One of the best review I encountered. Instant classic. One could argue witch one is better Alien or Aliens, but the truth is Aliens got bigger shoes to fill in. James Cameron is a master, is so hard to make a sequel as good as the first one or even better, but Cameron is the MAN!. The casting of Aliens, the practical effects by Stan Winston team, the pacing, music is perfect. The academy award nomination for Sigourney Weaver was well deserved, not to mention Paxton, Biehn, and all the rest. I know from the behind the scenes material, that Cameron was involved in production Unheard of even today. He was involved in the design of new warrior aliens and the queen. Kudos! Terminator 2 and Aliens, two sequels that blown away the world, and event today still the best there, thanks to castings, actors, direction, music and the magical blend between practical effects and CGI. And last but not least kudos of review for Olivier, this man has done his homework many of times. Never give up, keep up the good work.
Private Hudson: " I'm ready, man, check it out. I am the ultimate badass! State of the badass art! You do not wanna fuck with me. Check it out! Hey Ripley, don't worry. Me and my squad of ultimate badasses will protect you! Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phased plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks..."
Sato2099 Well, the two don't really compare well since the first one is basically a scifi thriller/suspense movie and the second one is an action flick. Sadly 3, along with other issues, tried to combine the two and it just fell flat.
r. decline There is nothing wrong with Alien3. It is just not as good as Alien or Aliens. Alien Resurrection is where shit fell apart (Still watchable tho)
I just got my alien Anthology collection thanks for the link one thing I'm thinking right now what would have Ripley Scott aliens look like instead of James Cameron
I think the irony in Biehn's late casting as Hicks, and his missing the military training the rest of the cast had, is that it gave him exactly the casual, calm, cool charisma everybody loved him for. Hicks sometimes seems like he's on another planet from the rest of the marines, and that's kinda what sets him apart.
I think Hicks and the Sarge were the two natural leaders of the bunch, the rest being quite a ragtag motley crew of courageous - but ultimately doomed - badasses. For me though, the Sarge, Apone, steals the movie. He's outstanding in the role and, okay, Ripley and Burke are also up there, as is Bishop. Shit. Hudson as well, and Vasquez. Okay they're just all damn good, the only cast member I didn't like: Newt. Meh. Okay that's me done. Have a good one!
35 years later and still one of the greatest Sci-fi films ever made. And easily one of the greatest sequels of all time. The characters, the camaraderie, the one-liners, the lore, the effects, and on top of it all: Ripley's maternal heroism. Legitimately a Classic.
I agree about it being the first and best sci-fi movie ever made or for some people its one of the best sci-fi made movies. My opinion it's the best by being an awesome sequel which most sequels are horrible compared to the first movie
The Special Edition version with the commentaries of the cast, also Bill, is outstanding. He was hilarious, even with his jokes there! You really understand they were all proud to make this movie. Must have been a funny, good guy!
Wouldn't be an Alien movie without Ripley, kinda like it wouldn't have been Aliens without Hicks, Hudson, Vasquez, etc. etc. etc., dude ya gotta have Ripley.
I realized just today. Ripley and Sarah Connor have basically the same arc becoming a badass woman. A regular woman in the first movie, who gets hardened by the second movie through some tough events.
It’s lasted better. The Thing has some effects now that are starting to look dated or washed out after thirty years. Its best reason for longevity has been practical effects. Still some of the best ever seen.
I'm so glad Cameron stuck to his guns to have Sigourney involved. She is a great actress very capable of carrying these movies and Ripley is such a gripping character. It's such a stupid idea that a male audience must have a male lead to enjoy the film. Sigourney and Alien have proved that notion wrong from the beginning.
Geert van der Plas Something I love with Ripley is the fact that she's a female that is a character and not a character that's female (she's more than just the movie's female character) and this without being masculine or a tomboy. She could easily have been a male and the character wouldn't be all too different. The gender doesnt matter. When especially a female character has this this perk it really shows and it strengthens the writing and depth of it all. Doesnt hurt that Sigourney Weaver is all out incredible!
Well the problem is how few really great female action/drama actresses there are. Cameron got lucky twice with Linda Hamilton and Sigourney Weaver, but obviously Weaver was literally heads and shoulders above Hamilton.
Goes to show you how studios meddling could easily derail a film..much like they did for the third film...Cameron did well to stick to his guns considering The Terminator was only just released and he was still young and not as powerful.
I turned 17 the summer Aliens came out, so I could get into R rated movies without having to sneak in, and I ended up seeing this movie 6 times, because it is a STONE COLD CLASSIC!
I was ten when it released and my uncle, who babysitting myself and my brother rented Alien and Aliens and we watched them back to back. Aliens has been my favourite film ever since.
@@bill5974 I was 9 in 1986 and my moms boyfriend took me to see it in the theater, it's still my absolute favorite movie, the next year predator was great also
do you know what other epic sci movie played that summer..and was also critically acclaimed.. .THE FLY.. they came out out back to back...was an amazing time
I just recently listened to the written sequel which takes place between Alien and Aliens with Ash as the main antagonist, then the HH stuff that takes place just before and during Aliens with Newt's family and what happened to the colony. I didn't realize before that how much better the Alien series could have been. Still great of course. it just could have been even better. And everything after Aliens has been trash.
Why don't you put her in charge? - Hudson You'd better just starting dealing with it, Hudson! Because we need you and I'm sick of your bullsh*t. - Ripley
Girls having strong female role models is a great thing. I looked up to those kind of characters and I grew up to serve on active duty in the Army for 5 years. This movie was all around good because there were both male and female characters that filled every character type.
I happened to come across this film on TNT late one night when I was 12 years old in 1993, and was hooked. It was nothing like anything l had seen before. I mostly love it. Mostly.
Sean Durham I was drawn to alien film in 1979. I was 11 when I saw alien and it was late at night,fuckin awesome movie I couldn't stop thinking about the xenomorph. Then aliens and then Dark Horse comics series of aliens in the 80's so fuckin sweet.
bob bill Well, they don't. Just compare the later Alien-movies to the first two. Or do you have any examples that there are still mainstream movies getting made which are as ambitious and risky as Alien/Aliens?
The Terminator universe is his baby, and that makes Aliens even more impressive to me. To make an incredible, world-building sequel to someone else's movie while also having it function as essentially a standalone film is one of the hardest things to get right in Hollywood
This is one of those rare movies, that simply don’t age. I will forever adore this movie for it’s impact on my life as a child, and now as an adult. Hollywood is so far out of touch now, and we sadly will never see a movie like this again, I’m sure.
No, Top Gun didn't "get the planes and pilots for free". Paramount had to pay fuel and maintenance costs for the planes used when they were filmed outside of their normal duties at a cost of $7,800 per flying hour. F-14s are impressive planes, but they're seriously expensive to keep in flying condition.
@@TitanFind I can't watch Platoon anymore. Looks too cheap for me. Low budget Full Metal Jacket and Hamburger Hill are where it's at for me as far as 80s Vietnam war. films
The aliens, the facehuggers, the queen... They all put the CGI-ridden junk of today's blockbuster films to shame!! I wish the major film studios would in a greater degree recognise the importance and superiority of practical creatures and environments. Another great review!
I simply cannot be impressed anymore by today's in your face cgi effects which look and feel fake. But the practical effects wizardry which was perfected during the 80s and early 90s will always have my respect. Just look how the alien queen is animated like a real monster could behave and interacts with the actors. It makes all the difference and adds tremendous excitement to a film. Aliens is my favourite film. It's the perfect blend of every genre that got under my skin when I discovered cinema.
Exactly...the production design, the mix of practical effects and CGI were so much better back then...that's why not only does it still hold up but it looks in many instances much better than the stuff today.
@@supastar25 this film has no cgi. It's all pure craftsmanship and old-school effects wizardry... miniatures and composites and human controlled puppets.
You have got to be one of the best reviewers on TH-cam. Your make some of the most in-depth and fascinating reviews out there. Not many reviewers touch on things like the soundtrack to a film, which bugs me. But you have an entire SEGMENT about it, which is brilliant. Keep doing what you do, Oliver!
Yeah, he's really good. I do get a bit bored hearing about all the old video games based on the movie, but I guess he wanted a full description of movie-related products. I would only wish he has a chapter/category with times in the description, but a minor complaint.
