Alien 4K UHD (1979) (40th Anniversary Edition)

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by StingingVelvet

I'd honestly rather the "director's cut" be left off to avoid any possible branching issue. Come at me bros.

Okay, so is there any reason they couldn't throw us a 2nd disc for the director's cut for one of the most famous films in history?

[Noremac Mij]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Okay, so is there any reason they couldn't throw us a 2nd disc for the director's cut for one of the most famous films in history?

Take one little second to think and you’ll know the answer.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by koberulz

But in this case the DC isn't a true DC, it's just a "we need an alternate version, change something" cut. I can't be too upset that it's missing, TBH.

It was still an official release. I saw it theatrically myself. I don't like when they pretend a version of a film no longer exists when they made such a big deal out of it originally.

Originally Posted by Bobbyjoe766

I wouldn't have a problem with the DC if the bonus footage (except the cocoon scene) were just dropped in - without all the edits/trims made to the film.

The scene with Dallas and the ship's master computer ("What are my chances?") was a mistake to drop.

The speedier pace for the DC doesn't work as well as the 1979 edit, IMO.

Yup - if they left everything else alone, and dropped in all the other footage they did except the cocoon scene, it would be the ideal version. I disliked the needless vuts they made to the DC. But I still want it in 4k.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by wonderer99

Not putting alternative cuts on 4K UHD is laziness and nothing else.

No, that would be cost.

[FLIR]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

No, that would be cost.

Then they should release some kind of "Special Edition" with:

- 2 UHDs (TC, DC)
- a real cover "art"work
- some kind of artbook, with photos, drawings etc.

Warner Bros. released those great, beautiful "Special Editions" for "2001" and "Blade Runner" with elegant covers and artworks. This is how classics should be treated.

And what do we get from Fox? An Alien UHD with ugly, cheap cover art (both versions) and countless Blu-Ray releases with big "Illuminated Egg Statues", non illuminated "Alien Egg Statues", Alien plastic figures etc.

But what about the movie? I don't care for all this plastic merchandise stuff. I care about the movie! Fox sits on "gold", they have all the original art, set photos, beautiful storyboard drawings. And what do they sell us? Plastic sh*t...

I wish Warner would have made the original "Alien"...

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by FLIR

I wish Warner would have made the original "Alien"...

Yeah, because they included all the cuts of Blade Runner on UHD.

[FLIR]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

Yeah, because they included all the cuts of Blade Runner on UHD.

The cuts of Blade Runner are something different (imo). Those cuts feel like some kind of "evolution" and I am perfectly satisfied with having just the last one.

With "Alien" it’s different. A cut like the DC with the additional scenes is (imo) a better movie. Because those two additional scenes are essential:

1. The "acoustical beacon scene" is extremely atmospheric and immersive. And the first half of Alien is all about atmosphere.

2. The "egg morphing scene" on the other hand is so evocative and haunting. It gives the whole movie a nightmarish and poetic quality. The whole story gets on a new level. Without it it’s just a creature killing one after another - thats quite dull and unimaginative.

For me the best thing would be a "Final Cut", like they did with Blade Runner.

Final Cut (Alien) = TC + additional scenes from the DC

[FilmFreakosaurus]

Originally Posted by FLIR

The cuts of Blade Runner are something different (imo). Those cuts feel like some kind of "evolution" and I am perfectly satisfied with having just the last one.

Alien is different. A cut like the DC with the additional scenes is (imo) a better movie. Because those two additional scenes are essential:

1. The "acoustical beacon scene" is extremely atmospheric and immersive. And the first half of Alien is all about atmosphere.

2. The "egg morphing scene" on the other hand is so evocative and haunting. It gives the whole movie a nightmarish and poetic quality. The whole story gets on a new level. Without it it’s just a creature killing off one after another - thats quite dull and unimaginative.

For me the best thing would be a "Final Cut", like they did with Blade Runner.

Final Cut (Alien) = TC + additional scenes from the DC

I look at the Alien DC much in the same way as Apocalypse Now: Redux... interesting to see, but at the same time I can understand why the decisions were made to trim the scenes for the theatrical run.

The human/egg scene, for one, is a tonal shift and a break in the tense and suspenseful climax of Alien and an unnecessary reveal that ruins the mysterious circumstances of what happened to the crew. It's the same thing as in the extended cut of Dances With Wolves where the editor or some studio committee chose to reveal and ruin the mystery of what went on at the prairie outpost that got abandoned. The viewer didn't need to know that bit of info. Cut that sequence and let it play out like Costner's theatrical version and the extended cut of DWW would be almost perfect.

We don't need to know everything. Let some of the gaps get filled by our imaginations.

[McCrutchy]

Guys, unless I'm missing something, both cuts should be on the UHD Blu-ray. I know a Nordic back cover was posted several days ago that seemed to imply otherwise, but Blu-ray-disc.de claims to have confirmed both cuts are on the disc with Fox Germany, and more importantly, Fox Japan--who usually don't get specs wrong--has been very clear that the UHD disc contains both cuts, something which is borne out by the specification of a 100 GB disc. Each cut of Alien runs under two hours, so, unless they've radically changed their UHD encoding practices, there would be no other reason for Fox to use a 100 GB disc, because they'd have plenty of room for one version on a 66 GB disc.

I do suppose it's possible that certain countries might be getting a different UHD Blu-ray than others, with only more "major" territories getting a disc with both cuts, but that seems highly unlikely.

