Featured Audience Ratings

• xGary X

  
  Ripley is awakened from stasis to find that she has been gone for 57 years and is being made a scapegoat for the loss of her ship. But then contact is lost with the colony on LV 426 and she is enlisted as an adviser to a combat unit sent to investigate. The vast majority of sequels… More
  Ripley is awakened from stasis to find that she has been gone for 57 years and is being made a scapegoat for the loss of her ship. But then contact is lost with the colony on LV 426 and she is enlisted as an adviser to a combat unit sent to investigate. The vast majority of sequels are of course just cynical attempts to cash in on the popularity of the original film and rarely have much in the way of cinematic merit in their own right. Aliens is one of the few that not only expanded on the idea of the original but took it in a whole new direction. The production design is superb and every sci-fi movie made since that features military hardware gets its cues from here, and it still looks brilliant. The ensemble cast are all excellent, especially Sigourney Weaver who is far from the usual gung ho bonehead with a gun you find in most action movies. She is a believable character traumatized by her experiences of the first film, unwillingly facing her fears. The soldiers are also three dimensional characters, especially Bill Paxton's smart alec who loses his nerve and their camaraderie and funny banter make you care what happens to them. Other well written characters include "artificial person" Lance Henriksen whose cold fascination for the creatures echoes Ash from the first film and Paul Reiser's obsequious company man, each of whom seem to have agenda of their own. The first half of the film is an atmospheric and cleverly written set up for the second half, which can best be described as a white knuckle rollercoaster ride of breathless suspense and excitement. Their first encounter with the aliens is one of the all time great action sequences and the later scene when they await the second onslaught huddled in a darkened room listening to the sound of the motion detector is utterly gripping. Not to mention Ripley's first sight of the alien queen and their subsequent classic showdown. For me, this is an all but perfect film, and the best sequel ever made.

• Eric S

  
  A film that expands off of the ideas presented in the original. "Aliens" is more of an action film but it still has developed characters and a story that is both intense and scary. It's an overall improvement over its predecessor and one of the greatest science-fiction… More
  A film that expands off of the ideas presented in the original. "Aliens" is more of an action film but it still has developed characters and a story that is both intense and scary. It's an overall improvement over its predecessor and one of the greatest science-fiction films ever made. Unfortunately the franchise went downhill after this installment, but the first two are definitely masterpieces in cinema.

