Alien Quadrilogy or Anthology set on Blu-ray???

[Elmazalman]

I have the 6-disc anthology Blu-ray set. Best way to own the original 4 movies?

Yes. Except for ALIEN (1979). The 4K release is an improvement on the 2010 BD. The 4K ALIEN is the best home video release of the title, yet. The ALIENS 4K release is controversial. I decided against buying it. The 2010 ALIENS Anthology BD is still good.

For the bonus features: you'll need the Quadrilogy set for the missing outtake (Brett's death) and the original aspect ratio for the feature-length documentaries.
Also, the 1999 20th anniversary ALIEN DVD for the production audio track.

What's wrong with the documentary aspect ratios?

The Anthology set feature-length documentaries have been cropped (badly) for widescreen televisions - unfortunately, it's the only way to own the longer version of the A3 Wreckage and Rage documentary.

What do you mean by "cropped badly for widescreen?" Elaborate, please.

It was done poorly. The tops of people's heads have been lopped off; the 1979 Giger's Alien documentary excerpts have also been mutilated. The framing now looks even more cramped.

From what I understand, the director of the documentaries wanted them presented in their original aspect ratios, but was overruled. A pity. The only positive here was, the outtakes aren't window boxed - not really an improvement - considering the poor video quality of the material.

[Traveler37]

I have the 6-disc anthology Blu-ray set. Best way to own the original 4 movies?

Yes. Except for ALIEN (1979). The 4K release is an improvement on the 2010 BD. The 4K ALIEN is the best home video release of the title, yet. The ALIENS 4K release is controversial. I decided against buying it. The 2010 ALIENS Anthology BD is still good.

For the bonus features: you'll need the Quadrilogy set for the missing outtake (Brett's death) and the original aspect ratio for the feature-length documentaries.
Also, the 1999 20th anniversary ALIEN DVD for the production audio track.

What's wrong with the documentary aspect ratios?

The Anthology set feature-length documentaries have been cropped (badly) for widescreen televisions - unfortunately, it's the only way to own the longer version of the A3 Wreckage and Rage documentary.

What do you mean by "cropped badly for widescreen?" Elaborate, please.

It was done poorly. The tops of people's heads have been lopped off; the 1979 Giger's Alien documentary excerpts have also been mutilated. The framing now looks even more cramped.

From what I understand, the director of the documentaries wanted them presented in their original aspect ratios, but was overruled. A pity. The only positive here was, the outtakes aren't window boxed - not really an improvement - considering the poor video quality of the material.

The documentaries were widescreen and cropped to fullscreen???

[Elmazalman]

I have the 6-disc anthology Blu-ray set. Best way to own the original 4 movies?

Yes. Except for ALIEN (1979). The 4K release is an improvement on the 2010 BD. The 4K ALIEN is the best home video release of the title, yet. The ALIENS 4K release is controversial. I decided against buying it. The 2010 ALIENS Anthology BD is still good.

For the bonus features: you'll need the Quadrilogy set for the missing outtake (Brett's death) and the original aspect ratio for the feature-length documentaries.
Also, the 1999 20th anniversary ALIEN DVD for the production audio track.

What's wrong with the documentary aspect ratios?

The Anthology set feature-length documentaries have been cropped (badly) for widescreen televisions - unfortunately, it's the only way to own the longer version of the A3 Wreckage and Rage documentary.

What do you mean by "cropped badly for widescreen?" Elaborate, please.

It was done poorly. The tops of people's heads have been lopped off; the 1979 Giger's Alien documentary excerpts have also been mutilated. The framing now looks even more cramped.

From what I understand, the director of the documentaries wanted them presented in their original aspect ratios, but was overruled. A pity. The only positive here was, the outtakes aren't window boxed - not really an improvement - considering the poor video quality of the material.

The documentaries were widescreen and cropped to fullscreen???

No. Other way around. They were fullscreen (see the Quadrilogy set). The top and bottom was lopped off for a (fake) widescreen presentation.

[Traveler37]

I have the 6-disc anthology Blu-ray set. Best way to own the original 4 movies?

Yes. Except for ALIEN (1979). The 4K release is an improvement on the 2010 BD. The 4K ALIEN is the best home video release of the title, yet. The ALIENS 4K release is controversial. I decided against buying it. The 2010 ALIENS Anthology BD is still good.

For the bonus features: you'll need the Quadrilogy set for the missing outtake (Brett's death) and the original aspect ratio for the feature-length documentaries.
Also, the 1999 20th anniversary ALIEN DVD for the production audio track.

What's wrong with the documentary aspect ratios?

The Anthology set feature-length documentaries have been cropped (badly) for widescreen televisions - unfortunately, it's the only way to own the longer version of the A3 Wreckage and Rage documentary.

What do you mean by "cropped badly for widescreen?" Elaborate, please.

It was done poorly. The tops of people's heads have been lopped off; the 1979 Giger's Alien documentary excerpts have also been mutilated. The framing now looks even more cramped.

From what I understand, the director of the documentaries wanted them presented in their original aspect ratios, but was overruled. A pity. The only positive here was, the outtakes aren't window boxed - not really an improvement - considering the poor video quality of the material.

The documentaries were widescreen and cropped to fullscreen???

No. Other way around. They were fullscreen (see the Quadrilogy set). The top and bottom was lopped off for a (fake) widescreen presentation.

Either way, that's just atrocious. In the era of disc media and HD widescreen TV's, why are aspect ratios not respected?

