Head to Head – Alien 3

Welcome to the latest instalment of Head to Head, in which our Quickflix critics enter into a relentlessly bloody battle to the death based on the merits of a particular film. This week, our critics get sent to that big prison planet in the sky to debate David Fincher‘s Alien 3.

DVDman will argue FOR the film and Simon Miraudo will argue AGAINST it. Let us know in the comments who you agree with. Let the bloodshed begin!

DVDman – 4/5

I almost feel like I don’t need to argue this point, because we all know that anything David Fincher touches turns to AWESOMENESS. His chapter of the Alien franchise was no different, and following in the footsteps of James Cameron and Ridley Scott, while a daunting task for most directors, was a walk in the park for Fincher. Not afraid to take the story down a slightly different path, Alien 3 is a tense and visually intricate trip into a futuristic and horrific prison planet that happens to be infested with aliens. Weaver is excellent again as Ripley (shaved head and all), and is supposed to struggle undeservingly, as is her lot in life. Perhaps Simon wishes Fincher had simply remade the first film all over again, as that is slightly less challenging and a bit easier for his simple brain to deal with.

Simon Miraudo – 2/5

I’ve often said David Fincher is the right man for any directing job, except Alien 3. Following up Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Aliens is no easy task, and you’ve got to admire Fincher for trying. But Alien Cubed is a perfect example of studio interference to the nth degree. Despite the unlimited and awesome potential of these terrifying creatures, the audience is held captive on a British prison planet where the sexiest dude is Charles Dance. Who approved that rewrite? The ultimate insult is the treatment of Ripley – undoing all the second film’s hard work in the opening minute of the third; we’re forced to watch a shell of the woman we all adored struggle undeservingly once again.

Now it’s over to you! Who do you agree with? Do you think like DVDman, and believe that Alien 3 is an underated horror classic? Or do you side with Simon, and believe that it is a massive missed opportunity? Let us know! Choose your side! There can only be one winner!

Previous Head to Head’s

Signs – Winner: DVDman
Family Guy – Winner: DVDman
Shakespeare in Love – Winner: Simon
American Gangster – Winner: Simon
Crash – Winner: Simon
No Country for Old Men – Winner: DVDman