David Fincher Breaks His Silence on Alien 3 in 2023
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- Опубліковано 2 чер 2024
- David Fincher very famously had a difficult experience in making Alien 3, and rarely talks about the film. This month, for Empire Magazine's David Fincher special, the director decided to break his silence and share some words.
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There are some really cool things in Alien 3. Love the setting. The prisoners. The color palette. The smaller and quicker aliens. The sets.
The score! My favourite horror score
All of this! Apart from the rod puppet that didn't quite match, the rest is beautifully put together and it rounds off Ripley's story in the right tone for a horror trilogy.
That's ok, not everyone can be a fan.
People can say what they want about Alien 3, but its still better then all the crap thats come out afterward (Avp/Prometheus/Resurrection/etc)
@@alexvalin9085 except that "3" takes a specific and personal sh1t on the first two movies. The other ones are crap, but they are not personally offensive.
The actor Carl Chase told me about how David Fincher got hassle every day from Fox & Brandywine executives (in particular David Giler, a horrible man by all accounts and a "jumped up little dickhead" as Carl put it. David Fincher found comfort with Brian Glover, Charles Dance, Pete Postlethwaite , Charles S Dutton and particularly Sigourney. Carl said Fincher was a nice guy who was really trying his best, but kept being undermined, and his ideas nixed, but kept bad vibes from the rest of the cast. Fincher also loved working with Ralph Brown and Paul McGann as he is a HUGE Withnail & I fan (it's well documented that Richard E Grant was considered to play Clemens) and was always badgering them for Withnail & I on set anecdotes. I love the assembly cut of Alien 3, Carl does too (he features when they found the Queen facehugger on the ox). The cast really rallied around DF as he was young, and Fox wouldn't let him breathe, and he was working with scraps of script that were changing daily. Carl said it wasn't unusual to see the cast sat in the prison canteen set, poring over altered scripts, annotating for AGES. Tempers did fray, but more towards the Fox executives, who were literally clock watching Fincher.
My sister Fran (passed of cancer 2018) was very good friends with Carl Chase, who played Frank Ellis in Alien 3. She met him through open mic nights (he's a musician in his free time). I remember when my sis said about him! I of course wanted to meet him! I did, he's quite a character and damned nice guy. Of course he signed my bluray Alien Anthology box set, and my Red Dwarf set (he also played old Lister!)
Well I can see why fox was the way they were haveing spent 11 million before a shot had been made that was just on the 4 scripts before the script we got and the studio head had already set a release date and also they were on a time crunch weather the movie got made or not weaver was going to get paid also the film was in development for like 5 years to that point
@@jimbowlan5804 Carl said that what David Fincher and the cast got script wise, was changed literally hour by hour. Fincher would be physically exhausted just trying to make sense of what he was getting from Fox and Brandywine. Fox didn't seem to know what they were doing, it was (by Giler particularly) a case of "film that, say those lines....or else" even when they didn't tally with anything else filmed. I had a long chat about Alien 3 with Carl (so cool having a family friend who was in Alien 3!) He said one actor in particular was actually so incensed and infuriated by how Walter Hill and David Giler spoke to, and generally treated Fincher on set, he was going to deal with them personally. David Fincher was very well liked on set. Fox lined up a release date, before a line was written, a set was built, and then demanded the world from whoever stepped into the directors chair. That's why Vincent Ward walked.
Sigourney as well has always said that while the experience of making 3 was miserable she loved David Fincher
@@palmerlp Carl said David Fincher found solace and friendship with Sigourney, the experience (mainly due to Fox and Brandywine negative interference) was an absolute grind, but the cast stayed close, and supported each other.
@@mikeshirleyforever Carl said that Giler tried to be stroppy with the cast (except Lance & Sigourney) and that was a bad idea. You had Charles Dance and Brian Glover (very strong minded full blooded Yorkshiremen) Carl and Paul McGann (a pair of full on Scousers) Giler realized they don't take shit. David Giler is dead, and that's sad for his loved ones, doesn't mean he wasn't a shit when he was alive
I love Alien 3 and I've never been ashamed to say so. I love the take on the prisoners being the threat to Ripley. I love the cold uncomfortable atmosphere and environment. It's brilliant. It actually feels like the grittiest and most realistic feeling alien movie.
I also like how they follow her when they understand that the threat is real, it's like a collective character-development. Golic is such an interesting and mad character. Clemens (the doctor) is a nice addition because he's kind of different compared to the rest of the prisoners.
@@zalemdreams Yeah I was excited to show my younger sibling and their bf the original cuz it was one of my favorites as a kid but it just did not hold up, maybe it's one of those movies where it just doesn't work on the smaller screen
Agreed!! It's the most atmospheric of all of the films. Plus half of the actors are all English, legends.
Real shame alot of people thought it was no good. I love it.
Since I first saw this film I've been kind of obsessed with it, morbidly obsessed in many ways. It's depressing and cloying, it's so cold and nihilistic. A genuine horror film.
And it re-establishes that a single Alien, when you aren't equipped to deal with one means certain death. There's no horror movie cliches of running up the stairs or close shaves or just about escaping, you come face to face with one, and you're done.
The first three Alien movies really do belong together- because they ARE so differently done, yet still end up being real stories. Sigourney feels that way as well.
What most people forget, or don't understand, about that scene is that it changed everything we knew about the Xenomorph. They can sense when an uncontrolled/loose human or animal is carrying a chestburster. They can sense thier young and do not want to harm them. This made them an official species, not just a bunch of mind-linked parasites.
