The aliens are back...bigger, better and more!

Rating: 10/10 (14 October 2005)

It has become customary among film fans to name Ridley Scott's original 'Alien' as the best of the series; but that is a notion that I cannot agree with. James Cameron's sequel is bigger, more ambitious, more exciting and just generally a better time than it's predecessor. The claustrophobic suspense-driven horror of the first film has thrown out of the window in favour of a more boisterous action stance. This would normally get on my nerves, but Cameron knows how to handle action so well that it's impossible not to go along with everything he shows on screen; and the switch from horror to action, therefore, is very much a good one. The plot is well thought out, and it follows the rescue of Ripley, the heroine of the first film, and it isn't long before she's being asked to go back into action. People have inhabited the planet where her crew picked up the first alien, and that population has become infested with bloodthirsty aliens. Enter a well-equipped team of space marines given the task of going in and finding out what the trouble is. Of course, it's more trouble than they ever imagined...
James Cameron said himself that he wanted to make aliens 'Vietnam in space' - and that's exactly what he's done. The marines are well equipped and trained, but that doesn't mean anything when you can't see your enemy. Like the Viet-Kong, the aliens blend into their background and strike without being seen. This idea benefits the film in two ways. Firstly, it gives it an intelligent edge, as it's not merely just humans blowing aliens to bits or vice versa, and secondly; it's far more exciting this way! The pivotal scene mid-way through the movie where we meet the aliens for the first time shows this best. The special effects in Aliens are great, and show the massive detrimental effect that CGI has had on cinema. All the effects here have been done properly, and they look far better than ninety-nine percent of the movies done with computers. It's much easier to buy into a film where someone has actually put effort into making the effects 'special', and that for me is worth the extra time, money and effort that real effects cost. My only complaint on the aesthetic front for the film is the cinematography. The atmosphere is downtrodden, so it suits the movie; but it also gives it a sort of nostalgic feel that the movie could do without.
The acting in Aliens is superb, with Sigourney Weaver heading an excellent ensemble. James Cameron has scripted a range of characters, and each of them is brought to life excellently by the cast. Weaver helps her character's development with some great subtle mannerisms, which help beyond the scripting that Cameron has given her. Michael Beihn, Carrie Henn, Paul Reiser and Jenette Goldstein are all solid in their roles and bring their characters to life excellently. Lance Henriksen stands out as the android 'Bishop'. You can really believe that he's an 'artificial person', which is quite difficult to do since he's playing something that doesn't actually exist. The real star of the show for me, however, has to be Bill Paxton. Like he's done so many times before and after, Paxton leads the film from the back and steals every scene he's in with his wisecracking and - later - mortal terror. The film is solidly directed, with James Cameron implementing suspense, emotion and action brilliantly at every point that it's needed, and overall I don't hesitate to call this the greatest Action Sci-Fi film ever made, and one of cinema's best on the whole.