As a child, I was fortunate enough to have a diverse range of films to watch, with my parents being lenient about what movies they let me see. However, despite my love for action movies, I never had the opportunity to watch the Alien franchise, which I now realize was due to a combination of my fear of xenomorphs and my parents’ concerns about the content being too mature for me. It wasn’t until the upcoming release of Alien: Romulus that I finally took the plunge and watched the first two films in the series, including Aliens, directed by James Cameron.
I was surprised to find that Aliens far surpassed my expectations, exceeding even those of the original Alien directed by Ridley Scott. While Scott’s thriller was more subdued, Cameron’s film was an action-packed ride that expertly refined the franchise’s strongest elements. The cast of characters in Aliens, including Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley, is infinitely more endearing than the crew of the Nostromo in the first film. Bill Paxton’s charm as Private Hudson and Paul Reiser’s seedy, underhanded Carter Burke are standout performances that add to the film’s memorable moments.
Aliens (Image via Getty)
One of the standout aspects of Aliens is its expansion on xenomorph lore, which strengthens the entire franchise. Cameron’s introduction of the queen bee xenomorph and her brood was a revelation for me, providing a rich and complex exploration of motherhood and the themes of pregnancy and invasion. The contrast between Newt and her surrogate mother, Ripley, and the queen and her eggs is a powerful commentary on forced and chosen motherhood, respectively.
The film also provides a deeper understanding of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation and its sinister plans to use the xenomorphs as biological weapons. This expansion of the universe helps to solidify Aliens as the foundation for the franchise’s many spin-offs, including novels, comic books, and video games. While Scott established the lived-in feel of the Alien franchise, Cameron took it to the next level, setting the stage for the franchise’s enduring success.
Aliens is a masterclass in refinement, expertly distilling the best elements of the franchise while expanding on the lore and themes. As a newcomer to the series, I found Aliens to be a thrilling ride that reinvigorated my interest in the franchise, and I’m excited to continue exploring the Alien universe through its various film, literature, and other media. My experience watching Aliens has changed my perspective on the franchise, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the upcoming release of Alien: Romulus will impact my next watch.
