The Alien Saga (2001)

94% of critics liked it
(49 reviews)
94% of users liked it
(649 ratings)

Originally aired on AMC, this documentary focuses on one of the most horrifying series ever to be committed to celluloid -- the Alien film series. With interviews from most of the main players, including Ridley Scott, James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, and H.R. Giger, the special goes through… More Originally aired on AMC, this documentary focuses on one of the most horrifying series ever to be committed to celluloid -- the Alien film series. With interviews from most of the main players, including Ridley Scott, James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, and H.R. Giger, the special goes through conception through production of all four films released from 20th Century Fox. Narrated by the Alien's first-ever onscreen victim, John Hurt, The Alien Saga gives insight into various script changes, casting choices, and the series fantastical effects through the eyes of the innovators behind them. The same production team, headed by writer/director Brent Zacky, also produced the equally exhausting horror film series documentary The Omen Legacy. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 50 min.
Directed By: Brent Zacky
Genres: Documentary, Television

In Theaters: Oct 29, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Oct 14, 2003
Studio: 20th Century Fox

Critic Reviews

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Turns out not to be one of those movies that improves in the memory, but actually is better than you remember, mostly because it puts its multitude of imitators to shame.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
Scott knew how to create tension, and the movie still has plenty of white-knuckle impact, although it's a little tamer than I remembered.
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
What you will find is that the old mayhem is still masterful and that there is nothing like the big screen for this type of mortally wounded space exploration.
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
The movie inspired three sequels and remains undeniably frightening. It also marks a significant step in the evolution of modern science-fiction films.
Glenn Lovell, San Jose Mercury News
It's a most satisfying return to one of the few sci-fi films that deserves to be called a masterpiece.
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle
A streamlined improvement on the original.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
Alien is a triumph of style over substance, of lean over fat.
Blake French, Filmcritic.com
Alien 3 doesn?t suffer from the trilogy syndrome as much as it suffers simply from bad writing.
Shawn Bowers, Kansas City Star
Going back to the beginning and seeing where it all began, this film had a lot to live up to in my eyes. In the end, I was just left wondering what all the fuss was about.
Blake French, Filmcritic.com
... one of the few films that can be predicted perfectly, but it?s so well crafted?and so damn exciting?that we just don?t care.
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
Nearly a quarter of a century down the line, a great film has been made greater.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
It remains one of the best examples of sustained tension.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
Scott says he still prefers his original version, but now (in the Alien Quadrilogy) you have a choice of the two editions.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
When Scott was finished, he thought it was too long and that the added material threw the pacing off. Therefore, he cut his own Director's Cut. (Alien Quadrilogy)
Urban Cinefile Critics, Urban Cinefile
Whether this is the first time you have seen Alien, or the third or fourth... The tension never abates - the film never lets you off the hook.
Paul Arendt, Teletext
'A chance to see Ridley Scott's ruthlessly efficient shocker back where it belongs, on the big screen.'
Todd Gilchrist, FilmStew.com
For reviewer Todd Gilchrist, puberty began in earnest when he witnessed Sigourney Weaver getting physical aboard a doomed spaceship.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Still one scary mother.
Pete Croatto, Filmcritic.com
fuller and scarier
Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly
Thrill again to how thoroughly conceived the whole thing is, how impeccably acted and genuine in its suspense.