Review of Alien³ (1992) by Dirigiblepulp — 27 Jul 2017

Confession - I've never seen the theatrical cut of this film, only ever the Assembly Cut and because of that I've never understood the antipathy this film generates in people. It's almost great, and it's mostly really good.

In terms of the overall storyline it feels like the most logical conclusion to the series. It's deeply, darkly nihilistic, but this is about the ultimate killing machine so it should be. All the characters from the last film had to be killed off because there is no happy ending as long as the Aliens are alive and Ripley knows it. She starts each film fresh, alone, her against the Alien. In order to stop it once and for all she makes the ultimate sacrifice, the martyrdom that the religious subtext and images are getting at. There's nothing left for her anymore, there never was in any film. This is the happy ending she deserves. She's a woman out of time and place that must make a selfless decision. It's a brilliantly fitting conclusion.

Honestly the biggest problems here concern the surrounding setup plot and some of the direction. More explanation behind the Queen Alien laying facehugger (that needed a wiki to explain away). The romantic subplot with the doctor that ends abruptly then Ripley moves on too fast (then again, maybe she's used to it?). Why do all the prisoners look the same?

The last half of the movie is paced poorly, with endless corridor chasing and trapping and running. It's clear based on this cut that Fincher was onto something but he wasn't the great director of precision he is now, at least in terms of suspense and thrills. The film is gorgeous to look at and the atmosphere is a bleak oppressive shroud you can wrap yourself up in.