Aliens [1986 film]

Space marines visit a colony infested by deadly aliens.

There's a lot of action movie cliches and general James Camerony corniness that comes pretty close to wrecking it, but overall it's extremely effective. And it's a lot scarier than I'd remembered it being.

Concept: A
Story: B
Characters: C
Dialog: D
Pacing: A
Cinematography: C
Special effects/design: A
Acting: C
Music: C

Enjoyment: A plus

GPA: 2.9/4

(May 2010)

Product Description
In this action-packed sequel to Alien, Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley, the only survivor from man-kind's first encounter with the monstrous Alien. Her account of the Alien and the fate of her crew are received with skepticism-until the mysterious disappearance of colonists on LV-426 lead her to join a team of high-tech colonial marines sent in to investigate.

Additional Features
The Director's Cut of Aliens includes 17 minutes of bonus footage. The added scenes are intermittently spread out through the film, fleshing out certain characters and plot. Included is a much-needed explanation of what happened to the colony, LV-426 (the decimated planetary outpost the Space Marines are sent to). In addition, there is more show more focus on the emotional state of Ripley (Signourey Weaver) after she is awoken following 60 years of space hibernation--only to find that all the people she once loved have since passed on. This in turn clarifies the strong bond between the little girl (Newt) and Ripley, which is highly relevant to the climactic showdown between the two mothers (Ripley as Newt's surrogate parent, and the alien queen as maternal protector). show less

Amazon.com essential video
Aliens is one of the few cases of a sequel that far surpassed the original. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ripley, who awakens on Earth only to discover that she has been hibernating in space so long that everyone she knows is dead. Then she is talked into traveling (along with a squad of Marines) to a planet under assault by the same aliens that nearly killed her. Once she gets there, she finds a lost little girl who triggers her maternal instincts--and she discovers that the company has once again double-crossed her, in hopes of capturing one of the aliens to study as a military weapon. Directed and written by James Cameron, this is one of the most intensely exciting (not to mention intensely frightening) action show more films ever, with a large ensemble cast that includes Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Paul Reiser, and Michael Biehn. Weaver defined the action woman in this film and walked away with an Oscar nomination for her trouble. --Marshall Fine show less

Includes 1986 theatrical version and 1991 special edition

Alien es un organismo perfecto, una máquina de matar cuya superioridad física sólo puede competir con su agresividad. La oficial Ripley y la tripulación de la nave “Nostromo” se habían enfrentado, en el pasado, a esa monstruosa criatura. Y sólo Ripley sobrevivió a la masacre. Después de vagar por el espacio durante varios años, Ripley fue rescatada. Durante ese tiempo, el planeta de Alien ha sido colonizado. Pero, de repente, se pierde la comunicación con la colonia y, para investigar los motivos, se envía una expedición de marines espaciales, capitaneados por Ripley. Allí les esperan miles de espeluznantes criaturas. Alien se ha reproducido y esta vez la lucha es por la supervivencia de la Humanidad.

137 minutos