Beautifully explained 🫡
None of that "changed everything we knew." It was already much suspected that they would. It's just common sense.
@@Xenomorphine You're alright in videos, insufferable through text though.
@@XenomorphineWow, you're very irritating.
@@BlueMarsalis Like how you keep on - repeatedly - resorting to personal attacks? You're the one picking a fight with me, not the other way around.
Door swings both ways, friend.
I always loved Alien3, because of the reasons why most people don't. Intro, grief, dark cold and depressing, hopelessness, what if another animal gets impregnated, cast, Fincher.... It also went back to it's roots, 1 creature, no guns, cinematography with a pinch of Finch. Musis also great imo. Alien3 is just super underrated, let's face it. Who cares about the "bad CGI" that is not even CGI, it has some of the best practical alien shots in any of the movies! Imo the best (flaming dragon shot, look guys, blood!). I can only dream what Finchers real vision for the movie was.
In his last interview were he mentioned alien 3 he said they’d have to reshoot the whole movie to have a directors cut
Let’s face it, the reason it’s rated poorly is because most people don’t like it, not because it’s underrated. Frankly, I would have loved to see the standalone movie that was originally conceived, or even an Alien3 without Ripley. Everything you loved about the movie could still have been in there. But putting her in was a betrayal of everything that happened in the previous, much better, movie.
Hicks and Newt shoulda’ lived , too
I always hated it because I think it's just a remake of the first one in a different environment. Cameron pushed farther with the xenomorph being in a battle with humans for a longer period of time, we learn more about how this species lives and grows more intelligent as time passes by. In the 3rd one, there is no expansion of knowledge and there is no stretching of the time-span since the start of the eclosion to see the life cycle of the xenomorph. There is nothing to learn.
@@TheMerts14that’s really the issue. When the studio insisted Ripley be included, they should have found a way to get her there without killing the other two. Newt’s death undermines the previous movie, which sours this movie for everyone before it even starts.
_"It's powerful, because it's a powerful idea."_ - Yes!
You should be proud, David.
Despite the production troubles, you managed to craft an engrossingly tense, beautifully gothic horror.
Ehhhh... whatever I feel about this film, I can't help but admit that Fincher (and the rest of the cast and crew, for that matter) truly gave it his all.
"Production troubles" 🤣
@@ifly-fsx A slight understatement 😂
I feel like a lot of directors would have either given up or made a much worse product after so many rewrites and all the studio meddling
@@briteboy6131 Fincher quit directing for several years, and might have quit completely. He was not an established director, either. He went from directing music videos to this.
The Alien story (for me, at least) is about a tragic encounter with an amoral, inconceivably hostile cosmic force-and tragedies like that don’t end well. That’s the big thing Alien 3 got right, I think. It builds a nihilistic, oppressive atmosphere very adeptly that, with all its flaws, is entirely appropriate to the fatal nature of that encounter. On the other hand, the idea that the absolute worst people will sacrifice themselves to save humanity, and will thereby find some level of redemption in that act, is heartening. Considering all the agony and interference, I’m amazed it’s as good as it is.
That's why I like it too. As for the self sacrifice, they had a good leader and were desperate, so it's not a bad twist IMO. I think they did it more because they knew they were screwed and as revenge for murdering their friends as well.
I understand why Fincher feels the way he does about it, but as a fan who really appreciates Alien3, I've always wished he could separate his personal frustration and bitterness about the production from the final product, which I feel is actually quite good despite everything that went on behind the scenes. The film has a lot of redeeming qualities, and it would be nice if one day he could actually talk about it analytically like he does with his other work.
I wish they could get Fincher and all the actors together to talk about it in depth. It is always a bummer that most get togethers are always about Aliens.
Fincher naively thought he would have full creative control. Yeah, like the studio was going to give a guy who had never directed a feature film before full control.
Fincher is a petty cry baby about it. Alien³ is still one of his best films, and(IMO) the best film in the series.
You can still feel his frustration about Alien 3 even in his short response. I wish we could’ve got his full uninterupted version.
Doubt he could without trashing the studio and people that he worked with. He may have signed an NDA not to do so.
@@loganw6156 Or maybe he just wants to keep working in Hollywood.
It's a hard line to walk. Some good talent people can produce bad work simply because of a mismanaged show. On other shows they can be good so that's why it's not always best to trash on people.
I think it’s remarkable he said anything, as you convey, but I also think how one reads that quote can really shape the meaning of it. I believe the phrase “it’s powerful because it’s a powerful idea” in this context means more like “and that’s all we have left because the studio so thoroughly ruined our chance at a good execution.” I love Alien 3, too, and also mourn the way Fincher was mistrusted, and the impact that had on the art. I strongly relate to his bitterness toward that influence, and would not blame him if he never touches it again.
that quote really embodies what a "flawed masterpiece" is and what Alien 3 is.
A girl took me on a date to see A3 at the movies (I knew she was a keeper and we stayed together for 3 years) and I said something like, "a bit of a mess, but some amazing shots and a lovely dark atmosphere. The director is one to keep an eye on". The next time I saw a Fincher movie, another girl took me to see Fight Club, which I thought was glorious, I was overjoyed to see the Fincher's name roll in the credits.
And now he's one of our best modern directors with perhaps only one dodgy movie to his name, Benjamin 'Boring' Button.
hahahha. agreed and smiling.
Benjamin Button is a quality movie, watch it again.
