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S E A R C H    D V D B e a v e r

 

directed by Ridley Scott
USA 1979

 

"In space, no one can hear you scream." A close encounter of the third kind becomes a Jaws-style nightmare when an alien invades a spacecraft in Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror classic. On the way home from a mission for the Company, the Nostromo's crew is woken up from hibernation by the ship's Mother computer to answer a distress signal from a nearby planet. Capt. Dallas's (Tom Skerritt) rescue team discovers a bizarre pod field, but things get even stranger when a face-hugging creature bursts out of a pod and attaches itself to Kane (John Hurt). Over the objections of Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), science officer Ash (Ian Holm) lets Kane back on the ship. The acid-blooded incubus detaches itself from an apparently recovered Kane, but an alien erupts from Kane's stomach and escapes. The alien starts stalking the humans, pitting Dallas and his crew (and cat) against a malevolent killing machine that also has a protector in the nefarious Company.

Excerpt from B+N located HERE

***

At its most fundamental level, "Alien" is a movie about things that can jump out of the dark and kill you. It shares a kinship with the shark in "Jaws," Michael Myers in "Halloween," and assorted spiders, snakes, tarantulas and stalkers. Its most obvious influence is Howard Hawks' "The Thing" (1951), which was also about a team in an isolated outpost who discover a long-dormant alien, bring it inside, and are picked off one by one as it haunts the corridors. Look at that movie, and you see "Alien" in embryo.

Excerpt from Roger Ebert at the Chicago Sun Times located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: 25 May, 1979 USA

Reviews                                                                    More Reviews                                                            DVD Reviews

 

Comparison:

20th Fox (UK) (Old) - Region 2,4 - PAL vs. 20th Fox (Old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 20th Fox (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. 20th Century Fox "Anthology" - Region FREE - Blu-ray vs. Fox (2-disc) - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD

Big thanks to Ole Kofoed and Gregory Meshman for the DVD Screen Caps!

1) 20th Fox (UK) (Old) - Region 2,4 - PAL - LEFT

2) 20th Fox (Old) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) 20th Fox (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - RIGHT

 

Box Covers

 

   

  

Distribution

20th Fox (UK)

Region 2,4 - PAL

20th Fox
Region 1 - NTSC
20th Fox
Region 1 - NTSC
20th Century Fox - Region FREE - Blu-ray 20th Century Fox
Region FREE -
4K Ultra HD
Runtime 1:51:52 (4% PAL speedup) 1:56:32 1:56:28

DC: 1:56:37.614

Theatrical 1:55:49.890

DC: 1:56:36.989

Theatrical 1:55:49.275

Video

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 6.79 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 7.25 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

2.35:1 Original Aspect Ratio

16X9 enhanced
Average Bitrate: 8.52 mb/s
NTSC 704x480 29.97 f/s

Disc Size: 48,289,613,907 bytes

DC Feature Size: 32,532,436,992 bytes

Theatrical Feature:32,130,306,048 bytes

Average Bitrate: 26.00 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC 1080P

Disc Size: 94,936,848,390 bytes

DC Feature: 61,025,193,984 bytes

Theatrical: 60,432,463,872 bytes

Av. Bitrate: 49.41 Mbps / 49.31 Mbps

HEVC Video  

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.

Bitrate:

20th Fox (UK) (Old)

 

Bitrate:

 

20th Fox (Old)

 

Bitrate:

 

20th Fox (CE)

 

Bitrate:

 

20th Fox Blu-ray

Bitrate:

 

UHD Theatrical

Bitrate:

Director's Cut UHD

Audio English (Dolby Digital 5.1)

English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround); DUB: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)

English (Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1), DUB: Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround)

DTS-HD Master Audio English 3385 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3385 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps /
24-bit)
DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio German 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Portuguese 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio English 640 kbps 4.1 / 48 kHz / 640 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -4dB
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -4dB / Dolby Surround
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps / DN -4dB
DTS-HD Master Audio English 3427 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3427 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 5.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 2980 kbps 4.1 / 48 kHz / 2980 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 4.1 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
DTS-HD Master Audio English 1999 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1999 kbps / 24-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 1509 kbps / 24-bit)
Dolby Digital Audio Spanish 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
DTS Audio French 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Spanish 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio German 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
DTS Audio Italian 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
* Dolby Digital Audio Japanese 192 kbps 1.0 / 48 kHz / 192 kbps
* DTS Audio Japanese 768 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 24-bit
Dolby Digital Audio Czech 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio Thai 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 224 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 224 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Dolby Digital Audio English 448 kbps 5.1 / 48 kHz / 448 kbps
Subtitles English for the hearing impaired, Finnish, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Swedish, Czech, Danish and none. English, Spanish, None English, Spanish, None English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, none English (SDH), Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Swedish, Chinese, Czech, Korean, Polish, Thai, none
Features Release Information:
Studio: 20th Fox (UK)

