In Loving Memory of Bill Paxton (1955 - 2017) and James Horner (1953 - 2015)
*CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS*
Aliens is truly another film that cannot be missed, so if you haven't had the chance to see it I implore you to give it your time of day. You'll be in for an experience!
*Directed by James Cameron
*Starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Hehn, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, and William Hope
The Plot: Decades after the events of the first Alien, Ripley is found in deep space by the Weyland Corp and then later recruited with Colonial Marines to venture back to the planet LV-426 in order to destroy and wipe out any living Xenomorphs on the face of the planet, so that the aliens don't continue to destroy mankind like they did to the former habitat of human colonies on the planet itself.
Sometimes when viewing the sequel to the original film there's always that immediate instinct, you know, that feeling that it's not as good as the first film. Luckily there have been cases where before the release of Aliens, sequels have equated to the original, in fact, ended up being better than the first film like The Empire Strikes Back, Superman II, The Wrath of Khan, and so forth. Obviously, the same can be said about Aliens because the reason why I think it's up to par with the first film is the fact that James Cameron's intense directing matches the same level of intensity found in Ridley Scott's directing in Alien. With Alien it was more along the lines of having more horror/thriller intensity considering it was a pure horror film, but even in the filmmaking there was this slower pace that added to the build-up of such frights. With Aliens it's more of a pure action film, but the filmmaking is so fast paced and energized that it sets the perfect example of action/thriller intensity founded in the great action films. There's different types of intensity seen in both films, but stylistically are so different yet both are similarly effective to put viewers in the intense scenes and rightfully so.
James Cameron was such a great fit to develop this sequel because the direction had great intensity, but the buildup utilized to get to such great intense scares and nail biting action was done in the most perfect fashion. When the action hits in the second act it really catches you by surprise because you expect things to happen in the first act and the start of the second act, but then things start to sneak up on you and it makes those intense moments have purpose. There are some genuinely very creepy moments and beyond excellent action set pieces in this film.
The action isn't the most explosive over the top special effects extravaganza, yet it doesn't need to be. The reason why the action in this film works is because of how it takes place in such a claustrophobic area. This element made us feel connected to the struggle these characters went through as well as how dangerous their threat was with the Xenomorphs. I loved how fast paced the action was with such stellar editing and handheld camerawork that, again, added a great level of intensity. This approach of making Aliens more action oriented was so appropriate under James Cameron's helm because of the success of coming off of a very gripping action film in 1984's The Terminator.
As far as the cast goes, this film has some of the best performances I've ever seen in any science fiction film. Sigourney Weaver once again kills it as Ellen Ripley bringing so much gravitas to the scenes where she buckles down to the issues she has to tackle. So brave, so badass, and like in the first film you genuinely felt the distress in the life or death situations she has to face. Just by what you see in her physical performance and facial expressions you see that distress elevate in this film because of how the higher the stakes get. You care so much about her struggle and she brings such needed humanity to a film of this sort.
I also couldn't praise the child performance in Carrie Hehn as Newt, who does such a great job of giving viewers an idea of what she went through in her tragic past. She, of course, reveals what happened to her later, but just in her physical performance you understood her despair and how something from the past got her there. I felt such sympathy for her and because of the tragedy she faced in her deceased family I almost always got mist-eyed whenever she was on screen or having a heart to heart with Ripley. The bond that they share in this movie was beautiful just for the fact that seeing the harsh situations they all went through it's important to stick together as family and I felt the film executed that aspect flawlessly.
Paul Reiser, former comedian, does a great job of playing that scheming corporate worker in the character Burke, who was in it more for selfish wealth. Michael Biehn was also one to have great screen presence in a brave leader in the character Hicks as we also saw as Kyle Reese from The Terminator. He once again brings such great heroic screen presence in this character as he did for Reese. Jenette Goldstein as Vasquez was another awesome presence on screen in a female heroine with such might. The late Bill Paxton as Hudson was full of personality and had a lot of amazing and even hilarious one liners that were delivered very well. Lance Henriksen as Bishop even did a really great job at playing that trusting side character with more personality to him even though an android.
There's not one thing about this film that I could say could've been done better. The effects hold up extraordinarily well. I love that since this was in a time where CGI didn't exist, practical effects could be used to their fullest extent and it is some of the best special effects work I've ever seen right down to the Xenomorph costumes, the Facehuggers, the Queen, and the Mechsuits. It feels like they could be tangible things living in this world, as it crazy as that sounds. I could buy into every background, every space craft and every inch of production design to make me believe everything and anything I saw on screen. Maybe the green screen could be a little noticeable at times, but the intent and work done was so ahead of its time that it doesn't come off as being too noticeable.
The sound design was also very well done and very well balanced with such an enticing score by the late James Horner. It gets so bombastic in the best way and really adds to the action and adventure of what you're viewing on screen. I couldn't praise this film more for being one of the most unforgettable, suspenseful pieces of cinema I have ever seen. It made me appreciate how an adventure can be told through film and how the action is not only fun and exciting to watch, but there's layers behind it in terms of the emotional stakes with its story and characters. Aliens is perfect as an action film, a science fiction film, a horror and a thriller. It's anything and everything I could ever want out of great storytelling where I can feel genuine intensity and attachment towards real, true characters.
Facebook.com/thealexcorey
Twitter and Instagram: @alexjcorey
Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my review! I wish you all the best and be sure to see some movies and all that good stuff!
Take care. :-)
*CONTAINS SOME SPOILERS*
Aliens is truly another film that cannot be missed, so if you haven't had the chance to see it I implore you to give it your time of day. You'll be in for an experience!
