"I hear you ran into these things before. What did you do?"
"I died."
A lot of people die in the fourth instalment of the Alien series. Once again, the military scientists want the toothy, acid-blooded alien for research, vaccines, warfare, and other illogical reasons. Over 200 years after her death they clone Ellen Ripley, intent on extracting the alien queen inside her and breeding the monsters. The terror begins when the aliens break out, and Ripley and a gang of bad-ass black marketers race to their ship before the aliens kill them. The hunt begins and the absurd crescendos in a confusing and weird climax.
One difference between this film and its superior predecessors is its use of in-your-face gore. I'm talking head-popping blood and guts. The adage remains that the unseen is always scarier than a red-dye clearance sale. Well, except for aliens bursting out of someone's ribcage -- that's seriously wicked.
Major carnage also includes extremely bad, stilted dialogue. Throughout the story, the characters fill us in on what just happened and will happen. "There's a monster in your chest...You'll die." Anyone familiar with the series already knows the drill, and those new to the scenario aren't as stupid as some of the film's characters. If the film can't stand on its own and bring fresh blood to the screen then what's the point?
Sigourney Weaver is good in her reprise as Ripley with a cold-blooded sexual twist, and delicate Winona Ryder is out place with her grizzled crew. Director Jeunet (City of Lost Children) can be subtle and lyrical, funny and twisted. Sadly, this rendition doesn't live up to of his talent.
I wanted action and I wanted to be scared. Instead, I spent most of the movie covering my eyes out of embarrassment for the great Alien institution.