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by director Ridley Scott
•  Isolated musical score
• Theatrical trailers
• Alternate music and production sound track (DD2.0)
• Deleted scenes
• Artwork and photo galleries
• Outtakes

DVD Release Date: May 15, 2000
Keep Case

Chapters 20
 

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Fox

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by director Ridley Scott
•  Isolated musical score on a separate audio channel
• Theatrical trailers
• Alternate music and production sound track
• Deleted scenes
• Artwork and photo galleries
• Outtakes
• Web links
• Booklet with production notes

 

DVD Release Date: June 1, 1999
Keep Case

Chapters 20

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Fox

Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen anamorphic - 2.35:1

Edition Details:
• Commentary by Ridley Scott and technical crew (DIFFERENT COMMENTARY THAN THE OTHER TWO)
• Theatrical version (117 min.)
• Extended cut (seamlessly branched) (137 min.)
• Preproduction: Star Beast (developing the story), First Draft of Screenplay by Dan O'Bannon
• The Visualists (direction and design), Ridleygrams (original thumbnails & notes), storyboard archive
• Production: Fear of the Unknown (Shepperton Studios, 1978), production gallery
• The Darkest Reaches (Nostromo and alien planet), The Sets of Alien
• The Eighth Passenger (creature design), The Chestburster (creature design)
• Post-Production: Future Tense (music and editing), 8 deleted scenes
• Visual effects gallery (photo archive), A Nightmare Fulfilled (reaction to the film)
• Poster explorations, special shoot, premiere
• Number of discs: 2

 

DVD Release Date: Dec. 2, 2003
Keep Case

Chapters 32

Release Information:
Studio: 20th Fox

 

Disc Size: 48,289,613,907 bytes

DC Feature Size: 32,532,436,992 bytes

Theatrical Feature:32,130,306,048 bytes

Average Bitrate: 26.00 Mbps

Dual-layered Blu-ray MPEG-4 AVC 1080P

Disc 1: ALIEN
• 1979 Theatrical Version
• 2003 Director’s Cut with Ridley Scott Introduction
• Audio Commentary by Director Ridley Scott, Writer Dan O’Bannon, Executive Producer Ronald Shusett, Editor Terry Rawlings, Actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt
• Audio Commentary (for Theatrical Cut only) by Ridley Scott
• Final Theatrical Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith
• Composer’s Original Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith
• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream

Blu-ray Release Date: October 26th, 2010
Custom
Blu-ray Case
Chapters:
32

Release Information:
Studio:
20th Fox

 

Disc Size: 97,376,206,848 bytes

Feature Size: 92,935,719,432 bytes

Bitrate: shows as high as 61.24 Mbps, average seems to be around 53.0 Mbps

 

Edition Details:
 

• Audio Commentary by Director Ridley Scott, Writer Dan O’Bannon, Executive Producer Ronald Shusett, Editor Terry Rawlings, Actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt
• Audio Commentary (for Theatrical Cut only) by Ridley Scott

4K Ultra HD Release Date: April 23rd, 2019
Black
4K Ultra HD Case inside cardboard slipcase
Chapters: 40 

 

 

Comments

NOTE: The below Blu-ray and 4K UHD captures were taken directly from the respective discs.

ADDITION: 20th Century Fox- Region FREE - 4K UHD - (May 2019):

