One hell of a white knuckle ride from start to finish!

Rating: 10/10 (19 April 2007)

This was the first alien film I watched and is the reason I become obsessed with the aliens verse. I was 10 years old and can remember sitting with my dad (another big aliens fan) and watching this film for the first time (on a old VHS taped from the telly).From the opening shocker of Ripley's dream to the pulse racing confrontation between the queen b***h and Ripley, I was glued to the screen. Even though i had not seen the original i immediately sympathised with Ripley and was amazed at how the new cast were extremely likable and important to the story. No line of dialogue is wasted in this film. This film is so quotable and have had a big influence on movies and other media (just check the original halo to hear multiple quotes ripped direct from this film).
The film starts with Ripley the sole survivor of the nostromus space ship from the first film being awakened from hyperspace after 57 years. Soon she is sent back to the planet this time armed with high tech gadgets and an army of marines. This time though there are hundreds of aliens not just one. An important scene not in the theatrical cut gives the films second half more meaning and Ripley's motivation more sympathetic and understandable. I suggest if watching for the first time to get a copy of the directors cut, it adds so much more to an already brilliant film and even with an extended run time of 147 minutes you won't be bored.
The casting for this film is perfect. Again Weaver gives a ground breaking performance unusual for a horror film. Cameron indulges her character development in this film as she befriends a young girl and their surrogate mother/daughter storyline is beautifully done with very limited cheesiness. Ripley is also beefed up a bit in that she now comes equipped. What bloke (or woman) doesn't get excited at seeing Ripley in her vest top with a flame-thrower, pulse rifle and gun strap equipped and ready to face a terrifying nest of aliens. Carrie Henn who plays newt is also very good in her role and it a shame that she quit acting after this film. Paxton is awesome as Hutson and delivers some of the best one liners of the film. Michael Beihn is also very likable as Hicks. My favourite side character has to be the tough but likable private Vazquez brilliantly acted by Jeanette Goldstein. Special nods go to Burke and also Bishop, the former played brilliantly as the slimy corporate bigwig with a hidden agenda, whilst the latter plays his character with a creepy edge, making his motivations MD actions in the film non-predictable.
I like the direction Cameron took with this sequel. Instead of trying to mimic alien with a new cast (which i heard is what fox wanted originally intended) he takes a completely different direction with more action but still presenting horrifying situations for the characters. Despite the heavy emphasis on action there are plenty of thrills and 'jump out of seat' moments in this sequel. Particular mention goes to the med lab scene when Ripley and newt find themselves locked in with facehuggers and when Ripley descends into the alien nest alone.
Il stop talking now. If you haven't seen this film then what are you waiting for, and while your at it make sure you watch the others. Both alien and aliens get perfect scores from me and whilst the sequels don't quite reach the same heights you will want to continue to see how Ripley's story ends.so to some up, amazing story with surprising depth and heart for the genre it sits in,special effects that were out of this world for the time this film was made and a site knuckle ride from start to finish. An essential film that deserves the acclaim it gets. Plus sigouney was nominated for best actress at the Oscars for this, a rarity for sci-fi. I still watch this now and love it just the same as I did all those years ago.