A lesser sequel, but still terrific

Rating: 9/10 (17 April 2007)

A worthy sequel to the original and a large part of James Cameron's resume, but I found the original Alien much better. Perhaps it's because I prefer horror to action, but I just found that film much more effective; but still, this is a great flick, with superb action and a great story to boot. The interaction between the characters makes this film work, for instance, much better than a typical action flick. The marines all act like marines, Ripley's gradual development works, and the mother/daughter relationship feels genuine. And then, of course, there's the aliens - one of them was scary in the original, so hundreds of them is downright terrifying. The end fight with the queen is a bit melodramatic, but it's a fitting conclusion to the film. Add in some great performances by Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, and Bill Paxton, and you've got a terrific flick.