Review of Aliens (1986) by Erik F — 28 Jun 2014

Now this is how you make an action sci-fi film! This is easily one of Cameron's best movies and even though the technology and special effects are aged the story is still solid and well paced despite being over two and a half hours long.

Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley to the planet she encountered years before as a freighter pilot who had an alien kill the rest of her crew one by one. She was a little more than a scream queen if comparison to the Ripley in Aliens who is an intelligence, witty and fully fleshed out ass-kicking take no shit action heroine that will do anything to protect Newt; a little girl who's the only survivor of a group of settlers on the planet. The rest of the cast is amazing as well. You have Michael Biehn (Terminator) playing Hicks, a tough corporal who's forced into a leadership position who proves to be more than some dumb grunt. Bill Paxton (Big Love, True Lies, Titanic) plays the loudmouth catch-phrase spewing Hudson who's a self proclaimed 'ultimate bad ass" until he encounters his first alien. Vasquez played by Janette Goldstein (Terminator 2, Near Dark) as the hardened vet of the group who is another strong female character (a recurring motif in all of Cameron's movies). Burke is played by former comedian and sitcom actor Paul Reiser who is the original gangster when it comes to evil greedy corporate goons. Last but not least is Lance Henriksen (Near Dark, Man's Best Friend, a ton of films really) is Bishop, the android who is the only person able to get them off the alien infested rock and all in all a well intentioned robot that Ripley doesn't initially like due to past experience with androids.

Watch this movie. This film was a summer blockbuster made when summer blockbusters actually had good stories, well drawn characters, practical effects and little reliance on CGI to be considered exciting.