A Science Fiction Standard

Rating: 10/10 (23 April 2013)

Aliens is a phenomenal sequel that surpasses the original. The roller coaster suspense is perfectly paced and the environments that are explored are all classic sets that give the film a wonderful down-to-earth feel. The special effects hold up surprisingly well after all these years, and the Aliens in the film look awesome and their design is wonderfully grotesque. The performances here are all extremely strong, from child actor Carrie Henn to android Lance Henriksen, all the way to Sigourney Weaver's intense performance. Bravo! The rest of the elements that make Aliens great are almost all there.
The music is decidedly more generic and more intense to capture the greater emphasis of the "action movie" tones, but the lighting and atmospherics are all in full effect. The classic introduction that was so gleefully eerie in the first film makes a decidedly shorter appearance, but it still captures that classic Alien feel. In fact, the whole film nearly captures the classic Alien style, just in different ways. The action is stronger, the threats are bigger, and the intensity is incredibly augmented by a time limit on the whole expedition. For fans, this is that perfect sequel; the unicorn of the movie universe, and an incredible feat.
5 Stars - A film classic