The conclusion of a great trilogy (we don't talk about Alien Resurrection in our house)

Rating: Null/10 (26 January 2004)

Vastly underrated, even in its theatrical form, Alien 3 is probably the least of the original three movies but still well worth a viewing. One of the problems with the project was the choice of Director (or DirectorS as there were several that passed through the revolving door before the movie was released.
I haven't yet seen the alternative DVD version but it's on my to-do list. From what I can tell it expands on some of the characterisations and is apparently the preferred version among Alien buffs. I have also heard of a 4-hour completely uncut version that would make fascinating viewing.
This theatrical release though deserves more credit than it generally gets. It dares to dampen audience expectations by killing off two of the main characters from Aliens more or less during the opening credits, even showing an autopsy being performed on one of them. Ripley is reduced to a shaven, dirty, initially frightened and unwelcome addition to the steel-works cum prison where she crashes, although once it becomes clear that there's another alien running around then Sigourney Weaver changes her character and Ripley assumes unofficial command as the prisoners attempt to survive.
Americans proably don't like this movie as much as the first two, mainly due to the casting of mostly British actors who therefore would be unrecognisable to our friends across the pond. Among the exceptions is Charles Dance who gives a very good, restrained performance as the prison doctor, although he is also an inmate. He and Ripley become intimate in an understandable kind of way and Dance's exit from the movie again slightly unsettles audiences expectations. He is, after all, a heart-throb (so I'm told) so this movie definitely doesn't follow the script where "popular" characters save the day.
Charles Dutton gives a good performance as the kind-of head preacher and he is initially reluctant to get involved with Ripley because he fears that her presence will interfere with the normal everyday running of the prison. However Brian Glover as the Prison governor is less convincing in his role.
A good film, nonetheless. 7/10