Sergeant Apone: "WHAT ARE YOU? HUDSON! Get on the ready line, Marines, get some today! Get on the ready line! Move it out! Move it out, goddammit! Get hot! One, two, three, four! Get out, get out, get out! Move it out, move it out, move it out! Move it out, move it out, move it out! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven! Aaarrrrr, absolutely badassess! Let's pack 'em in! Get in there! "
Sergeant Apone: [after the briefing] "All right sweethearts, you heard the man and you know the drill. Assholes and elbows! Hudson, come here! Come *here*! "
I saw this on tv in the late 90s as a kid, which included some of the extended edition scenes. (Ripley losing her daughter was one of them) The Queen scared the hell out me: I couldn't believe how massive she was in comparison to the other Xenomorphs. I highly recommend the extended edition to anyone. It just makes this film even better.
I saw Aliens upon release at Marble Arch in London, when I was 16 (naughty) it was amazing- still one of the best films ever. At that time people still cheered and applauded films and I'll always remember the reaction from the audience when Ripley said "get away from her you bitch!" We went mad. 😎
This movie is just a MASTERPIECE!!! This is one of few movies I just cannot find anything bad with it, and I mean not single thing or a second of the movie, just perfect
I found one thing wrong with it. The bit at the end with five tonnes of Queen Alien and Loader hanging off her elbow was so unbelievable and stupid. One strength of Alien was its plausibility. Instead, in that scene, why not have the acid from a bleeding queen undermine the outer door, and have her climb the ladder away from it. Much more believable.
Actually, I did think of one slight imperfection that I've never seen addressed. Here's the line: "We can track her with this!" --Hicks We're never shown Ripley telling Hicks she'd given the tracking device to Newt to wear, nor is there any hint of him finding out and/or in any way acknowledging the switch before that moment. With that being said, I tend to just think that Hicks saw something in Ripley, something special, something motherly, and had a sixth sort of sense that she would give up her own safety (ie having the tracker on HER) in favour of Newt's. The film's still a fkin' masterpiece whatever the explanation is. Lol.
Jack Reaper I am coming up with more like 60mil, but admittedly used a random website. Anything under a hundred would impress me though, regardless. *Edit*: Used the release date for Alien, not Aliens. That would be a big part of that numbers gap. D'oh!
I always saw that as a typical example of company executives twisting her story and making her a scapegoat to get their insurance payoff. They'd shit on their own mothers for their money.
@@FerDeLance06 I always wondered this as well. But, remember, Weyland-Yutani also sent them to LV-426 on purpose to get a sample of the alien. So it also makes sense that they would want to cover the incident up and discredit Ripley to hide that fact.
I was just watching this episode last night and remembering how awesome Bill Paxton was in Aliens, only to wake up and find out he died last night from complications during surgery at the age of 61. He will most definitely be missed.
One of my friends watched this recently with me, and almost believed this movie came out 2000-2002 due to the visual detail and effects. I had to show them the hard copy dvd, to show that it in fact was a classic. This will always be the pinnacle of film making for me, doing all the grunt work with the models and being a master in your art to create such an immersive experience for the viewer. I was about 7 years old when I first watched it and I shat myself, still today I watch it, especially when I am sick in bed. This is one of those movies that makes you appreciate all those people involved creating art. I am a long time fan of the franchise and I just want to say to anyone who was part of this movie Thank you!!! You can be proud to know, that decades later we are still grateful for the hard work and dedication in your art form. Also give yourself a nice big pat on the back for making one of the greatest movies ever. It was and still is in the pipe 5x5 baby.
I was 12 in 1986 and wanted to see Aliens so bad but you had to be 15 for admission (Swedish rules...). So I hung outside the cinema one day and asked a man to buy me a ticket, I handed him the cash and waited patiently and got my ticket! I was so happy and ran inside and up the stairs and then the ticket collector stopped me dead in my tracks. I was too young and totally had it rubbed in my face. I got my money back and had to go home, no Aliens that day... I had to wait for the VHS rental release a couple of years later. It sucked being a kid in the 80's!
I`m a model 80 but I think I was 9 when I first watched alien, it scared the shit outta me, AND made me a sci-fi nerd. Alone in my brother`s bedroom in the middle of the night, just like skinemax, sorry `bout the sheets bro..
my bro was a child actor at pinewood at that age i was playing behind the scenes with guys in xenomorph costumes XD i got the real thing XD i still have nightmares of being chased by aliens...
I saw it when I was a kid and had fucking nightmares, those fucking aliens coming out of the walls to turn you into a host for a larva that will fucking burst out of your chest at christmas dinner
Absolutely brilliant review of one of my all time favorite movies. It’s hard to believe, that this movie is actually made in 1985! Nothing from that time holds up against this movie. Nothing current holds up against this movie😄 It really is the best action/sci-fi/horror movie ever made🥇
I love how much it feels like a James Cameron film. The atmosphere, look, and situation of unstoppable things appearing at any time makes it feel very close to The Terminator. The Marines scrambling through devastated landscapes and underground bunkers, and one of them being played by Kyle Reese, makes it feel like a side-quel to the future war sequences in The Terminator.
I loved the cut scenes from the extended version, especially the AI Turret scene. To me it added tension as you watch the ammo counter scroll down as the turrets run out of ammo showing how the Marines and Ripply are running out of options and time. Also Alien and Aliens are my favorites, I could easily live with out the rest of them.
Absolutely. I also attribute a lot of the success to the production design continuity between the two films. Something really awful has happened to the film production business that is making it really difficult for visionary directors and creators to bring their ideas to the screen. Also we seem to be at a time in history when audiences are so confused that they don't even know what good storytelling is anymore. Witness the death of narrative in the Star Wars franchise.
I've really enjoyed your Alien series reviews, but this is the best. Your opening montage of movie scenes is so well put together and edited it could be an official movie trailer. Kudos my good man
"Get away from her, you BITCH!" As Iconic and classic a line of powerful female dialogue never was written. The forklift suit thrown in for impact makes the moment one of best ever in film.
Fantastic review Oliver and a fantastic film too. When I first saw Aliens as a youngster I didn't even know it was a sequel, I just thought it was a stand alone movie. This is a film friends and I would watch over and over, and if it's ever on tv I'll still end up watching it from wherever I catch it from all the way to the end. It's just one of those all time films that doesn't ever seem to get old imo.
+shockz16 thanks for your feedback buddy!. You've posted a few comments in the past and I haven't responded! My apologies. I hope you're well and enjoying your weekend.
I reviewed this film back in 1998 for drama class and played the scenes where Ripley rescues the marines...i write this not to brag about it ... but to admire your review and perspective on one of the best sci-fi film of all times...
Every one of your reviews is just....a work of art. 40 minutes, and I barely noticed. Please don't stop doing these; you are one of the few reviewers I actually want to listen to and hear your thoughts on.
Years ago, my 80 year old Grandmother, who didn't really have patience for films & had zero interest in horror or sci-fi, was forced to watch this by her grandson (me). After 20 minutes or so I realised she was totally hooked & rooting for Ripley to save Newt, she loved every minute of it. Aliens really must be something to get my Granny's attention, maybe she's watching it somewhere 'out there' now?! x
My grandfather was the same way when it comes to Predator. I know that he's watching me down from the great beyond. He and I loved the movie (and even P2). I can only hope that he's having a wonderful time in the afterlife.
I love how you gloss over everything - from the score, to the making of, to the video game adaptations , it is very thorough and well researched and very nostalgic considering aliens is very much. Embedded into my childhood. Well done
The movie is filled with brilliant scenes, but one only needs to witness the very first, expertly crafted scene to feel the genius and dedication that went into this movie.
I forgot Ripley was on suspend animation for over 50 years and her daughter had already aged and died but her memory of her daughter was still fresh, it really adds to her motivation in bringing hell to the hive rescuing Newt
My one problem (nitpick) with Aliens is simply this, Ripley being able to hold on while close to an airlock and with a several ton-heavy mother alien hanging on to her. She's stronger than superman, man.
+Johan Öberg (Protoman85) The only real plothole I can think of is why didn't the company send a team of their own to get xenomorph specimens, but that's technically a plothole from the first movie, so I'll let that pass.
That is not a problem - they are in space, and that queen weight nothing - no gravity, no weight - she is pulled only by air leakage due to vacuum, and that is not so big force. You can't see that as if it was on earth, or above - and that is another great detail from Cameron. There is only one thing that generate some recognizable gravity, that ship, but with gravity generators switched off, almost unrecognizable.
