It's not Aliens but it is still good

Rating: 8/10 (29 August 2008)

Just as Aliens was very different from Alien, Alien³ is very different from Aliens so if you go in to this film expecting hoards of aliens battling elite space marines you'll be disappointed, however if you crave tension rather than all out excitement this is the film for you.
The film starts with Ripley the sole survivor once more when the Sulaco's escape pod is jettisoned after a fire. She finds herself on Fiorina 161, AKA Fury, a prison facility housing violent offenders who have found religion. Unfortunately for her they had also brought an unwanted passenger along in the form of an alien face hugger which attacks a dog in the theatrical release and an Ox in the Special edition of the film. As the alien has grown inside a quadruped it turns out to be quite different from the ones seen in the previous two films.
Initially Ripley isn't believed when she tells the prison governor (Brian Glover) that there is an alien there even after three suspicious deaths, which are regarded as either accidents or murder. However when the alien strikes in public they realise that they have a serious problem and turn to Ripley for advice. The rest of the film follows their attempts to kill the alien before The Company arrives, I won't say more as I don't wish to spoil it.
This film has a much darker tone than the previous outings, where Aliens ends with hope for the future, this starts by dashing that hope and doesn't get any more cheerful as it progresses. The acting is solid, provided mostly by actors who will be familiar with British viewers, it was just a pity Charles Dance and Brian Glover's characters didn't survive a bit longer.
This review is based on the Special Edition (Assembly Cut) in the Alien Quadrilogy DVD set. Having seen both versions now I'd recommend watching this version if you have the choice as it is superior to the original theatrical release.