One of the best copies ever!

Rating: 10/10 (16 June 2002)

When I first heard there was a sequel to "Alien" been made I thought that classic line from Douglas Adams' "Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy": "Oh no! Not again!" For what sequel has ever surpassed its original in quality and style? Or remotely matched it, for that matter?
Well, "Aliens" did - with considerable style, aplomb and NERVE!
What do I mean, "nerve"?
The ending of course!
It's all over - just like the original was.
Ripley killed the monster and got to safe haven - just like she did in the original.
But the alien came along for the ride - just like it did in the original.
Then there was another do or die fight - just like there was in the original.
The monster was once more bested - just like in the original.
And they all went to sleep with the camera zooming in on their faces - just like it did in the original.
That's what I mean by nerve.
And did James Cameron's near direct lifting of the original's ending spoil "Aliens" in the least?
Definitely not.
For what Cameron managed to do was turn the slow suspenseful plot of "Alien" into a hold-on-to-your-seat 5-gees roller-coaster ride. He managed to give us another side - another view - of the aliens and to help us to understand how tenacious the species is.
As usual with Cameron films, the "Special Edition" gives even more depth to the original theatre release. I have both versions. I only ever watch the Special Edition. I have just one reservation about the Special Edition: there is one too many Hudson scenes - the one where he's blabbing on about all the weapons they're carrying on the drop ship; in the APC. It just goes on too long (Paxton improvising?) and for me weakens his character.
Never mind.
10 out of 10.
(A footnote to sequels: a certain J K Rowling has surpassed each and every Harry Potter novel with the next one. Let's hope the films manage to do the same!)