Alien3 misses something... but it's still enjoyable enough.

Rating: 7/10 (28 April 2009)

Something about Alien3 seems... strange to me. It's an enjoyable movie still, but there is something missing.
The story is still good, but not as good as the two prequels. There is a build-up, there is development and of course, there is a climax. But it just doesn't feel as... 'wow' as the last two films.
The connection with Aliens, or rather the disconnection, makes this film a lot darker. The fact that all the joy you had at the end of Aliens, is crushed at the beginning of Alien3, makes this movie cruel, to me anyway.
There are even more shots of the Alien then in the two prequels. Not a bad thing, but there are some points in the movie where it was a bit unnecessary. If you have watched Alien and Aliens, you'll know what I mean.
The fact that the creature now is 'born' from a dog, rather than a human, paves the way for new twists. They are present in the movie, mainly how the alien moves. On four legs, instead of two. It's nice to experiment with a concept, but it wasn't really needed for this movie.
I think my biggest problem with this film is the cast. Part from Sigourney, none of the characters appeal to me. They're all 'crud', to speak with Sigourney. All criminals, rapers or just plain scum. They don't need a background, but the way they act on the screen just makes you think why they are there. Basically alien food. It's no surprise that barely anyone makes it out alive.
There are huge differences with the Director's (extended) version and the 'standard' cinema version. I've watched both several times and I can't say which version I liked best. I advise you to watch the director's version at least once and ponder about the many changes. It left me with more questions then answers, to be honest.
In overall, Alien3 is not a bad movie, but it lacks a few things when compared to the prequels.