Mine would be how incompetent (regardless of their inexperienced CO, which is another issue) the Colonial Marines are, and how "Vietnam" their equipment is. This is supposed to be in the future, and they don't even have IR/Night-Vision equipment? They go into close-quarters battle with four-foot long machine guns? Technology makes things smaller, not larger. They also don't do any kind of reconnaissance (drones were in use by several militaries in the 80s). I don't think they thought that part through very thoroughly. Then again, the movie would have been very short if everything was done properly. Marines send in recon drone, see freakish Aliens and no humans, nuke from orbit, the end.
Great review Oliver, I feel the exact same way about Aliens. I think Alien is a great film, but Aliens is a great complementary sequel much like how Terminator 2 Judgement Day was to Terminator. The prior films were more Sci-fi horror based, where as the sequel's were more action thriller based. Many fans clash over what film is better, and I say both are great because they are different, and don't retread the same ground like so many sequels do today. I personally enjoy Aliens more for the simple fact that it's more re-watchable, and I love how it expands upon where Alien left off, as any good sequel should. I personally don't really care for any of the Alien film's after Aliens, Alien 3 while with some merit (music/performances) didn't add all that much to the series, and left many fans of Aliens, like myself disappointed with the overly bleak direction it took. I too was excited about the prospect of an fifth Alien movie that ignored Alien 3, and 4, but recently I've heard the project has been pretty much shelved, and most likely won't get made. Perhaps it's best if it doesn't, because it could turn out bad, and I personally loved how Aliens ended so much that I never really wanted to see more beyond that film anyway.
Absolutely one of the best reviews I have ever seen for this movie. I've always held this in the highest level of one of the best pictures ever made so much so I became a marine because of it! Rest in Peace Bill Paxton and thank you!
I saw Alien and Aliens for the first time when i was a little kid, they were being aired as a double feature, i was so invested and the suspense was so big that i ended up ripping out 3 or 4 of my baby teeth.
Great review, Re the sound effects - as a kid the sound of the motion trackers picking up movement and increasing in intensity as objects got closer always gave me the heebie jeebies
Aliens is one of my 3 favorite films of all time (2 others being Jaws and Empire Strikes Back). It's awesome seeing you finally got around to doing it. Well worth the wait in my opinion.
+Christian Young Your taste in movies kinda saddens me. I've never been such a big Star Wars fan (I love the original trilogy but I wouldn't call myself a fan, and kinda feel like it's best viewed as a piece of history more than something worth watching again and again), and while I love Spielberg stuff...my top three movies are Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, and A Clockwork Orange, so that tells you all you need to know about my tastes. But okay, my 4th favorite is Terminator 2, Aliens is in my top 10, and Jaws is probably in my top 15. I love myself a good blockbuster...it's just that when I think of a truly classic movie, they're just not the ones that first come to mind (except T2).
+LinkMarioSamus No offense, but your choices are VERY vanilla as well. Not bad films, per se, but....extremely safe. My favorite movies of all time: 1. Reservoir Dogs 2. The Thing 3. Hard-Boiled 4. Braindead/Dead-Alive 5. Pink Flamingos 6. Night of the Living Dead 7. Tie between Kids and L.I.E. 8. Nowhere 9. Visitor Q 10. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
+LinkMarioSamus They're subjectively my favorite films. There's a difference between what's your favorite and what's do you think is the best. If you were to ask me what the best movies I ever seen are, in terms of what I think of them objectively, they would be films such as Citizen Kane, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather part 1 and 2, Yojimbo, The Shawshank Redemption, and Rear Window. But it terms of watch ability and what I want out of a film and what my SUBJECTIVELY favorite types of films are, those three films give them to me and more. Whenever people ask me what my favorite films are, I would list about 10 films or more, but now I am able to narrow it down to 3.
I love this movie.. Its the first movie i took my little brother when it came out, i was 13, he was 9 .. Malaysia didnt have a rating system yet at the time. I want to add that the movie still holds up and i am 42 now! 29 years and it still watchable!!!
One of the trues comments from this video (for me anyhow) was when you mentioned you couldnt sit through the entire film as kid. I was 12 when I first watched this masterpiece and even though I absolutely loved the film it took about 3 individual sittings to finally get through it. Fantastic retrospective video. Paul
The only problem I had with the "Newt's Parents Discover the Aliens" scene in the extended cut was the fact that it seemed a little too convenient that the only survivor of the colony would be the daughter of the people who first brought in the aliens. All of the other extended scenes though, I felt helped flesh out the film. I hate it when people bash this film complaining that it's nothing like the first film. Aren't there enough sequels where all of the action and characters have been copy/pasted from the first film? Of course this film is different, but just because I like it doesn't mean I think any less of the first film. Get a grip, people...
You're not wrong in regards to the derelict ship scene, but I feel like conveniently introducing characters like so is a fairly common fiction trope. I absolutely agree on your other point though. I love Alien but generally speaking I'm more of a thriller than horror fan so Aliens has always been my favorite.
@theproplady: It does seen a little too convenient. In its defence though, it does sort of give a clue how she survived with that one line from Newt's brother teasing her about cheating, being so small she can get into places the other kids can't.
Another great job Oliver. This movie is a perfect sequel in my mind. It's really enjoyable and had so much to add to the original movie. Both great in their own ways. Definitely in my top 10 movies . Can't wait for your next review
Aliens has been my favourite movie of all time since I was 4 years old xD despite how often my mother tried to stop me watching it she eventually gave up haha.
My horror movie loving mother took me to see Alien when I was about 7 years old. Scared the crap outta me so when Aliens hit theaters, I didn't wanna go near it, lol. Ended up watching Aliens on TV some time later... Still kicking myself for not seeing it on the big screen. Aliens is with a doubt in my top 10 all time fave films.
Yea I saw it around that age. Terrified me. I saw far too many ultra violent films at an early age 😂Waking up in feverish sweat recalling some zombie hacking at some poor sods innards. That’s my 80s childhood that is 👍
As a young boy I remember walking into our family room one night while my parents were watching Aliens on TV. It was at the part where Ripley dreams of her chest buster and I was so scared. I remember thinking that the movie must be about monsters in a monster factory, lol.
I will never not be able to distinguish the exact sound a pulse rifle makes, idk what it is between the sound design, visual designs, casting, script and execution, this movie will live in my head rent free forever!
The re-watchability of this film is really incredible. It still has the same power no matter how many times you see it. And I think Sigourney's incredible performance at the centre is a large part of that. She is amazing. But the whole thing is just brilliant.
This was done over night and a masterpiece of power! the build up to the nuke escape wow!! James Horner cemented his mark that was ment to be rest in peace sir
Carrie's story of filming the scene near the end when she was stuck in that alien resin is hilarious. She said Cameron was adjusting whatever the glue was that she was stuck in, and telling her to stay very still or it would break and they'd have to redo everything and start over. She said, "It should be illegal for you to treat children like this." lol
Dude Cameron is a TOUR DE FORCE director, personally I prefer his early work to his later films (i.e. from T-1 to T-2), but that don't mean I don't think his later films are good, I just prefer the more wild, gritty rollercoaster ride of his classic films.
@@kendallrivers1119 True! Predator, what a great movie. Holds up perfectly well today even. I like the Thing too, but I never held it in as high regards as the other movies mentioned above.
