James Cameron is a genius

Rating: 10/10 (12 August 2009)

You got to love James Cameron, writer and director of two classic films, Terminator 1 and 2. The man has a cult following and fanboys the world over exploding with exciting before the release of Avatar. Aliens is his other great film, a sequel to the excellent Ridley Scott film Alien.
Set 57 years after the events of Alien, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), is found in floating space still in a deep space. She expected to found in six weeks. Many people within the company disbelieve her story about the Alien and unhappy that she destroyed an expensive ship. Ridley learns that her daughter had died at the age of 66. Her pilot's license is revoked and she can only work as a warehouse loader. What she finds out that's more distressing is the LV-426 has been colonised by humans for 20 years and engineers were terraforming it for future generations. The colonialists hasn't had any contact with the aliens. However, during her time on the company spaceship Ripley is told that the company had lost contact with the colony. She is asked by the company representative Carter Burke (Paul Reiser), to go with him and Colonial Marines to investigate what happens. When the Marines arrive they discover that the whole base is deserted with no signs of live. That is until a young girl, Newt (Carrie Henn), the only survivor who had been hiding. She quickly develops a bond with Ripley. When the Marines discover a nest of the aliens they find out they are in the fight that seems impossible against an almight enemy.
Within the Marines is a tough team of experienced soldiers, but are led by a weak, inexperience lieutenant (William Hope), an tough sergeant (Al Matthews), Corporal Hicks (Michael Biehn), joker Private Hudson (Bill Paxton), stereotypical tough Latino Private Vasquez (Jenette Goldstein) and android and Science Officer Bishop (Lance Henriksen). All these characters have their own personalities and you get to care about them as individuals.
One of the reasons James Cameron is such a great writer/director is because his focus has always been on story and character. This is what happened in his Terminator films. In Aliens he expands on the Ripley character, showing she is suffering from psychological stress and suffers tragedy, but also becomes a tougher leader and has a surrogate mother/daughter relationship with Newt (one of the key points of the film). Paul Reiser was able to show the duality of his character, making him seem to be a nice guy, an ally to Ripley but quickly shows his true colours when the mission starts. Hicks forms a close friendship to Ripley and show his leadership skills. Even minor characters like Apone, Vasquez and Hudson are interesting and grow on you. I personally see the character of Lieutenant Gorman as a criticism of young career officers in the army who haven't proved themselves and get run missions they are not ready for. Newt is a great character, a sweet young girl who suffers a lot but still gets to act like a child. A great little moment is when she tries on a soldier's helmet.
Alien is film that seemed it didn't need a sequel, having Ripley survive the alien and killing it. But James Cameron thought he could do a sequel, and he did it very well. He was able to expand on the characters and the world she lives in. Humans are expanding in the universe and colonisation is done by private companies, like the East India Company in the 18th Century. It is also a criticism of multi-national corporations who only think about profits regardless of human life and a general criticism of the weapons industry. James Cameron personally see the film as a metaphor for the Vietnam War, with American soldiers seeming the stronger with better weapons, but are fighting an unseen enemy in a foreign environment. He also sees it as innocent soldiers going off to fight for business interests. James Cameron also sets up a excellent sci-fi world, with great set-design and special-effects. James Cameron shows what he is best at, sci-fi and action, with great battle scenes. But he also has some great motions of horror for horror-fans. With the writing of the film, there is a strong simple plot, excellent dialogue, which is well-delivered by the cast, important character development and some classic one-liners.
There is a good cast, Sigourney Weaver grows even more into her role. Michael Biehn is excellent under James Cameron, and many of the supporting roles are filled by fine actors. Carrie Henn was an excellent child actress. James Cameron likes to have strong female characters in his film, which is always good to see. Cameron also brought in his other major theme, nuclear war. It always plays a part in his films.
Aliens also has an excellent score by James Horner, which adds to the atmosphere of the film and easily his best work.
Aliens is my favourite of the series. A must see for action, sci-fi, horror and James Cameron fans.