'They mostly come out at night, mostly'
Fig 1. And What an Edition it is... I Love it
Yes you've probably seen this almost everywhere, but I cant do a review of my collection without including this amazing set from Sideshow Collectables. 4 movies and 6 discs with a statue that would grace any collectors shelve or man cave. Limited to just 5000 in the United States but I'm not sure about the worldwide total. To me it's priceless and I have seen a lot of negative comments about the set with people wanting Art cards, Glossy Photo's, Lenticular Picture's and so on, but to house all of that it would have to have been a lot bigger and cost a damn sight more. It is now highly collectable and out of print from the original sources. As for the Egg itself it stands at just over 8 inches tall and around 6 and half inches wide, with the Discs and mini booklet stored in the rear of the bottom plinth. It has the Xenomorph hugging a large egg that glows when the switch underneath is turned on.
Fig 2. The Xenomorph with the Egg now 'Glowing'
You get all 4 movies here that I will review below so make sure you check that out, but as for the disc set itself you do get a little booklet telling you all about the MU-TH-UR mode, which is a way to bookmark parts of the movie with your remote control which makes it a completely interactive experience. If you want to know about a certain scene just bookmark it then when you pop in the extras disc it will remember what you did and tell you all about it, quite brilliant really. All in all I must say if your not able to pick this up you have missed something very special indeed, if not just for the movies but the statue.
Fig 3. The Complete 6 Disc Collection in One Gatefold Sleeve
Fig 4. The Front Artwork is Nice but Could Have Been Better
VIDEO*****
Presented at 2.39:1 and 1.85:1 Aspect Ratios
Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection
(including 2 versions of all 4 movies)
VHS to DVD from DVD to Blu Ray, I've owned them all but was this the set we have been waiting , praying and hoping for?. Well visually I say a resounding Yes. There are a few minor defects but to be honest I have never seen the first film look so good. Thanks to an all new 4K master and 1080p AVC encode, the film print is superb. Film grain is there as is fine detail, its definitely a big jump up from the old DVD I owned. The Nostromo has never looked so good, whether its the miniature models used or the full scale interior shots, you will not be disappointed but I think very surprised indeed. The alien models themselves appear more lifelike than ever, as they lurk around all the dark corridors. Contrast is spot on, near to perfection as you can get for the first film considering it was made in 1979. And as the films get older the better they get with the final one looking the best, but I must say it has to be Aliens that stands out the most in my eyes. blacks are blacker than ever and things like Ripley's flamethrower and final battle in the Lifter will have you lifting your jaw up from the floor, it really is that well done.
James Camaron said himself months before the release that.
"It's spectacular. We went in and completely de-noised it, de-grained it, up-rezzed, color-corrected every frame, and it looks amazing. It looks better that it looked in the theaters originally. Because it was shot on a high-speed negative that was a new negative that didn't pan out too well and got replaced the following year. So it's pretty grainy. We got rid of all the grain. It's sharper and clearer and more beautiful than it's ever looked."
And never has a truer word/sentence been said. It is absolutely a joy for the eyes. Of course there are a few niggles here and there as in Alien 3's contrast being set just a little to high and a little over use of DNR, along with a few of the actor's looking a little erm.. waxy, colours are nice and evenly balanced and flesh tones for most of the movies are spot on, but if you can live with that and I think you will, then to me it's got to be in your collection. And for me and my old DVD box set?, well that has been given to my son and when he's ready he can upgrade himself to this 5 out of 5 ultimate set.
Fig 5. You All Know the Scene... it's Chest Busting Time
AUDIO*****
DTS MASTER AUDIO English 5.1, French DTS 5.1, Spanish Dolby Digital 5.1
Portuguese Dolby Digital 5.1, German DTS 5.1
I will try and sum up the complete collection here in the sound department as I could go on forever about all 4 films. If the picture has you jumping into a Spacesuit then the sound will have you staying on board the alien world of LV-426. Blasting it's way in glorious HD 5.1 Audio I have run out of superlatives for the actual sound mix. Stunning, Immersive, Boombastic, Realistic and Explosive and that's just to start with, out of them all Alien (which lets be honest is still a proper horror) is the one to watch and mostly listen to first as it really changes the way you feel about the movie. You will find yourself hiding behind that cushion again and memories of watching it in the cinema for the first time will come flooding back. LFE is tight and heavy especially when the marines open fire on the second film, as does the molten lead prison scene in the third. But it's not all bass, the surrounds get a fantastic work out as the camera pans and runs down the dark corridors. It has to be the extended scenes on the Aliens movie that stick in my mind the most, the turret gun scene will have you reaching for the remote control, but in a good way.. Play it loud and scare the neighbours. And the scores by Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Elliot Goldenthal, and John Frizzell are just as much of the films as the SFX. It's got to be another 5 out of 5 either that or my volume was set way to high to give it a 4. Grab your copies and play them loud, go on they and you deserve it.
