20th Century Fox has today formally announced the Alien 40th Anniversary 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray with a release date of April 23rd in North America (and prospectively April 22nd in the UK). As previously announced, an exclusive steelbook will be available via Best Buy in the US or Zavvi in the UK.
The release comes with the 1979 Theatrical version of Alien as well as the 2003 Director’s Cut. Both of Ridley Scott’s commentaries for both versions of the film are included as are the Isolated Score for the Theatrical version and the composer’s original score. By the sounds of the report, all the special features are just ported over from the existing Blu-Ray release:
ALIEN 40th Anniversary 4K ULTRA HD & Blu-ray Specs
- Street Date: April 23, 2019
- Screen Format: Widescreen 16:9 (2.40:1)
- Audio (4K Ultra HD): English DTS-HD-MA 5.1 / English DTS-HD-MA 4.1 (Theatrical Version Only) / English Surround DTS-HD-MA2 2.0 / Spanish DD 5.1 / French DTS 5.1
- Audio (Blu-ray): English DTS-HD-MA 5.1 / English Dolby Digital 4.1 (Theatrical Version Only) /
English Surround Dolby Digital 2.0 / Spanish DD 5.1 / French DTS 5.1 - Subtitles: English / Spanish / French
- U.S. Rating: R for sci-fi violence, gore and Language
ALIEN 40th Anniversary Bonus Features:
- 1979 Theatrical Version
- 2003 Director’s Cut
- 2003 Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott, writer Dan O’Bannon, executive producer Ronald Shusett, editor Terry Rawlings and actors Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton and John Hurt
- 1999 Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
- Final Theatrical Isolated Score – Dolby Digital 5.1 (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
- Composer’s Original Isolated Score – Dolby Digital 5.1 (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
- Deleted Scenes
Best Buy Steelbook of Alien
The key feature of the Alien 40th Anniversary release is of course the brand new 4K transfer which was supervised by Ridley Scott and Pam Dery at Company 3/Deluxe Entertainment Services Group. The new 4K scans were done at EFilm and the audio restoration was accomplished by Audio Mechanics. Look out for the 40th Anniversary screening of Alien at your local cinema throughout March. Vue, Odeon and Cineworld in the UK are definitely showing the film.
The Space Jockey reveal has thankfully been fixed - no neon green spacesuit for Kane - his original tan-coloured suit is back.
Had a look at the DC and am happy with the new colour grading for the DC scenes. The scenes, whilst upscales, don't detract too much from the 4K material either side of it.
All the edits made to the DC are there but not the updated effects - added stars and the three helmet lights, rounding the rock formation during sunrise, are missing - basically the DC without the reworked visual effects. This may qualify as a third version of the DC?
I was hoping the audio would be fixed for the overhead shot of Brett (exclusive to the DC), you can hear his footsteps while still standing motionless, looking around for Jones.
I enjoyed this 40th anniversary edition. A definite step up from the 2010 Anthology release.
From what I've seen (screen caps) and read, the new 4K edition will have more natural colours and none of the above issues to hobble the presentation. The 4.1 audio (I believe) is also lossless.
The only disappointment (for me), being the sh*t cover art (both egg and Alien versions).
Very much looking forward to seeing this.
Thanks for sharing this Drukathi.
This is what I was worried about:
"Every time the original negative of Alien has been scanned for a fresh remaster, the color of the final product has had to be re-graded and approved by Ridley Scott—and each time, Scott has favored the film to have a slightly different look."
Now they continue to say the 4K is the closest to the theatrical color yet, but does anyone remember Kane looking so blue here, theatrically?
https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/57113083_10155983723800474_2532845194882056192_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&_nc_eui2=AeFMBXHUa_0yL0pPy9uTzWtuNm6EfsAKf1F851wzh-FbWoSbzycZoVcWXpjs8Y3dqUBpUXIXGm_4LrcHoJckT5bS1AfjBVW1Tff0HHHTxcQuPg&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-1.xx&oh=cc5d86cef24f31dfb36c23b96dc13757&oe=5D37B2E3
Thanks for the clarification. I found another comparison and yes - it's looks great.
Here
https://alien-archives.com/2019/04/12/alien-40th-anniversary-4k-uhd-review/
And here
https://caps-a-holic.com/c_list.php?c=2127
Iooking at the screenshots I think the D-Theater version looks best.
Especially after a handful of reviews I've seen, I have little concern over Alien 4k not looking wonderful.
