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Critics Consensus: Alien3 takes admirable risks with franchise mythology, but far too few pay off in a thinly scripted sequel whose stylish visuals aren't enough to enliven a lack of genuine thrills.
Critic Consensus: Alien3 takes admirable risks with franchise mythology, but far too few pay off in a thinly scripted sequel whose stylish visuals aren't enough to enliven a lack of genuine thrills.
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All Critics (51) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (22) | Rotten (29) | DVD (12)
Just at the point when Alien 3 should kick into high terror gear, it becomes clear that this hushed, somber sequel doesn't know how to deliver the goods.
Good acting has salvaged many a poor script in the past, but not here.
Alien 3 belongs to that branch of fantasy comics, best exemplified by the Road Warrior movies, in which the iron and space ages meet for dizzy results.
Bold and haunting
There are a few narrative twists, but not enough new ideas to keep us guessing. In the end, we're stuck running through air shafts and corridors again.
Barely watchable and not especially enjoyable.
A fascinating, frustrating mess of a movie where you spend just as much time trying to figure out what's happening on-screen as you do trying to figure out why you're trying to figure it out.
Alien 3 has managed to sell out its violent space-fantasy concept to the intellectuals without satisfying them either.
While its claustrophobic atmosphere and gathering feeling of dread initially generate a certain fascination, "Alien3" ultimately fails to build the sheer terror of Alien or the gutsy excitement of Aliens.
It suffers from poor supporting performances, and a plot that splutters instead of pushing on; but when the chase is on, all is forgiven.
For all its inherent structural problems, Alien remains a worthy intended conclusion to the series, finding its true resolution in Ripley's resolve to break the endless cycle of her torment.
The general perception was that, since [Fincher's] film was not Aliens, it was not any good. But it's an amazing film on many levels, switching 180 degrees to a grungy, dreary mood.
Following hard plot-wise on the heels of Aliens (the second movie of the franchise and rightfully revered), is this addition wherein Ripley crash lands on a former prison colony. Guess who comes with her? Now there's 25 supposedly hardened ex-cons on the site, but they scream like a school bus of girl scouts taken to the ice cream shop at the mall once they find out about the other guest (one, count'em, one xenomorph). Is there any yelling, any shouting, any raising of the voice? Oh you bet your stars and garters there's that, bucko. Why Mr. Dutton might not have a single line in the thing delivered with his "inside voice". And all that yelling to get to practically very little going on. I sure hope 4 is better than this, the runt of the litter IMO.
Super Reviewer
Frustrating and poorly made, this third chapter has an intriguing beginning but the development lacks the unbearable tension of the first film and the unstoppable action of the second, while its final act is like a tiresome slasher movie and the CGI of the creature atrocious.
Not as good as the first two.
Its my least favorite of the series and dosent deliver like the other two did, but Director, David Fincher does a fine job in the directing chair just the story is not the best.
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