Almost as great as the first film

Rating: 8/10 (9 September 2018)

This film should have been terrible. Just imagine the pitch:
Okay, the first film had a terrifying xenomorph in it. This time we're going to have 100 terrifying xenomorphs! The first film had a civilian crew and no real weapons. Well, this time they're a bunch of roided up and tooled up Marines! And the showdown at the end of the film? Well, it won't be Ripley vs a xenomorph, it'll be Ripley vs a giant xenomorph Queen!
By all rights this should have been an overambitious by the numbers sequel that ripped the soul out of a promising series. Instead we got an adrenaline fueled masterpiece that was almost as good as the first film; while simultaneously bringing something new to the series.