AliensCole Powers9.9· March 2, 2022Follow“Get away from her you bitch” I could nitpick this film to death if I really wanted to. Like the awkward use of Jerry Goldsmith’s original Alien score in one scene, some of the pacing needing to be ironed out (at least in the director’s cut which was the one I rewatched), the choice to shot in the 2:35:1 asked ratio as opposed to widescreen like in the first film, and how it deviates from that atmospheric horror the first film was so good at building, but I can’t. Aliens is , in my mind, the quintessential science fiction, action film. James Cameron’s other film Terminator 2 is arguably better but a lot of it has to the do with its scope and action sequences. Aliens for my money in some ways edges out that film with its writing, so much so that lesser films like Army of the Dead takes ques from it, even after 35 years after the film’s release. The characters are memorable and given developed arcs that make them feel like real people despite their sometimes very over-the-top personalities, like Vasquez and Hicks. No one supporting character overshadows the other, they are given attention and of course, the writing for Ellen Ripley is great and she is one of the most iconic action leads ever for a reason. Sigourney Weaver’s performance holds the film together and her character is what makes me want to come back to revisit the Alien films, even the bad ones. The structure works so well and how the plot connects to the characters’ stories, especially Ripley overcoming her grief after dealing the xenomorphs in the first film and becoming a surrogate mother to Nute, is perfect. The writing is just tight and dare I say perfect for this kind of film. I now really wanna read the screenplay after rewatching it.Production value wise it is still phenomenal. Despite the limited shooting schedule and small budget for the time 18 million dollar budget, it looks fantastic. It doesn’t have that lush perfect look of the original film, but achieves building a dirty, threatening world that feels more industrial than flashy. The score by James Horner is amazing and does a great job enhancing the tension in the action sequences without being overbearing. Speaking of which the sequences are well executed and do a great job of building tension. They achieve some spectacle, but that isn’t it’s main goal. They are there to build up the horror and make you fear for the characters’ lives, which you do.Now, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the effects work by Stan Winston and his team. The aliens of course look great but I was shocked to learn how well the animatronic Alien Queen held up. The movement, it’s scale, and detail is just insane and made the film feel more real and intense when compared to any recent action film I can think of.The film doesn’t need crazy effects or aliens to keep you engaged, however, the writing and characters, simple as they may be, are so well defined and realized on screen by the actors that they could carry the film alone. It’s a perfect example of how smart and yet simple writing makes all the difference when it comes to great films, especially big genre films. I wish more action films could be this good. I remember being disappointed as a teenager because I like the slow pace, atmosphere, and horror of the original Alien more, but to diss miss this as “not as good as Alien” and vise versa would be a mistake. They are masterpieces in my mind, Alien is just a horror masterpiece and this film is an masterpiece of action filmmaking with a sprinkling of horror. 10/10.CommentsSign in to react and join the conversation.Sign inGet the appSee all Cole's reviews for Aliens (2)First watch9.9March 2, 2022Rewatch 19.9July 9, 2024