Aliens

I think I respond better to the idea that Xenomorphs can be killed. It gives a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction throughout the movie.

I've never seen this movie before, but I noticed a bunch of phrases in the film from pop-culture like "Game over, man!" and "They mostly come out at night. Mostly."

Lance Henriksen is so freaking YOUNG here. His face only has a BILLION craggy wrinkles. What a kid.

I love that Bishop is good, but Ripley distrusting him is a good tension. Mostly because we sense that despite what happened with Ash, her anger at Bishop is irrational.

Speaking of irrational, I'm unhappy with how Burke's heel-turn played out. In fairness to his bad guy skills, having Ripley and Newt store the embryos as a way to sneak them past customs is a brilliant (and repulsive) supervillain boss move. But once he's found out he basically fucks everything up from then on out. Just speaking for somebody wanting to survive a dire situation, locking out Ripley and the other crew members so they can't snitch on him when they get back is stupid as hell. Because Burke is NOT equipped to survive the Xenomorphs on his own. Best case scenario, after the crisis is over, he could potentially destroy the evidence Ripley found and it's her word against his. Or if he turned out to be helpful and saved Ripley and / or Newt, she might have just dropped the whole thing in gratitude. He had a smart Plan B upon Ripley learning the truth. Once THAT was found out, it was fuck up after fuck up. And he locks himself in with it because of course he did.

I have to confess I disliked the first half hour to 45 minutes of the picture. I thought the soldiers' dialogue was pretty freaking toxic, offensive, and gross, but once half the cast is killed off, that shit is knocked off. Were I Ripley I would have refused to go on the mission unless I was allowed to lead it. Her being a quote unquote "consultant" just means her sound advice is going to be ignored. There are hints there is sexism involved with that, but it's not like Vasquez isn't kicking some ass on her own.

Is this every Ripley Alien film? She always warns people of the danger and nobody ever listens? Because that's gonna get pretty freaking old pretty quick.

I enjoyed it greatly once the bullshit stopped (but James Cameron is an expert in bullshit). But I have a sneaking suspicion I will dislike Alien3. The next film is polarizing, with some people hating its grimness, and some people thinking it's misunderstood, and its darkness is why its good. I expect to be in the former group. But that's the next review. I liked THIS film. A lot. 4 1/2 stars.