Bowfinger [DVD]

David Fincher's sci-fi feature debut Alien 3 comes to DVD in this two-disc Collector's Edition from 20th Century Fox. Presented with a widescreen 2.35:1 color transfer. Dolby Digital Surround soundtracks are available in English and Spanish. English and Spanish subtitles are also accessible. Disc one contains the original 1992 theatrical version along with the 2003 Special Edition version with 30 minutes of additional footage. Audio commentary is provided by cinematographer Alex Thompson, editor Terry Rawlings, and various members of the visual effects team. Disc two contains all of the special features. Behind-the-scenes featurettes include "Development: Concluding the Story," "Xeno-Erotic: Giger's Redesign," "Optical Fury: Visual Effects," and "Adaptive Organism: Creature Design." Also includes multi-angle studies, photo galleries, and storyboards. Other bonus material explores the music, editing, and artwork. This is a highly recommended disc for fans of the saga.

Alien vs. Predator crashes to Earth in this full-screen edition of 20th Century Fox's long-awaited intergalactic boxing match. With a full-screen image and both 5.1 Dolby and DTS tracks, the look and sound are impressive, offering a fitting presentation of the film's best qualities -- its dark photography and loud soundtrack. Extras on the disc begin with a director and actors commentary, featuring Paul W.S. Anderson and his stars Lance Henriksen and Sanaa Lathan. Sadly, even if you stand by the film, you still might be annoyed at the level of praise that gets thrown around throughout the track. From Henriksen waxing Anderson's car every other second to both of them going gaga over the very un-incredible Lathan, the talk feels more like a bubbly love session than anything else. The other commentary comes from visual effects supervisor John Bruno and creature effects designers/creators Alec Gillis and Tom Woodruff Jr. and it's informative as to what effects are what, but good for little else. Not only do you have to put up with both sets of effects people competing over credit for certain shots, but there's also a bit of ego-driven babble from Gillis as he continues to hold his mantle as the official Alien actor (this being his third film in the monster's shoes). The rest of the extras begin with an extended version of the film, though don't be expecting the R-rated violent cut of the film, which Anderson was rumored to have been made to cut down weeks before the release. Instead, you get an extended opening scene of a Predator hunting down an Antarctic colonist in 1904 that is about 90 seconds long -- and that's it. You wonder why they didn't file that just in the deleted scenes section, which isn't too much to call home about in the first place. A 22-minute making-of is also supplied, though even that is basically made up of footage already released on the web before the movie's release. Other than that, only one other feature stands out from the rest of the extras, including a ridiculous Superbowl spot and other Fox TV trailers, and that is the gallery of Alien vs. Predator comic covers from Dark Horse Comics. With 35 covers inside the gallery, this ode to all of the various mini-series is one of the most comprehensive things on the entire disc, which in a way, sums up this entire release in a sad kind of way.