Newly remastered (2018) in 4K for its 40th Anniversary, 20th Century Fox bring us Ridley Scott's 1979 "Alien" in a 2-disc set with a 4K UHD disc and second disc Blu-ray. The 4K disc is a BD100, with the 2.40:1 image given a bitrate just under 50 Mbps! Fans should be pleased that this new remastering bests the previously released Blu-ray (from the Quadrilogy) in every category. The precise level of fine detail in the image, even in the darkest of scenes, results in one of the best 4K UHD discs that we have seen to date. The HDR (or Dolby Vision, to those with the capability) utilize the format's ability to show a wider spectrum of light (and color) which looks pretty stunning on our OLED TV (which has the capability to show almost pure black). The scene with Harry Dean Stanton searching for the cat (in the ship's rain and chain room?) Shows shadow detail beyond anything we've seen. Really incredible stuff, you'll just have to take our word for it. Both the 4K image and the Blu-ray benefit from superior contrast and more detailed picture. The framing is ever-so-slightly different from the old Blu-ray, typically showing more information on the left and right of the frame, with some scenes showing slight variations on the top and bottom as well. Grain is wonderfully rich and consistent throughout the 4K UHD presentation, supporting a strong film-like texture, there are a few moments where it almost appears as noise, but these moments are few and far between. Though this new remastering is at times darker, there is no information lost, in fact the greater contrast shows a wide range of detail amidst parts of the image that were once uniformly black, while only showing improvements in color saturation.

 

It is likely that the monitor you are seeing this review is not an HDR-compatible display (High Dynamic Range) where each pixel can be assigned with a wider and notably granular range of color and light. This is the first where our capture software if simulating the HDR (in a uniform manner) for standard monitors. This should make it easier for us to review more 4K UHD titles in the future.

 

We have reviewed the following 4K UHD packages to date:  2001: A Space Odyssey (using the included Blu-ray to showcase the new restoration color difference), Schindler's List (simulated HDR), The Neon Demon (No HDR), Dawn of the Dead (No HDR), Saving Private Ryan (simulated HDR and 'raw' captures), Suspiria (No HDR), The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (No HDR), The Big Lebowski, and I Am Legend (simulated and 'raw' HDR captures).


The
4K UHD Blu-ray disc carries over the Quadrilogy's 5.1 DTS-HD Master audio track with some shocking separations. Sadly there are no new 7.1 Atmos or DTS:X mixes here. Of course, the score by Jerry Goldsmith (Link, Breakout, The Salamander, The Mephisto Waltz, Seconds, Hoosiers, The Blue Max, Breakheart Pass, The Omen) sounds amazing in the lossless with plenty of depth. There are numerous foreign-language DUB and subtitle options. As always 4K UHD discs are also Region Free.

The main extras here (that also appeared in the Quadrilogy set) are the 2003 audio commentary with director Ridley Scott and various cast and crew and a 1999 commentary with just Scott (only available over the theatrical version). The final theatrical isolated score by Jerry Goldsmith is also an option as well as his original isolated score. 6:39 minutes worth of highly interesting deleted scenes are also included.

"Alien" is a testament to what wonders can be achieved when you absolutely stack a film's cast and crew with exceptional artists. What would otherwise be some low-budget Roger Corman fodder, is given grandiose and grotesque artistic license. The film is a series of iconic horror and sci-fi imagery that this new
4K UHD disc shows in all its glory. One can only hope that we will one day soon have the following sequels looking this good. Here is the short version of the review-- if you own a
4K UHD Blu-ray player and TV capable of HDR or Dolby Vision, this is a 'Must-Own' for fans of science-fiction and high-end home theatre presentations. At the writing of this review it is very reasonably priced on Amazon.

Colin Zavitz

***

ADDITION: 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - October 2010:  Firstly, how is this film 31-years old? - goodness, how time flies. As the entire "Anthology" Blu-ray is so massive (4 films - 8 versions!) we couldn't possibly review it on one webpage. Over time we will add to our existing DVD comparison of Aliens etc. We may even do an entire separate page just for the supplements (65 hours of archival and never-before-seen content!).

The package case is impressive in its own right. It's the height of a standard Blu-ray case and the discs are housed in a very solid thick cardboard book-style case with 11 sturdy pages - all have images and some have compartments for the 6 discs (contents listed above). The back sleeve has a booklet and leaflet. With all the hokey packages I've seen of late - this is more professional in appearance and ease of disc placement.

The first disc has both the films; the 70' Theatrical and the minute longer 2003 Director's Cut seamlessly branched - meaning quality is exactly the same for the duplicate scenes. Okay, the image appearance is not overwhelming for the first film of the 'Anthology'. This doesn't surprise me as this late 70's film stock used was always problematic when transferred to digital. Saying that though it does look 'improved' - things tighten up colors are superior (richer but not artificially boosted as in the original DVDs) and some scenes even have a sense of depth. Grain looks fairly consistent - not overly blocky. Contrast is also exporting cleaner, brighter whites and richer black levels. This isn't a glossy look by any means - it's a dark film and the 1080P rendering maintains that eerie aura when in the bowels of the ship but visual detail also improves in those areas. Some segments you would have to be quite discerning or have a large enough system to notice the benefit BUT there are other parts, the brighter lit scenes - earlier in the film - when the high resolution is much more impressive. It seems the Blu-ray has slightly less information in the frame from the 2003 DVD. This is a dual-layered Blu-ray with the features taking up over 32 Gig each.

