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[JohnIan101]

Past Tense - Cosmic Nightmares And 2122 Terrors Part I


Another brand new entry!

Gonna do something I have never done before; talk about the making of this post before we get into this multi-part entry. Back in July of 2015 I had begun preliminary image work for this PT. Then nothing came from it. The reason became quite clear when I made this my focus.

There were so many rabbit holes with most of the data scattered; some were located online, others from my personal archives done with diligent detective work. In the end, three bits appear to have been lost to time - dead ends. I made multiple hunts. I tried, but there is no more net magic to conjure. I just don't know where to look. There isn't a master database or blogs to examine. That info somewhat pre-dates modern internet use - 1999.

Man, the amount of work needed to complete *shakes head*... not even talking about the images (more were added - many needed restoration); serious research on the subject was staggering. The dates, prices, TV Guide ad, omissions, the proto-movie, release day titles (that was nearly impossible), missing concealment, easter eggs, deception, YouTube and a mysterious gargoyle on top of it all.

Now I know why I didn't finish this Past Tense in '15 - too much trouble. Now close to five years later, I did it. Yeah. A step back. About a week after I had finished the first PT entry for January 2020, "The Lost City". I begun early efforts for the second. Images were collected to be worked on and various stats gathered. In the details I found a personal gap.

I was looking for a price on the regular edition, but only found the Wal-Mart exclusive price. Where's the amount? My main DVD index, list the price (when there isn't an exclusive), but my exclusives' page (which would have the regular price) - had no entry. I was lacking a title and price. Somehow had forgotten to include the write up. That took me on a quest - information which I found.

Turns out because of that discovered gap, that post could be branched off into two Past Tense entries - which comes next month... and begin "Sword And Sandal Quarter", three months of manly men in action. First two months - covering a single title since everyone had exclusives including itself (a gift set). Plus two brand new entries.

Very cool, but that ultimately means I need another post to round out January. And I had the misfortune of choosing this title.

I'm very proud of what I accomplished on this entry; I had given up on various items and while seeking another - came back for 'one more try' and was able to actually unearth. And in doing, discovered I had been lied to (rest of the public too) AND finding out that, that release has extras which didn't port over to the massive box set. A Black Friday 2019 purchase that had to be rebought from eBay to complete - scratched discs. I'm anal, I want my DVDs mint.

You will never know how many hours and hours of work went into this post. Hair pullers and collective small victories. Just wanted to make it known, this isn't one of my regular Past Tenses. The only thing comparable is the entries for "Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines" and "Terminator Salvation", but those multi-installments were created over the course of eight months - at my leisure. This...

Had to be finished in under two weeks to meet my schedule for February through April entries. PLUS I need to do a write up for my "Night Of The Living Dead DVD Retrospective" (a book review). Let that sink in - a rush job that needed to be up the standards of accuracy and depth - and snarkness. With enough time for me to digest and tinker to satisfaction. Ideas pop and pop which mean I need more pictures and pictures which need modding and/or repairs.

January turned to a busy month for writing.

And making a connection on an error which isn't so much an error as it was a deleted moment and finding additional proof - I'll get into that much later. It's an interesting 'what if'.

Okay I'm done. Lets dive in...

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"The Alien Legacy: 20th Anniversary Edition" was released on home video on June 1st, 1999 for both DVD and VHS collections. The video tape sets came in two styles: full screen or widescreen (a.k.a. letterbox).

DVD retailed for $79.98. Unknown for VHS.

It streeted against "Gleaming The Cube", Playboy's (not Pixar's) "Inside Out", "Silverado" and "So I Married An Axe Murderer" (snapper case).



The sets consist of "Alien" (1979), "Aliens" (1986; presentation of the 'Special Edition' cut - twenty minutes longer), "Alien3" (1992) and "Alien Resurrection" (1997) with various 'brand new' extras; the sister release had the movies with very minor extras - cassettes after all.

Also included were a coupon for a mail-in offer and a set of nine "Alien Legacy" chase cards from Inkworks' upcoming trading card collection. The cards were exclusive to the American release. All came housed in a embossed foil slipcase.

Each of the movies (DVD set) came in their own Alpha cases with individual booklets covering that film's trivia and photos. VHS each came with their own individual card stock slipcovers.



That coupon was for an additional disc/cassette, a documentary on the making of the first film, "The Alien Legacy" (1999). This wasn't included in the boxes since it as still in production when the sets streeted. The exclusive on DVD cost $1.75 (for shipping). Unknown price for the exclusive video tape. The offer was from June 1st to September 1st, 1999 or while supplies last.

The bonus doc is presented in full screen and is 1:06:47 minutes long. The VHS copy came in a similar card stock case. The DVD came in a printed cardboard sleeve (above). The DVD has no menu screen - just plays. It comes subtitled in English, French and Spanish. And has no chapters.

Should be noted, the bonus content came in the mail months later. It was not reisued for DVD - well not for the Legacy sets.

But the re-release of the VHS collection included the fifth tape in a larger box; price is unknown.

That extra DVD had a limited individual release - as a rental only. This came in a standard DVD case with a regular wraparound. Kinda wish I had picked that up when I had the opportunity. I own the sleeve version, bought off eBay years ago.

The bonus is online. Go to YouTube, type in "The Alien Legacy (1999), documentary about 1979 ALIEN film" in search. Or if you know how, "QTr-ptJGp0c". It's still there (as of writing), checked. Uploaded on May 3rd, 2016 by H0ll0wm9n.

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Footnotes.

Just noticed that - Lambert (Veronica Cartwright) is wearing high heel cowboy boots in that promo pix for "Alien".



Should be noted that this doc was not included in the mega (digipak) DVD collection that was "Alien Quadrilogy". The colossal collection, nine discs set streeted on December 2nd, 2003 for $99.99.