Post by Taxigirl on Nov 1, 2003 11:39:29 GMT
The director's cut of Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror Alien is released and has been digitally remastered.
Twenty-four years after it first upset the squeamish, Alien still packs a mighty punch.
The iconic chest-bursting, acid-belching creature may lack its original shock power, but being able to anticipate the numerous blood-curdling moments only makes them more uncomfortable.
With minimal plot to get bogged down in, director Ridley Scott gets to focus on making everything look fantastic and delivering as many scares as possible.
The ageing hulk of cargo spaceship Nostromo provides a perfectly sinister setting, made even less pleasant when its crew descend to a barren planet to answer a distress call and return with a deadly parasite, hugging the face of unlucky astronaut John Hurt.
supreme sense of claustrophobia, excellent fear-laden performances, and stunning production design all stand the test of time with ease.
This re-release should be a revelation to anyone who has only ever seen the movie on television; its sumptuously dark visuals, particularly the initial investigation of the mysterious planet, demand a very wide screen indeed.
Several minutes of previously-discarded footage have been spliced back in, with original scenes dropped to make way.
Non die-hards may well struggle to spot much difference, apart from one notable moment involving central character Sigourney Weaver and her missing colleagues.
For all its novelty, this reinstatement makes the already-slow final act - in which Weaver sets about fleeing the ship amidst an excess of strobe lights - even more drawn-out.
Still, when every frame looks this good, it is hard to complain.
What really stands out though is the sound.
Remastered and digitally twiddled with, Alien's audio is truly awesome - every scream, whirring computer or sting of creepy music is used to the utmost effect, and helps make viewing even more delightfully unsettling.
Alien - The Director's Cut is showing in cinemas across the UK.