> I always thought that the "colony life" parts of the special edition were completely unnecessary.
Not only are they unnecessary: they completely ruin the tension of Ripley and the marines later arriving at the colony (because we already found out about Newt), and spoils the reveal that Burke sent the colonists out to the alien crash site.
The sentry guns are just watching a boring ammo counter, and the Ripley daughter retcon is just a lazy way to smash us over the head with the motherhood themes, which are obvious on their own without being spelled out.
The theatrical release is amongst my favourite movies. I find it disappointing that the only version available these days is the director's cut; I find it entirely inferior.
> they completely ruin the tension of Ripley and the marines later arriving at the colony (because we already found out about Newt), and spoils the reveal that Burke sent the colonists out to the alien crash site.
Not sure what we found out about Newt? That's she's a character? Who screams?
I also didn't remember Burke being named as the one who sent the colonists to check out the crash site - I thought it was just "the company". Can't believe I never noticed that.
> The sentry guns are just watching a boring ammo counter
There are also a few cool shots of aliens getting shredded by them. But, more importantly IMO, there's the discussion about the aliens intelligently probing the defences they've set up to find a way in. That adds a level of set-up to the aliens later cutting the power which I liked.
> the Ripley daughter retcon is just a lazy way to smash us over the head with the motherhood themes,
Are you sure retcon is the right word there? Not sure what Ripley being a mother changes about anything that came before that reveal? I can't think of anything it recontextualises from the first film - but then I never considered that before.
Yeah, the motherhood bit is a little heavy-handed in the director's cut, but, it's not exactly a subtle film! I still think it adds some value though. For example, after the first firefight with the aliens, Hudson notices that some of the marines they thought were dead actually aren't, and it's suggested they should go back for them. Ripley shoots the idea down, saying there's no point, they can't be saved. But later she decides to go back for Newt? Why? The surrogate daughter aspect gives her a reason - even if Newt is almost certainly beyond saving, she has to try anyway, no matter the odds.
Yeah, the extra runtime those things take does slow the directors cut down slightly, and it's not quite as tight and focussed as the theatrical cut. But I think they do have some merit, and the extra details are worth that for me.
Not only are they unnecessary: they completely ruin the tension of Ripley and the marines later arriving at the colony (because we already found out about Newt), and spoils the reveal that Burke sent the colonists out to the alien crash site.
The sentry guns are just watching a boring ammo counter, and the Ripley daughter retcon is just a lazy way to smash us over the head with the motherhood themes, which are obvious on their own without being spelled out.
The theatrical release is amongst my favourite movies. I find it disappointing that the only version available these days is the director's cut; I find it entirely inferior.