*Directed by James Cameron
*Starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Carrie Hehn, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, and William Hope
The Plot: Decades after the events of the first Alien, Ripley is found in deep space by the Weyland Corp and then later recruited with Colonial Marines to venture back to the planet LV-426 in order to destroy and wipe out any living Xenomorphs on the face of the planet, so that the aliens don't continue to destroy mankind like they did to the former habitat of human colonies on the planet itself.
Sometimes when viewing the sequel to the original film there's always that immediate instinct, you know, that feeling that it's not as good as the first film. Luckily there have been cases where before the release of Aliens, sequels have equated to the original, in fact, ended up being better than the first film like The Empire Strikes Back, Superman II, The Wrath of Khan, and so forth. Obviously, the same can be said about Aliens because the reason why I think it's up to par with the first film is the fact that James Cameron's intense directing matches the same level of intensity found in Ridley Scott's directing in Alien. With Alien it was more along the lines of having more horror/thriller intensity considering it was a pure horror film, but even in the filmmaking there was this slower pace that added to the build-up of such frights. With Aliens it's more of a pure action film, but the filmmaking is so fast paced and energized that it sets the perfect example of action/thriller intensity founded in the great action films. There's different types of intensity seen in both films, but stylistically are so different yet both are similarly effective to put viewers in the intense scenes and rightfully so.
James Cameron was such a great fit to develop this sequel because the direction had great intensity, but the buildup utilized to get to such great intense scares and nail biting action was done in the most perfect fashion. When the action hits in the second act it really catches you by surprise because you expect things to happen in the first act and the start of the second act, but then things start to sneak up on you and it makes those intense moments have purpose. There are some genuinely very creepy moments and beyond excellent action set pieces in this film.
The action isn't the most explosive over the top special effects extravaganza, yet it doesn't need to be. The reason why the action in this film works is because of how it takes place in such a claustrophobic area. This element made us feel connected to the struggle these characters went through as well as how dangerous their threat was with the Xenomorphs. I loved how fast paced the action was with such stellar editing and handheld camerawork that, again, added a great level of intensity. This approach of making Aliens more action oriented was so appropriate under James Cameron's helm because of the success of coming off of a very gripping action film in 1984's The Terminator.
As far as the cast goes, this film has some of the best performances I've ever seen in any science fiction film. Sigourney Weaver once again kills it as Ellen Ripley bringing so much gravitas to the scenes where she buckles down to the issues she has to tackle. So brave, so badass, and like in the first film you genuinely felt the distress in the life or death situations she has to face. Just by what you see in her physical performance and facial expressions you see that distress elevate in this film because of how the higher the stakes get. You care so much about her struggle and she brings such needed humanity to a film of this sort.
I also couldn't praise the child performance in Carrie Hehn as Newt, who does such a great job of giving viewers an idea of what she went through in her tragic past. She, of course, reveals what happened to her later, but just in her physical performance you understood her despair and how something from the past got her there. I felt such sympathy for her and because of the tragedy she faced in her deceased family I almost always got mist-eyed whenever she was on screen or having a heart to heart with Ripley. The bond that they share in this movie was beautiful just for the fact that seeing the harsh situations they all went through it's important to stick together as family and I felt the film executed that aspect flawlessly.
Paul Reiser, former comedian, does a great job of playing that scheming corporate worker in the character Burke, who was in it more for selfish wealth. Michael Biehn was also one to have great screen presence in a brave leader in the character Hicks as we also saw as Kyle Reese from The Terminator. He once again brings such great heroic screen presence in this character as he did for Reese. Jenette Goldstein as Vasquez was another awesome presence on screen in a female heroine with such might. The late Bill Paxton as Hudson was full of personality and had a lot of amazing and even hilarious one liners that were delivered very well. Lance Henriksen as Bishop even did a really great job at playing that trusting side character with more personality to him even though an android.
There's not one thing about this film that I could say could've been done better. The effects hold up extraordinarily well. I love that since this was in a time where CGI didn't exist, practical effects could be used to their fullest extent and it is some of the best special effects work I've ever seen right down to the Xenomorph costumes, the Facehuggers, the Queen, and the Mechsuits. It feels like they could be tangible things living in this world, as it crazy as that sounds. I could buy into every background, every space craft and every inch of production design to make me believe everything and anything I saw on screen. Maybe the green screen could be a little noticeable at times, but the intent and work done was so ahead of its time that it doesn't come off as being too noticeable.
The sound design was also very well done and very well balanced with such an enticing score by the late James Horner. It gets so bombastic in the best way and really adds to the action and adventure of what you're viewing on screen. I couldn't praise this film more for being one of the most unforgettable, suspenseful pieces of cinema I have ever seen. It made me appreciate how an adventure can be told through film and how the action is not only fun and exciting to watch, but there's layers behind it in terms of the emotional stakes with its story and characters. Aliens is perfect as an action film, a science fiction film, a horror and a thriller. It's anything and everything I could ever want out of great storytelling where I can feel genuine intensity and attachment towards real, true characters.
Verdict: A+
My Alien reviews aren't over yet before the release of Alien: Covenant, with my review of the David Fincher directed Alien 3, which I'll admit I haven't seen, but willing to go in with an open mind. I'll see how that turns out and until then stay tuned and follow me on the social media links below:
Twitter and Instagram: @alexjcorey
Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my review! I wish you all the best and be sure to see some movies and all that good stuff!
Take care. :-)
Comments