Alien Resurrection

"You'll die. You'll ALL die."

ALIEN RESURRECTION (R)

Reviewed November 28, 1997 - Check out the Alien Resurrection web site.

Remember when Ellen Ripley died in Alien3? Well, she's BACK...200 years later and sharper than ever...

How did Ripley ever come back to life after so many years? Who are all those doctors who keep flashing cards at her? How did she learn how to handle a basketball like that? And...holy cow...why is there yet another 'queen alien' alive in this Universe?

Enter Alien Resurrection, the fourth installment in the Ripley vs. Alien saga. This time our dear Ellen is brought to us courtesy of advanced genetic cloning; and no, she wasn't resurrected in order to fight a queen alien, she was resurrected in order to host (i.e. give birth to) one.

Directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, Alien Resurrection is, like its predecessors, a visually stunning piece of filmmaking. Grand set designs are as much a part of the Alien experience as the characters themselves, and Resurrection definitely delivers on this front. In the making of this film, however, Jeunet and company never seem to realize that sometimes enough is enough. Throw subtlety out the window in Resurrection, and instead get ready for a stream of twisted bodies, screaming aliens, bloody deaths, and other bits of gore. Whether this type of imagery enhances or detracts from the film depends on your tastes, but Resurrection definitely leaves little to the imagination.

Unfortunately, the characters populating the Resurrection landscape are a somewhat unlikeable bunch. For instance, those of you expecting the same Ellen Ripley as in the earlier Alien films are in for a surprise as she's...well....not all human anymore. The rest of the characters are, with the exception of Annalee Call (Winona Ryder), amazingly uninteresting. This is perhaps just as well, since most of them end up as alien food before it's all over.

Still, there's something about the Alien saga that keeps people (including me) coming back for more. Perhaps it's the hope of witnessing a film as thrilling as Aliens (James Cameron's contribution to the series), or maybe it's just blind curiosity at what lies ahead for poor Lieutenant Ripley. Whichever the case, Alien Resurrection stands as neither the best nor the worst entry in this series. Be prepared for some surprises in this one but, given the film's ending, don't be surprised to see more Alien films in the future...

Responses from cyberspace--thanks for writing!

bugzapper1219@aol.com gives this movie stars: "I chose 5 stars because Sigourney Weaver is an A++ actress in that movie. The part she plays isn't messed up. I did not like the first one because... well... put it this way: "Crack" kills!" (2/19/01)

Barry gives this movie stars: "Alien-*** Aliens-**** Alien 3-** Aliens is the best out of the lot i think, but is not far behind." (12/12/00)

sbernard@yorku.ca gives this movie star: "First half of the film was excellent. 2nd half was SOOOO bad, it cancels out the first half. 1) Computer-genterated Aliens....? Uhh.... HELLO! When did we ever see cheesy-lookng and obvious CGI ALIENS in the first two films? NEVER! Yes, there was the obvious CGI rod-puppet alien in ALIEN 3.... but that was half (if not the whole) reason why ALIEN 3 sucked. 2) How terrifying is an ALIEN QUEEN that goes "goo-goo, ga-ga" and "Awwww, ooooooh" as she cradles her newest offspring? Maybe she could be marketed as a toy puppet with a pull-string for children at Christmas! What do you think? Kids would pull the string and the Alien Queen would make cute cooing sounds! 3) By giving the Queen's offspring EYES (when the ALIENS never had eyes), you take away the very essence of the whole series' namesake by making the ALIEN creature FAMILIAR. Remember that ALIEN also means unknown, unfamiliar and strange. Human eyes are something we can relate to and understand. That's what made the original aliens so damn alarming.... they were all teeth and claws and NO EYES. ALIEN RESSURRECTION should not have been given the Lazarus treatment. :( Stephen " (2/22/00)

ageer2@juno.com gives this movie stars: "Alien Resurrection is the most beautifulist one of each film. The effects of the aliens are SO good! They look too real! The only dissapointment was that Christie died!!!!! Augghh!!! I think he kicked as much equal butt as Ripley! Once he died the awesome feel of the movie sank down and sorta died. But I still love it as much. I don't think Winona Ryder's character was weak at all. But she didn't seem to fit with half of the Bety crew. This movie is AWESOME!!! Alien Resurrection is the most beautifulist one of each film. The effects of the aliens are SO good! They look too real! The only dissapointment was that Christie died!!!!! Augghh!!! I think he kicked as much equal butt as Ripley! Once he died the awesome feel of the movie sank down and sorta died. But I still love it as much. I don't think Winona Ryder's character was weak at all. But she didn't seem to fit with half of the Bety crew. This movie is AWESOME!!!" (3/18/99)

carlterm@yahoo.com gives this movie stars: "I gave the movie 4.5 because, it was great. It had action. It showed development in character. Maybe I'm just a bad critic 'cause I love all movies, and they must all be taken as seperate pieces. You can't compare Alien Resurrection to Aliens simply because there are too many differences. There's an older, meaner, more cynical Ellen Ripley. There's a whole new cast. A new directer. A new writer. And this movie was possibly made as a jump-on point for people who have avoided the Alien saga. So, you must also take into thought while viewing is--nothing. Don't think of the old movies. Much like the new Star Wars films, coming out in '99, you can't think of the old ones, because those hadn't happened yet. And that's just what it is like for Alien Ressurection. All the previous movies happend, but there really is no impact on the new movie because she died at the end of Alien3. But some info does come back but it is all explained in a stylish way, by using conversations, to fill those in who have missed the previous films. And the end, and the fact that we don't see what happens to them now that they are on Earth and it's been over 200 years since Ripley's been there, was another genius move. And since, like most Alien films, the fast majority of the cast dies, you sit there and you wonder who next? when? and how? But it is also the fact that Ripley gives birth to an Alien not once but twice in the film and one of them isn't even hers. And when she is forced to kill her own child and the haunting sound of the baby crying: "mommy! mommy!" just adds to the flavor and greatness to the film." (12/3/98)

