Alien Appendix 2: The Virtual Workprint

I like the theatrical version of Alien very much and it is still my favorite cut of the film.

I think i saw the extended version once, but at the time didnt like the scene where ripley finds Dallas cocooned…

However, watching this version years later its a good alternative the only thing that bugs me is the choppy audio during the landing sequence at the beginning, its too distracting to watch comfortably but generally thats the only negative thing for me – like the reconstructed workprint reason for making this so i keep it alongside the theatrical version.
overall 8/10

I just watched this along with ALIEN – Extended Edition by Samrosenbaum and am left wanting an edit that combines aspects of both
I’d say that this edit is for completists that love alien.
The video quality is not great and is kind of soft. It looks better on TV than on a computer monitor though.
I suppose the good thing about that is that there isn’t that big a difference in video quality when you get to the more raw footage.

There are quite a few hard cuts and the audio isn’t the best. This is more noticable if you were to compare to Alien Exteneded Edition which has much better audio. The audio here sounds hollow or “tinny” in comparison but it is still acceptable.
Also, during the self destruct sequence, there is alot less warnings regarding how much time is left so there is something missing there.

I loved watching the added scenes despite the quality. Two scenes that I don’t recall seeing are:
1. When Kane is carried in through the doors after being let in by Ash as well as a shot of Kane still wearing the helmet with the facehugger still attached. He is lying down with his head to the camera and his feet pointing directly away from the camera. Such a great shot.
2. At the end of the chest burster scene, there is exta long footage of the crew after the little critter runs off. You see the crew just shocked, flabbergasted, speechless for about 10 seconds or more. Basically, it shows the crew having the same reaction as the audience – since the actors weren’t told what to expect – and it’s just awesome. They don’t know what to do and then finally, Dallas just mumbles a couple of orders.

I also like the fact that the cocoon/alien lair scene is left where it should be – during the self destruct sequence – unlike the ALIEN – Extended Edition or Alien: The Hybrid Cut (which I haven not seen)
Others may prefer it to be moved so that it occurs before the self destruct, but it just doesn’t work for me because there is no race against the clock, no sirens going off, and therefore has alot less tension.

Bottom line:
Audo = 7
Video = 7
Editing quality = 8 (hard cuts and all)
Editing decisions = 10

I’m giving this an 8.
If the A/V was better, I’d give it a 9 or 10.

Of course, if you’re an Alien fan, this is a MUST SEE along with aforementined ALIEN – Extended Edition which is only approx. 6 minutes shorter than this when exluding the beginning title sequence and end credits.

This is my favorite Alien fanedit. I’m a fan of deleted scenes, and Alien has a lot. When I bought the Quadrilogy set, I knew stuff was missing from Alien and its bonus disc. Thank God that Meedermow created a complete version, inserting a lot of deleted footage. This disc is worthy of standing next to the official Alien set. Big thanks Meedermow, 5 stars from me!