Rating: R
Genre:
Science Fiction
Theatrical Release: 11/12/1997(France)
Release Date: 01/02/2007
SubTitles: English/Espanol
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: 5.1
Run Time: 108 Minutes
Flags: Graphic Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Profanity, Sci-Fi Violence
Distributor/Studio: 20th Century Fox
The fourth film in the
Alien series, directed by
Jean-Pierre Jeunet (
Delicatessen,
The City of Lost Children) at a cost of 70 million dollars, takes place aboard an immense ship, the
Auriga, where
General Perez (
Dan Hedaya) heads a staff of seven science officers and 42 enlisted, all employed by United Systems Military (replacing the Company of the earlier films). The time is 200 years after the events of
Alien 3. Scientists researching the aliens need hosts, and they rely on space mercenaries who make spacecraft raids to acquire bodies. The research requires an Alien Queen specimen, so
Ellen Ripley (
Sigourney Weaver) has been cloned from preserved blood samples. The scientific team then removes the baby Alien Queen from
Ripley's chest. Since the
Ripley clone has alien DNA mixed into her genetic structure, she is not totally human. Later, a commercial freighter, the
Betty, arrives with a crew of mercenaries --
Elgyn (
Michael Wincott), pilot
Hillard (
Kim Flowers), paralyzed mechanic
Vriess (
Dominique Pinon), space jock
Johner (
Ron Perlman), and junior mechanic
Annalee Call (
Winona Ryder) -- who deliver a load of human hosts with alien eggs. Problems begin when the mercenaries take over the
Auriga, and aliens escape to massacre humans. As the aliens attack,
Ripley and the mercenaries try to reach the
Betty in order to escape. Cinematography by
Darius Khondji features the same ENR process he used on
Seven, adding silver to the printing process to heighten contrasts, making the dark colors richer. An electric-blue tint was employed during the underwater firefight between the mercenaries and the aliens. For the more physical aspects of her role,
Ryder got in shape with six hours of daily workouts. Although all previous films in the series were shot at London's Pinewood Studios, filming of
Alien Resurrection took place West Los Angeles soundstages with special effects in California and Paris.
~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide