Aliens (1986) Dir: James Cameron
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The premise for James Cameron's iconic sequel was simple; "what if there was more than one alien?" A masterstroke of a decision, clearly. Much like the first film, I rewatch this one a lot - both have become part of my annual watchlist, but for entirely different reasons.
This sequel still utilises some of the highly effective suspense techniques which made the first film work so well, but it also has a lot more action traits, which in turn gives the film a unique feel compared to the original. That said, Cameron didn't stray too far from Ridley Scott's successful formula, so that there are still strands of similarity between the two films.
The story combines mystery with survival in what turns out to be an epic sci-fi story, which has themes of motherhood, nature, fear, greed, isolation and more. It has so many memorable moments, and while I do prefer the first film's narrative, I still love how this one turns out - particularly in how it develops Ellen Ripley as a character.
Speaking of whom, Sigourney Weaver continues on her epic journey as one of both sci-fi and horror's best protagonists ever. She's determined, brave, hard-headed, sympathetic, and undeniably badass. Her character's growth gives Weaver plenty of room to expand upon the great acting she provided previously.
Carrie Henn made for an adorable and endearing child character, who showed spades of vulnerability, while also being one of the film's bravest and most easy to root for characters. A lot of her success is thanks to Henn's compelling acting, which deserves plenty of credit.
Michael Behn kind of goes under the radar sometimes in this film, but only because of how memorable those around him are. His acting is actually really solid, and I really like how he portrays his character. It is a little bit of a shame that he isn't as memorable as those around him though.
The film also has some very commendable performances from the supporting cast, especially from the likes of Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, William Hope, Jenette Goldstein and Paul Reiser. None of the names I've mentioned disappoint in their roles, and each make the film better because they're in it.
Overall, I might think the first film is slightly better, but that doesn't detract from how much I enjoy this one too. Both films are so strong in different ways, and both are rightly considered classics as a result. For me, this is James Cameron's best film - controversial, I know. Either way, most will agree that it's a brilliant film.
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