Remembering Watching Movies with My Dad

The most advanced use of DVD technology comes in the form of science fiction movies. These DVDs are some of the most amazing available on the market. I, myself, have always enjoyed science fiction, ever since I was a little kid. My dad and I used to rent video cassettes and stay up until all hours of the night on the weekend and watch a variety of bad B-films and famously popular cult classics. Today, I’ve bought a number of these pictures in the form of DVDs.

I’d say, some of the best DVD releases come from the Alien franchise. The first Alien movie, a classic by Ridley Scott, is one of the most exciting thrillers imaginable. From the creepy intro of the large spaceship and the frightening planet surface, to the brutal chest burster ruining what is otherwise a reasonable dinner meeting with the cast. Blood and brutality continue as we slowly see the Alien for what it is – a brutal killer with no goals or remorse. Sigourney Weaver puts on an amazing performance as well, delivering this DVD with some amazing features. The special features on this DVD are pretty impressive as well. Retrospects by actors and crew as well as some behind the scenes imagery and an analysis on H.R. Geiger’s work.

The second movie in the series also available on DVD is the James Cameron vehicle Aliens. James Cameron is responsible for some of the best DVDs available on the market (with the exception of Titanic). His DVDs always have some amazing features and special effects featurettes. This film is not necessarily superior to the original Alien, but it is drastically different. This movie is much more of an action film, focusing on colonial marines killing a bunch of Aliens. The DVD is also cool because it features an extra half hour of footage that didn’t make it into the original movie.

Alien 3 is rather different than the rest of the films. This one is much darker, lacking any humor and focusing on a brutal existence in a penal colony set in the distant future. Sigourney Weaver returns again as Ripley and fights an Alien that is birthed from a dog. This, of course makes, the villain much more brutal and wily than in previous films. This DVD has a few more features than the other ones, namely due to the fact that the film came out later and the concepts of special features were commonplace in the era. Although I’m not the biggest fan of this movie, I do believe that it fits right up there with some of the best other science fiction DVDs.

I love DVDs and I really enjoy having all the special added attractions that they offer. I always think about when I was a kid and watching the really poor quality of the videos me and my dad used to rent. DVDs and DVD technology are far superior. It makes you wonder if we’re all just spoiled these days.