***** Just different styles. Like Spielberg, Cameron has an eye for making popular, crowd pleasing films. Meant in a kind way there. But when it comes to the depth and quality of film directing, Scott is in my opinion also, far beyond Cameron. I wouldn't go far as saying he can't direct, because he obviously can. Aliens in my view is one of his best films and it appropriately followed on from Alien in what was a deliberate genre shift by Fox. The problem is, like Lucas, ego has/had gone to Cameron's head and basically makes him more formidable and unhelpful on set in many ways. If you watch behind the scenes of Cameron's work on Titanic and Avatar, it is blatant how overbearing and annoying he is, including being rude to people on set. If I remember rightly he was almost on this vendetta and crusade to make sure he got what he wanted with Titanic, and there are traits of Michael Bay and Roland Emmerich in some of his work; ie deliberately dumbed down content. There is just something I don't like about Cameron. Not my kind of person, just seems like a bit of a prick lol
Aliens is just as bad as if James Cameron directed a squel to Blade Runner with lots of explosions and an army of replicants or some shit, and completed it with lazy effects and bad set design. (Alien and Blade Runner are both known for great set design, something that Aliens doesn't have)
Aadolf Oh believe me I get where you are coming from and partly agree, but Aliens is a nice mirror on Alien, and is undeniably a success in its own right. Alien 1979 is by far and a long way my favourite Alien film. It is the benchmark, standing the test of time and holding influence over all else that followed. But indeed, it is not the case that Aliens is a bad film. Can't discredit Cameron on special effects either; Titanic and Avatar, while overly festooned with effects of any kind sometimes, are masterful in their quality in all fairness; especially Titanic with its array of practical effects and good cgi for the time. However, the cgi fest in Avatar drew a lot of criticism. That said, it wasn't shit cgi now was it? It was overused and took away from the movie in the end, by being so over the top, but that does directly contradict the notion of Cameron's approach to effects being lazy. If it was lazy, it would look *really* bad. Overused, and unpolished (instead of overused and polished, which it is) Aliens had difficulty translating multiple numbers of Xenomorphs at full size into practical effects without ruining it. The debut of the Queen Alien was directly foreshadowing the later Tyrannosaurus rex animatronics in Jurassic Park 1993; ultimately, being put together by Stan Winston. While nowhere near as advanced as the model for the T.rex in JP, the Alien Queen was for its time an impressive feat and really difficult to operating, needing a lot of hard work from the operators, slowing the filming process down and frustrating Cameron, but producing impressive results. Aliens is a different take on Xenomorphs and expanded the franchise massively. I'm sure many directors could have succeeded in a similar way and Cameron was not changing the game so much as just adding to the universe to which the original film belonged to. One thing I didn't like especially was that Ripley had drifted in space for like 57 years in cryo-stasis, and her daughter was older in biological and physiological terms and passed away. That just seemed lazy and disappointing, it would have been more interesting to have her just have gone back to Earth a lot earlier, in my opinion.
@@CarlyneDTQTonPod wow. Pretty brutal for a 5 year old kid. Lots of language and violence in the movie. I think my first rated R movie was probably the predator. It was so Kick-Ass with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Lots of Gore and violence and blood but I loved it even though I was shocked.
Get the ALIEN Anthology Blu-ray set here goo.gl/HbZedP
Get the ALIENS soundtrack here goo.gl/G0y5S9
One of the best review I encountered. Instant classic. One could argue witch one is better Alien or Aliens, but the truth is Aliens got bigger shoes to fill in. James Cameron is a master, is so hard to make a sequel as good as the first one or even better, but Cameron is the MAN!. The casting of Aliens, the practical effects by Stan Winston team, the pacing, music is perfect. The academy award nomination for Sigourney Weaver was well deserved, not to mention Paxton, Biehn, and all the rest.
I know from the behind the scenes material, that Cameron was involved in production Unheard of even today. He was involved in the design of new warrior aliens and the queen. Kudos!
Terminator 2 and Aliens, two sequels that blown away the world, and event today still the best there, thanks to castings, actors, direction, music and the magical blend between practical effects and CGI.
And last but not least kudos of review for Olivier, this man has done his homework many of times. Never give up, keep up the good work.
Private Hudson: " I'm ready, man, check it out. I am the ultimate badass! State of the badass art! You do not wanna fuck with me. Check it out! Hey Ripley, don't worry. Me and my squad of ultimate badasses will protect you! Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phased plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks..."
Sato2099 Well, the two don't really compare well since the first one is basically a scifi thriller/suspense movie and the second one is an action flick. Sadly 3, along with other issues, tried to combine the two and it just fell flat.
r. decline
There is nothing wrong with Alien3. It is just not as good as Alien or Aliens.
Alien Resurrection is where shit fell apart (Still watchable tho)
I just got my alien Anthology collection thanks for the link one thing I'm thinking right now what would have Ripley Scott aliens look like instead of James Cameron
I think the irony in Biehn's late casting as Hicks, and his missing the military training the rest of the cast had, is that it gave him exactly the casual, calm, cool charisma everybody loved him for. Hicks sometimes seems like he's on another planet from the rest of the marines, and that's kinda what sets him apart.
Agreed, and I sense that Drake resented him for it, and being squad leader.
Him falling asleep during the drop gets me every time😂
I think Hicks and the Sarge were the two natural leaders of the bunch, the rest being quite a ragtag motley crew of courageous - but ultimately doomed - badasses. For me though, the Sarge, Apone, steals the movie. He's outstanding in the role and, okay, Ripley and Burke are also up there, as is Bishop. Shit. Hudson as well, and Vasquez. Okay they're just all damn good, the only cast member I didn't like: Newt. Meh.
Okay that's me done. Have a good one!
He hits a great stride with NCO’s that have a cool and collected view to combat operations
@@ryans756 ''You SECURE that shit Ryan S!!'' :P
35 years later and still one of the greatest Sci-fi films ever made. And easily one of the greatest sequels of all time.
The characters, the camaraderie, the one-liners, the lore, the effects, and on top of it all: Ripley's maternal heroism.
Legitimately a Classic.
I agree about it being the first and best sci-fi movie ever made or for some people its one of the best sci-fi made movies. My opinion it's the best by being an awesome sequel which most sequels are horrible compared to the first movie
I absolutely love Alien & Aliens. Great movies
Rip Bill Paxton
Game Over, man. Game Over.
R I P. BILL PAXTON
Also, RIP Al Matthews
@@DeanStrickson whhuuutt??
The Special Edition version with the commentaries of the cast, also Bill, is outstanding. He was hilarious, even with his jokes there! You really understand they were all proud to make this movie.
Must have been a funny, good guy!
God, it's crazy how close this film came to not having Sigourney Weaver. Thank god Cameron put his foot down.
Wouldn't be an Alien movie without Ripley, kinda like it wouldn't have been Aliens without Hicks, Hudson, Vasquez, etc. etc. etc., dude ya gotta have Ripley.
She makes the best action heroine on cinema ever
I realized just today. Ripley and Sarah Connor have basically the same arc becoming a badass woman. A regular woman in the first movie, who gets hardened by the second movie through some tough events.
And both of them got trained/motivated by Michael Biehn.
Probably why the originals are amazing and the sequels are hailed as the best 2 sequels ever made to a film.
Both of them have prejudices against robots due to bad experiences in the first movie and learn to see past them in the second one.
And they fought each other in "Celebrity Deathmatch".
@@iguanapete3809 Omg, who won? XD
This movie is timeless :) I dont think anything will ever come close to it. I recently rewatched it and it still holds up like The Thing.
+Vampires Crypt Completely agree with you on that. The Thing, Alien and Aliens...even Blade Runner all hold up very very well.
"All right. Now Listen up. I want this birthday to go smooth and by the numbers. I want candles lit and tactical extinguishing by 0830."
It’s lasted better. The Thing has some effects now that are starting to look dated or washed out after thirty years.
Its best reason for longevity has been practical effects. Still some of the best ever seen.
It is amazing how it has heald up after all this years.
Supremely crafted practical effects!
"The Legendary Michael Biehn". Well played sir, well played.
MICHAEL BIEHN was so badass in this movie. Very underated actor
Top tier actor
He was totally awesome in this movie, BUT - I think he gave even more in The Abyss. Superb acting right there!
I REALLY wanna know why it went south between Cameron and Biehn...
I loved him in The Terminator.
I'm so glad Cameron stuck to his guns to have Sigourney involved. She is a great actress very capable of carrying these movies and Ripley is such a gripping character. It's such a stupid idea that a male audience must have a male lead to enjoy the film. Sigourney and Alien have proved that notion wrong from the beginning.
Geert van der Plas Something I love with Ripley is the fact that she's a female that is a character and not a character that's female (she's more than just the movie's female character) and this without being masculine or a tomboy.
She could easily have been a male and the character wouldn't be all too different. The gender doesnt matter. When especially a female character has this this perk it really shows and it strengthens the writing and depth of it all. Doesnt hurt that Sigourney Weaver is all out incredible!
This is only Hollywoods idea and like with everything else in Hollywood, they have absolutely no clue what people want.
Well the problem is how few really great female action/drama actresses there are. Cameron got lucky twice with Linda Hamilton and Sigourney Weaver, but obviously Weaver was literally heads and shoulders above Hamilton.
George Miller took this cue for Furiosa.
Goes to show you how studios meddling could easily derail a film..much like they did for the third film...Cameron did well to stick to his guns considering The Terminator was only just released and he was still young and not as powerful.
I turned 17 the summer Aliens came out, so I could get into R rated movies without having to sneak in, and I ended up seeing this movie 6 times, because it is a STONE COLD CLASSIC!
I was ten when it released and my uncle, who babysitting myself and my brother rented Alien and Aliens and we watched them back to back. Aliens has been my favourite film ever since.