@@1nfamous76 yeah its a good family movie. and its a great original movie. Not enough of those these days.. they just try and steal from the glory of past ideas.. like making a new batman movie for the 17th time
My, what a weird take
Alien 3 is underrated and a fitting ending to the series. Ripley putting an end to her nightmare and the plans of weyland yutani always felt perfect to me.
Wow, to hear David FIncher talk Alien 3 is almost unbelievable. Thank you for sharing this news and your insight on it. The controversy behind this movie is such a fascinating topic. Despite the popular opinion, as well as Fincher's own distaste, this has always been one of my favorite movies. It solidifies that the Alien vs Ripley story is a tragic saga. Sometimes there are no happy endings.
But he didn't really talk about the movie. He barely talked about ONE shot in the movie.
I don’t care what anyone says I really like Alien 3 it was the perfect end to the trilogy
Same here I pretty liked all of them. Pt#3 was amazing it brought a new type of alien to the franchise showing all of us that just like spiders they develop into their environment. Which makes this alien species so cool and dangerous.
Think about everything that came after it. _Resurrection_ was an abomination, _AvP_ was just ok, _AvP2_ another abomination, _Prometheus_ was a completely squandered opportunity, and _Alien Covenant_ was not only another squandered opportunity, but an incoherent amateurish mess.
_Alien³_ was a masterpiece compared to all of them..
I'm totally with you mate. I really like Alien3. Infact I think it works better as an 'Alien' film than 'Aliens' does. The Xenomorph is more terrifying as a threat when it's in the dark picking characters off one by one, not when it's being machine gunned into oblivion by squads of gung-ho Colonial Marines.
@@HailAntsAVP films ain't canon. However Resurrection was absolute shite
Agreed, one million percent.
_"You've been in my life so long, I can't remember anything else."_ 🖤
I wish he wouldnt be so mad or bitter about the movie. There are many people that actually really like it. I had to watch it a few times but it finally grew on me. Now Alien 4 is a totally different story. Another great video. I absolutely love this channel. Im so obsessed with anything about Alien and love all the videos you post!!!
It's my favorite Alien-movie but I understand why he's still sour about it. He did a great job, keeping in mind how much crap that the studio put him through.
Your good experience of watching the film doesn't supersede his awful and soul crushing experience of making it. It's the audience's arrogance to believe that as long as they liked it, the filmmaker's feelings don't really matter, as if the audience reaction should dictate how someone should feel about a film that takes 2-3 years of your life to make and during which you could be living in a constant nightmare, dealing with the worst work colleagues and bosses you ever had in your life to the point that made you want to quit your dream career.
Most people who have similar experiences in their work place and project, wouldn't go back to this kind of place and moment in time. Why would he? Because of the fanboys at comic con?
@@miguelrosado6348agree also bad experiences can craft better future experiences. Fincher likely learned a lot on A³ and those hard lessons could have contributed to the quality and execution of his later works. Also could have led to him gaining more control over those projects contractually.
It’s absolutely awful. The series ended at Aliens, period.
@johncurtis6815 Renew your Disney+ subscription. Many fairytale endings and fan service in there for you.
I really like 3. I think Ficher was a freaking magician considering how Fox kept wriggling their grubby fingers in the whole thing. I am glad they didn't go with the wooden planet idea, but aside from that, it's a good movie.
Definitely a super iconic moment and shot!
I grew up with the trilogy and always liked Alien 3, I appreciate it more now I'm older and can understand the themes, it's a film that I think Fincher should be proud of, it's one of the only times he's dipped into Science Fiction also, the assembly cut is the definitive cut but then so are the Alien and Aliens Directors cuts so it's a running theme of the movies.
it would be cool to see Fincher do another space sci fi... not necessarily this franchise but anything involving deep space, a spaceship and an alien... Ill pay for admission
@blitzmotorscooters1635 I would as well, would be a tense film that's for sure.
If there were any serial killers in space he'd be all over it 😄
@@jneilson7568 😂 100%
The directors cut of alien 3 is great. Also, the xenomorph (when it’s the guy in the suit, not the puppets) is by far the best looking representation of the creature in all the films.
Never knew it was a guy in a suit
@@bigdaddytrips6197 yeah, all the bits later on in the film like when it’s in the furnace etc
If you're talking about the Assembly Cut, it's not really a directors cut, as it was put together by the studio, and Fincher had no input, but it is a vastly superior version of the film
@@richardhodgson6711 ok, but you know exactly what I meant.
@@Swampsong117 If you can't say what you mean, you can't mean what you say.
One thing that totally put me off about Alien3 (in addition to killing of beloved characters Hicks and Newt) was the fact that it contradicted the established Alien life cycle, multiple face huggers from one egg and shockingly, a fully grown Alien exploding out of a small dog, no more chest burster, sadly Alien Covenant continued this trend.
20th Century pictures should allow Fincher to complete his film using CGI to correct and complete shots where needed.
I didn’t like 3 for years but after revisiting it it’s become my favorite. The exhausted, sobering tone of the film and its bleak, almost anticlimactic ending is perfect to Ripley’s character arc because it’s frankly realistic.
Spent almost a century racing through the stars, watching incomprehensible biological monstrosities brutalize everyone around her, finding out her daughter died of old age while she was in hypersleep and she has no one, and the second chance at a new life as Newt’s adopted mother is ripped from her, also while she was in hypersleep. She’s not Luke Skywalker, or Captain Kirk or any other larger than life figure, she’s just a human being. There’s no Xenomorph Death Star she can blow up, no way of escaping and being finally being done with it because that’s not how people or real life actually works. There’s no victory or reward. After the trumpets fade her grief and trauma will forever be with her. She will never have the means to destroy WeyYu or cleanse the universe of Xenos. All she can do, like all of us in our own lives, is what she can. And in her case it was simply giving them the finger as she went out.
