Alien: Resurrection (1997) is the fourth movie in the Alien series, preceded by Alien, Aliens and Alien³.

Synopsis

The events of Alien: Resurrection happen 200 years after the events of Alien³. Ellen Ripley has been cloned using "blood samples from Fiorina 161, on ice" so that the United Systems Military can extract the alien queen embryo that was inside her from Alien³. It is not explained exactly how the alien's DNA would have been mixed with Ripley's in order to allow this to take place. The first seven tries are mixtures of human and alien body forms and are failures. Six of them are dead in fluid-filled preservative chambers. The seventh, horribly deformed, remains alive to be discovered and mercifully killed by Ripley later in the film. On the eighth try the scientists recreated a viable normal-looking Ripley with a viable Alien inside her.

A new capacity of the aliens is revealed in this film, being their ability to transfer memory genetically. It is this capacity that lets resurrected Ripley to keep her former self's memories. It also piques the curiosity of the scientists and leads to their decision to keep her alive for further study. Having her DNA mixed with the aliens' has also given Ripley increased strength and acid blood. At the end of the film, it is shown that the alien queen has also received a gift from Ripley's DNA: the ability to give birth to live young directly.

A rogue ship full of freelancers arrives with kidnapped humans for the aliens to parasitize and reproduce upon. However, before the freelancers depart, the aliens (expectedly) escape and wreak terror across the ship. Ripley, who is now part alien, teams up with the freelancers to help destroy the ship before it reaches home base, Earth.

Trivia

The film opened on November 26, 1997.

Winona Ryder won the Blockbuster Entertainment award for her role in the film. In spite of this, the film is considered the least successful in the series, being poorly received by many fans and critics. It grossed only around $45 million at the US box office.

There was also controversy surrounding proper credit for the alien design. H.R. Giger, the artist famous for creating the original alien design, was openly displeased that the film did not give him a credit for this (which even Alien³ had done) and sent a letter to the studio complaining.

In the 2003 Alien Quadrilogy DVD box set, Jeunet included an alternative version of the film with extended opening and closing scenes.

Prequel

• 2004: Alien Vs. Predator

Alien Quadrilogy

• 1979: Alien, directed by Ridley Scott
• 1986: Aliens, directed by James Cameron
• 1992: Alien³, directed by David Fincher
• 1997: Alien: Resurrection, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Cast and crew

Cast

Sigourney Weaver .... Lt. Ellen Ripley and Ripley Clone #8

Winona Ryder .... Annalee Call

Dominique Pinon .... Vriess

Ron Perlman .... Johner

Gary Dourdan .... Christie

Michael Wincott .... Elgyn

Kim Flowers .... Hillard

Dan Hedaya .... General Perez

J.E. Freeman .... Dr. Wren

Brad Dourif .... Dr. Gediman

Director

Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Writers

Joss Whedon

Dan O'Bannon

Ronald Shusett

Producers

Bill Badalato .... producer

Gordon Carroll .... producer

David Giler .... producer

Walter Hill .... producer

Amy Jupiter .... executive producer

Lisa Knaggs .... producer

Edouard Valton .... producer

Sigourney Weaver .... co-producer

Other media

Alien Resurrection has been published also as a video game on the Sony PlayStation platform.

External link