@@bill5974 I was 9 in 1986 and my moms boyfriend took me to see it in the theater, it's still my absolute favorite movie, the next year predator was great also
do you know what other epic sci movie played that summer..and was also critically acclaimed.. .THE FLY.. they came out out back to back...was an amazing time
I just recently listened to the written sequel which takes place between Alien and Aliens with Ash as the main antagonist, then the HH stuff that takes place just before and during Aliens with Newt's family and what happened to the colony. I didn't realize before that how much better the Alien series could have been. Still great of course. it just could have been even better. And everything after Aliens has been trash.
@@PopePlatinumBeats y'all didn't know what you had back then.
So many great lines;
“Guess she didn’t like the cornbread neither.”
VA, "In The Pipe 5 by 5"
"Punch It BISHOP!!!" & SOOOOOOOO MANY MORE THAT Haven't BEEN SAID Yet!!!! Quality Film & FOR ME THE BEST ALIEN TO DATE!!!
@@eddysandland58 5 by 5 is a real military saying...It means the pilot is coming in the angle to make a safe landing.
Just stay away from me Bishop you got that straight?
Why don't you put her in charge? - Hudson
You'd better just starting dealing with it, Hudson! Because we need you and I'm sick of your bullsh*t. - Ripley
Stay frosty
"Hey, Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?" "No, have you?"
@BLAIR M Schirmer There's so much to like about Aliens beyond it having good female characters, man. So no, you'd be wrong. Lol
Aliens, thought they meant "illegal aliens," amirite?!
@BLAIR M Schirmer please lecture us on the patriarchy.
Girls having strong female role models is a great thing. I looked up to those kind of characters and I grew up to serve on active duty in the Army for 5 years. This movie was all around good because there were both male and female characters that filled every character type.
mrichar9 😂
I happened to come across this film on TNT late one night when I was 12 years old in 1993, and was hooked. It was nothing like anything l had seen before. I mostly love it. Mostly.
At night?
Sean Durham I was drawn to alien film in 1979.
I was 11 when I saw alien and it was late at night,fuckin awesome movie I couldn't stop thinking about the xenomorph.
Then aliens and then Dark Horse comics series of aliens in the 80's so fuckin sweet.
That reference.
So good :-)
Mostly...
I saw it in 91, except it was being played in a hotels cinema room in Spain mid-day! My mum found me and whisked me away
Man, they just don't make movie like this anymore ...
Ethan Boyd they never did. Why do people say "They don't make movies like this anymore" as if it were somehow common in the past?
The mid 80’s and HBO/Showtime/Cinemax. Nuff said!!
bob bill They did make movies like this before. Alien, Terminator 1, 2, Predator, The Thing, and Robocop.
This channel is full of reviews of 80s and 90s 'movies like this', so he does have a point.
bob bill
Well, they don't. Just compare the later Alien-movies to the first two. Or do you have any examples that there are still mainstream movies getting made which are as ambitious and risky as Alien/Aliens?
Crazy. It is so difficult to make a great sequel. And Cameron did 2 of the best sequels ever.
The Terminator universe is his baby, and that makes Aliens even more impressive to me. To make an incredible, world-building sequel to someone else's movie while also having it function as essentially a standalone film is one of the hardest things to get right in Hollywood
And I believe The Way of Water will become one of those glorious sequels
@@LukeLovesRose lol!😆🤣😂
@@mikespearwood3914 Laugh all you want but Camerons skills with 3D storytelling should not be underestimated
@@LukeLovesRose 😝🤣😆
This is one of those rare movies, that simply don’t age. I will forever adore this movie for it’s impact on my life as a child, and now as an adult. Hollywood is so far out of touch now, and we sadly will never see a movie like this again, I’m sure.
Man, I had no idea how low the budget was. What a masterpiece of talented, creative spending. Every penny on screen and many millions of dollars more.
For the time it wasn't especially low, but neither was it colossal. Consider that "Platoon" only cost 6 million, and "Top Gun" 15 million.
Yeah but 'Top Gun' got the planes and pilots practically for free because the military saw it as a recruitment aid.
No, Top Gun didn't "get the planes and pilots for free". Paramount had to pay fuel and maintenance costs for the planes used when they were filmed outside of their normal duties at a cost of $7,800 per flying hour. F-14s are impressive planes, but they're seriously expensive to keep in flying condition.
@@TitanFind I can't watch Platoon anymore. Looks too cheap for me. Low budget Full Metal Jacket and Hamburger Hill are where it's at for me as far as 80s Vietnam war. films
@@RaderizDorret that ain't expensive. It costs 50gs an hour for a police helicopter
The aliens, the facehuggers, the queen... They all put the CGI-ridden junk of today's blockbuster films to shame!! I wish the major film studios would in a greater degree recognise the importance and superiority of practical creatures and environments.
Another great review!
I fear that all the fine-arts talent from this era is being lost. The Nintendo generation was raised in captivity.
Right.... nobody is scared of cgi stuff!
I simply cannot be impressed anymore by today's in your face cgi effects which look and feel fake. But the practical effects wizardry which was perfected during the 80s and early 90s will always have my respect. Just look how the alien queen is animated like a real monster could behave and interacts with the actors. It makes all the difference and adds tremendous excitement to a film.
Aliens is my favourite film. It's the perfect blend of every genre that got under my skin when I discovered cinema.
Exactly...the production design, the mix of practical effects and CGI were so much better back then...that's why not only does it still hold up but it looks in many instances much better than the stuff today.
@@supastar25 this film has no cgi. It's all pure craftsmanship and old-school effects wizardry... miniatures and composites and human controlled puppets.
You have got to be one of the best reviewers on TH-cam. Your make some of the most in-depth and fascinating reviews out there. Not many reviewers touch on things like the soundtrack to a film, which bugs me. But you have an entire SEGMENT about it, which is brilliant. Keep doing what you do, Oliver!
He is just so fantastic isn't he? And he speaks so well.
Yeah, he's really good. I do get a bit bored hearing about all the old video games based on the movie, but I guess he wanted a full description of movie-related products. I would only wish he has a chapter/category with times in the description, but a minor complaint.
Sergeant Apone: "WHAT ARE YOU? HUDSON! Get on the ready line, Marines, get some today! Get on the ready line! Move it out! Move it out, goddammit! Get hot! One, two, three, four! Get out, get out, get out! Move it out, move it out, move it out! Move it out, move it out, move it out! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven! Aaarrrrr, absolutely badassess! Let's pack 'em in! Get in there! "
southlondon86 fred
Was a crime she never won an Oscar, one of the most compelling Female performances of all time imo.
P
Hk
Qlflo ool78
She was up against a deaf woman.
Yes, the queen was great in this film
@@sspdirect02she was incredibly brave 😏
Considering her caviats for even doing these films, it makes sense Weaver didn't get one.
“Get away from her you BITCH!” One of the best lines in cinema. Certainly the best line of the movie.
Nooooo. The best line in the movie is "Okay you heard the man and you know the drill. Assholes and elbows! Hudson, come here. Come here!"
Ad libbed too
1000% agreed "get away from her u bitch" & "say hello 2 my little friend" lol both iconic GOAT lines
@@ryans756 😆👍
Game over!
Great review, Oliver! Not bad for a human.
+Ragitsu He mostly comes out at night..mostly...
+Omer Khan Then it's game over, man, game over!
fцику мцику What the fuck were gonna do now
Maybe we could build a fire, sing a couple of songs
Sergeant Apone: [after the briefing] "All right sweethearts, you heard the man and you know the drill. Assholes and elbows! Hudson, come here! Come *here*! "
Single coolest sci gun ever in this film. Dat pulse rifle.
ive wanted one of those so bad since i was a kid
Well, all you need is a Thompson, a Remington 870, some parts of a SPAS and one of those Airsoft conversion kits to base your bodywork off ;)
It's a very ineffficiant weapon though.
DC Frank the prop itself. But not the fictional gun.
I'm more a fan of the Smart Gun myself, but then I'm always a fan of heavy weapons in sci-fi
The reveal of the Queen at the end blew me away as a kid! Love this Movie
Dalle Smalhals the 80's was a different time
"Close your eyes baby..."
The queen is one of the greatest triumphs in practical effects in history.
I saw this on tv in the late 90s as a kid, which included some of the extended edition scenes. (Ripley losing her daughter was one of them)
The Queen scared the hell out me: I couldn't believe how massive she was in comparison to the other Xenomorphs. I highly recommend the extended edition to anyone. It just makes this film even better.
@@mish375 in my mind the Special Edition is the definitive version.