It's why I'm not a huge fan of the books that have her wake up, tackle the creatures again, then conveniently get made to forget about what happened. Seems tacky.
I have always felt Alien 3 perfectly captures the nihilistic nature of the "Alien" universe. People were angry at the loss of Hicks and Newt but to my mind that was the point. The Alien didnt care abot Ripleys replacement family, or her crew or her. At every stage it took from her until there was only one thing left to take. In much the same way as the company or even the universe itself, the Alien didnt care about Ripley or her happiness, though it was always more honest in its motivations than the company. Alien 3 arguably has its problems but the tone was always spot on.
bingo
Well if it was a great movie people would have been less angry. And it does feel cheap to remove the somewhat happy ending of Aliens. It is a good movie but to live up to Aliens and kill 2 main characters in the first few minutes is rough. And those CGI effects are so cringe. At the time they were hyping it as state of the art then to see it was disappointing. Probably if it was not hyped it would have played better.
Perhaps, but killing them offscreen felt... off.
Bishop was handled much better, "I'll never be top of the line again" is a line that still sticks with me. A broken, damaged android expressing a very human fear of paralysis etc.
I do wish he would revisit Alien 3 and possibly put out a new cut. Redo the CG parts is a must I think.
There's only one or two "CGI parts" in the entire movie. 99% of it is a composite with a puppet.
Having Fincher oversee the 4k transfer for alien 3 along with commentary would be amazing
Alien³, even with all its shooting problems and bad script decisions, is an underrated film when you see the extended cut. It's a shame that the great potential that script had was wasted.
It’s better but negates that by adding a whopping 30 minutes. No good.
Thirty minutes well spent.
What do you like about it?
Was always underrated. Dance was great in it. So was Weaver. Others too. Too many hated it because it wasn't Aliens II.
Thank you so much for all your hard work man! Love your channel. Hope your making some money doing what you love.
I loved the assembly cut...don't understand all the hate the film gets....it was dark and gritty...I love the whole first trilogy ❤
Very interesting to hear what he said about the silhouette, that would have been pretty amazing. But the scene as is, is iconic. It elevates, but at the same time representing the essence of the films, beautiful in its simplicity, powerful, terrifying (even having Ripley with the skin head, changes it in some way).
It’s as though she had a brief moment of peace, and respite with Clemens - like it was a dream - then back into the waking nightmare that her life has been with these creatures.
"You've been in my life so long...I can't remember anything else." One of the lines that always stuck with me.
I wonder how that silhouette would have worked. She pinned herself against the wall. If she were back-lit it would just look like she's just standing there
@@SweeploRoblo funny when you take out the hyoersleep the alien was in her life 24 hours on Nostromo. 72 hoursish in Aliens and 3 days or so in A³ but I appreciate the meta line from Sigourney.
@@loganw6156 Yeah, I always think of it from a fan's perspective rather than Ripley's, admittedly.
@@loganw6156 yeah maybe they’d have to rework the scene somehow? (On a side note, Is interesting that just before this you get the shadow of the alien behind the curtain, before it kills Clemens…)
The main downside for me, thinking about it, would that doing it would take away from Ripleys facial expression when against the wall, and the amazing acting from Sigourney.
Been a while since I visited your channel. Glad you've gained so many subs!!!!!
I saw a masterclass Fincher gave some years ago to a Spanish College, during the Q&A section one student asked him about the movie and he was calm answering the question.
It pains me to say that Studio Interference and Production Issues created something good, but this scene is incredible as it is.
Silhouettes would had made the scene too symbolical and abstract.
The fact you can clearly see the alien and Ripley's emotions really impress desperation and fear in the viewer's heart.
The scene is not powerful because of an idea, it is powerful by it's own merits.
I totally agree with this. Perhaps that is why Fincher keeps his comments brief re this scene; The one scene in this film that everyone agrees is good (and truelly is iconic) has more to do with the script and studio than the Director.
For all the criticism, the image of Ripley cowering not eh bathroom floor while the Xeno sniffs her is one of he most powerful images form the Alien world, and the most often used.
I love this channel. Cool Alien behind the scenes info.
Good video, thanks for posting.
I never liked the theatrical version of Alien3 especially after reading the book, but the Assembly Cut was a revelation and really showed what this movie could have been even with so much studio interference. For that reason alone it will always be my second favourite Alien movie, second only to the original of course, but an underrated classic for sure.
The Ox was kind of lame. I loved how hard the dog death hit. I also thought Ripley just jumping in to the fire like she did in the assembly cut was dumb. The burst at the end really maximized the ending. I really liked the fact that they trapped the alien in the assembly cut. It makes sense why the convicts would agree to go on the suicide run at the end because they knew it would work.
@loganw6156 While the queen bursting was a nice touch, having Ripley jump in the fire without it, makes her sacrifice even stronger because it is clearer that she still had time to survive this through surgery.
@@loganw6156 Felt like I wrote this myself. Take everything from AC, switch out the ox for the dog, and the fire ending for the chestburster ending and it would be perfect imo.
