Alien – Extended Edition

Updated
Alien – Extended Edition
Faneditor Name:
Original Movie Title:
Franchise:
Fanedit Type:
Original Release Date:
1979
Original Running Time:
117
Fanedit Release Date:
Fanedit Running Time:
132
Time Added:
16
Brief Synopsis:
The 1979 classic with several minutes of added footage taken from the Alien Quadrilogy DVD. Actually this is a re-edit of Mr.E’s extended Alien edition
Intention:
To see an extended edition of “Alien” that’s higher quality than past efforts, and, at the same time, avoids the major pitfall that appears in the Director’s cut. I also wanted to see a version that uses more of Jerry Goldsmith’s original score.
Special Thanks:
Original version by MrE.

From MrE’s description:

I left out Kane preparing the coffee because it doesn’t really fit in with the way the final film is edited. I also left out the Kane’s gun shots, as I feel it adds nothing to the movie other than a random moment.

Also, some stuff is now missing. One exterior shot of the Derelict has been nixed to make room for another scene, the “It LOOKS like a warning” scene had been moved up to accommodate a scene, the original repair/”This place gives me the creeps” scene had to go in order to fit in the extended version (which uses different takes and dialogue). The couple of scenes that were non-anamorphic also look pretty raw.

samrosenbaum:

I’ve kept all of Beckmen’s edits intact, except for the Alien’s Lair scene. Instead of the abbreviated “Director’s Cut” version (which Ridley Scott, for reasons I find baffling, placed in the middle of the self-destruct sequence), I used the longer, raw version of the scene, which I converted to anamorphic and placed just before Ripley runs to the engine room to set the self-destruct.

The second change I made was to restore Jerry Goldsmith’s original music to the final shot of the sleeping Ripley and the end credits.

I’ve also adjusted the volume, so that the scenes which either MrE or I had converted from a different format are not too loud in comparison with the rest of the film.
Special Features
Just the film, shrunk from MrE’s larger file size to 4.27GB. Video is NTSC 2.35:1 aspect ratio enhanced for 16:9. Audio, I’m not sure. MrE states that his edit is 5:1, but I think mine is regular stereo. (I don’t have a 5:1 speaker system to test it with.)
Cuts and Additions:
From MrE’s description:

- The Derelict transmission from the Director’s Cut
- Extended Derelict Entry Scene (converted from non-anamorphic)
- Extended Winch Scene (converted from non-anamorphic)
- Ripley and Lambert’s fight/Alternate “How we gonna get this off” scene from the Director’s Cut
- Checking in on Kane scene
- Alternate repairs scene with Ripley and Parker’s intercom exchange
- Discussing the plan to trap the alien (converted from non-anamorphic)
- The Alternate Brett’s death scene from the Director’s Cut
- Ripley Comforts Lambert
- The Alien’s Lair scene from the Director’s Cut

samrosenbaum:

- Removed the Alien’s Lair scene from the Director’s Cut. Replaced it with the raw version of the Alien’s Lair scene (converted from non-anamorphic), inserted just before the self-destruct sequence.
- Restored Jerry Goldsmith’s Original Music to the final shot and end credits.
Cover art by bibescu (DOWNLOAD HERE)
image

User reviews

5 reviews
Enjoyment
 
7.4(0)
(Updated: July 19, 2012)
Enjoyment
 
7.0
I did like this edit quite a bit. All the deleted scenes fit in pretty well for me and the quality of the video was stellar, better than the original DVD of Aliens. This is indeed a 5.1 audio edit and the sound quality is very nice.

Perhaps the only addition I did not like it the Alien lair scene. While I definitely agree that it should be before the activation of the destruct feature, it was placed in a very odd fashion and the transition to it is very jarring. The screen fades to black abruptly and then fades into the scene. During this part, I really felt the editor’s presence. I also didn’t think it necessary to use the original version since the quality is also lower, but to each his own…

As for the other scenes, they worked really well within the edit and this probably represents how a workprint would have looked. Like Blade Runner, the more scenes the merrier in my opinion. In any case, this was a relatively good effort, better than the original extended edition and the Alien Appendix version.

Video: 9/10
Audio: 10/10
Editing: 7/10
T
Top 500 Reviewer 11 reviews
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(Updated: July 19, 2012)
Enjoyment
 
8.0
I really enjoyed this extended version.
That said I’m not too familiar with the other versions (even the director’s cut) so maybe I was just happy to have MORE of this movie!
I agree with all zeppelinrox said so I’m not making along review.
Video and sound quality are perfect (minus “discussing the plan to trap the alien and the Alien’s lair scene, but they are okay)
The Alien’s lair scene felt a bit “anti-climatic”, I guess putting it during the countdown would be a better option, maybe.
All in all a very good job that could have been perfect (to me) with some little changes.
8/10
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(Updated: July 16, 2012)
Enjoyment
 
8.0
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(Updated: July 19, 2012)
Enjoyment
 
9.0
I just watched this along with Alien Appendix 2: The Virtual Workprint by Meedermow and am left wanting an edit that combines aspects of both
The editing is very good and the video quality is top notch. There isn’t that drastic a difference in the deleted/workprint scene’s video quality.
The only place where the video quality is jarringly different or distracting is during the raw Alien lair scene.

In fact, the only real negative to me is that very Alien lair scene.
“On paper,” it sounds like a good idea to have it occur prior to the self destruct sequence but even if the video quality and editing was seemless, I feel that the DC had it right. When it occurs during the countdown, I am thinking “what the hell is Ripley doing stopping there when the ship is about to explode? HURRY THE HELL UP!”.
It just adds alot more tension to the scene when you can hear the blarring countdown/alert in the background and basically racing against to clock.

I actually kept track of the time. In this version, the ship blows up only 7 minutes after she starts the self destruct sequence instead of 10. With the lair scene taken out of this sequence, 3 minutes disappear.
Maybe I am anal on that part but I’m just saying.

The 5.1 audio sounds really good. Alot better than Alien Appendix 2: The Virtual Workprint which is mp2 stereo and sounds kind of hollow in comparison to this.

This edit comes close to being my perfect extended version of Alien and highly recommend it to anybody that loves this movie.

Btw, my perfect extended version would have:
1 the DC lair version as already stated
2. From AA2 Virtual Workprint: 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.
3. Again from AA2 Virtual Workpring: 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.

Anyway, I really enjoyed watching this immensely and appreciate the high quality of this release.
9/10
Z
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(Updated: July 19, 2012)
Enjoyment
 
5.0
I am an extended edition buff and have a big collection of original ones and all the fanedits from here.
Many extended editions do not add anything to the movie, just add more useless scenes. I will rate the ones here.
Rating criteria: image quality, sound quality, 3x improvement, overall.
Image Quality: 9 of 10
Sound Quality: 9 of 10
Improvement: 2 of 10
Overall: 5 of 10
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