The essential "run-n-gun" action movie with smarts and edge of your seat thrills from beginning to end.

Rating: 10/10 (8 June 2006)

"Aliens", when looking at its content before viewing the movie, certainly seems like a Hollywoodized attempt to cash in on the popularity of Ridley Scott's classic, "Alien", but to my surprise, it actually succeeds the original. Yes, "Alien" is a straight-up sci-fi horror flick, and "Aliens" is a typical sci-fi action "run-n-gun" extravaganza based on the creatures found in the original, but there's something about "Aliens" that seems to put all of the necessary scares and thrills made famous from the first one, then added much more tension and excitement than the first film can ever hope to achieve. Instead of facing one alien, Ellen Ripley (the main protagonist from the first "Alien", played wonderfully by Sigourney Weaver in one of her best roles) and a group of outer-space mercenaries faces off against an army of them! It made even more tension-filled thanks to James Cameron's excellent direction. This is what an action movie should be, so all directors taking on a high explosive action movie should take notes from James Cameron's "Aliens". OK, but many would be asking "Why would some action movie ranks with the likes of classic movies, such as "The Godfather", "Schindler's List", and even "Saving Private Ryan" to name a few. Well, I have an explanation about that. In theory, "Aliens" is a typical what I would call "run-n-gun" action movie affair such as any typical Michael Bay movie, and since it deals with creatures attacking humans, it would be logical that it can be compared with rather superfluous creature features such as "Deep Blue Sea", "Jeepers Creepers", and "Congo". But that was what separate "Aliens" from the rest, in that unlike the others, this one has a story that is well connected to the characters' motives and that it is actually worth paying attention to. For example, Ellen Ripley isn't just some one-woman army that is typical of any heroic action movies, she actually have the motives and realistic tendencies to really give herself a strong presence throughout the entire film. Sigourney Weaver pulled out a surprise by being nominated for Best Actress of 1986 at the Oscars for a role that really shouldn't. After watching it, you would be surprise by how strong of a performance she really delivered. Unlike the first "Alien", in which she practically runs away from the creature, in this film you'll see how she must conquer her fears of the creatures in order to save an innocent little girl (played by Carrie Henn) from an alien infested space colony. To put it bluntly, this movies proves why the character of Ellen Ripley is among the greatest movie heroine in cinema history, and Sigourney Weaver will forever be immortalized as the character. The alien creatures themselves are some of the most terrifying, and thanks to the wonderful puppetry, the creatures gives an organic feel that makes them come alive, and gives the film much more tension-filled moments based on the design of the creatures. One little thing of particular notice is the astounding film and sound editing. Since the aliens wouldn't deliver a promising threat to the mercenaries based on presence alone, the film editing gives it a sense of real danger and thrill that would, in my opinion, ruin the movie in the hand of a less talented film editor. In other word, the film would be half as successful if it weren't for the smart editing techniques. And the sounds emitted by the aliens and the surrounding environment gives the abandoned setting a more menacing and terrifying place to visit, which are excellent additions to keep the tension up. The music, while not extraordinarily memorable as say "Star Wars", brings the tension package together with grace, since the music adds so much to the terror and dismay in the movie, a great way to bring out the heart-stopping moments throughout the film (and there are tons, with most of them being the most memorable in cinema history in my opinion). And, although I've stated it before, it wouldn't be as great as it is without James Cameron. James Cameron had made a masterpiece with "Aliens", in which he took the basic monster "run-n-gun" thriller and took it not just to the next level, but also with great balance. There's no overabundance of mindless shooting (although there are plenty to consider the movie a "run-n-gun" affair) and, believe it or not, the characters do not play second-fiddle to the action itself. Although some of the mercenaries wouldn't require deep characterizations, Ellen Ripley and her exploit in the abandoned outer-space human colony makes the already tension-filled atmosphere the more tension-filled. James Cameron demonstrated the perfect action movie in my opinion, and thanks to the atmosphere set by Ridley Scott's "Alien", this one bring a whole lot more to the table, making the Ellen Ripley battle with the aliens a whole lot more satisfying than the original. Out of the four "Alien" films (not counting "Alien vs. Predator"), this one is definitely the best. Not just the best in the series, but one of the best in cinema as a whole, in my opinion. There just isn't any other movie that delivers this much thrill, terror, and pure excitement as "Aliens", and it took only James Cameron to make another run-n-gun masterpiece to match up to it (that would be "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"). Overall, for those who would like to know what movie would deliver in thrills with no bad story bogging it down and a hero (or heroine) that is not dumbed down by the plot, "Aliens" is the answer. The definitive action movie that stills holds up today, and to a degree, one of the best movies ever. A 10/10 would seem only reasonable for an action movie with no noticeable flaw, and it is James Cameron's most superb work in years.