@@ruicosta1037 That's understandable, though personally I like the idea that she was proven right on screen not to be tempted, even if human Bishop was on the level the Queen's arrival was immanent and would have escaped or been captured, and Ripley would die knowing she failed. We can quibble about how it's strange that she has no labour pains, or how perfect the timing was, but for me that original shot feels much better, and has extra time to pay off the moment, the assembly feels obvious in this one instant, and speaking of iconic, the image of her clutching the monster baby to her breast as she drags it down is one the best of the franchise and a great way to cap it off.
I sort of agree about the dog, but I can go with either version, and in every other way I love the assembly, but for the end I need to switch it back to the original to get the right feels.
@@MagusMarquillin I like how the queen chestburster ended the Ripley v. Alien fight in a draw. It solidfies her decision to audience. She outmatched the xenomorph with human condition/compassion/sacrifice. The xenos main advantage is its predation. Most of the main character deaths in Alien were due to trying to save their fellow human. Parker, Hudson, Vasquez/Gorman, Dillon and the prisoners. Compassion is the human condition. Something the aliens can't comprehend.
Very well said mate love your work. David Fincher is one of my favorite director of all time, and i loved alien 3. Zodiac is the film ive seen most out of any film it was nice to see it mentioned.
Oh my gosh! I never thought I'd see the day he'd speak out!
My favourite ❤️ Best Ripley emotional moments, music, not WAR but the beast vs a mother in hostile world ! Magnificent ❤
I TOTALLY get hating a bad work experience and wanting nothing to do with it anymore. I feel him on that. But... if he's comfortable at some point doing it, I'd love to hear his thoughts on Alien 3, whatever they may be.
I think time has vindicated Alien 3. Once you get over the fact that Newt and Hicks die unceremonious deaths, it is a solid film. Especially with the Assembly Cut. If there had been less studio meddling, it could have been somewhat comparable to the first two movies.
And how do you reconcile that there was no way a egg could have been on the Sulaco?
@@inhumanmusic1411 I've heard a lot if theory about that, and honestly I'm not sure. My money says plothole, but there are some interesting theories. Hey its not like even great movies don't have em.
“Once you get over Newt and Hicks unceremonious death” well a lot of people didn’t. I get in the grand scheme of things this is Ripley’s story but you can’t just cast aside characters in that way. And then there is the issue of the egg conveniently being on the ship that could not have been put there.
Completely wrong. The magic alien egg breaks continuity. That's the OPPOSITE of "solid."
@@matthewjaniss4103 The "theories" are garbage and I can destroy them in my sleep. Besides, we have the facts. The studio wanted an alien on the prison colony, and that's how they got it there. They could not care less about it making any sense. And the ENTIRE movie COMPLETELY depends on that ridiculous "plot hole." Without it, there's no movie. So no, not all movies have such a middle finger to the fans.
Thank you for bringing us these intriguing insights! I always appreciated Aliens 3.
I fully appreciate that he doesn't want to ever discuss the film, most folks who had a terrible time working for a particular employer or had a really shitty day of work, would likely never want to dwell on that or revisit it. That the man doesn't like recalling said period in his life is fully understandable, and he's fully justified in never wanted to go in depth on an experience that was very unpleasant for him personally & professionally.
Alien 3 is the lesser of the 1st 3 films, but I enjoy it more than Resurrection , the AVP films and the two most recent Rigley Scott films. Alien 3 has sentimental value to me because it takes me back to when I was a kid and my parents were getting divorced. My dad started to perk out of his depression when he saw the trailer for alien 3. Upon its video release we went to blockbuster video and rented it. Thought the film was not what he expected I always enjoyed the somber ending to the film. So alien 3 will always have a special place in my collection of movies.
I always find it remarkable that Alien3, in spite of all the rewrites and studio interference, still feels like a Fincher movie.
even if i don't agree with the choices made for the scenario of this movie, David Fincher was never the problem in my book.
he delivered a very competent movie given the studio involvement, and proven since then he's a great director.
I loved Alien 3. Like most everyone else, I’m not happy with the absence of Newt and Hicks, but I really enjoyed what we did get.
Seeing this movie as a kid I always hated the opening sequence when Hicks and Newt die. But now that I'm older and much more enamored of David Fincher's subsequent work, I appreciate the entire film on a whole new level. This movie gets entirely too much hate, much like the David Lynch masterpiece Dune.
Yes it's sad and somewhat disturbing to see mainline characters die, especially without any cinematic glory, but it's also so rare, raw, and utterly realistic. There's something special about going outside of convention and I love that it happened in my favorite _trilogy_ and it fits quite well with the films wonderfully dreadful theming through and throughout.
Similarly, I think Lynch's Dune is amazing.
I get the feeling you might be (or have the capacity to be) something of a Cronenberg fan.
@@Chef_Alpo I absolutely love Cronenberg. Crash is probably my favorite of his films, but I love the 70s/early 80s stuff too.
If whoever runs Fox when Alien 3 gets the 4k transfer treatment allows Fincher to come on board completely unrestrained to say whatever he wants in commentaries and making of interviews, and perhaps, if he is up to it, even allowing him to edit his own version of the film and include it on the disk, I think he’ll probably take the opportunity to put a cautionary tale out there.
Love your work. keep it up buddy👍
Count me in on those who liked Alien 3. I like 1,2, and 3 and rewatch them all the time.
I saw it in the cinema. I liked it then and I like it now. I think it would have been brilliant if it wasn't for the studio interference.
