Alien: Director's Cut

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25 years after it was first released, Ridley Scott's Alien: Director's Cut is released to buy on DVD through Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment on 15th March 2004.

Alien is the first chapter in one of the most popular and terrifying sagas in science fiction history. The nightmare begins when the crew of a spaceship investigate a transmission from a desolate planet, and discover a life form that is perfectly evolved to annihilate mankind. Sigourney Weaver stars as the iron-willed Ripley, who is destined to do battle with the galaxy's ultimate creature.

The crew of commercial vessel Nostromo, on its return journey to earth, receives what appears to be a SOS from a stricken craft on a nearby planet. Despite concerns, the workers discover that they are under contractual obligation to launch a rescue attempt. Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt) leads the mission but returns to the Nostromo when his colleague Kane (John Hurt) is attacked by a mysterious organism which refuses to release him from its grip. Second-in-command Ripley is reluctant to allow the creature into the ship but scientist, Ash (Ian Holm), is insistent. Ripley's misgivings are soon vindicated as the strange and resilient nature of the alien begins to reveal itself to the crew.

As well as the original, Alien: Director's Cut DVD features Scott's recent theatrically released in 2003 cut, which is digitally enhanced and contains footage that was not used in the original edit. One reinstated scene sees Ripley stumble over the remains of Brett and Dallas cocooned in the alien's nest, and there are other smaller additions, which help to build the relationships and tensions between the characters. The re-mastered film has enhanced picture and 5.1 DTS sound quality.

Alien enjoyed great success on its original release in 1979 and subsequent re-issue in 2003, and to this day stands up as one of the most influential and stunning films ever made. As Scott says himself, "The film looks today as good as it did 25 years ago - almost better." Alien won the 1979 Oscar for Best Visual Effects, and the supremacy of Swiss artist H. R. Giger's 'bio-mechanical' alien has rarely been challenged - despite the big budget monster movies of the following decades.

Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection will also available as 2-disc Special Editions from 12th April 2004. Each DVD includes the original and Director's versions of the films alongside featurettes, documentaries and galleries. The must own Sci-fi films of all time.