I saw Aliens upon release at Marble Arch in London, when I was 16 (naughty) it was amazing- still one of the best films ever. At that time people still cheered and applauded films and I'll always remember the reaction from the audience when Ripley said "get away from her you bitch!" We went mad. 😎
This movie is just a MASTERPIECE!!! This is one of few movies I just cannot find anything bad with it, and I mean not single thing or a second of the movie, just perfect
I found one thing wrong with it.
The bit at the end with five tonnes of Queen Alien and Loader hanging off her elbow was so unbelievable and stupid. One strength of Alien was its plausibility.
Instead, in that scene, why not have the acid from a bleeding queen undermine the outer door, and have her climb the ladder away from it.
Much more believable.
Yes the acting, effects, non stop action. This movie was superb.
@@adampeters7947 you had to be THAT guy huh? Lol
I didn't really like Newt. She made me feel uncomfortable but perhaps that's appropriate, considering the situation they all found themselves in.
Actually, I did think of one slight imperfection that I've never seen addressed. Here's the line:
"We can track her with this!"
--Hicks
We're never shown Ripley telling Hicks she'd given the tracking device to Newt to wear, nor is there any hint of him finding out and/or in any way acknowledging the switch before that moment. With that being said, I tend to just think that Hicks saw something in Ripley, something special, something motherly, and had a sixth sort of sense that she would give up her own safety (ie having the tracker on HER) in favour of Newt's. The film's still a fkin' masterpiece whatever the explanation is. Lol.
This movie was made for $18 million? That's fucking insane.
Jack Reaper I am coming up with more like 60mil, but admittedly used a random website. Anything under a hundred would impress me though, regardless.
*Edit*: Used the release date for Alien, not Aliens. That would be a big part of that numbers gap. D'oh!
no talent and drive
Dont forget, a million of that was Sigourney Weaver's salary.
The first Terminator was made on $10 million I think
Nick Molnar you also have to adjust for inflation, 18 million was a lot back then
Aliens and T2: Judgement Day are two fantastic sequels that are great extensions of the originals.
Aliens is one of my top 10 favorite movies of all time.
It's really one of the best sequels ever.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Comparing Alien and Aliens is like comparing the OG Halloween to Halloween Resurrection. 🤦
Aliens is one of THE BEST movies ever made... in history, just perfect movie.
"Did IQ's drop sharply while I was away?"
I always saw that as a typical example of company executives twisting her story and making her a scapegoat to get their insurance payoff. They'd shit on their own mothers for their money.
@@FerDeLance06 I always wondered this as well. But, remember, Weyland-Yutani also sent them to LV-426 on purpose to get a sample of the alien. So it also makes sense that they would want to cover the incident up and discredit Ripley to hide that fact.
Mostly
The Empire Strikes Back
The Dark Knight
Aliens
Terminator 2 Judgment Day
The 4 Best Sequels OF ALL TIME
The Godfather Part II
The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Yeah those too
spiderman 2
Return of the King?
Evil Dead 2 & Mad Max Fury Road
I was just watching this episode last night and remembering how awesome Bill Paxton was in Aliens, only to wake up and find out he died last night from complications during surgery at the age of 61. He will most definitely be missed.
Yeah, he was (and still is) THE ULTIMATE BADASS.
One of my friends watched this recently with me, and almost believed this movie came out 2000-2002 due to the visual detail and effects. I had to show them the hard copy dvd, to show that it in fact was a classic. This will always be the pinnacle of film making for me, doing all the grunt work with the models and being a master in your art to create such an immersive experience for the viewer. I was about 7 years old when I first watched it and I shat myself, still today I watch it, especially when I am sick in bed. This is one of those movies that makes you appreciate all those people involved creating art. I am a long time fan of the franchise and I just want to say to anyone who was part of this movie Thank you!!! You can be proud to know, that decades later we are still grateful for the hard work and dedication in your art form. Also give yourself a nice big pat on the back for making one of the greatest movies ever. It was and still is in the pipe 5x5 baby.
Aliens is hands down me favourite movie of all time, an absolute classic
One of the best films ever made..Enough said..Pure quality
Brilliant review. Aliens is one of my ten favorite films (:
+James Mccarthy Aliens will always share the top spot with Willow in my top 10 ;)
I was 12 in 1986 and wanted to see Aliens so bad but you had to be 15 for admission (Swedish rules...). So I hung outside the cinema one day and asked a man to buy me a ticket, I handed him the cash and waited patiently and got my ticket! I was so happy and ran inside and up the stairs and then the ticket collector stopped me dead in my tracks. I was too young and totally had it rubbed in my face. I got my money back and had to go home, no Aliens that day... I had to wait for the VHS rental release a couple of years later. It sucked being a kid in the 80's!
i was 9 and saw it in the theater with my moms boyfriend, been my favorite movie ever since, sorry bout your situation though
I`m a model 80 but I think I was 9 when I first watched alien, it scared the shit outta me, AND made me a sci-fi nerd.
Alone in my brother`s bedroom in the middle of the night, just like skinemax, sorry `bout the sheets bro..
my bro was a child actor at pinewood at that age i was playing behind the scenes with guys in xenomorph costumes XD i got the real thing XD i still have nightmares of being chased by aliens...
not always nightmares (memories resurfacing or astral interactions) :>
I saw it when I was a kid and had fucking nightmares, those fucking aliens coming out of the walls to turn you into a host for a larva that will fucking burst out of your chest at christmas dinner
Absolutely brilliant review of one of my all time favorite movies.
It’s hard to believe, that this movie is actually made in 1985!
Nothing from that time holds up against this movie.
Nothing current holds up against this movie😄
It really is the best action/sci-fi/horror movie ever made🥇
Thanks for your comment Ronni!
I love how much it feels like a James Cameron film. The atmosphere, look, and situation of unstoppable things appearing at any time makes it feel very close to The Terminator. The Marines scrambling through devastated landscapes and underground bunkers, and one of them being played by Kyle Reese, makes it feel like a side-quel to the future war sequences in The Terminator.
I loved the cut scenes from the extended version, especially the AI Turret scene. To me it added tension as you watch the ammo counter scroll down as the turrets run out of ammo showing how the Marines and Ripply are running out of options and time.
Also Alien and Aliens are my favorites, I could easily live with out the rest of them.
Brilliant review!
Aliens is one of my favorite movies
I LOVE THE ALIEN MOVIES.....ALL ACTION PACKED!
The first two are really the only truly great ones. Prometheus and Covenant will be forgotten.
The Triggerati, I agree. I think Aliens particularly is one of the best sequels of the genre that's ever been made.
Absolutely. I also attribute a lot of the success to the production design continuity between the two films. Something really awful has happened to the film production business that is making it really difficult for visionary directors and creators to bring their ideas to the screen. Also we seem to be at a time in history when audiences are so confused that they don't even know what good storytelling is anymore. Witness the death of narrative in the Star Wars franchise.
I've really enjoyed your Alien series reviews, but this is the best. Your opening montage of movie scenes is so well put together and edited it could be an official movie trailer. Kudos my good man
"Get away from her, you BITCH!" As Iconic and classic a line of powerful female dialogue never was written. The forklift suit thrown in for impact makes the moment one of best ever in film.
Hands down, one of the greatest movies ever made by the the greatest sequel director of all time.
Fantastic review Oliver and a fantastic film too.
When I first saw Aliens as a youngster I didn't even know it was a sequel, I just thought it was a stand alone movie. This is a film friends and I would watch over and over, and if it's ever on tv I'll still end up watching it from wherever I catch it from all the way to the end. It's just one of those all time films that doesn't ever seem to get old imo.
+shockz16 thanks for your feedback buddy!. You've posted a few comments in the past and I haven't responded! My apologies. I hope you're well and enjoying your weekend.
Aliens Retrospective on my birthday? Fuck yes!
happy birthday!
That makes two of us :) happy bday to you too
Oliver Harper Thanks a bunch, Oliver!
lunatiksAlterEgo Likewise man!
I just cannot agree more with every single word you said. Truly the greatest movie of the eighties
I reviewed this film back in 1998 for drama class and played the scenes where Ripley rescues the marines...i write this not to brag about it ... but to admire your review and perspective on one of the best sci-fi film of all times...
One of the finest films ever made, regardless of genre. You think different, then you're proof positive opinions can be wrong.
Every one of your reviews is just....a work of art. 40 minutes, and I barely noticed. Please don't stop doing these; you are one of the few reviewers I actually want to listen to and hear your thoughts on.