And if the fx could get a makeover
I freaking LOVE Alien 3, always have, always will
Brilliant film, and that is why it has endured.. and will continue to endure.. and emerge as one of the 2-3 best in the franchise
Thanks for the update AT! Very interesting,,, Alien 3 is my favorite in the series. Its grim and dark, and takes me back to my childhood in the early-mid 90s. Grunge and Industrial music were King and Queen, and I remember the new Alien movie trailer that was on TV and being so excited to watch it. I remember I had to sneak the first two movies, but I was actually allowed to rent this one. My dad even hung out with me a little and watched some of the movie with me.
It's such a shame that David Fincher got so much interference from the studio despite that I thought that Alien 3 was an enjoyable movie
As long as Disney owns the rights to Alien, I don't believe we will ever see another revised version of Alien 3. Even if Fincher fully reconciles with the hellish experience he had making it, Disney would never put up the money for an actual Director's Cut.
They should "Lucas" those vfxs though. That could help it a lot and wouldn't be impossible
@@loganw6156Not on all of the VFX, though. All of the Rod Puppet Alien shots, definitely. The sequence with the Bishop droid, maybe. But the rest, in my opinion, is ok.
Yes...this is good posting!
It was my first Alien movie in cinema and i loved it!
The issue l see for David was that his film followed Aliens. He also killed off two much beloved characters. That was a CF of monumental proportions. Apart from that, an excellent film 🤦♂️
Don't blame the dude for doing it
Blame the studio instead
@@BRIANOCONNOR2003 Definately no blame to David - he is a gifted genius 🙏 When an artist can't get to express his vision - it won't end well.
@@drsilkman yeah
Because he was hired to do it
Because the other director didn't want to do it
@@BRIANOCONNOR2003It was NOT the studio.
@@skepticalbadger well who wanted to make Alien 3?!
He hasn't given this film any love before. Glad to hear he cared.
I'm sure he cared while making it. I just think he was bothered by how many compromises he had to make.
Alien 3 is an underrated masterpiece.a perfect ending to the trilogy.
David ! If you read that !
The Special edition is a f*cking MASTERPIECE , unique athmosphere with powerful religious theme and more, greats caracters played by perfects actors ( Sigourney'best role - change my mind!-) the photo of every shot , the music... And an f*cking anti commercial end for one of the best trilogy of cinema !! ( Alien Resurrection is apart, the beginning of new trilogy which would never be)
So, THANK YOU DAVID !!!🤩🤩🤩
I love Alien 3. I never understand the hate it gets.
It felt like a slap in the face to fans of ALIENS by killing off the other characters and replacing them with foul mouthed bald Brits. I hated Alien 3 at first because of that but it's grown on me throughout the years and is a pretty good film. At least the Assembly Cut is.
@@alucard624 Me personally, I never understood the anger about Hicks and Newt. There was no story to tell by keeping them in. They can't write an alien movie around a ten year old girl, it affects everything Ripley needs to be -- like if Newt had been in the script, there would have never been a relationship 'tween Ripley and Clemmons. As far as Hicks, we all love Michael Biehn, but the story isnt about Hicks, its about Ripley. Any male counterpart in that struggle would be viewed as a romantic partner, and worse, compromise the strong independent warrior that Ripley had become. Shes wasnt playing 2nd chair to anyone else, thats why Clemmons was a oneoff encounter to show us her vulnerable side and then he was immediately killed off. Alien 3 simply had no room for Hicks and Newt. I think peoples obsession with Hicks and Newts deaths speaks more to their unreasonable obsession with the prior film, rather than any weakness for the film Alien 3. They also fail to see MUCH that is glaringly wrong with Aliens 1986. Its not a perfect film by any stretch. In my opinion, its only memorable for a few 'grandslam' scenes and a cast that was flawless and savory. If it werent for the fork loader scene and the Marines: Apone, Hudson and Vasquez ... the movie wouldnt of eclipsed the original at all. Also, Bishop and Carter Burke helped alot (as stated, a perfect cast where Jim Cameron couldnt of failed). If you stack up Cameron against Fincher, hands down Fincher is a better director IN MY VIEW
@@blitzmotorscooters1635 I am sorry, but you dont tell a story about a woman loosing her daughter just to find a second chance getting a new one (plus a new boy friend) to just kill that daughter and prospected fuckboy in the next scene at the beginning of your new film. That is just stupid, lazy, moronic storytelling. The whole Aliens and its ending was about ending the nightmare... hahaha... just kidding... lets stretch this shit for another remake of the first one, but, you know... GHOTIC.
As a movie there are fine fine things in it, but the whole premise of the film was built on BS and the movie lost plenty of people right there.
@@blitzmotorscooters1635" There was no story to tell by keeping them in." Now that's being unimaginative, there's absolutely a further story to tell with them, look at the Gibson Alien 3 script as just one example.
"They can't write an alien movie around a ten year old girl," Hicks and Bishop would've been there too, there's no reason why she couldn't be a part of the story. And those three characters became an important part of the story, it wasn't just Ripley anymore and Aliens showed that.
I don't care about Clemens relationship with Ripley, so would be happy to see it replaced with Hicks.
Aliens was the last good sequel and that's the truth according to most fans. Gibsons Alien 3 script is the true sequel.
