Aliens: Director’s Cut
Basically the film that rewrote the rules of sci-fi action and established a bar in pacing and violence that has rarely been topped, James Cameron’s sequel to Ridley Scott’s seminal classic is the rare example of the follow-up that actually manages to top the original all the way around. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley striking the perfect balance between being badass and feminine that many of today’s female action heroines could take notes from. The fact that she got a Best Actress Oscar Nomination here is even more astonishing considering the circumstances. But in addition, Cameron surrounds her with the best ensemble the series has ever seen, and leagues ahead of the boring cardboard cutouts of the original, with tremendous character development and empathy for their fates: Michael Biehn’s Hicks is a man of few words at first glance, but infinite coolness (gotta love the way he dozes off during the drop), and once he takes command the movie really goes on all cylinders; Reiser’s Burke is a conniving slimeball obviously, but it’s the human side of his character that makes him fascinating to watch (unlike Ian Holm’s Ash in the original); Henriksen became a major player as Bishop, almost touching in the way he wishes to be accepted by the others; Paxton’s legendary Hudson, the ultimate insecure macho male id, has the best lines and the funniest moments; Jenette Goldstein’s Vazquez is both beautiful and deadly and the way she gives the battle everything she’s got up until the end is a marvel to see; Carrie Henn’s Newt manages to be endearing without being cloying or annoying, no mean feat for a child actress, and the rest of the lineup all do their jobs to a tee, right down to the guys with only one or two lines. What rocked people’s worlds back when this came out in 86 and still does today, is the hectic, unremitting pace, especially after the first hour. The fact that the film is over 2 and a half hours and yet keeps you glued to the edge of your seat the whole time is something that very few movies since (save maybe Armageddon) have been able to achieve. In addition, the model miniature FX used at the time still hold up today, and why true craftsmanship like that has been eschewed in favor of modern day CGI is beyond me. In the end, one of the greatest movies of the 80s easily, and also one of the best in its genre ever…
10/10