User:Canadian Paul/Quadrilogy
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The Alien Quadrilogy is a four-film, nine-DVD box set collection of Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection.
Contents |
[edit] Development and Marketing
Fox first released the Alien film series on DVD in 1999, two years after the release of Alien: Resurrection. The set was based off of an interpositive, necessitating a difficult restoration,[1] and the bonus features on the disc were limited. The films were reissued in 2001 in a box set entitled The Alien Legacy, followed by a release of The Alien Saga, a documentary covering the making of all four films. The studio hired documentary filmmaker and DVD producer Charles de Lauzirika to compile the set. His team included David Crowther, the project's post-production supervisor, and Karen Fromel, the restoration supervisor. Three of the four directors of the films were involved in the creation of the set, while David Fincher, who directed Alien 3, "chose not to participate"[2] according to Fox's public relations department, and he is the only director not featured on a commentary track.[2] The crew also faced limitations with bringing the cast back to provide commentary for the films, particularly with Sigourney Weaver, who only had an hour and a half to discuss the film. For this reason, she is not featured on the commentary track for Aliens.[1]
Unlike the 1999 version, restoration for the first film was based off of the original camera negatives of the film. When Ridley Scott was first shown the initial result for Alien, with all of the scenes restored and included in the cut, he rejected it, concerned with its length and pacing. Modern Video Film, a restoration company, was hired to clean up the film and, when they finished, Scott returned to supervise the creation of the 2003 director's cut. Since the film was restored before the final cuts were made, several of the partially filmed "deleted scene" DVD extras are in anamorphic widescreen format and contain 5.1 surround sound.[2] There was minimal digital clean up on Aliens, as James Cameron had claimed to be satisfied with the original transfer. Sound restoration for Alien 3 proved to be difficult, and optional subtitles, along with a disclaimer for the sound quality, were provided for that film.[1]
In late October 2003, Fox previewed Ridley Scott's 2003 director's cut on 347 screens and grossed approximately one million dollars. Alien Quadrilogy was released on December 2, 2003 and the two-disc sets, individual releases of the films, were made available on January 6, 2004, having been delayed due to production problems.[3] The ninth disc, however, was only available with Alien Quadrilogy. The word "Quadrilogy" was invented by the development staff and is not found in standard dictionaries. A tetralogy defines a set of four related works,[4] whereas a quartet refers more generally to any group of four things.[5] On November 14, 2005, Fox re-released the box set in a limited edition xenomorph head casing.[6]
[edit] Features
The set contains nine DVDs in total, totaling forty-five hours of material in total. Discs one, three, five and seven featured both the theatrical and an alternate version of Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien: Resurrection respectively, as well as a full-length commentary track for each film. Discs two, four, six and eight contained bonus features for each of the films, whereas disc nine featured an array of supplemental materials.[3] The entire box set spans 5 feet 4 inches (1.6 m), rounded out by a twenty-three page booklet in the tenth slot that explains what is on each disc. All four films are presented in letterboxed widescreen format.[7]
[edit] Alien
[edit] Disc 1
[edit] Disc 2
[edit] Aliens
[edit] Disc 3
[edit] Disc 4
[edit] Alien 3
[edit] Disc 5
[edit] Disc 6
[edit] Alien: Resurrection
[edit] Disc 7
[edit] Disc 8
[edit] Disc 9
[edit] Reception
Alien Quadrilogy was almost universally well-received by both professional and amateur internet DVD reviewing sites. Film Freak Central labeled the set as a "Must-own" collection, giving the set an overall rating of A+.[8] DVDTown.com reviewer John Puccio gave the set a 9 out of 10 and proclaimed that "you can't say Fox was stingy about offering fans everything they could ever have wanted in an "Alien" set."[9] Inside Pulse's DVD Lounge gave the set a perfect 10,[10] while DVD Authority scored it 5 out of 5.[11]
IGN rated the set as a whole 9 out of 10 and bestowed upon the collection its Editor's Choice Award.[12] On the day of its release, Alien Quadrilogy won in the categories for "Best Overall DVD, Classic Movie" and "Best Audio Commentary" at the DVD Exclusive Awards, matching the number of top awards won by The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Special Extended Edition at a ceremony hosted by Jenny McCarthy.[13] It had been nominated in six categories.[14] In 2004, at the DVD Technical Awards, Alien Quadrilogy was the winner in the category for "Best use of menu features".[15]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Patrizio, Andy (2003-11-14). An Interview with Charles de Lauzirika (Page 2). IGN. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ a b c Patrizio, Andy (2003-11-14). An Interview with Charles de Lauzirika. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ a b Lerman, Laurence. "All-encompassing Alien set hits Dec. 2", Video Business, 2003-11-03. Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ tetralogy. Dictionary.com (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ quartet. Dictionary.com (2008). Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ Alien Quadrilogy Deluxe Alien Head Limited Edition Box Set. Amazon.co.uk (2007). Retrieved on 2008-01-12.
- ^ Pratt, Douglas (2003). The Alien Quadrilogy. Movie City Geek. Movie City Centre. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
- ^ Chambers, Bill (2003-12-02). Alien Quadrilogy. Film Freak Central. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Puccio, John J. (2003-11-06). Alien Quadrilogy: Alien / Aliens / Alien 3 / Alien Resurrection. DVDTown.com. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Cavanagh, John (2005-10-15). InsidePulse DVD Review - Alien Quadrilogy. Inside Pulse. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Fusion3600 (2007). Alien Quadrilogy. DVD Authority. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Patrizo, Andy (2003-11-14). The Complete Alien Quadrilogy. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Hettrick, Scott. "Quadrilogy, Two Towers, Dictionary among winners on star-studded night", Video Business, 2003-12-03. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Hettrick, Scott. "YOUR AWARDS SHOW", Video Business, 2004-11-14. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
- ^ Hettrick, Scott. "Two Towers wins three DVD Technical Awards", Video Business, 2004-07-14. Retrieved on 2008-01-15.
[edit] External Links
Category:Alien (film series)