EDIT: I think the confusion stems from the fact that the video introduction by Ridley Scott is only on the Blu-ray. This is also specified by Fox Japan, and makes perfect sense, as surely that introduction was shot on SD or HD video.

I'm not sure why the Nordic back cover goes to the trouble of mentioning that both cuts are on the Blu-ray and fails to mention the UHD disc, but I'm still convinced that both cuts, both audio commentaries, both isolated scores, and the deleted/extended scenes are on both the Blu-ray and the UHD Blu-ray.

[Muck47]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

Guys, unless I'm missing something, both cuts should be on the UHD Blu-ray.

I was wondering the same thing. Scrolled through > 20 pages for a CLEAR confirmation and obviously also googled for other sources. Besides the Nordic cover and a vague post about sth Scott allegedly said (without any source link) people just commented on it as a fact again and again in this thread. The magic of any bigger online forum.

As McCrutchy wrote (see "claims" link) Fox Germany confirmed that both cuts will be on the disc. And I think regarding branching or other quality concerns it's all just speculation by now...right?

[lgans316]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

I'm not sure why the Nordic back cover goes to the trouble of mentioning that both cuts are on the Blu-ray and fails to mention the UHD disc, but I'm still convinced that both cuts, both audio commentaries, both isolated scores, and the deleted/extended scenes are on both the Blu-ray and the UHD Blu-ray.

I admire your optimism and if it turns out to be true, I will buy you a drink if you visit London.

[FLIR]

Originally Posted by FilmFreakosaurus

I look at the Alien DC much in the same way as Apocalypse Now: Redux... interesting to see, but at the same time I can understand why the decisions were made to trim the scenes for the theatrical run.

The human/egg scene, for one, is a tonal shift and a break in the tense and suspenseful climax of Alien and an unnecessary reveal that ruins the mysterious circumstances of what happened to the crew. It's the same thing as in the extended cut of Dances With Wolves where the editor or some studio committee chose to reveal and ruin the mystery of what went on at the prairie outpost that got abandoned. The viewer didn't need to know that bit of info. Cut that sequence and let it play out like Costner's theatrical version and the extended cut of DWW would be almost perfect.

We don't need to know everything. Let some of the gaps get filled by our imaginations.

Yes, I am also always for "mystery" and leaving gaps for the imagination:

The egg scene may reveal the mysterious circumstances of what happened to the crew, but it creates far more mystery than it "destroys". It takes the weirdness/strangeness of the alien organism and the whole "cosmic horror" aspect to a new, higher level. And also above anything what the uninspired sequel "Aliens" does ("Aliens" gives the organism this "insect-like" life cycle: the queen, the eggs, the hive etc. it's so dull and unimaginative)

I also love this scene because it separates "Alien" from "Aliens". "Alien" is imo a "work of art", while "Aliens" is just a good action movie, with almost no "artistic value" at all. Especially the cinematography and lighting of "Aliens" is bad compared to the excellent cinematography of "Alien".

[Danggar]

I don't know why some are asking for the DC of Alien. Ok. You like it, that's fair. But at the end of the day, the DC of Alien was created by marketing purposes. Fox insisted to include something new to sell the 2003 DVD boxset, that's why all the Anthology movies have alternative cuts. Alien's DC is not the favourite version of Scott. He was forced to craft a new version of the movie. But that's not the way Alien was meant to be seen. So in escense, Alien DC is not a true DC. It shouldn't have existed in the first place.

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by Danggar

I don't know why some are asking for the DC of Alien. Ok. You like it, that's fair. But at the end of the day, the DC of Alien was created by marketing purposes. Fox insisted to include something new to sell the 2003 DVD boxset, that's why all the Anthology movies have alternative cuts. Alien's DC is not the favourite version of Scott. He was forced to craft a new version of the movie. But that's not the way Alien was meant to be seen. So in escense, Alien DC is not a true DC. It shouldn't have existed in the first place.

I don't like the DC of Alien it slows the film down the TC is the best version

[Synchg]

I haven't seen the director's cut in awhile but i'm willing to bet it uses on set audio for the extended scenes. I don't understand how some of you can sit through footage that old without intended ADR.

[groove93]

Originally Posted by Synchg

I haven't seen the director's cut in awhile but i'm willing to bet it uses on set audio for the extended scenes. I don't understand how some of you can sit through footage that old without intended ADR.

The scene in which the crew is listening to the "Beacon" is now part of the DC. For me the original sound used was really creepy, which made me more curious about the Space Jockey, but when this scene was added to the Director's Cut, it's a totally different sound and reduces the tension and mood.

[bga84]

Is the Alien DC not one of those strange examples of a "Director's Cut" actually being shorter?

I know Scott himself has said that the DC was nothing but a gimmick and not his preferred cut at all.

I definitely prefer the theatrical. I couldn't get passed the cuts made to the new version. The tension during Dallas' death scene is ruined by the trims made and they removed his second visit to M.O.T.H.E.R. The added scenes did nothing for me.

[cartload]

The cocoon scene breaks the flow of the movie. The alarms are blaring and Ripley is frantically trying to get off that ship! But that all comes to a screeching halt while she has her little side quest with Brett and Dallas.

But I am all for including the DC in 4K because choice trumps all amd it did get a theatrical release.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by bga84

Is the Alien DC not one of those strange examples of a "Director's Cut" actually being shorter?

It's a few seconds shorter.

[Vangeli]

I'd be worried more about precident, what would only a single cut on UHD mean for Aliens, easily the most divisive when it comes to both cuts?

If they all have both cuts then good. Hope that's the case.