Review Aliens film review by Chad Ripley
Written By Chad Ripley on 2016-11-17 14:07:56
James Cameron's "Aliens" is one of the best science fiction action movies of all time. Anyone who knows me is probably aware it's one of my favorite movies next to "Who framed Roger Rabbit." Here's a little background info about my love of this franchise.
When I was seven years old I was watching "Ghostbusters" with my family and eagerly waited for the "master bad guy" at the end of the movie. My dad was pulling my leg at the time said I would be super scared of this creature the ghostbusters were up against at the end of the movie. As we all know it turned out to be the stay-puff marshmallow man, and I threw a fit that only a angry seven year old could. I wouldn't stop complaining about how disappointed I was about the giant marshmallow man. After an hour or so of my ranting my dad decided that if I really wanted to see a scary bad guy then he was going to show me. Without knowing what I was in for I went upstairs with him ready to watch something truly scary. My expectations were pretty low as I watched the TV and saw a group of people dressed in white jumpsuits sitting around a table eating dinner.
I concluded they must have been in space and was pretty bored for about 3 mins. Keep in mind I was 7 years old and just threw the mother of all temper tantrums because I was upset about how ghostbusters ended. As I watched these people eat dinner all of the sudden one of the men starts choking and everyone panics and lays him down on top of the table. At this point I became a little scared and didn't know what was happening. I started to look away with one eye still focused on the choking man. All of the sudden some terrifying little monster bursts out of the choking mans chest and lingers for a couple seconds before scurrying away under an air duct. I was sufficiently terrified. I brought it on myself and I am still happy that my dad did that because it was the exact moment I fell in love with movies. I did have nightmares for about two weeks after that but as I got older I revisited "Alien" and later "Aliens" and became a huge fan. This is going to be one of the longest reviews I've written so far because this movie is a masterpiece and an all time favorite.
Ridley Scott's 1979 "Alien" is one of the most influential science fiction movies of all time. H.R. Giger's alien creature called a Xenomorph, is easily one of the most terrifying depictions of an extraterrestrial creature. Acid for blood, hundreds of razor sharp teeth that includes a retractable inner set of teeth. The creature is 8 feet tall with a spiked tail, claws, and appears to have no eyes which adds to its frightening appearance. Not knowing where this thing is looking in my mind makes him a lot scarier. A Xenomorph also has the ability to climb on walls and likes to sneak up behind its victims before it either kills them or drags them back to their queen to be impregnated by a "facehugger." Another creature that Giger created that acts as a parasite that attaches itself to a hosts face and places an alien in their chest. These creatures are amazing artistic creations that to this day haven't been topped in terms of sheer terror and their inventive way of killing you.
James Cameron's sequel "Aliens" in many ways tops Scotts original masterpiece. Cameron expands on the Xenomorph's mythology and introduces action movies first full blown heroine Lt. Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). Cameron effortlessly blends action, drama, horror, and even humor with his cast of likable and memorable characters. Bill Paxton a multiple Cameron collaborator, shines as Hudson, as well as Jenette Goldstein (Private Vasquez). The movie finds Nostrmo survivor Ellen Ripley going back to the planet her crew originally visited in "Alien" to investigate colonists who have stopped communicating. Weaver is fantastic and is able to be compassionate while interacting with the films pseudo daughter (Newt) while also kicking alien ass. Aliens delivers on every level and further enhances the amazing world Scott created in the original. More then 25 years later this film still holds up and remains one of the greatest science fiction/action movies of all time.
