Good Sci-fi movie, mediocre Alien movie

Rating: 8/10 (13 March 2004)

Don't get me wrong, I love Alien Resurrection. As sci-fi goes, its one of the best, but it makes a mediocre Alien movie. And to those who think they should let this series `die', the only reason most people feel that way is because the series has been going down-hill. If they make an excellent Alien 5, it would completely justify continuing the series.
First off, I want to express how frustrated I am at the scenes that were cut in the theatrical release of Alien Resurrection. In the uncut version in the Alien quadrilogy, there is this scene where Ripley is getting her intelligence tested by naming the pictures that are shown to her that was cut. In the uncut version, there is a shot where she is presented with a picture of a girl, which clearly reminds her of Newt from Aliens. These few seconds were cut from the scene in the theatrical release which would have added greatly to the movie, as it shows that the movie does not forget its roots and gives the Ripley character more personality and emotion.
Another cut shot which should have been included is during the scene where Call and Ripley are in the ships chapel and Call is hacking into the ships computer. Ripley tells Call that she remembers a girl who was very important to her, but now she can't even remember her name. This should have been included for the same reasons and the first cut shot.
Winona Ryder and Sigourney Weaver do excellent performances in this movie (Pretty much all the acting is done well), but I think the key thing that this movie and Alien 3 were flawed in was that they showed the Alien too much, taking away all its terror. Perhaps that is why the latest two movies are not as good as the first two.
In short, the movie is good sci-fi, but needs more focus on the actual characters. While they all did have good development (Except for General Parez, who seems to be the stereotypical, stupid-military guy.) they needed the personality detailing that the first Alien movie had. That way the audience actually cares when they die.
If they do make an Alien 5, I hope that more focus will be on Ripley and her emotional struggle at all the loss she's endured in her lifetime.