a couple of fine moments can't stop the narrative raising questions

Rating: 4/10 (24 January 2009)

Two hundred years after her death, Ellen Ripley (Weaver) has been resurrected into a human/alien clone that sets on continuing the ongoing battle against the aliens.
The forth instalment of the series sees Sigourney Weaver (Working Girl) reprise her role as the Sci-Fi icon Ripley, the character who sacrificed herself to rid the world of the alien inside her. One of the few things good about Alien3 was that ending. A dramatic turn of events that not even the most critical of person could foresee. 200 years on from the third part and she's back, brought through scientific experiment to bring the Alien queen out of the opinionated experienced warrior. The whole question of science and resurrection in this manner over such a long time and the effect on the character is exceptionally questionable, especially with the scientific jargon the scientists use.
But this is almost irrelevant, Ripley returned, and she is the Alien series. Weaver is the star of the poorly constructed narrative, making the new Ripley an intelligent and cunning protagonist, and her facial expressions convey that she has something to hide, which makes her an absolute joy to watch.
Alien3 made its mistake by justifying itself to the action convention cinematic formula and not focusing on the domineering presence of the finest Sci-Fi villain ever. Whereas this 1997 picture is more sophisticated in its approach to storytelling, the action, illogic and narrative in general still bring the premise down.
Action-wise this feels very basic and ordinary, with the Alien hardly scary once again. Not hiding and always inevitable, it's hard to imagine it was scary in the first place. There are however some finely directed scenes. Rare, but on screen critics are forgotten, particularly the underwater chase which is a fine adrenaline soaked thrill ride.
The science behind number 4 is frequently questionable. The film raises eyebrows with its debate over lengthy survival, alien/human relations and history. It seems very incidental, throwing in these concepts whilst the action does the talking otherwise.
Apart from some fine direction during the action sequences, the narrative is inconsistent with these bizarre topics and the predictable action and incomprehensible science destroy the promise of another horror.
Though Weaver once again shines, Alien Resurrection is as much of a let down as its predecessor was, though with thankfully better characters and direction