Aliens (Special Edition) **** (8/10)

Rating: 8/10 (1 February 2018)

Available on Blu-ray Disc (Region B)
USA 1986 English (Colour); Science Fiction/Horror/Action (Twentieth Century Fox/Brandywine); 154 minutes (18 certificate)
Crew includes: James Cameron (Director/Screenwriter, from Characters created by Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett); Gale Anne Hurd (Producer); Gordon Carroll, David Giler, Walter Hill (Executive Producers); Adrian Biddle (Cinematographer); Peter Lamont (Production Designer); Ray Lovejoy (Editor); James Horner (Composer)
Cast includes: Sigourney Weaver (Ellen Ripley), Carrie Henn (Newt), Michael Biehn (Corporal Dwayne Hicks), Paul Reiser (Carter Burke), Lance Henriksen (Bishop), Bill Paxton (Private Hudson), William Hope (Lieutenant Gorman), Jenette Goldstein (Private Vasquez), Al Matthews (Sergeant Apone), Mark Rolston (Private Drake), Ricco Ross (Private Frost)
Academy Awards (2): Visual Effects (Stan Winston et al), Sound Effects Editing; Academy Award nominations (5): Actress (Weaver), Art Direction-Set Decoration, Film Editing, Original Score, Sound; BAFTA Award: Visual Effects (Winston et al); BAFTA nominations (3): Production Design, Makeup, Sound; Golden Globe nomination: Actress - Drama (Weaver)
"This time it's war."
The warrant officer who survived the carnage of years earlier (Weaver) is persuaded to return to the planet that spawned the creature, when contact is lost with colonists, as an advisor to a team of Colonial Marines equipped to wipe out any alien threat to human life.
Arguably surpassing its illustrious predecessor in crucial areas, ALIENS confirmed Cameron's growing reputation as a crack architect of high-tech, fast-paced, adrenaline-pumping action thrillers, from which there would be no respite once they got going.
Basically a Vietnam War movie in space, with awe-inspiring sets and exhilarating combat sequences, plus a greatly enhanced emotional core, as a young girl (Henn) becomes Weaver's surrogate daughter.
Blu-ray Extras: Original Version (137 minutes), Commentary, Documentaries, Featurette, Deleted/Extended Scenes, Interviews, Music-only Tracks, Treatment, Storyboards, Stills Galleries, Outtakes, Behind-the-Scenes Footage, Multi-Angle Sequence, Video Graphics, Main Title Designs, 3D Attraction Script, Production Notes, Parody, Trailers, TV Spot. ***** (10/10)