Save the Worst Till Last

Rating: Null/10 (31 May 2004)

It's a real pity. Jean-Pierre Jeunet is a great director. Anyone who enjoys science-fiction and fantasy films should check out his "Delicatessen" and "The City of Lost Children" and "Amelie" was one of the truly great films of the last few years. However he fell flat with his only (so far) foray into big-budget Hollywood film-making.
"Alien Resurrection" opens with Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) being cloned by scientists interested in cloning the aliens. The scientists also have a large cargo of aliens on their spaceship and a ship full of mercenaries arrive with a cargo of alien-impregnated humans. I think you can probably guess what happens.
This film is basically just a tongue-in-cheek action film. It's fast, action-packed and exciting, with some good special effects, but the film's jokey tone just doesn't work. It's a pity because I'd have thought that Jean-Pierre Jeunet's surreal and twisted imagination could have turned out a great "Alien" film. Sadly, it was not too be.