The dread music,the acting,the story,and the special effects make this a bona fide classic of the 80s.I love it.
Years ago, my 80 year old Grandmother, who didn't really have patience for films & had zero interest in horror or sci-fi, was forced to watch this by her grandson (me). After 20 minutes or so I realised she was totally hooked & rooting for Ripley to save Newt, she loved every minute of it. Aliens really must be something to get my Granny's attention, maybe she's watching it somewhere 'out there' now?! x
My grandfather was the same way when it comes to Predator. I know that he's watching me down from the great beyond. He and I loved the movie (and even P2). I can only hope that he's having a wonderful time in the afterlife.
Absolute classic sequel to Alien. So much credit to James Cameron for creating an amazing sequel. 👍🏾😊
I saw it in theaters in its initial run. When that door opened and you saw Ripley in the giant walker, the whole theater went nuts
Yes !!! That's my only memory of this movie I remember !!!! I remember the whole theater cheering ! Wow
best intro ever.....
Game over man, game over!!!!
I love how you gloss over everything - from the score, to the making of, to the video game adaptations , it is very thorough and well researched and very nostalgic considering aliens is very much. Embedded into my childhood. Well done
The opening montage is literally the best movie montage I’ve ever seen! Pure adrenaline!!!
The movie is filled with brilliant scenes, but one only needs to witness the very first, expertly crafted scene to feel the genius and dedication that went into this movie.
This movie is an absolute masterpiece!
I forgot Ripley was on suspend animation for over 50 years and her daughter had already aged and died but her memory of her daughter was still fresh, it really adds to her motivation in bringing hell to the hive rescuing Newt
My one problem (nitpick) with Aliens is simply this, Ripley being able to hold on while close to an airlock and with a several ton-heavy mother alien hanging on to her. She's stronger than superman, man.
+Johan Öberg (Protoman85) The only real plothole I can think of is why didn't the company send a team of their own to get xenomorph specimens, but that's technically a plothole from the first movie, so I'll let that pass.
Never underestimate the power of the XX chromosome... respect for anyone who’s popped out something the size of a bowling ball from between her legs.
samiamtheman 73 In Aliens, I get the impression that in the lore, the government(s) are tough on regulations so the company were possibly cautious.
That is not a problem - they are in space, and that queen weight nothing - no gravity, no weight - she is pulled only by air leakage due to vacuum, and that is not so big force. You can't see that as if it was on earth, or above - and that is another great detail from Cameron. There is only one thing that generate some recognizable gravity, that ship, but with gravity generators switched off, almost unrecognizable.
Mine would be how incompetent (regardless of their inexperienced CO, which is another issue) the Colonial Marines are, and how "Vietnam" their equipment is. This is supposed to be in the future, and they don't even have IR/Night-Vision equipment? They go into close-quarters battle with four-foot long machine guns? Technology makes things smaller, not larger. They also don't do any kind of reconnaissance (drones were in use by several militaries in the 80s). I don't think they thought that part through very thoroughly. Then again, the movie would have been very short if everything was done properly. Marines send in recon drone, see freakish Aliens and no humans, nuke from orbit, the end.
Great review Oliver, I feel the exact same way about Aliens. I think Alien is a great film, but Aliens is a great complementary sequel much like how Terminator 2 Judgement Day was to Terminator. The prior films were more Sci-fi horror based, where as the sequel's were more action thriller based. Many fans clash over what film is better, and I say both are great because they are different, and don't retread the same ground like so many sequels do today. I personally enjoy Aliens more for the simple fact that it's more re-watchable, and I love how it expands upon where Alien left off, as any good sequel should. I personally don't really care for any of the Alien film's after Aliens, Alien 3 while with some merit (music/performances) didn't add all that much to the series, and left many fans of Aliens, like myself disappointed with the overly bleak direction it took. I too was excited about the prospect of an fifth Alien movie that ignored Alien 3, and 4, but recently I've heard the project has been pretty much shelved, and most likely won't get made. Perhaps it's best if it doesn't, because it could turn out bad, and I personally loved how Aliens ended so much that I never really wanted to see more beyond that film anyway.
Well said. Signing this.
Absolutely one of the best reviews I have ever seen for this movie. I've always held this in the highest level of one of the best pictures ever made so much so I became a marine because of it! Rest in Peace Bill Paxton and thank you!
I saw Alien and Aliens for the first time when i was a little kid, they were being aired as a double feature, i was so invested and the suspense was so big that i ended up ripping out 3 or 4 of my baby teeth.
That's the sign of true engagement
@@electrominded8372 it's also the sign of a fucking good movie
Great review, Re the sound effects - as a kid the sound of the motion trackers picking up movement and increasing in intensity as objects got closer always gave me the heebie jeebies
"That's in the room!" "There's gotta be something wrong with it" "The ceiling!"
Aliens is one of my 3 favorite films of all time (2 others being Jaws and Empire Strikes Back). It's awesome seeing you finally got around to doing it. Well worth the wait in my opinion.
+Christian Young Your taste in movies kinda saddens me. I've never been such a big Star Wars fan (I love the original trilogy but I wouldn't call myself a fan, and kinda feel like it's best viewed as a piece of history more than something worth watching again and again), and while I love Spielberg stuff...my top three movies are Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, and A Clockwork Orange, so that tells you all you need to know about my tastes.
But okay, my 4th favorite is Terminator 2, Aliens is in my top 10, and Jaws is probably in my top 15. I love myself a good blockbuster...it's just that when I think of a truly classic movie, they're just not the ones that first come to mind (except T2).
+LinkMarioSamus
No offense, but your choices are VERY vanilla as well. Not bad films, per se, but....extremely safe.
My favorite movies of all time:
1. Reservoir Dogs
2. The Thing
3. Hard-Boiled
4. Braindead/Dead-Alive
5. Pink Flamingos
6. Night of the Living Dead
7. Tie between Kids and L.I.E.
8. Nowhere
9. Visitor Q
10. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
+LinkMarioSamus They're subjectively my favorite films. There's a difference between what's your favorite and what's do you think is the best.
If you were to ask me what the best movies I ever seen are, in terms of what I think of them objectively, they would be films such as Citizen Kane, Apocalypse Now, The Godfather part 1 and 2, Yojimbo, The Shawshank Redemption, and Rear Window.
But it terms of watch ability and what I want out of a film and what my SUBJECTIVELY favorite types of films are, those three films give them to me and more.
Whenever people ask me what my favorite films are, I would list about 10 films or more, but now I am able to narrow it down to 3.
Thats the point I was trying to make to the guy that said he was disappointed in your film choices. His weren't all that disimilar from yours.
***** Apologies, linked my comment to the wrong person. My bad. I'll fix that
I love this movie.. Its the first movie i took my little brother when it came out, i was 13, he was 9 .. Malaysia didnt have a rating system yet at the time. I want to add that the movie still holds up and i am 42 now! 29 years and it still watchable!!!
Probably the best Aliens review I've ever watched, amazing job!
Thanks man!
indeed, really enjoy all of his reviews + he literally does EVERY movie im a fan of.
I concur, best review I've seen thus far. :)
totally agree
let's not get crazy here...i was 17 then..and i certainly didn't need a review on this then and now-10/10..lol.
One of the trues comments from this video (for me anyhow) was when you mentioned you couldnt sit through the entire film as kid. I was 12 when I first watched this masterpiece and even though I absolutely loved the film it took about 3 individual sittings to finally get through it.
Fantastic retrospective video.
Paul
Oliver’s right, this film is top notch. Very well done. Aliens is a classic, and the extended cut does indeed make the film feel complete.
The only problem I had with the "Newt's Parents Discover the Aliens" scene in the extended cut was the fact that it seemed a little too convenient that the only survivor of the colony would be the daughter of the people who first brought in the aliens. All of the other extended scenes though, I felt helped flesh out the film.
I hate it when people bash this film complaining that it's nothing like the first film. Aren't there enough sequels where all of the action and characters have been copy/pasted from the first film? Of course this film is different, but just because I like it doesn't mean I think any less of the first film. Get a grip, people...
Good point about Newt. Also her extended scream was very annoying.
That which you hate, I feel the same way about Alien 3. It's like people want Aliens 2. I love Alien 3 and how it ended the story.
You're not wrong in regards to the derelict ship scene, but I feel like conveniently introducing characters like so is a fairly common fiction trope.
I absolutely agree on your other point though. I love Alien but generally speaking I'm more of a thriller than horror fan so Aliens has always been my favorite.