• Spencer S

  
  The impossibly superior and a loving ode to the original Alien film, Aliens is much more intense, violent, horrifying, and impossibly fast. In relation to the original film James Cameron obviously did main character and protagonist Ellen Ripley justice. The original (directed by… More
  The impossibly superior and a loving ode to the original Alien film, Aliens is much more intense, violent, horrifying, and impossibly fast. In relation to the original film James Cameron obviously did main character and protagonist Ellen Ripley justice. The original (directed by Ridley Scott) was certainly relegated to the horror genre, seamlessly frightening you in a jump scare or watching the realization dawning on a victim's face before their evident extermination. Aliens is much more of an action-adventure film that crosses the boundaries of sci-fi and horror as well. From what we learn at the end of the last Alien film, Ripley is frozen in sleep awaiting rescue in the deep recesses of space. We start this film fifty-seven years later, Ripley having slept through all of it, and then convicted of destroying company property while nobody believes her story of the destruction of her crew and the beginnings of this new alien race. Cameron has been reported to have based the manner of the film on the Vietnam War, having a group of people with superior weaponry go into unknown territory and find an enemy that knows the terrain much better. The bleakness, the obvious horror of human life being bitten away a chunk at a time, makes for a queasy watch, the over confident Colonial Marines wading into the nest of the xenomorphs and finding themselves gravelly under qualified for the task at hand. Ripley is such a strong character in the original, but here she is also conflicted about a variety of things: the murders of her former crew mates, the death of her daughter, and the lack of belief from anyone. Her grief manifests itself in a relationship with the last survivor of a colony that had made camp at the site of the barren planet in the first Alien film. The girl is certainly different from past child characters, which are usually pesky, annoying, and are often caught by the foe all the while screaming for help. Newt, as she's called, is a fighter, and a prescient muse to the crew members, who are cocky chauvinists and show offs. The effects in this film are still pretty amazing, especially the dark look of the sets, the shots of space, and the interiors of the ship, which were apparently made with a lowly budget of $18 million dollars and the help of some ingenious visual effects crewmembers. The aliens and their queen look much better than in the first film and are twice as terrifying. Besides that the plot keeps contorting itself into complexity with ever arising problems for the Marines, including their pilots getting eaten, a fire ball dismantling the holdout where they are camped, and the deaths of many of them at the hands of the xenomorphs. The best aspect of the film though is the rash of characters. None of them is a throwaway, and when even one of them perishes you fill a bile like empathy for them. The android, played by Lance Henriken, has an eerie creepiness and a pointed face that sends chills down your spine, while villain Burke (Paul Reiser) is the best example of someone with a motive that doesn't stem from himself but money and greed. He is simply the best written villain I have seen in a long while, and yet he again and again is shown as a slimy dirtball who weasels himself out of trouble. In turn Henriken's character goes through his own android racism thanks to Ripley's prejudice from the first film where actor Ian Holm's character went off the rails, killing several crew members. This development makes for an interesting watch, as you wonder at the motives of the rogue robot. (Though he is apparently bound by Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics) Though it's a 2 and a half hour watch altogether, it flies by quite fast. There isn't any filler, the characters are well developed, the look and feel of the film is perfect for the tone director Cameron was going for, and overall, it was a much better film than the original, which I personally didn't find as intriguing. There will never be another film like this, and it is the best in the four films. Truly, a sci-fi, horror, and action classic, and now one of my favorite films.

• Mike S

  
  James Cameron's thrill-a-minute action spectacle is an impeccably executed masterpiece, that not only honors the original, but improves upon it. I have nothing but love for the first film, but in terms of sheer adrenaline, <i>Aliens</i> takes home the trophy on any… More
  James Cameron's thrill-a-minute action spectacle is an impeccably executed masterpiece, that not only honors the original, but improves upon it. I have nothing but love for the first film, but in terms of sheer adrenaline, <i>Aliens</i> takes home the trophy on any given day. Epically entertaining throughout, it's the perfect union between sci-fi, action and otherworldly horror. There's just so much awesomeness going on at the same time, that it's hard break down its success to any singular component. Much the same way that Ripley and the "grunts" combine their resources in battle, it's the team effort that gives this film its golden and hard-earned glow. Apart from a first-rate cast who act their heart out at every opportunity, we also have the marvellous set design, outstanding special effects and a script as well-written as to put most sci-fi actioners to shame. It also strikes a blow for female heroines in cinema, with three strong and fearless women (including one brave little girl with some seriously impressive survival skills), who displays more cojones in the face of danger, than all the men in the cast put together. So if you're under the impression that this is a guy movie, think again! It's so unbelievably good, that I seriously doubt they'll ever make a movie quite like it again. They may get close, but there won't be any cigars. For this is the mother of all action movies, that is yet to find its equal. A no-holds-barred pulse-pounder, that serves up an unparallelled buffé of scares, excitement, suspense and cool dialogue. Or as Corporal Ferro would say it: "In the pipe, five by five!"

• Al S

  
  An instant classic that surpasses the original in every way possiable. One of the greatest sequels ever made. Director, James Cameron does a smashingly good job. A masterpiece in its own right. A perfect blend of terrifing horror, brilliant science fiction and explosive action. A… More
  An instant classic that surpasses the original in every way possiable. One of the greatest sequels ever made. Director, James Cameron does a smashingly good job. A masterpiece in its own right. A perfect blend of terrifing horror, brilliant science fiction and explosive action. A riveting, heart-pounding and spectacular action-packed edge of your seat thrill-machine that you have to see to believe. A pure knockout. A well-crafted and unforgettable piece of pure awesome epic force. A fast and furious entertainment ride.

