The short-lived Fox television series died an unexpected, sad death in 1990. Four years later creator Kenneth Johnson succeeded in finally getting to wrap up the series as well as expand it into four other television movies.
This box set was released as a Best Buy exclusive in September of 2007, and has now been given a wide release. The first film is given its own disc and the remaining four are spread out over two double-sided discs.
In 1989, Kenneth Johnson adapted the 1988 film (starring James Caan and Mandy Patinkin) into a television series. The show was about a group of aliens from the planet Tencton who crashed on Earth and have integrated into society in California. The show concerned one of the aliens, George Francisco (Eric Pierpoint), joining the Los Angeles police department and his bigoted partner Detective Matthew Sikes (Gary Graham).
The “Newcomers,” as the aliens were called, were superior in some ways to the humans but naďve in others. The show centered around the Francisco family, wife Susan (Michele Scarabelli), son Buck (Sean Six), and daughter Emily (Lauren Woodland), as well as a neighbor of Sikes, Cathy (Terri Treas), who is a Newcomer as well as one that he starts to become attracted to.
The show was an excellent sci-fi adventure and used the aliens of the show to address many racial problems amongst us humans. In my opinion it was one of the better shows on television at the time, but financial hard times at the new Fox Network caused the show to be abruptly cancelled.
Even more shocking is that the series ended on a cliffhanger. Luckily those unanswered questions from the series would be answered in this series of telefilms.
Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (1994): The fate of the entire planet is on the line when Ahpossno, a ruthless Overseer, is sent to Earth to return the Tenctonese to slavery, and the casualties hit close to home for Francisco when a Purist group develops a virus designed to kill all Newcomers. Picking up right where the series left off, Dark Horizon provides the stunning answers to several key unanswered questions.
Alien Nation: Body and Soul (1995): Sikes and Francisco investigate the compelling case of a mysterious girl who appears to be half-human and half-Tenctonese, perhaps the first of her kind. And, wanting to take their relationship to the next level, Matt and his Newcomer love interest Cathy must learn the basics of inter-species physiology.
Alien Nation: Millennium (1996): With the 20th century drawing to a close, a stolen Tenctonese artifact provides the key to a bizarre religious cult which promises instant spiritual fulfillment but delivers something far more sinister. When George's son Buck is drawn into the deadly cult, it's up to George and Matt to save him and uncover the startling truth.
Alien Nation: The Udara Legacy (1997): A strange form of post-hypnotic suggestion is causing law-abiding Newcomers to commit violent crimes, but what is the connection between these crimes and the Udara, a Tenctonese extremist movement dedicated to the overthrow of the Overseers? And, as Susan frets over Buck's entrance into the police academy, a deadly secret emerges from her past.
The Alien Nation films are presented in fullscreen as they were aired on television. Special features include commentaries by creator/producer/director Kenneth Johnson on all five films.
Dark Horizon also features a 22-minute “making of,” which is a series of behind-the-scenes footage with narration by Johnson (all of them are like this), an 8-minute gag reel, and still galleries. Body and Soul has a 22-minute “making of,” 7 minute gag reel, and still galleries.
Millennium has a 19-minute “making of,” 6 minute gag reel, and still galleries. The Enemy Within has a 23-minute “making of” and still galleries. The Udara Legacy has the 25-minute “Family Gathering,” in which the cast gathers at Johnson’s house for lunch in 2007, and still galleries.
When the complete series set was released on DVD some folks really didn’t consider it complete without these films. Fans now have the option to buy this set from whichever retailer they please and complete their collections. A fine set that pays tribute to one of the best sci-fi series of the late eighties.
Alien Nation: Ultimate Movie Collection is now available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.
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