[Prez]

Posted this elsewhere but picked up the Legacy & Quadrilogy boxsets off Ebay for about $30AUD all up.

[Elmazalman]

Posted this elsewhere but picked up the Legacy & Quadrilogy boxsets off Ebay for about $30AUD all up.

I still have my ALIEN LEGACY set from 2000. Glad I got the local Australian release - it came with the bonus disc (the 60 minutes documentary) - which you had to send away for if you owned the R1 US set.

Also have the tie-in card set from Inkworks.

1999 was a good year for ALIEN fans (for obvious reasons).

[Elmazalman]

I have the 6-disc anthology Blu-ray set. Best way to own the original 4 movies?

Yes. Except for ALIEN (1979). The 4K release is an improvement on the 2010 BD. The 4K ALIEN is the best home video release of the title, yet. The ALIENS 4K release is controversial. I decided against buying it. The 2010 ALIENS Anthology BD is still good.

For the bonus features: you'll need the Quadrilogy set for the missing outtake (Brett's death) and the original aspect ratio for the feature-length documentaries.
Also, the 1999 20th anniversary ALIEN DVD for the production audio track.

To add to the above list of bonus features:

The 2001 R1 DVD of The ALIEN Saga documentary included more Sigourney Weaver screen tests, and interviews with the actors on set for ALIENS - not found in the Quadrilogy and Anthology sets.

[Acidforblood75]

I love the alien quadrilogy dvd set that had 9 discs. So much bonus material and a lovely presentation. I still have it all these years later.

I recently got the first 6 alien movies on blu ray as part of a set with romulus bought separate.

[Elmazalman]

I love the alien quadrilogy dvd set that had 9 discs. So much bonus material and a lovely presentation. I still have it all these years later. 

Keep it. Never let it go!

I still have my two copies from back in the day. One copy still sealed. An excellent home video release. One of the finest the DVD format has ever produced!

[aliens13]

I love the alien quadrilogy dvd set that had 9 discs. So much bonus material and a lovely presentation. I still have it all these years later. 

Keep it. Never let it go!

I still have my two copies from back in the day. One copy still sealed. An excellent home video release. One of the finest the DVD format has ever produced!

I also have my copy of Alien Quadrilogy Dvd set, it's one of my treasures. I love those old DVD presentations and the menus, now they just make them... Boring and generic. Just look at the Romulus menu, it reminds me to those pirate copies of the movies that people used to sell in the street with 4 movies in one dvd

[Neila]

I have fond memories of that time of the release.
I remember suddenly seeing it in our store.
It was there a few days earlier than expected and it was a Friday.

I had cancelled all previous weekend plans and barricaded myself at home to watch the whole set.
haha.
It was really intense but it was great.

[aliens13]

I have fond memories of that time of the release.
I remember suddenly seeing it in our store.
It was there a few days earlier than expected and it was a Friday.

I had cancelled all previous weekend plans and barricaded myself at home to watch the whole set.
haha.
It was really intense but it was great.

I remember buying it and my uncle took me to pick it up (it was an used copy), the guy who sold me the dvd also wanted to sell me 2 Neca Alien figures but I was already out of money. I remember coming home and the first thing was watching the AC of Alien³. Good times

[Neila]

I remember coming home and the first thing was watching the AC of Alien³. Good times

Same here.
Since the release of Alien 3, we've repeatedly seen pictures of scenes that weren't in the film but were obviously filmed.

And then there was this dubious VHS workprint that was mentioned occasionally on the internet.
I've never seen it, but apparently there were people who paid huge sums of money for really poor quality.

When the announcement for the 9-disc box set came, it was like Christmas for me.
But at first, I thought it was a fake because I couldn't believe that every film would be included in two versions, and so much BTS material.
Unbelievable.
I was particularly interested in Alien 3 because of the missing scenes.
I even unplugged the phone line while watching it so no one would bother me, haha.

[aliens13]

I remember coming home and the first thing was watching the AC of Alien³. Good times

Same here.
Since the release of Alien 3, we've repeatedly seen pictures of scenes that weren't in the film but were obviously filmed.

And then there was this dubious VHS workprint that was mentioned occasionally on the internet.
I've never seen it, but apparently there were people who paid huge sums of money for really poor quality.

When the announcement for the 9-disc box set came, it was like Christmas for me.
But at first, I thought it was a fake because I couldn't believe that every film would be included in two versions, and so much BTS material.
Unbelievable.
I was particularly interested in Alien 3 because of the missing scenes.
I even unplugged the phone line while watching it so no one would bother me, haha.

The Assembly Cut blow me away when I saw it, I was surprised for the amount of new scenes it had, and I already loved Alien³ the TC.

All that experience I only had it with Quadrilogy, with Anthology I already knew what to expect. Quadrilogy has a special place in my heart for me

[Elmazalman]

The Assembly Cut blow me away when I saw it, I was surprised for the amount of new scenes it had, and I already loved Alien³ the TC.

All that experience I only had it with Quadrilogy, with Anthology I already knew what to expect. Quadrilogy has a special place in my heart for me

The Anthology set has the uncensored A3 feature-length documentary, and the "Burke Cocoon" deleted scene ALIENS fans have been waiting decades to see. I've been wanting to see it ever since I bought the ALIENS Official Movie Magazine in '86.

Both Quadrilogy and Anthology sets are essential to any home video collection.