@prufan when was the last time you actually watched Aliens?! Like really sat there and watched it through, over two hours???? Don't tell me that's a good movie. Don't tell me Alien 3 would've been better by making another two hours of the same 3 characters. There's alot of people who have alot to say, but the last time they actually watched the movie was 30 years ago... If you actually watch the original movies, there is plenty that is AWFUL. anyway, who cares
I’ve come to appreciate alien 3 with time. I think it’s the style of the film which has changed my mind. The grit and rustic look of fiorina, everyone being bald because of lice adding to the prison aesthetic. the brown and yellow tones associated with the film, and ultimately the great acting from Weaver, Dance, Dutton and everyone involved. I love the fact that we’re dealing with one alien again, this time with no weapons which adds to the suspense of the chase scene in the lead works. The music is beautifully composed by goldenthal and elevates the film. I think the scene that ultimately changed my mind on the film was the funeral scene juxtaposed opposed to the alien being born. The acting from Charles Dutton was very moving and really showed the true brilliance of the film. It might not be be my favourite alien film, but I certainly accept it in canon with the other films.
Of all the movies in the franchise 3 is my favorite. The cinematography, the music, the actors, and writing are phenomenal. I love the direction it took Ripley's character and how dark it was. It is one of the few movies where I even enjoy just listening to the audio and don't need to SEE it to appreciate it. The dialogue between Ripley and Clemmons are some of my favorite between any characters in any movie. Notice how they refuse to talk about things 3 times for each character. Clemmons about why he is there and Ripley about Newt and the Alien. I love it. I love this movie. Alien is ALMOST my favorite, and was for quite some time, but over time I began to realize it was this movie that I would end up watching over and over again. I wish to God I could have 5 minutes with Fincher to explain how much this movie means to me and how much I appreciate all he did and went through. I was so happy to see the Assembly Cut. Wow. Thanks for covering this. And I would just like to add that if you guys enjoy good dialogue in a horror movie, please watch The Legend of Hell House with Roddy McDowell. That's another one that I just LOVE the dialogue in. :)
The soundtrack alone is easily the best of the series. Especially haunting is the creepy trumpet/tuba sound when something terrifying is in progress
Has anyone checked that David is okay and definitely hasn't been abducted?
Lol What? What are you even talking about? David Fincher is MORE than okay and hasn’t been “dEfInItEly haSn’T bEeN aBduCtEd” in ANY way and nothing in this interview or EVER that he’s said or done shows that AT ALL here. What are you even trying to say as David Fincher has been perfectly fine for the longest of times!
Lol What? What are you even talking about? David Fincher is MORE than okay and hasn’t been “aBduCtEd” in ANY way and nothing in this interview or EVER that he’s said or done shows that AT ALL here. What are you even trying to say as David Fincher has been perfectly fine for the longest of times!
I pretend alien 3 doesn't exist. In my mind everyone is going home after aliens
The 1st 3 comic series that came after "Aliens", but before "Alien 3", are clearly a better continuation, story- & character-wise, but "Alien 3", though a bad sequel, is still a good sci-fi/horror-movie, even a good ALIEN movie.
It just sucks as a continuation of those characters, because the production was awfull, a lot was changed. Fox is infamous for studio-interferences (looking at you, ALIENATED: INCONVENIENT)...
Seeing the directors cut should change people’s minds. It is brilliant.
The man is still healing from that experience
I love Alien 3. ❤❤❤
Watched the Assembly Cut for the first time. It definitely better than the original, does it more justice, but 3 and Resurrection need to be cut from the canon. The story of Alien: Isolation should be adapted into a film sometime in the future.
I like how it ended with 3, it's closer in tone to Alien - I prefer that. Bad things happen and people die, just like in real life.
I've lost any hope Fincher would ever give a little love to Alien 3. And i still think that. I do understand, that his experience filming Alien 3 was traumatic. But after 30 years, he really could make peace with it and be proud of what he achieved with it. And more and more people speak out in favor of the movie, so he could acknowledge that also.
Finally.
Alien3 is my favorite Xenomorph film.
Whatever your thoughts and feelings on this masterpiece, Mr. Fincher, thank you for a great directorial effort on this film.
Terrible movie. Imagine killing off all the good characters we learned to love in the intro, in the worst kind of way, and calling it powerful idea xD
And then there are people who defend this . Wtf.
These are probably the people who love modern Hollywood. They love to kill off great Characters in the dumbest way.
Terminator Dark Fate or The Last Jedi is probably their favorite movie of all time 😂
Alien 3 is a terrible written movie. A punch in the face for everyone who loves Aliens. Its filled with terrible CGI, boring characters and a lot of boring moments.
The Atmosphere is probably the only good thing about the movie.
The characters have personality, even if some of them are questionable. Killing off Newt and Hicks was OK, not interested in the family thing, or how their story would have progressed. Bad things happen and people die, usually without a heroic ending.
Alien 3 feels more real while Aliens as good as it is, feels more like a movie and not real life. I understand why some people might dislike it, but I think that it fits the franchise.
A³ is anti fan service to the MAX. Killing off Hicks and Newt, eventually Ripley is the exact opposite of modern day Hollywood. Modern Hollywood would milk the "family adventures of Hicks, Newt and Ripley" to dust. Newt would have grown up to be a Mary sue, headstrong and bitchy always putting down Hicks who would have lost all agency and been completely immasculated. Ripley would come back in the last act and say "get away from her you bitch" again it would have been a total groaner. A³ doesn't care if you like it or not and it resembles little to modern franchise film making. You probably preferred T2 over T1 and that's why we got endless clones of T2s beats done to death hence Terminator Dark Fate. So be careful what the fans wish for.
@@loganw6156 I like that it's not a feel good movie, there are a lot of those already. Sometimes things don't end well, there is a place for those movies too - especially in this franchise. Alien 3 is good, especially if you think of all the studio-interference.
