The best of the series, but not by much.

Rating: Null/10 (18 August 2003)

Possible spoilers. Aliens is as different as possible from its predecessor, Alien. Gone is the creepiness and claustrophobia from the first film. Gone is the excellent characterisation. In fact the only familiar elements from the first film are the creatures themselves and Sigourney Weaver as the sole survivor from the first film. This doesn't mean that the film is bad, on the contrary it is my favourite of the series (but not by much.)The main plot, that a group of gung-ho marines travel to the planet were the aliens were first discovered to rescue a group of colonists only to find themselves facing over a hundred the creatures is not exactly Shakespeare but the action sequences are exhilarating, the aliens (especially the 30ft queen alien) are really well done and James Horner's score is great (my second favourite of his music, the first being Star Trek II the Wrath of Kahn). The acting is mostly good with kudos to Weaver, Bill Paxton as a fear-ridden soldier and Carrie Henn as the little girl who is the sole survivor of the colonists. Unfortunately the scenes between the action sequences do drag a little and some of the model work (such as the marine's dropship overflying the colony) are sub-Thunderbirds. But overall this is an excellent piece of entertainment.