A worthy sequel

Rating: 8/10 (14 May 2007)

I don't know which reviewer said that 28 Days Later is to Alien what this film is to Aliens, but they are absolutely right. Not only is the comparison apt genre-wise (first one is more horror, second one is more action) and plot-wise (first one is more intimate, second one is more broad) but also in the quality. In both cases, the first one is better, but the second one is a terrific sequel. And, even though I liked Alien more than 28 Days Later, I much preferred this sequel to Aliens. It's not without its faults, but it's a helluva film and one of my favourite sequels ever made.
My favourite part of the original is the scene at the end with the soldiers in the mansion, and how Jim is able to overpower them. It's very violent and gory, but also very powerful in the message that it's making. It's what elevates that film above most other films of the genre. This film is just as telling in its message. While it doesn't have one specific scene that reveals its intentions, the actions of the characters and some very memorable images (along with that brilliant score!) combine to make the sequel just as political and critical as the first one.
I was sorta bothered by the quick editing and shaky camera during the intimate action scenes, as other moments in the film showed that the director did know how to stage a shot and make it look good. My only guess could be that he wanted us to experience the chaos and horror of the attack scenes. It did irk me a bit at first, but I soon got used to it and I was able to enjoy the pure visceral excitement of the action. That said, the cinematography of the film is quite amazing for much of it. The wide shots of the firebombing and its aftermath, the extreme high- and low-angles used at varying points, the moving camera which works for the chase scenes - it all combines together to make an expertly shot horror film.
The acting was surprisingly pretty good, given that I was most worried going into the film about the kids and their involvement. Fortunately for me, even though the kids are really the leads of the film, they are neither annoying or obnoxious, and are able to carry the story. They manage to portray interesting characters without seeming older than they are - a rare feat for child actors. They're surrounded by an able cast of recognizable adult faces (if not names) that appeal to the audience before being mercilessly killed off - but it's not their film, so it works. Indeed, this may be the first horror film with children as the leads that I really liked.
It's not as good as the first, but it's damn close. It manages to look more polished while still harking back to the gritty feel that made the original so memorable. The ending is quite good and definitely leaves me wanting more, so it's one of the better sequel set-ups in recent memory. The return of the great score from the first is another highlight - makes the action scenes that much more thrilling. Just another chapter in the great books of British horror and apocalyptic drama, and one of the best films so far this year.