It isn’t the best film in the franchise but even I have to admit that shot with the Alien sniffing Ripley is definitely the most iconic of the franchise
Alien 3 belongs to this beloved Franchise, and I enjoy it whenever I rewatch the Movies.
Promising to say the least Fincher said something about it. Let's hope we'll get more from him about it 🙏
I left the cinema a bit meh after Alien 3, but years later I saw the director's cut and it blew my mind, I now believe its a worthy member of the teilogy that is also very watchable on its own.
Alien 3 is great. Would love to see a full interview with him on it. It’s visually the most striking of all the alien films.
I really liked Alien 3 when I saw it in the theater. I didn’t expect it to be a continuation of Aliens. The Assembly cut is the BEST version, though.
For me, one of the underrated movies of all time! Part 3 isn't much bader than Aliens...
david fincher is an exelent director. i've seen a few of his movies and i liked them all
I knew that Fincher was a genius after seeing Alien3. Once I had heard that Seven had the same director, I was immediately excited to see it and I was right!
I think it is cool that he spoke a bit about the film. That said, I do not think two sentences about one iconic shot equals Fincher being ready to completely revisit Alien 3 in an open way. As you mentioned, even in those two sentences, you can feel the anger/frustration with the project.
Honestly, you can't blame him. He started the film with no complete script, with sets that were originally designed for a different version of the script, and with executives, who at the time were more concerned about the money they had and were spending than on the product being made. He was pressured to reduce costs in pre-production and lock things down, when there wasn't a solid vision for him to start with. There were pressures to "hurry up and get it done" during production, despite losing his cinematographer in the first two weeks, and FIncher wanting to creat the film correctly, not to just do it on-budget. Then there was the moment when he walked away out of frustration after production wrapped and the studio took what Fincher had managed to put together as a vision and chopped it all to hell.
I think it would be awesome for Fincher to go back and do whatever he wants with Alien 3, even re-adding material from the lost 3-hour cut of the film. I think it would be incredible for a big banner to appear before the director commentary saying "These views are not of Fox and Brandywine" but allow Fincher to publically get out EVERYTHING that he experienced, from his side. Sure, the studio can let the executives speak in their counter-points as well in a new documentary or something. But, I think that if Fincher ever DOES get involved again, he should be given an open platform to do and to say exactly what he wants, with no limits or filters.
He is a great director, and despite the films problems, it has a lot to offer due to the creativeness of the team involved, even if the studio hurt the presentation. I have re-watched it many a time, and will happily do so many more. I don't think people hate the film, they just lament what it could have been if we had been able to see the film he wanted to make. When the accompanist plays a wrong note we still enjoy the voice of the singer.
I really liked the movie alot. David Fincher is God mode , to me, directors. I never thought any of the alien movies were bad must be me. Love this channel please keep up that great work
I like the mood of despair, disheartening destiny and blunt realization and Ripley’s coming to terms that she couldn’t get rid of her monster child, but still heroically self destruct and fight it til the end.
I’m in team recut version. Enjoyed the cinema release when that came out, but the remix made a lot more sense and gave greater depth to that world
David Fincher should direct the last chapter in RidleyScott’s prequels. He’s way more experienced writer and director now than ever before. I’d love to see him return!
I met Charles Dutton years ago on a movie set that he was directing, I told him Alien 3 is one of my favourite sci fi movies. The only thing about A3 is that it has a dark, depressing vibe, similar to Blade Runner, The Crow, etc., so I have to be in a certain mood to watch it.
I agree that shot is iconic; maybe not for his career but for the Alien franchise itself. As you said, anyone who is into movies knows what that is from even if they have never seen an Alien movie. He gave it that level of respect. I still feel that chapter for him is too hard to focus on. I do hope someday he'll at least write about the experience.
I'm definitely one of the people who thinks 3 should have been a way different film but still enjoy what we got .it's a case of production hell and not finchers fault. He'll of a director
I enjoyed Alien 3 special edition way more, but I wouldve love the Alien 3 original concept, its really mind-boggling.
I can still remember reading the novelization BEFORE the movie came out, as that was how things were done back then. The word "spoilers" wasn't even coined yet. So much fun imagining it all. The theatrical release was a mixed bag, but there were still good things in it. The Assembly Cut was SO MUCH BETTER that it was hard to believe someone wasn't trying to ruin the movie with the theatrical cut.
Agreed.
I, however, would've preferred the MUTATED 0X. Just like in the book, "'/\Ll£N 3"'.
They used to sell 0x and Bull Xenomorph toys at Walmart and ToysR US. They were the standard xenomorphs with hooves and horns! L0L.
He should get another chance at Aliens again, WITHOUT studio interference...
Thanks for sharing this! Over the years, and after several rewatches, I've come to realize Alien 3 isn't a bad film, it's just a bad sequel, coming off the heels of 2 of the best genre films ever. Fincher is amazing, though, and Zodiac was so good, it made me go read the book, and lunched my interest in true crime/serial killers, far before the podcast boom.
@@zogwort1522I think it is, personally. If you're a fan of this channel, you know the main reasons, so I won't list them here. I realize others may not agree, and I envy those who feel the 3rd film was the perfect bookend. I wish it was, for me.
Love Alien 3 no one could ever change my mind. Despite production issues, it Stands Out, thanks to the industrial look and feel but the bald heads of the inhabitants.
I don't think this is ever going to happen, but I would love if James Cameron spearheaded a campaign to make his penultimate movie a continuation of something in the alien franchise and collaborate with David Fincher on the project. They can decide what their roles will be, but it would be lovely if they work together.