Fig 6. All the Extras are Stored in the Base of the Statue
EXTRAS*****
Ok hold on to your hats and grab yourself a cuppa as it's well over 60 hours of features.
Alien
AUDIO COMMENTARY.
Audio commentary from Director Ridley Scott,
Writer Dan O'Bannon,
Executive Producer's Ronald Shusett,
Editor Terry Rawlings
Actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt,
Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean and John Hurt
AUDIO COMMENTARY.
By Ridley Scott (for Theatrical Cut Only)
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
Aliens
AUDIO COMMENTARY.
Audio commentary from Director James Cameron,
Producer Gale Ann Hurd,
Special Effects Creator Stan Winston,
Visual Effects Supervisor's Robert Skotak and Dennis Skotak,
Minature Effects Supervisor Pat McClung
Actors Michael Beihn, Bill Paxton, Lance Henrikson, Janette Goldstien,
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
Alien 3
AUDIO COMMENTARY.
Audio commentary from Cinematographer Alex Thompson,
Editor Terry Rawlings,
Aliens Effects Designer Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff,
Visual Effects Supervisor's Robert Skotak and Dennis Skotak,
Visual Effects Producer Richard Edlund
Actors Paul McGann and Lance Henrikson
Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Elloit Goldenthal
DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES.
MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yatuni-Datastream
Alien Resurrection
AUDIO COMMENTARY.
Audio commentary from Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Editor Herve Schneid
Alien Effects Creators Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff
Visual Effects Supervisor Pitof
Conceptual Artist Sylvian Despretz
Actors Ron Perlman, Doinique Pinon and Leland Orser
Final Theatrical Isolated Score by John Frizzell
DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES.
MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yatuni-Datastream
Disc 5
In addition to over 12 hours of candid, in-depth documentaries you now have the ability to go even deeper into the Alien Anthology with nearby 5 hours of additional video pods created exclusively for this collection, presenting behind the scenes footage, raw dailies and interactive outtakes from ALL four films. At topical points in the documentaries, you may access these pods to enhance your experience or watch them on there own from the separate Enhancement Pod Index.
The Beast Within: Making Alien
Star Beasts. 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
The Beast Within: Making Aliens
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
Wreckage and Rage: Making Alien 3
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 Colour of Blood. Pinewood Studios 1991
Adaptive Organism. Creature 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
One Step Beyond: Making Alien Resurrection
From the Ashes. Reviving the Story
French Twist. Direction and Design
Under the Skin. Casting and Characterization
Death from Below. Fox Studio's L.A 1996
In the Zone. The Basketball Scene
Unnatural Mutations. Creature Design
Genetic Composition. Music
Virtual Aliens. Computer Generated Imagery
A Matter of Scale. Miniature Photography
Critical Juncture. Reaction to the Film
Enhancement Pods
Disc 6
Alien
Pre-Production
First Draft Screenplay By Dan O'Bannon
Ridleygrams: Original Thumbnails and Notes
Storyboard Archives
The Art of Alien: Conceptual Art portfolio
Sigourney Weaver Screen Tests with Director Commentary
Cast Portrait Gallery
Production
The Chestbuster: Multi angle Sequence with Commentary
Video Graphics Gallery
Production Image Gallery
Continuity Polaroids
The Sets of Alien
H.R Giger's Workshop Gallery
Post Production and Aftermath
Additional Deleted Scenes
Image and Poster Galleries
Experience in Terror
Special Collectors Edition Lasredisc Archive
The Alien Legacy
American Cinematheque: Ridley Scott Q&A
Trailers and 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 Camera's
Video Graphics Gallery
Weyland-Yatuni Inquest: Nostromo
Post Production and Aftermath
Deleted Scene: Burke Cocooned
Deleted Montage
Image Galleries
Special Collector's Edition Laserdisc Archive
Main Title Exploration
Aliens: Ride at the Speed of Fright
Trailers and TV Spots
Alien 3
Pre Production
Storyboard Archives
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 and TV Spots
Alien Resurrection
Pre Production
First Draft Screenplay by Joss Whedon
Test Footage: A.D.I Creature Workshop with Commentary
Test Footage: Costumes, Hair and Makeup
Pre-Visualizations: Multi Angle Rehearsals
Storyboard Archive
The Marc Caro Portfolio: Character Design
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 and TV Spots
Anthology
Two Versions of Alien Evolution
The Alien Sage
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.
Few and that is your lot..........Gasp of Breath and a rest for my poor typing hand
You can pick this up from wait for it £250.00 on Ebay or on 'New' from Amazon.com for $489.00 not including shipping.
As you can see it's not cheap but if your missing anything in your collection then save up and grab it.
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