Alien Resurrection

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Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Dominique Pinon, Ron Perlman
Director: Jean-Pierre Juenet
Certificate: 18
Year: 1997



In Short: A better effort than Alien3 though still flawed in places. A good range of interesting characters and a decent plot twist. CG leaves a lot to be desired but Joss Whedon (writer) manages to create an original storyline using the same characters and a similar setting. Unusual characterisation from Weaver as the new Ripley though still enjoyable.

In Full: Alien has been a huge horror franchise since the first movie came out in 1979 and a great deal of famous faces have tried their hand at writing, directing and starring in all four of the movies. Resurrection is set 200 years after Ripley’s death in Alien3 where she is revived as a sort of Ripley-Xenomorph hybrid. Cloning has been tackled many times in films and although it is rather generic, this version still seems a lot more tasteful to me than others I have seen.

The other characters make strong backing to the new Ripley and once again when they are pitted against the Alien, we do actually want them to survive - though it is inevitable not all of them will. Strong female characters seem to be the trait of the Alien movies and Resurecction is no different with the introduction of Annalee Call (Ryder) who manages to stand up for herself and Vriess (Pinon) against the rather dangerous looking (yet strangely likeable) Johnner (Perlman).

Due to Ripley now being part Alien, she inherits some unusual traits, one of which seems to be a new sexual orientation. I don’t know if it is just me but all of a sudden Ripley seems very interested in women and her manner with Call (Ryder) can only be described as flirtatious (and slightly predatory). She is also faster, stronger and altogether better at fighting though sometimes gives the impression of being a little high.

The main problem with Alien 4 is that some of the scenes seem a little forced, not everything is needed and it gives the impression of trying to be in-keeping with previous Alien’s but still have an individual stamp. In most scenes this is managed but some leave a rather awkward smudge on the overall success of the feature.

Alien Resurrection is probably the least popular of the Alien franchise. However, I enjoyed it more than Alien3 and there is a very emotional moment towards the end of the film which I will not reveal for obvious reasons. Though I will say that killing the Alien might not be as triumph filled a moment as it has been in the prequels.

See This Movie If You Liked: Alien (Ridley Scott, 1979), Serenity (Joss Whedon, 2005),














War of the Worlds (Steven Spielberg, 2005)
















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