  • Visual Effects Gallery 
  • Special Shoot: Promotional Photo Archive
• HBO First Look: The Making of Alien Resurrection
• Alien Resurrection Promotional Featurette 
• Trailers & TV Spots

Anthology

• Two Versions of Alien Evolution
• The Alien Saga 
• Patches and Logos Gallery 
• Aliens 3D Attraction Scripts and Gallery 
• Aliens in the Basement: The Bob Burns Collection 
• Parodies 
• Dark Horse Cover Gallery 
• Patches and Logos Gallery 
• MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience

Thanks Charles!

JC

No Fincher input still :( can you talk about the set now Charlie?

I'm so happy that we're finally seeing the full version of your Alien³ documentary, Charlie! As awesome as the Quad set was, this one is shaping up to be an all-time classic.

The press release specifically mentions that this set brings together all the special features from the SE laserdiscs on up, and kudos to whomever fought to put it all on there. And the isolated scores...WOW. The return of Goldsmith's scores from the 1999 Alien DVD is a treat, but two versions of the Aliens score is going above and beyond the call of duty. I've always dug Elliot Goldenthal's music from Alien³ too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim C 

 

Thanks Charles!

Give that man an award!

Calling it now - DVD set of the year. ALL YEARS.

Looks almost perfect.  I'll be happy to get the theatrical Aliens. I feel the DC is too long and at least one scene, as good as it is that shows the settlement, reveals too much too early and cuts down impact when Ripley and crew arrive.  All the other extra scenes are okay though. 

also, Alien 3.  That's a film that needed tweaking. 

I'll be getting this when it gets out in the US.  Very excititng! 

Sound and picture details:

Video: 1080P 2.35:1 (Alien, Alien 3, Alien: Resurrection) / 1080P 1.85:1 (Aliens)
Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD MA, French 5.1 DTS, Spanish DD5.1 and Portuguese DD5.1 (All 4 Films) / English DD4.0 Surround and English Dolby Surround (Alien & Aliens)
Subtitles: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese

I thought Sigourney Weaver recorded commentaries for all four films?

Wreckage and Rape alone is making this a day one buy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Absolution 

I thought Sigourney Weaver recorded commentaries for all four films?

 

Wreckage and Rape alone is making this a day one buy!

Maybe they're super-secret commentaries!

This is, like, the most epic set I've seen in a long time. The only way it could possibly be better is if they found that supposed footage of Ripley lacing up her futuristic Nikes in the Medlab from Aliens (that was supposedly only shown on opening day, according to legend).

That press release says the Alien 3 doc is now called "Wreckage and Rage". Interesting.

Yes, I commented in the other announcement thread that this has to be the most comprehensive set for a series of films ever offered in the history of optical disc.

Too bad no Fincher participation again this time around, but that was real long shot to begin with (I know the experience was miserable for Fincher, but I wish he would just suck it up and talk about the film).
 

I also wonder about the reported Sigourney commentaries, did that just never materalize? Also, can I finally retire my 1999 Alien DVD. I know all the special features have been ported over, but will the theatrical version on BD have the original 20th Century Fox logo and original color timing?

Yeah, "Rape" has sort of become equivalent of a curse word these days. I know sometimes it gets bleeped out of songs played on the radio and the like.

Thanks Charlie, This looks to be an incredible set.

from the Bits

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

Where is the Wreckage and Rage on the DVD set? is it just the name for the multi part doc?

All I want to know for sure before I pre-order is that Cameron signed off on the Aliens transfer, and Alien lives up to the D-theater tape.

Also that Alien Resurection has the Bleach Bypass timing the laserdisc had and not the odd non timed version that the HDTV and DVD versions have.

One more thing I wondered was about the sound mixes.

 Will these be the OG mix on Alien (six track 70mm) without the center that was made later?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Wadkins 

Where is the Wreckage and Rage on the DVD set? is it just the name for the multi part doc?

