Film #3: The One You Forgot About (Alien 3)
Believe it or not, David Fincher’s first directorial effort was none other than Alien 3. Do you even remember this sequel? I don’t think Alien 3 is particularly good, but it’s also not completely horrible. Ironically, I feel the same way about this sequel as I do Terminator 3. Both movies came after a James Cameron directed sequel, and both had impossible tasks. The previous films wrapped up their storylines so perfectly, that any third film you wanted to do was going to be a stretch.
The beginning of Alien 3 is probably the most frustrating. We spent so much time rooting for those characters to get out alive after Aliens, and in the first five minutes of the film, you learn in passing that half of them died. Well that sucks. Setting the movie in a space prison with an alien on the loose is a solid idea, but they play it pretty safe. The one element Alien 3 has going for it though is a really awesome ending, especially for the Ripley character. But as Hollywood always does, they crap all over that with an even worse sequel written by Avengers golden boy Joss Whedon. In reading about this film, it sounds like it was a barrage of studio interference, making for a very frustrating first movie experience for David Fincher. More power to him though as he got through the studio picture experience, whereas some directors can’t. He’s certainly forged ahead, and has hashed out a pretty damn good career – minus Button boy of course.
http://youtu.be/9vnjQPcrcZI
