my favorite of the four

Rating: Null/10 (22 February 1999)

I have to agree with a lot of the comments already made. If this film was not connected to the first two it would be considered a classic. I read that it was more popular in Europe than in America, which would make sense to me. Everyone I know loves Aliens and thinks I'm crazy to like A3, but I find the characters in Aliens to be comical caricatures. Newt was such a horrid idea on top of that.
That said, Alien 3 is my favorite of the series. I love the setting, both as a plot idea and for how great the cinematography is. This really is more of a drama with action. I much prefer dramas to action films, which while sometimes entertaining, too often trade off good writing and character development for eye candy/mind gum.
A3 is the way it should be: dark and primitive, man faced with a seemingly inconquerable enemy, armed only with his wits and his courage. I find that much more entertaining than watching a handful of "Marines" wildly spraying gunfire.