Bobby gives this movie stars: "I thought that the first Alien Movie was good, the second was a piece of cinematic history, the third sucked, but the forth rates up there with Aliens. The script is very good (Joss Whedon is one of my favorites) and the movie is gorgeous, photography wise. The special effects are good, and I was suprised by some of the deaths in the film. The many suprises in the film were good, the Alien Queen dying at the hands of her offspring was wonderful, but the final ending where the Alien is being sucked into space is cool, but it is only a mediocre next the the underwater sequence and the birth sequence. The directing is good, and the movie is gorgeous by all other aspects." (11/13/98)

l_harman@lincoln.college.adelaide.edu.au gives this movie stars: "Although its pretty good, thanks to the vision of french director Jean Pierre Jeunet, it doesn't equal the action and terror that was conveyed so brilliantly in the first two films. The introduction of new elements such as their 'escape' method are interesting as is the introduction of the human/alien hybrid. It rates just in front of the third installment but fails to come within reach of parts 1 and 2." (9/1/98)

Eric gives this movie stars: "Nowhere nearly as good as Alien (or Aliens, by far the best film of the series), but a big improvement over the depressing and horrendous Alien 3. Humor and the usually good effects save this film." (8/19/98)

David gives this movie stars: "The Alien Saga continues better than ever. Ripley ( Sigourney Weaver ) was much more attractive in this one ( performance/character wise ). But the other good thing was that she lent HER film to Cal ( Winona Ryder ) who was excellent too. The characters were fun and the Special Effects were far greater than the others and gave the viewer a more horrific alien. The under-water scene is one of the best in SCI/FI film history with its great suspense and action. Easily this continues what the other Trilogy was trying to be but it is 10 times greater." (7/14/98)

davkel@standard.net.au gives this movie stars: "As a Sigorney fan I throughly enjoyed this film. Sure they're are some flaws but overall the film was a real treat. Expecially the genetic changes in Ripley. Finding her sisters really sent a chill down my spine expecially the one still alive. Ryder was a little weak...she could have been beefed up abit and why did the leader of the smugglers die so quick...he wasn't to bad. It would be good if there was an Alien 5 on Earth." (1/28/98)

Cape12 gives this movie stars: "THIS MOVIE ROCKED!!!! In fact I say it's as good, if not superior to ALIENS. ALIEN was good because the whole idea was new. Also I wasn't disapointed with ALIEN3, I'm sure if somehow Alien came after Aliens, you would think it sucked too. I loved everything but one thing... they needed to add more characterization to Raymond Cruz's character DiStephano." (1/27/98)

jnb@prysm.net gives this movie stars: "This move rules, it was the best alien yet and I loved it. The new breed of alien was pritty cool, and Elen Riply was the bomb. (1/16/98)

laurent_dubois@hotmail.com gives this movie star: "1)I gave one star because no choice!! Otherwise, I'd give no star at all 2)Alien 4 SUX!!! 3)screenplay sux, alien's teeth sux, actor's breath to stay 1/2 hour under water sux, queen'womb with little sad-eyed-dog monster sux too much!!....SFX ridiculous (have u seen the smoke up to Ripley's hand when she put the knife through her hand?Have u seen the earth at the end of the..."movie (can we say that??..perhaps piece of sh**!)."...the sfx I made in my garage are better. 4)where do the eggs come from at the beginning of the story?...the queen has a womb or not.... 5)humour....I think they forgot it!!the spider is very funny..ha..ha..ha!! 6)The big body-hunter was "Stupido" in the "Name of the rose" wears his name well...Stupid and looks like!! 7)The music...aaaaah...the music....flush it into the toilets...I bought it but get it back to the shop the next day MORNING!!! 8)for about 5§ to see such a stupid make-me-stupid-like-a-rat film is too much!!I prefer to eat a Pizza (even if it's not a good one) than give my fu***ng money to be obliged to watch it!! 9) ALIEN4 SUX 10) ALIEN4 SUX 11) GOTO 1....never seen such a stupid ridiculous bad-done film!!! 12) PS : F*** Jeunet...he's not good anymore." (1/14/98)

cus55@yahoo.com gives this movie stars: "Alien was average. Aliens was absolutely brilliant. That was a movie which turned me into a horror/sci-fi buff. Alien 3 was much better than people said it was, and I thought the visual effects were stunning. But here comes along Alien: Resurrection, which completely blows away all of the other three movies. Resurrection is visually stunning, Weaver and Ryder are superb actresses, the sets and costume designs make Titanic look lame, and the aliens are far superior in looks and emotions. It is not often that such a gruesome movie is brilliant." (1/12/98)

cc603280@ntu.ac.uk gives this movie stars: "When I decided to go and see Alien Resurrection at the cinema I was a little concerned. The last Alien was a bit disappointing. In fact the films seemed to be going on a steady decline, however, I was quite surprised. The film has great effects and a half decent plot. It was a hybrid between Alien and Aliens. Loads of action with a bit of a story line. The characters are great, Sigourneys role is a bit more demanding and you have your classic kick ass hard men. The most disappointing part was perhaps Winona Ryders character. She was a bit weak, she seemed completely out of place on the "Betty" and was rarely convincing. All in all a good movie with some half decent one liners." (1/7/98)

Sweety gives this movie stars: "I haven't seen the movie yet but I'm planning on it A.S.A.P. All the Alien movies were good and I'm sure this one is too. Sigourney Weaver is a great actress and in this film it was said that she has a totally different additude more to the darker side. She seemed to kick that aliens butt all the other times i want to see her do it again!" (11/30/97)