Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

PLOT
The sequel to Alien (1979) sees the sole survivor of the Nostromo crew, Ellen Ripley, return to the nightmare planet with a platoon of gung-ho space marines and an array of incredible armoury. While the mission is sold to Ripley as a species extermination, there are ulterior motives at play. All intentions become irrelevant, however, once the extra-terrestrials arrive on the scene.

REVIEW
To date, the chief criticism of Aliens from most critics is its slow first half and its departure from its predecessor's elegance and claustrophobic style. Yet there is a wealth of exceptionally sharp dialogue maintained throughout the film, including during the first hour, and once the action begins in earnest, the claustrophobia returns with a vengeance and many spine-tingling moments ensue.

While the sequel's cast was largely inexperienced, talented newcomers such as Lance Henriksen (Bishop), Paul Reiser (Burke) and Bill Paxton (Hudson) utilised the marvellous script to leave lasting impressions on viewers and thus build illustrious careers as both character actors and leading men. Of course there's also the much-expanded alien cast, which includes the hideous alien monarch in her terrifying screen debut. And finally, there's Sigourney Weaver, in the performance of her career as Ellen Ripley.

Score, production design and special effects are solid, and arguably timeless. They should appeal to teenagers of both today and yesteryear. I say "teenagers" because it was when I was a teenager that my friends and I were entranced with this film: the high-tech weaponry; the gung-ho battles; the deadly and elegantly repulsive extra-terrestrials...and the even deadlier Ellen Ripley...

ELEPHANT STAMPS
James Cameron for writing.
Sigourney Weaver for acting.

This film was a staple of my youth. I was an usher in a movie theater when it was released in the '80s. The reactions I kept hearing from the crowd were amazing and now twentysomething years later it still is one of the best Sci-Fi films ever made. The DVD looks great and the sound is incredible but the special features disc is the treasure. The feature length "making of" documentary was very entertaining and informative from, casting, to set construction, to special effects and creature design it had it all. That's the kind of features I like to see not the ones where they all talk about how great working with each other was. But, to delve into character development and script writing what it took to bring James Cameron's vision to the screen, that's the good stuff. Forget all the other special editions this is the one to have.