ALIEN RESURRECTION (57)

Directed by: Jean-Pierre Jeunet

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon

The Pitch: On a military-research space vessel, scientists have succeeded in cloning a mutant Ripley - half human, half alien.

Theo Sez: Very much an ALIEN movie, playing to all the series' strengths - baroque design, visual invention, intricate sets, claustrophobic atmosphere ; and very much a Jean-Pierre Jeunet movie too, with an offbeat sense of humour (Ryder solemnly picking up a beer with a pair of boxing gloves, stuff like that) and the same love of the grotesque as in CITY OF LOST CHILDREN and DELICATESSEN, right from the oozing masses of jelly behind its opening credits, turning even the actors into outrageous caricatures - few films have been more alert to the comedy in Dan Hedaya's belligerent-goblin's face, or revelled more openly in Brad Dourif's weird, elongated phiz (even the fairly useless Ryder at least looks translucent, almost otherworldly). It's beautiful - in a brown-and-beige, metallic-sepia way - sophisticated and amusing, a long way from the meat-and- potatoes self-importance of ALIENS ; now if only it had even a tenth of Cameron's dramatic flair and organisational genius. Instead it's impressive but not remotely thrilling, a limp collection of atmospheric sequences without impetus, emotion or, in the end, any very compelling reason to exist - and a reminder that CITY OF LOST CHILDREN wasn't only among the 90s' most dazzling fantasies, but also among the most soulless. The underwater chase is the only semi-highlight ; otherwise, little to remember but a general stylishness - and occasional fun details, like the p.a. system broadcasting robotically polite messages ("Warning : main vessel has been declared uninhabitable. Thank you.") throughout the mayhem. Not enough, really.