Where many will notice a bigger difference from the audio which is a lossless DTS-HD Master 5.1 at 3385 kbps.  It rocks. The films is rife with important effect sounds and separations that are defined are strong/aggressive at times and subtle in other portions. It's competently mixed and adds a very strong sense of chilling atmosphere to the film experience. There are many DUB and subtitle options and my Momitsu has verified it as being a region FREE disc playable on Blu-ray machines worldwide.

Aside from the seamlessly branched features we get the audio commentary by director Ridley Scott, writer Dan O’Bannon, executive producer Ronald Shusett, Editor Terry Rawlings, actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt as well as the other audio commentary (for Theatrical Cut only) by Ridley Scott. Plus you can listen to the final Theatrical Isolated Score by Jerry Goldsmith PLUS the composer’s original isolated score by Goldsmith (also only theatrical) as well as some seven deleted and extended scenes. I have indulged in the MU-TH-UR Mode Interactive Experience with Weyland-Yutani Datastream. At present I don't even know what the heck it is. I just watched the tutorial on how to use it. It runs as you watch the film - popping up potential information that you can access via 'Audio', 'Visual' or 'Weyland-Yutani Datastream' which appears to give a running text narration/explanation of what is going on. It partially obscures the screen. For those keen they may really get into it. You can also bookmark scenes 'personalized' from all the films of the 'Anthology'.

So far my investigation confirms that people who enjoy these intense, thrilling, sci-fi epics will be overwhelmed by the package and if not so much by the video - but definitely the audio.... and have more than their hands full with the supplements which they may be able to reference for years to come. So far - a recommendation - stay tuned for further comparisons and more in-depth analysis of the 65-hour long worth of extras.       

***

ON THE DVDs: Gregory used Theatrical Cut on the Quadrilogy Boxset for Fox (CE) captures and there is quite a striking differences as you can plainly judge. The old issues look quite faded in comparison. The new DVD looks brighter with more defined colors and sharper. Although all three have the Ridley commentary, the CE release has a host of other interesting Extra Features including a seamlessly branched extended cut. The CE version also offers DTS which the other DVDs did not ( although all three have 5.1 sound ). None of the editions seem to have any cropping. So it looks like the new CE Region 1 version wins hands down.      

 - Gary W. Tooze


DVD Menus

(20th Fox (UK) (Old) - Region 2,4 - PAL - LEFT vs. 20th Fox (Old) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. 20th Fox (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - RIGHT)
 

 

20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray

 

 

20th Century Fox  - Region FREE Blu-ray included with - 4K Ultra HD

 


 

CLICK EACH BLU-RAY (1920 X 1080) and 4K UHD (3840 X 2060) CAPTURE TO SEE IN FULL RESOLUTION

 

Subtitle Sample - 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD

 

 

1) 20th Fox (UK) (Old) - Region 2,4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Fox (Old) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) 20th Fox (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 


1) 20th Fox (UK) (Old) - Region 2,4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Fox (Old) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) 20th Fox (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 


 

1) 20th Fox (UK) (Old) - Region 2,4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Fox (Old) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) 20th Fox (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 


1) 20th Fox (UK) (Old) - Region 2,4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Fox (Old) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) 20th Fox (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 


 

1) 20th Fox (UK) (Old) - Region 2,4 - PAL - TOP

2) 20th Fox (Old) - Region 1 - NTSC - SECOND

3) 20th Fox (CE) - Region 1 - NTSC - THIRD

4) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - FOURTH

5) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 


More Captures

1) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 

 

1) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 

 

1) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 

 

1) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 

 

1) 20th Century Fox - Anthology - Region FREE - Blu-ray - TOP

2) 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD - BOTTOM

 

More 20th Century Fox - 40th Anniversary - Region FREE - 4K Ultra HD Captures

More full resolution 4K Ultra HD Captures for Patreon Supporters HERE

 

Box Covers

 

   

  

Distribution

20th Fox (UK)

Region 2,4 - PAL

20th Fox
Region 1 - NTSC
20th Fox
Region 1 - NTSC
20th Century Fox - Region FREE - Blu-ray 20th Century Fox
Region FREE -
4K Ultra HD

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