@theproplady: It does seen a little too convenient. In its defence though, it does sort of give a clue how she survived with that one line from Newt's brother teasing her about cheating, being so small she can get into places the other kids can't.
Aliens is my favourite movie! Saw it in the cinema!
Me too. The only movie I went 3 times to see.
This was the last film playing at the Paramount Theatre in Newark, NJ back in 1986.
Possibly the best movie ever made
Blade Runner too
that's definitely a stretch but it's a good movie
I absolutely love aliens, and your intro got me so excited for it all over again.
Horner's 80 percent beats most other action movie scores 100 percent. The man was brilliant doing what he did under such pressure.
Another great job Oliver. This movie is a perfect sequel in my mind. It's really enjoyable and had so much to add to the original movie. Both great in their own ways. Definitely in my top 10 movies . Can't wait for your next review
Goddamn does this video make me appreciate Cameron and the film itself a lot more. Love these retrospectives.
Aliens has been my favourite movie of all time since I was 4 years old xD despite how often my mother tried to stop me watching it she eventually gave up haha.
My horror movie loving mother took me to see Alien when I was about 7 years old. Scared the crap outta me so when Aliens hit theaters, I didn't wanna go near it, lol. Ended up watching Aliens on TV some time later... Still kicking myself for not seeing it on the big screen. Aliens is with a doubt in my top 10 all time fave films.
Yea I saw it around that age. Terrified me. I saw far too many ultra violent films at an early age 😂Waking up in feverish sweat recalling some zombie hacking at some poor sods innards. That’s my 80s childhood that is 👍
As a young boy I remember walking into our family room one night while my parents were watching Aliens on TV. It was at the part where Ripley dreams of her chest buster and I was so scared. I remember thinking that the movie must be about monsters in a monster factory, lol.
They mostly come at night......mostly
This movie was so good and it keeps getting more intense as the film progresses. It had everything from humor to action to drama.
Goddamn, one of the best movies of the 80's. One of the best heroines of all time.
I will never not be able to distinguish the exact sound a pulse rifle makes, idk what it is between the sound design, visual designs, casting, script and execution, this movie will live in my head rent free forever!
The re-watchability of this film is really incredible. It still has the same power no matter how many times you see it. And I think Sigourney's incredible performance at the centre is a large part of that. She is amazing. But the whole thing is just brilliant.
This was done over night and a masterpiece of power! the build up to the nuke escape wow!! James Horner cemented his mark that was ment to be rest in peace sir
James Cameron, the king of sequels.
Hands down, Terminator 2 and Aliens are the two greatest sequels of all time.
Don’t argue with me, I’ll fight you.
One of the hardest things any director can do.
Bring it on!
No one can argue that truth with you.
I wish he did a Titanic sequel... That would be epic!!!
@@nitrobyname lols
Watched this video two times and just rewatched Aliens. :)
Carrie's story of filming the scene near the end when she was stuck in that alien resin is hilarious. She said Cameron was adjusting whatever the glue was that she was stuck in, and telling her to stay very still or it would break and they'd have to redo everything and start over. She said, "It should be illegal for you to treat children like this." lol
James Cameron is a master filmmaker. He turned horror genre into an action flick and birthed a franchise.
He also wrote the script of Rambo, first blood 2, his expertise.
Dude Cameron is a TOUR DE FORCE director, personally I prefer his early work to his later films (i.e. from T-1 to T-2), but that don't mean I don't think his later films are good, I just prefer the more wild, gritty rollercoaster ride of his classic films.
Actually most of Cameron's script for First Blood 2 got the axe, so it was largely Sly's script.
I grew up seing these masterpieces, Aliens, T2, Alien, T1 etc.
No wonder the bar is set HIGH and one are rarely impressed by movies today.
Grimmer2006 ✊🏽 same
Don't forget Predator and The Thing!
@@kendallrivers1119 True!
Predator, what a great movie.
Holds up perfectly well today even.
I like the Thing too, but I never held it in as high regards as the other movies mentioned above.
A masterpiece of filmmaking and the perfect/definitive blend of horror and action with a bit of comedy
This is one of the best movie reviews I've ever seen, fantastic job Oliver.
Also, great editing at the end;
"Get away from her you BITCH!"
+Niels Lauridsen Thank you very much Niels!
"Did IQs just drop while I was away?!?"
I admit....I’ve lived a sheltered life and that is why I’ve watched this movie approx 40 times. Absolutely superb.
I've watched it soooo many times too
"GAME OVER MAN!"
I love Michael Biehn, he is like you always say so underrated!
Bill says the Game Over line...
I'll never recognize Alien 3 and 4. just like Terminator 2 the series ends with the second.
Same goes for the JAWS films I think...
It ended with Alien. Aliens is nothing compared to Alien.
***** Just different styles. Like Spielberg, Cameron has an eye for making popular, crowd pleasing films. Meant in a kind way there. But when it comes to the depth and quality of film directing, Scott is in my opinion also, far beyond Cameron. I wouldn't go far as saying he can't direct, because he obviously can. Aliens in my view is one of his best films and it appropriately followed on from Alien in what was a deliberate genre shift by Fox. The problem is, like Lucas, ego has/had gone to Cameron's head and basically makes him more formidable and unhelpful on set in many ways.
If you watch behind the scenes of Cameron's work on Titanic and Avatar, it is blatant how overbearing and annoying he is, including being rude to people on set. If I remember rightly he was almost on this vendetta and crusade to make sure he got what he wanted with Titanic, and there are traits of Michael Bay and Roland Emmerich in some of his work; ie deliberately dumbed down content.
There is just something I don't like about Cameron. Not my kind of person, just seems like a bit of a prick lol
Aliens is just as bad as if James Cameron directed a squel to Blade Runner with lots of explosions and an army of replicants or some shit, and completed it with lazy effects and bad set design.
(Alien and Blade Runner are both known for great set design, something that Aliens doesn't have)
Aadolf Oh believe me I get where you are coming from and partly agree, but Aliens is a nice mirror on Alien, and is undeniably a success in its own right.
Alien 1979 is by far and a long way my favourite Alien film. It is the benchmark, standing the test of time and holding influence over all else that followed. But indeed, it is not the case that Aliens is a bad film. Can't discredit Cameron on special effects either; Titanic and Avatar, while overly festooned with effects of any kind sometimes, are masterful in their quality in all fairness; especially Titanic with its array of practical effects and good cgi for the time.
However, the cgi fest in Avatar drew a lot of criticism. That said, it wasn't shit cgi now was it? It was overused and took away from the movie in the end, by being so over the top, but that does directly contradict the notion of Cameron's approach to effects being lazy. If it was lazy, it would look *really* bad. Overused, and unpolished (instead of overused and polished, which it is)
Aliens had difficulty translating multiple numbers of Xenomorphs at full size into practical effects without ruining it. The debut of the Queen Alien was directly foreshadowing the later Tyrannosaurus rex animatronics in Jurassic Park 1993; ultimately, being put together by Stan Winston.
While nowhere near as advanced as the model for the T.rex in JP, the Alien Queen was for its time an impressive feat and really difficult to operating, needing a lot of hard work from the operators, slowing the filming process down and frustrating Cameron, but producing impressive results.
Aliens is a different take on Xenomorphs and expanded the franchise massively. I'm sure many directors could have succeeded in a similar way and Cameron was not changing the game so much as just adding to the universe to which the original film belonged to.
One thing I didn't like especially was that Ripley had drifted in space for like 57 years in cryo-stasis, and her daughter was older in biological and physiological terms and passed away.
That just seemed lazy and disappointing, it would have been more interesting to have her just have gone back to Earth a lot earlier, in my opinion.
This movie is and always will be, in my top 10 of BEST movies in cinematic history!!!!
Aliens pulls my heart strings. I love it especially the Colonial Marines.
I never seen this movie in theaters and I wish I had. It is so epic. This is a made for theaters movie.
Pete Puebla I luckily did at a young age 5 ~ it was my first movie theater movie 🍿 and Aliens made my film standards to become so high
I went four times . Dragged my friends . Might be my favorite movie of all time
@@CarlyneDTQTonPod wow. Pretty brutal for a 5 year old kid. Lots of language and violence in the movie. I think my first rated R movie was probably the predator. It was so Kick-Ass with Arnold Schwarzenegger. Lots of Gore and violence and blood but I loved it even though I was shocked.
My local cinema showed alien and aliens back to back about 4 years ago. It was amazing to finally see them on the big screen for the first time
"what are we supposed to use, harsh language" I love that line so much