Grievously and unfairly maligned my vapid action adrenaline fans, this installment in the Alien series is one of those films that improves and reveals more with each subsequent viewing. Stylistically, Jeunet's lushly orchestrated visual design was the natural follow up to, and perfect thematic progression from Fincher's bleak sepia-toned clautrophobia of Alien 3. Joss Whedon's mockingly searching script brings the mythic elements of Ripley's story to the perfect conclusion, establishing her firmly as a messianic figure: She died to save humanity, was resurrected and has a homecoming. That brilliant theme is reinforced throughout the film, with several stigmata references.

Weaver's performance deserves some accolades, too - she's unflinchingly beastly and beautiful at the same time, espousing a sexy and genuinely threatening predatory air that's ultimately satisfying after watching her be so terrified in previous installments.

I feel that fans of the first two films, who watched these last two installments with disappointment, then never bothered with them again, should give them a second chance. Start from the first Scott installment and watch them all - you may be surprised how effective the films are as a series and as individual stories, now that you're a more complicated adult human being as opposed to a slobbering teen who wanted gore and action.

This movie was incredibly entertaining. I loved that they managed to take elements of Sigourney Weaver's appearance, her height, long face and large hands (she's got hands like Lena Olin) and highlight them to emphasize the alien side of her resurrected self. While I thought her costume was sort of bizarre, almost trying too hard for Sci Fi (I mean, the soldiers are still in camo and t-shirts), I loved the her hair was permanently wet and how they colored her nails to look like claws, and I liked the constant freaky smiling to show her teeth.

The Captain's insane adoration of the alien queen and the doctor's fanaticism were nice developments beyond the usual "We can make loads of cash off these things!"

The supporting class was nice, full of hey-it's-that-guys, and Ron Perlman. Every film can be made better by finding a role for Ron Perlman. I thought his character's random bouts of perfect grammar were fabulous: "I am not the one with whom to fuck."