Species

This Alien clone (which grossed $60 million) follows a ridiculous team of humans who try to stop an attractive monster before she mates and populates the Earth with creatures smarter than anyone else in the movie. Some gut-level suspense, but the acting and dialogue are wretched. (R. Pitman)[DVD Review—Oct. 16, 2007—Fox, 2 discs, 108 min., R, $19.98—Making its second appearance on DVD, 1995's Species (Collector's Edition) sports a fine transfer and DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound options. DVD extras include two audio commentaries (one with director Roger Donaldson and costars Natasha Henstridge and Michael Madsen; the other with Donaldson, producer Frank Mancuso Jr., visual effects supervisor Richard Edlund, and creature/special effects makeup effects creator Steve Johnson), a 49-minute “The Origin, The Concept, The Discovery” making-of documentary, an “Engineering Life” science featurette (17 min.), “Designing a Hybrid” on character design (16 min.), “H.R.Giger at Work” on the artist who designed the main alien Sil (12 min.), an alternate ending (2 min.), a photo gallery, and trailers (including a sneak peek at Species 4: The Awakening). Bottom line: a fine extras package for a so-so Alien knock-off that is still churning out sequels.]