A sequel thats superior to the original...

Rating: 10/10 (23 June 2010)

In an era where sequels are a dime a dozen and more often then not they don't live up to the hype or originality of their predecessor, Aliens is a classic gem that not only proves that sequels are great, but that they can be superior. Aliens, directed by James Cameron, picks up right were the original, Alien (1979, directed by Ridley Scott) left off. Ellen Riply (Sigourney Weaver) awakens from the escape pod 57 years later, only to realize that the planet where she first encountered the creature is now inhabited.
This movie had all the trappings of failure (its a little over 2 hours long, its a science fiction movie, its a sequel and the original director did not return to helm the picture), yet each time I see this masterpiece, I am gripped with apprehension, terror and sheer pleasure at the action, acting and story that is unfolding before me. Much of the credit goes to Cameron, fresh from his success of Terminator, and before he went on to bring us such groundbreaking films like The Abyss and Terminator 2. His direction and writing (two other writers helped craft the end story) set the right pace for this film that allowed for us to feel the tension of the situation and to get attached to the characters and want each of them to survive (or rather the main ones anyway). And he didn't take the movie into a sole horror movie as the original one was. He made this a sci-fi movie, which meant that Cameron could make this movie similar to the original, yet make it his own, with the end result being this movie. But the director can only take so much of the credit. In comes the actors.
Headed by Weaver, the acting is top notch, with a tight supporting cast, including Michael Biehn, Lance Henrikson, Paul Reiser, Bill Paxton, and Jenette Goldstien. Each actor brought with them a niche that fit in well with the film. Paxton's Hudson was nervous wreck while Biehn's Hick's was the cool cat that held the unit together while Weaver's Ripley 'lead' them. You wanted to punch William Hope's Lt. Gorman while if you ever got into a fire fight, you'd want Vasquez (Goldstien) fighting by your side. These were characters you related to and cheered (or jeered) for. With the extended version that was released a few years ago, we were treated with several extended and added scenes that helped build already strong characters and bring irony to the movie (you have to watch to understand this).
Acting and directing can take you so far. Without a decent Special Effects crew, this movie would be at the best a B movie, good for laughs instead of chills. Thankfully, Stan Winston and his studio was ready for the task and the Alien creatures (there would be more then one in this movie as compared to the sole Alien in the original, hence the titles) looked superb. From the aliens, to the weapons and ships, the special effects are wonderful never once being campy or plastic looking (note, there are NO computer generated effects, these are all models, miniatures or customs). As a kid, I wanted a Pulse Rifle because it looked and sounded cool, while I wanted never to met an alien because, well, they're not really nice. This is one of those films that, no matter how many times I watch it, I cannot spot fake looking aliens, or bad background art. It seems that the crew shot on location, which is what we the audience want.
Finally, the score needs to be mentioned. James Horner wrote a wonderful musical piece that adds to the suspense and drama of the movie. Its hard to explain it in words, but the musical score pulls you into the movie just that little bit more, adding to your experience. Without Horner's touch, it's impossible to truly experience Aliens.
If you hadn't guessed, I'm a fan of Aliens, and I recommend the movie whole heartedly. You won't be disappointed, whether your want to watch it as a pure sci-fi film, or as an action movie, or as a general lover of movies. This is a must see and a must own for the die hard fans...