 

From the IMDb entry for The Making of Alien 3:

The original title of this documentary was "Wreckage and Rape: The Making of Alien 3" before Fox decided to censor it. It's worth noting that "Wreckage and Rape" is taken from the title of a music cue on the official Alien 3 soundtrack. Unlike the other documentaries in the Alien Quadrilogy set, several of the chapters in the Alien 3 documentary ended up with bland, non-descriptive titles, such as "Pre-Production: Part III," for example. The original, uncensored chapter titles were: 1. Development Hell: Concluding The Story 3. Stasis Interrupted: David Fincher's Vision 5. The Color of Blood: Shepperton Studios, 1991 7. The Downward Spiral: Fincher vs. Fox 8. Where The Sun Burns Cold: Fox Studios, L.A. 1992 10. Requiem For A Scream: Music, Editing and Sound.

So it looks like we'll be getting the uncut version this time around (you can find most of those original chapter titles in the press release) and I assume it will be credited to Charles de Lauzirika and not Fred Garvin. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daz_85 

I hope it's not a mistake and that the only deleted scenes are for the first 2 films... I'm holding hope for more Alien3 footage! [EDIT] Could it mean "Deleted and Extended Scenes Marker" instead, since that feature was on the US Quadrilogy set?

Maybe the setup is like the Quadrilogy release (you access all the Special Edition/Director's Cut scenes that weren't in the theatrical versions through a separate menu). I thought the Alien and Aliens deleted scenes on Disc 6 are the newly-discovered ones.

I'm amazed that both versions of Evolution and the Alien Saga documentary are included. I have a question, Mr. Lauzirika: were you able to find the Alien 3: Bringing the Screams to the Screen retrospective featurette that originally aired on HBO in the early 90's? I know it's probably all covered anyway by the other three doc's on Disc 6, but I was curious.

I have one additional question about the first ALIEN film on disc:

The 1999 DVD included on-set production audio on the alternate music track, including different dialogue at some points.

It sounds from the features list that this is not what is on the new Blu-ray.  The new music tracks appear to be one that has Goldsmith's original cues, and a second one that has the revised score with the Freud cues and the Howard Hansen music at the end.

I'm thinking I should continue to hang on to the 1999 DVD to retain the production audio.  Am I wrong?

Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Gregory 

Maybe the setup is like the Quadrilogy release (you access all the Special Edition/Director's Cut scenes that weren't in the theatrical versions through a separate menu). I thought the Alien and Aliens deleted scenes on Disc 6 are the newly-discovered ones.

 

I'm amazed that both versions of Evolution and the Alien Saga documentary are included. I have a question, Mr. Lauzirika: were you able to find the Alien 3: Bringing the Screams to the Screen retrospective featurette that originally aired on HBO in the early 90's? I know it's probably all covered anyway by the other three doc's on Disc 6, but I was curious.

Do we know what the Dolby 4.0 and the 2.0 tracks on Alien and Aliens are? they can't both be isolated scores
 

Wreckage And Rape

At last!

Will disc 5 all be in SD, or was it shot in HD?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Wadkins 

Will disc 5 all be in SD, or was it shot in HD?

It was shot in SD, I believe. And it seems a bit much to be all in HD, it's a lot of footage :).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Wadkins 

 

 

Do we know what the Dolby 4.0 and the 2.0 tracks on Alien and Aliens are? they can't both be isolated scores
 

They're not. Those are the alternate English language tracks for the movie itself, the 4.0 track aping the LCRS layout of the original mix. Fox do like to include the original audio where possible on their US platters. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jovan Ristic 

Wreckage And Rape

 

At last!

I know you didn't mean that to be funny, but I just spat my tea all over my keyboard. Who'd have thought that people would be so enthusiastic about getting some Wreckage and Rape?

Any chance of a heads-up on certain issues that people mentioned above re: Alien, Charlie? Like, will the 1979 version have the original colour timing? Is the second isolated score the same music + production audio track from the 1999 DVD? Will the crew dossier easter egg make it across? And finally, what will be the lottery numbers for next week?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff_D 

 

They're not. Those are the alternate English language tracks for the movie itself, the 4.0 track aping the LCRS layout of the original mix. Fox do like to include the original audio where possible on their US platters. 

Quote:

I know you didn't mean that to be funny, but I just spat my tea all over my keyboard. Who'd have thought that people would be so enthusiastic about getting some Wreckage and Rape?

 

Any chance of a heads-up on certain issues that people mentioned above re: Alien, Charlie? Like, will the 1979 version have the original colour timing? Is the second isolated score the same music + production audio track from the 1999 DVD? Will the crew dossier easter egg make it across? And finally, what will be the lottery numbers for next week?