• MisterYoda ?

  
  three stars

• Samuel R

  
  An incredible sequel which almosts towers over the orginal masterpiece. This work of genius is directed by James Cameron and has Sigourney Weaver reprising her role as Ripley. Sci-Fi's greatest creature has returned with a vengeance. With plenty of action, terror and iconic… More
  An incredible sequel which almosts towers over the orginal masterpiece. This work of genius is directed by James Cameron and has Sigourney Weaver reprising her role as Ripley. Sci-Fi's greatest creature has returned with a vengeance. With plenty of action, terror and iconic phrases, this is the possibly the greatest Science fiction film of all time.

• Graham J

  
  James Cameron's big-budget, action packed continuation of Ridley Scott's Alien is the ultimate popcorn flick. a great sequel and the definition of a summer blockbuster, you couldn't ask for a better time at the movies.

• Emil K

  
  Much better and more exciting than Ridley Scott's overrated Alien. Director James Cameron succeeds in creating a atmosphere so nightmarish and uneasy that viewer literally feels that the air is running out from the room. Aliens certainly would be a better film without all the… More
  Much better and more exciting than Ridley Scott's overrated Alien. Director James Cameron succeeds in creating a atmosphere so nightmarish and uneasy that viewer literally feels that the air is running out from the room. Aliens certainly would be a better film without all the macho/marine stuff, but even with it's flaws it is one hell of a ride. With claustrophobic production design, masterful soundtrack and brilliantly stylish use of creature-effects it tops itself as one of the best films of 80's. One of the film's biggest strenghts is Sigourney Weaver with her powerful performance. She completely commands every scene she is in for over two hours. It is not a surprise that her character Ellen Ripley has gained a iconic status over the last three decades. She is definetly one of the most poweful created woman characters on screen and director Cameron knows how to make her even more complex. Aliens is easily James Cameron's best film to date. It is outstandind how good it looks and sounds still. It easily even make most of today's sci-fi look pale in comparision. This is a must see for all the sci-fi horror fans.

• Directors C

  
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] There has only been a small handful of sequels in history that have bettered there predecessors, Aliens is naturally one of them. As much as I love movies that are slow, atmospheric and nail biting I prefer… More
  [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img] There has only been a small handful of sequels in history that have bettered there predecessors, Aliens is naturally one of them. As much as I love movies that are slow, atmospheric and nail biting I prefer James Cameron's film because I was surprised the plot worked amazingly as an action sci-fi film. There hasn't been one in history that has been more inspirational to the horror genre than Alien and not one for sci-fi action than Aliens. It manages to duplicate the original films characters so that you actually care about them and aren't disregarded as another guy in the body count. It's just as claustrophobic as the original, it's got the groundbreaking performance of heroin Sigourney Weaver from the original, and unbelievably, it's improved on the technical set pieces of the original. Featuring, an awe inspiring and unexpected finale, it just barely tops Ridley Scott's intense psychological thriller.

• Albert K

  
  Ridley Scott's outta the picture and in comes epic-scale visionary, James Cameron and he completely rips apart the atmospheric tension "Alien" so meticulously built up. Instead, Cameron decides to inject action set-pieces coupled with some of the cheesiest dialogue.… More
  Ridley Scott's outta the picture and in comes epic-scale visionary, James Cameron and he completely rips apart the atmospheric tension "Alien" so meticulously built up. Instead, Cameron decides to inject action set-pieces coupled with some of the cheesiest dialogue. Jumping right into the film, I noticed a dramatic departure in quality for the cinematography. No more eerily cold shots of space; no more claustrophobic, isolated shots; and when "Aliens" draws nostalgic memories of its predecessor, its ghostly qualities are drained out by its cacophonous dialogue. If I were to best describe the quality of its technicalities, it equalizes with many of the homogenized late 80's, early 90's action flicks. In other words, it doesn't stand out. You see where I'm going with this? Cameron does the worst decision possible: He decides to substitute all the horror elements and dread of this universe with finicky action set-pieces. Funny how the one alien in the previous iteration is more horrifying than the hundreds of aliens (including the big mama queen) in this movie. Okay, I understand -- Cameron is going for an action movie, not a horror film. However, the action is not something to behold either. It's sloppy, rambunctious, and boring. Yeah, thinking from a 2012 movie mindset, "Aliens" definitely fails to propel action, but I could definitely see how it was revolutionary at its time (C'mon, it was made in 1986). Was the movie as a whole entertaining? Let's just say that it gets the job done, but when "Aliens" is clocking in around 2 hours and 18 minutes, you'll find yourself bored for most of the ride. "Aliens" is a baffling departure from its extremely successful predecessor. No more scares, no more atmosphere, and no more methodical pacing. Its coupled with extremely medicore performances, appalling dialogue (Never was a fan of Cameron's screenplays), and a baffling turn in direction. Now, where's Ridley?

