If you want to know not just about "Alien" but also about Hollywood at the time or about what screenwriters deal with or about the special effects technology of the time or about how actors are chosen for a film or about audiences (at least back then)... You get the idea. If I were to teach a course on the history of film or about the film industry there's a good chance I'd want all my students to see this. There may be better ones but I can't think of any off hand. Of course it helps if you enjoyed "Alien," but if you don't at least respect it as a landmark film then you might be one of the few people who wouldn't like it. If you enjoy jumping over couches or texting while a film is playing then you also may not get much out of this.
6 Reviews
Excellent Documentary
sparkgary3 September 2017
So many great interviews by the actors. So many great clips of scenes. So much behind the scenes the make the movies even better.Again Ridley Scott did a great job of directing. Sigourney Weaver did a great job in her first role. The special effects were excellent as was the action. The fear seemed real. A movie that still looks good after all these years.
THE definitive behind-the-scenes look at "Alien"
FiendishDramaturgy22 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
This most comprehensive documentary takes you from the very seed of conceptional idea to the finished product of the Director's Cut DVD Alien Quadrilogy Collector's Set. It is longer in duration than the film itself, and documents every detail of pre-production, production, filming, post-production, marketing, and design.
I found it interesting that Alien was conceived and molded into the movie it is, with Total Recall springing from it, as well as several other movies which would come onto the scene a few years later. I had never realized the relationship between Alien and Total Recall, before this documentary.
I highly recommend this, which I found as "Disk 2" of the Alien Quadrilogy 9-disk Collector's Set, to any fan of the series. It is highly informative and extremely entertaining, complete with original pages of the script, some great conceptual shots, and the total Alien design.
It rates a 10/10 on the Documentary Scale from...
the Fiend :.
I found it interesting that Alien was conceived and molded into the movie it is, with Total Recall springing from it, as well as several other movies which would come onto the scene a few years later. I had never realized the relationship between Alien and Total Recall, before this documentary.
I highly recommend this, which I found as "Disk 2" of the Alien Quadrilogy 9-disk Collector's Set, to any fan of the series. It is highly informative and extremely entertaining, complete with original pages of the script, some great conceptual shots, and the total Alien design.
It rates a 10/10 on the Documentary Scale from...
the Fiend :.
Extremely exhausive (well-made) documentary covering the entire process of pre-production to post-production
MovieAddict201622 July 2004
This massive documentary is very good, almost exhausive, ranking in at 178 minutes, longer than the film ALIEN (1979) itself. It's well-made and overwhelmingly informative at times.
It features many interviews detailing the concept to the production of the film. For ALIEN fans this is a must-see but anyone interested in the history of the film for whatever reason should see it, too.
Overall I've seen better but this is still a great documentary for a classic motion picture.
4.5/5
R.I.P. Jerry Goldsmith
It features many interviews detailing the concept to the production of the film. For ALIEN fans this is a must-see but anyone interested in the history of the film for whatever reason should see it, too.
Overall I've seen better but this is still a great documentary for a classic motion picture.
4.5/5
R.I.P. Jerry Goldsmith
An incredibly thorough, informative and intriguing documentary about the making of the landmark sci-fi/horror classic "Alien"
Woodyanders17 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This amazingly compelling and comprehensive retrospective documentary about the making of the fantastic sci-fi/horror masterpiece "Alien" leaves no stone unturned. Among the many people interviewed are director Ridley Scott, writers Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shussett (O'Bannon admits that his earlier collaboration "Dark Star" with John Carpenter was a big influence on "Alien"), producer David Giler, composer Jerry Goldsmith, editor Terry Rawlings, conceptual designer Ron Cobb, creature designer H.R. Giger, monster head maker Carlo Rambaldi, cinematographer Derek Vanlint, visual effects supervisor Brian Johnson, and cast members Sigourney Weaver (who had a trial by fire experience on the picture because "Alien" was her first substantial lead role), Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, and John Hurt (who replaced Jon Finch at the eleventh hour). Director Charles de Lauzirika covers all the necessary bases in fascinatingly minute detail: the genesis of the story, how the characters were devised as basically truckers in space, the casting process, choosing the right director, designing the sets and the monster, the arduous, demanding and difficult principal shooting of the picture, the filming of the infamous chestburster scene, the editing, Goldmith's beautifully chilling score, shortening the movie to a reasonable two hour length, the visual effects, the use of miniatures, the initial previews for the film, and the movie's tremendous box office success. Although this documentary runs nearly three hours, it's never dull and always engrossing. Absolutely essential viewing for fans of the film.
The Beast Within The Making of Alien: Actually manages to make the film look worse
Platypuschow3 April 2018
I think Alien (1979) is overrated, there I said it. So good to get that off my chest.
Though it spawned an outstanding sequel I find it underwhelming and therefore I went into this documentary prepared to be unimpressed.
I did however expect a better constructed making off film than this. Somehow, someway The Beast Within manages to be incredibly boring and make a cult movie look really quite poor.
Featuring interviews with most of the cast, a few sfx explanations and lots of background on the film these 3hrs really drag as it's almost as if they just don't have much to say about the movie.
Hurt & Weaver don't get much of a spotlight and Kotto is entirely absent. Most of the interviews are with those behind the camera, especially Giger & Ridley.
Not being a fan of the film it was at a disadvantage from the outset, but regardless I can recognise a poorly contructed documentary when I see one.
The Good:
Few decent interviews
Couple of interesting stories
The Bad:
Remarkably boring
Very little content considering the run time
Things I Learnt From This Documentary:
Giger always made me feel very deeply uncomfortable
Though it spawned an outstanding sequel I find it underwhelming and therefore I went into this documentary prepared to be unimpressed.
I did however expect a better constructed making off film than this. Somehow, someway The Beast Within manages to be incredibly boring and make a cult movie look really quite poor.
Featuring interviews with most of the cast, a few sfx explanations and lots of background on the film these 3hrs really drag as it's almost as if they just don't have much to say about the movie.
Hurt & Weaver don't get much of a spotlight and Kotto is entirely absent. Most of the interviews are with those behind the camera, especially Giger & Ridley.
Not being a fan of the film it was at a disadvantage from the outset, but regardless I can recognise a poorly contructed documentary when I see one.
The Good:
Few decent interviews
Couple of interesting stories
The Bad:
Remarkably boring
Very little content considering the run time
Things I Learnt From This Documentary:
Giger always made me feel very deeply uncomfortable
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