Misunderstood

Rating: 9/10 (25 February 2000)

Reading the comments of people here, I find the same criticism of a lack of suspense. I suppose this is true but only because the movie is only marginally interested in it. Each Alien film represents a different type of filmmaking and Alien 3 has been labeled the bastard child of the franchise. This is an undeserved label. Alien 3 is about pain, hopelessness and loss and those are cinematic qualities that most people refuse to associate with or accept. People wanted Alien 3 to be another guns and ammo war fest and they were handed the equivalent of a moody and dark art house feature.
SPOILER HERE. In my own humble opinion Ripley had to die. She had to lose everything. Otherwise Alien 3 would have been a standard issue sequel. This film takes Weaver's Ripley to a fitting conclusion. To have her live at the end would have not only betrayed the character but it would have been a complete sell-out that pandered to the audience. This film has guts and demands a lot from the audience. And those who criticize it for not having enough action should realize, such as Fincher probably did, that they couldn't have topped Aliens in that department. It's an action masterpiece and to try and duplicate it would have been foolish. I have always applauded Alien 3 for being a highly stylized and individual movie. If you saw it before and hated it, see it again and watch it for the movie it is. Don't hate it because its not a movie it never pretends to be.