This discussion is just through the prism of will the colors look like its theatrical release.
Judgment Day is a trashfire, no comparison.
Blade Runner comes to mind. Sir Ridley personally supervised, changed and approved the color timing to his liking. Now this was billed as a different cut, so different circumstances, but Gladiator, Alien, either with subtlety or extensive director's cuts, there is still Scott's apparent desire to improve his classics versus having a let-live-as-is attitude like other directors share.
James Cameron seems to have this desire to improve too. Here's an occasion where Cameron wasn't even truthful about digital alterations he made. https://skynetsarmy.net/2017/05/05/james-cameron-wasnt-completely-forthcoming-about-altering-the-digital-effects-in-terminator-2-judgment-day-3d/
That's why Ridley being involved will always make me nervous, even if no changes ultimately come from it.
Special Features and Technical Specs:
BRAND NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM, COMPLETED IN 2018 BY 20TH CENTURY FOX AT COMPANY 3/DELUXE ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES CORP., SUPERVISED BY RIDLEY SCOTT AND PAM DERY, WITH THE 4K SCANS DONE AT EFILM[/b]
Theatrical Version (1979)
Director's Cut (2003)
2003 Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott and the Cast & Crew
1999 Audio Commentary by Ridley Scott (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
Final Theatrical Isolated Score – Dolby Digital 5.1 (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
Composer's Original Isolated Score – Dolby Digital 5.1 (1979 Theatrical Version Only)
Deleted Scenes
Additional 4K Blu-ray Technical Specs:
Audio: English DTS-HD-MA 5.1 / English DTS-HD-MA 4.1 (Theatrical Version Only) / English Surround DTS-HD-MA2 2.0 / Spanish DD 5.1 / French DTS 5.1
Optional English SDH, Spanish, and French subtitles for the main feature
It indeed looks off, but we can't fully be certain of the color deviations yet by any comparison on YouTube. We all need to see it in person. However, the word is there are some variances in color. It will also be interesting how HDR impacts the color. We'll see.
In a somewhat related note, I've recently watched both Terminator 2 and Predator 2 both in 4K and neither match their theatrical representations anymore. But while the Predator 2 color deviation is slight, more nuanced, T2 is just in-your-face different.
I previously watched DVD versions (one or two times), but after blu-ray don't remember them. So, please tell me - Blue filter in 4K edition is natural color of Alien film or just a filter? It looks strange and unusual.
Starburst's review.
I've been reading through the Blu-ray thread and even though I prefer the TE, I am disappointed to hear the DC hasn't received the same love.
So this video is being discussed over there too. Apparently it's completely none representative of the 4K edition and the colours are incorrect. You can see that when comparing to the screen caps from the compare website.
Plus he was one of the reviewers that dogged Predator's 4k video quality and subsequently got beat up in the comments for it, so my perception seems to align with his.
I had to read that twice to understand it.
Oh, I'm happy with my math.
Spoiler
21 with my britches down.
We all know you can't count that high, Huggsy. To twenty tops with your shoes off.
But I saw the quadrilogy dvd about 5 or 6 thousand times.
It's the only version I've watched for the last 9 years so it's pretty ingrained on my memory. lol
Now we just need one where Ridley Scott imitates Ripleys voice and dialogue at the end and goes into cryosleep wearing her underwear.
So, with this release there will now be three different versions of the DC.
Shame they didn't fix this. That is te sort of touch up I like when the director go back and tidy things up.
They should put that on the welcome sign for the county next to me.
They've got like 5,000 people and only 2 last names.
What I'd have liked, though, would be some bonus content from 5th Blu-ray disc from the Anthology boxset.
It's amazing how much time one can save by avoiding a canon arguement or like however. Trust me, I had to learn this myself. Cancelled a reply, turned off the forum, and realized hey... I have time to watch a movie!
No native 4K "Director's Cut" it's "seamless" HDR 1080p material upconversion.
And the DC's starfield alteration is absent.
4K 40th Anniversary Edition:
Spoiler
2010 Blu-ray Release:
Spoiler
I've only seen the Blu-Ray once so I've not ingrained it in my memory of the movie
https://hdtvpolska.com/obcy-recenzja-wydanie-4k-ultra-hd-blu-ray/
it is written in Polish but if you click on the British flag at the top of the page, you'll get a Google translation.
There are some shots of the box (the front, back inside) there.
Below is also my quick impressions on the Blu-ray dot com forums (in English):
If you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to assist you, guys