We know this for sure? its the real 70mm audio at last! no phantom center

 I love the content and I am glad its there, but I do find it weird when its SD on a blu.

I agree that given the length of each of the documentaries, there's no way they could be in HD and all fit on one side of a disc, Blu-ray or otherwise.   We're talking about something in the neighborhood of over 10 hours, when you add all the docs together, and we haven't even started dealing with the "Enhancement Pods" yet...

BTW the crew dossier Easter Egg from 1999 appears to be included here on Disc 6 under the ALIENS section as:

"Weyland-Yutani Inquest: Nostromo Dossiers"

That appears to be more indicatve of the dossier readouts on the screen behind Ripley when she's testifying before the review board at the beginning of Aliens. Don't know if that is where that Easter egg was derived from, however

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Wadkins 

We know this for sure? its the real 70mm audio at last! no phantom center

 

If its 4.0, its not the 70mm mix. It should be 4.1. And most Dolby discrete mixes from that era have phantom centers anyway if the dvds of Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Blade Runner are to be believed. Frankly I was under the impression that the 5.1 mix featured on the quadrillogy Alien mix was just a straight port of the original six track stems. It seems to have that "deafening volume" Scott claimed the film had in its premiere on the commentary which the old Alien Legacy release lacked.

As for Aliens, not sure if that was released split or mono. Alien 3 was definetely split.
 

So are they just going to forget about the original sound track?

According to the press release, both ALIEN and ALIENS will be presented in English DTS-HD MA 5.1, as well as English 4.1 Dolby Surround and plain vanilla English Dolby Surround.  The third and fourth films will be presented in English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and English DTS 5.1.   (I'm leaving out the other languages to keep this simple.)

As for the dossiers, I can now say that they are derived from what was on the inquest screen in ALIENS, but they are not copied word for word.  As an example, the educational background listed for Kane is the same, but the material is presented in a different fashion.  I have read online that the content of the screens was taken from the materials prepared by Ridley Scott for the cast of the first film, but I haven't been able to confirm this.  The fact that the DVD dossier for Ripley includes her maternity leave indicates that may have stemmed from the daughter subplot of the second film.   (Perhaps Mr. de Lauzirika may be able to help here?)

In all likelihood, the two Easter Eggs from the 1999 DVD are still exclusive to that release - the crew dossiers as lovingly prepared and presented in that situation, and Ash's presentation of the Alien's life cycle to his (its) Weyland Yutani superiors.

The real question left for me is whether the production audio track has carried over on the alternate music track, but if it doesn't, I still have the older DVD, which I'm happy to keep.

Oh, and the lottery numbers for next week depend on what state you're in.  If you're on Thedus, they will be 38-559-204-3098XQ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin EK 

According to the press release, both ALIEN and ALIENS will be presented in English DTS-HD MA 5.1, as well as English 4.1 Dolby Surround and plain vanilla English Dolby Surround.  The third and fourth films will be presented in English DTS-HD MA 5.1 and English DTS 5.1.   (I'm leaving out the other languages to keep this simple.)

Well I guess that answers any questions. And any ones in regards to how Aliens was mixed originally.
 

A while back when I was watching the Alien Quadrilogy release of the original Alien, I noticed some instances where elements from the Director's Cut seemed to have crept their way into the Theatrical Version. These are the biggest ones that came to mind.

- In the earlier part of the movie when Ripley attempts to contact Earth and transition to an exterior view of the Nostromo. This short sequence features two exterior shots, one long view of the Nostromo, and an up close shot of the bridge area. In every version of the film that I've seen (including VHS, Laser Disc and DVD), the second shot showing a close up of the Nostromo had no stars in the background, just plain blackness. However, since Ridley Scott added more stars into his Director's Cut, this one shot of the Nostromo features a star field in both versions of the film when it should only be in the Director's Cut.

- This one is minor since it mainly involves sound. After Ripley assaults Ash in Mother's chamber, she leaves abruptly and attempts to contact Parker and Lambert. In the theatrical version, the sounds of her working the comms are just simple clicks. In the Director's Cut, very short clips of static is played after every click. This is on both versions when it should just be in the Director's Cut.

Hopefully they either caught this and corrected it for the BluRay, or just had a better sense of 'what goes where' when they were redoing these versions for the BluRay.