Review: Aliens

A salvage team uncovers Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in hypersleep having been gone for a whopping 57 years. Awakening, she attempts to relay her story of the events of the first film to representatives of the Weyland-Yutani corporation that employed her services in the first place. They have serious doubts about her wild story of an alien species that boarded her ship and ran amok, and aren’t happy that she blew up company property (i.e. the ship). In fact, in the years Ripley was adrift, the planet she supposedly encountered the nasty bugger has been colonised by the corporation and no problems have been reported. And then the company suddenly loses contact with the settlement. Company rep Carter Burke (Paul Reiser, who unsuccessfully tries to convinces as that he’s ‘really not that bad of a guy’) relays to Ripley that the company need her expertise in a new planned investigation, acting as an advisor on board with a bunch of gung-ho Marines (with Burke also accompanying them). On arrival they see the colony has been entirely wiped out by xenomorphs. The gun-happy Marines think it’s just a ‘bug hunt’, but Ripley fears these meat-heads are in over their heads. Stranded on a planet infested with aliens…Ripley may be right. They also encounter one survivor, a little orphaned girl nicknamed ‘Newt’ (Carrie Henn), whom Ripley (having never seen her own daughter- now deceased- grow up) bonds with instinctively. Led by inexperienced and nervous Lt. Gorman (William Hope) and uber-macho Gunnery Sgt. Apone (Al Matthews), the Marines include ice-cool Cpl. Hicks (Michael Biehn), macho idiot Pvt. Hudson (Bill Paxton, in his element), butch Pvt. Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein), and Pvt. Drake (Mark Rolston, who looks like an anime creator’s idea of a US Marine).

I’ve never had much time for Ridley Scott’s phenomenally overrated, cold-blooded “Alien”, so it’s not too difficult a task for James Cameron (“The Terminator”, “The Abyss”, “Terminator 2: Judgement Day”, “True Lies”) to make a superior sequel with this 1986 hit. He goes even further, creating one of the greatest movies ever made, in any genre. Scripted by the director from a story by filmmaker Walter Hill (“Streets of Fire”, “Undisputed”) and David Giler (“Skin Game”, “Undisputed”), and Cameron, it’s more of an action film than anything else but I maintain that it’s one of the scariest and most relentlessly intense films ever made, as well. Hell, it’s also a feminist action flick, a war movie, a sci-fi movie- this movie has it all. That feminist angle is actually pretty interesting given war and action films are decidedly ‘male-centric’ genres traditionally and there’s a lot of testosterone going around here. And yet it takes the time to deal with issues of motherhood, and having Ripley prove herself amongst the boys.

I personally prefer the Special Edition (several of my favourite scenes are specifically from the SE), but fully understand those who prefer the theatrical cut. The set-up takes too long in the SE, that much can’t be denied. However, I feel that pretty much everything featured in the opening 40 minutes is interesting, entertaining, and beneficial. Once the xenomorphs pop up, you’ll forget all about the slow build up as you’ll be ‘on an express elevator to hell, goin’ down…’ to quote the late, great Bill Paxton’s Pvt. Hudson. So even at 2 ½ hours, I’d still recommend the SE.

Sigourney Weaver was far and away the best thing about the first film, but here she and Ripley really do come into their own, as a strong, compelling, vulnerable, and sympathetic heroine. Weaver has a rare quality as an actress where she’s perfectly able to suggest strength yet vulnerability/instability at the same time (“Copycat” and “Death and the Maiden” also spring to mind in that regard). It really is a toss-up for me between Ellen Ripley and Sarah Connor (in “Terminator 2” especially) for best action movie heroine of all-time. Unlike the wannabes that have come in her wake (Looking at you Milla Jovovich and Angelina Jolie), Ripley is a real flesh and blood character, not just a stereotypical ‘tough chick’. That role is filled perfectly by Jenette Goldstein’s gung-ho ‘grunt’ Vasquez.

The first film for me was rather sterile-looking, not very visually appealing at all. This one is slicker and cooler-looking by far. The model work at times is a little obvious, but it was 1986 and I think model work has its own charm anyway. Look, for instance at how the Sulaco ship looks remarkably like a giant machine gun. It’s hilarious, and very James Cameron (Cameron having started out in model design on Roger Corman flicks like “Battle Beyond the Stars” where one ship appeared to have breasts). The scene in the SE of Newt and her parents has a kind of lived-in, mining company/expedition visage to it. Industrial and a little grimy. When you add the machine gun ship and the forklift-like loaders and all the guns and ammo, it’s very much a guy’s movie look that just happens to be headed by a female character (who isn’t treated like a sex object). However, then you get the aliens lair and it has a distinctly gynaecological look to it. It looks phenomenal, even today. The design of the aliens themselves really is one of the series’ strengths, with the ‘face-huggers’ looking like brains with sphincters, and the late Stan Winston (“Pumpkinhead”, “Terminator 2: Judgement Day”) designed xenomorphs to me are the best movie aliens ever. They pretty much look like killing machines, and seem to be all slime and teeth. The reveal of the ‘Queen’ is phenomenal. She’s one big lady and she’s got a whole lotta teeth. Meanwhile, even when this film is in action-mode it’s not without thought. I appreciated the fact that at first the Marines can’t use heavy artillery or else they’ll blow up in what is essentially a nuclear reactor. It adds both complexity and added tension to proceedings.

As great as Weaver and Ripley are, the supporting cast is pretty incredible, too. The scene-stealer for me, and it’s with a heavy heart that I have to refer to him as ‘late’, is the late Bill Paxton as macho idiot frat boy Pvt. Hudson. The source of all of the film’s best quotes and needed humour, he’s the perfect embodiment of Ripley’s obvious feelings about these marines: These idiots have no clue what they’re in for. It was a genius decision to have macho idiot Hudson lose his shit completely once the aliens turn up. Paxton is perfectly up to the task and steals the film through sheer hilarious panic. Paxton, one of the best and most versatile character actors on both TV and in film, will be sorely missed. Michael Biehn seems to be a favourite (especially to ladies), and seeing him in this film it’s clear why that is. Cpl. Hicks is just plain cool. This guy is so unflappable and ice-cool that he’s sleeping during the drop-off. Priceless, and the underrated Biehn is well-cast in the role, possibly his finest moment on screen. He’s cool as hell here. As for Paul Reiser, his Carter Burke is one of the biggest slimeballs in cinematic history and proof that even the worst actors have one good/great turn in them. Personally I credit the casting of Reiser more than his actual performance, but he’s a convincing slimeball whom you can’t wait to see get killed. Meanwhile, real-life Vietnam veteran Al Matthews never had a better role than Marine Sgt. Apone. He’s a lot of not-terribly-subtle fun. Lance Henriksen leaves a memorable impression playing the creepy-looking but ultimately benign and curious android Bishop. One of the few flaws with the film though, is that even in the SE Bishop is perhaps not in the film enough for my liking. It’s a shame because Henriksen plays it brilliantly. I also think the efforts of William Hope as the inexperienced Gorman are unsung. It’s a bit of a thankless role, but he plays it well.

One of the greatest films ever made from a guy who made two other films that were even better (“The Terminator”, and “Terminator 2: Judgement Day”). This film has everything, including a strong heroine proving herself not only amongst a largely male cast but also in a genre not then known for female empowerment. It’s also intense, funny, scary, and highly entertaining.  More than just a ‘bug hunt’ movie, this is an exceptional piece of entertainment and cinema in general. Excellent James Horner (“Battle Beyond the Stars”, “Braveheart”) score, too.

Rating: A+