• KJ P

  
  Without question, James Cameron can bring his imagination to life, as seen in this wonderfully made Sci-Fi/action flick! This movie doesn't quite improve on the original, but the action is on an entirely new level of awesome and the backstories are extremely nice to see.… More
  Without question, James Cameron can bring his imagination to life, as seen in this wonderfully made Sci-Fi/action flick! This movie doesn't quite improve on the original, but the action is on an entirely new level of awesome and the backstories are extremely nice to see. Sigourney Weaver has never been better, her performance just compliments what is already an amazing film. This film follows pretty much the same premise as the first film, but the actors don't even feel like the characters that should be in a film like this. There were a few very minor faults to this film that the original was incapable of, but overall, the effects are phenomenal, the action is top notch, the dialogue is brilliant, and the acting is pretty good! I didn't want this roller coaster ride to end! I love "Aliens!"

• Reid V

  
  Jimmy Cameron's big budget sequel is a hard pill to swallow. Ironically, this feminist action film rapes and exploits what was once a truly pure and amazing universe. Tonally, it is a drastic departure from Ridley Scott's frightening, mysterious, and bleak predecessor.… More
  Jimmy Cameron's big budget sequel is a hard pill to swallow. Ironically, this feminist action film rapes and exploits what was once a truly pure and amazing universe. Tonally, it is a drastic departure from Ridley Scott's frightening, mysterious, and bleak predecessor. Cameron substitutes explosions for atmosphere and seems to have encouraged inflated performances. I like Bill Paxton and all, but his character was just plain ludicrous. Not all is lost however. Visually, as with every Cameron film, there are some very well-crafted moments. The chase scenes through the ventilation ducts were at times very exciting and suspenseful. Yet, stunning visuals isn't enough to make this film a success and I truly don't understand how people can say this film is in any way superior to the original.

• Kevin C

  
  On the surface, it's an adrenaline-fueled, intelligent sci-fi action thrill ride. Delve deeper and one will find a carefully paced, impeccably scripted, and magnificently acted social science fiction piece. Incredible.

• Everett J

  
  9 times out 10 sequels aren't as good as the original. However, "Aliens" happens to be one of the rare exceptions and surpasses the original "Alien". Sigourney Weaver is back as Ripley. Awakening from sleep after 57 years she learns that the planet which… More
  9 times out 10 sequels aren't as good as the original. However, "Aliens" happens to be one of the rare exceptions and surpasses the original "Alien". Sigourney Weaver is back as Ripley. Awakening from sleep after 57 years she learns that the planet which she landed on in the first film, has been colonized. When contact with the colony has been lost, Ripley leads a group of marines to investigate. Once the arrive her fears are realized as the aliens have taken over, leaving one survivor, a young girl named Newt(Carrie Henn). Now the aliens begin to pick off the marines one by one. Where "Alien" was more sci-fi, this is far more horror. Plenty of gore and "oh crap!" moments. Nearly 25 years have passed since it's release, and it holds up very, very well. Still highly effective, and still gives genuine thrills. James Cameron is a master film maker, that made one of the greatest sequels ever. He took what was good about the first film, enhanced it, and ultimately told a better story with better action. Horror fans and sci-fi fans will all dig this 80's classic.

