A desperate fight against a horrifying swarm

Rating: 10/10 (1 March 2013)

James Cameron has made something of a name for himself -- winner of three Academy Awards and director of not only the highest-grossing film of all time, but also the SECOND highest-grossing film as well. I would argue, however, that he made his best film before all that success and fame in Aliens, sequel to Ridley Scott masterly classic Alien.
Aliens expands from Alien's framework, adding a larger setting, a larger cast, larger-than-life emotions and, of course, large military equipment and a macho attitude. Aliens still features H. R. Giger's horrifying creature design and uses it to great effect, but pits that terror against the hardened elite troops of humans. This time we are fighting back.
While Aliens is a horror film, it resembles a war film as well, with all the shooting, running and military jargon. Fans of the original may dislike this, but I feel it would've been a waste to just try to repeat Alien. The enemy is stronger and has multiplied, and the stakes are higher -- this time we are not only fighting for survival, we are defending the weak.
The acting is good and the dialogue has some unforgettable gems.