• Phil H

  
  Another Stan Winston creation with Cameron direction, genius. State of the badass art! this film rocks on every level, the only downer for me is the fact that you never really saw hords of aliens, some would say its more powerful that way but I think it would have been more tense and… More
  Another Stan Winston creation with Cameron direction, genius. State of the badass art! this film rocks on every level, the only downer for me is the fact that you never really saw hords of aliens, some would say its more powerful that way but I think it would have been more tense and savage. Its still the perfect film with the perfect ensemble cast, amazing tension, fantastic hands on effects, realistic working sci-fi, dark, gritty...hell I don't even really need to go on about it, awesometastic sequel!

• Tim S

  
  If you're a fan of the Alien series and you talk to other fans, chances are that you're bound to run into someone who claims that Aliens is a better movie. While I totally disagree with that, I simply can't write the film off completely. Not only is it an absolutely… More
  If you're a fan of the Alien series and you talk to other fans, chances are that you're bound to run into someone who claims that Aliens is a better movie. While I totally disagree with that, I simply can't write the film off completely. Not only is it an absolutely perfect sequel to the original masterpiece (in turn being a masterpiece in its own right), it's also very self-contained and one of the greatest action films ever made. Made at a time when James Cameron was fresh off of the success of The Terminator, this is the James Cameron I like. The one who was focused on making a film work using story and character dynamics, not just all cool images and viewing experiences. This was a filmmaker out to prove himself before he became a new-fangled George Lucas. Everyone gives great performances, the special effects are top notch and the story is very-well put together. Aliens isn't the best film of the series, but it's a very awesome second best.

• Christopher H

  
  Aliens is the definitive sequel, a film that offers a great follow-up to the original but also still stands on its own. Aliens offers a fresh take on the original's concepts. While Alien was a slow-burning suspense thriller, Aliens is a kinetic sci-fi action film. Sigourney… More
  Aliens is the definitive sequel, a film that offers a great follow-up to the original but also still stands on its own. Aliens offers a fresh take on the original's concepts. While Alien was a slow-burning suspense thriller, Aliens is a kinetic sci-fi action film. Sigourney Weaver's performance is still as strong as ever. The marines in the film offer a memorable set of supporting characters. The visuals retain the originals gritty look, and the model building for the planet colony look fantastic. No CGI, all the visuals were done with practical effects. The pacing is fast and the action is tense. James Cameron turned what should have been a typical sequel into one of the greatest action movies of all time.

• Matheus C

  
  The power of the big magic box. It really took me a screening on a big cinema screen (in 70mm with killer sound and introduced by Michael Biehn himself nonetheless) to really appreciate what I always thought to be a great, but still slightly inferior sequel to the classy original. The… More
  The power of the big magic box. It really took me a screening on a big cinema screen (in 70mm with killer sound and introduced by Michael Biehn himself nonetheless) to really appreciate what I always thought to be a great, but still slightly inferior sequel to the classy original. The usual James Cameron archetypes are still there, but he manages to inject such strength and tridimensionality into Ripley's character (which Sigourney Weaver made so iconic in a way which could be compared to Anthony Hopkins and Hannibal Lecter) that it becomes the rare sci-fi with a pulsating heart (and the spectator is sure bound to get palpitations among the exhilarating action sequences). I might still prefer the psychological pleasures of the original, but this is one hell of a great thrill ride which might as well be Cameron's masterpiece.

• Eric A

  
  Maybe i'm missing something, but I didn't think this movie was all that good. Definitely not a 100% perfect worthy. I liked it a tad better than the first, but I still found myself bored through many parts just like the first. The aliens don't really attack or chase,… More
  Maybe i'm missing something, but I didn't think this movie was all that good. Definitely not a 100% perfect worthy. I liked it a tad better than the first, but I still found myself bored through many parts just like the first. The aliens don't really attack or chase, and when they do they move slow enough to where a turtle could lose them in a chase. Okay not really but you catch my drift. All in all it was okay, and I could live without ever watching it again. BUT just because it's a classic (I guess) and James Cameron directed it, i'll give it 4 stars........just barely.

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