#23 - Aliens (1986)
Alright, let’s talk about Aliens, one of the most debated sequels of all time, and honestly, I can’t decide which I like better—this one or the original. They’re both so good, but they’re completely different movies. It’s like comparing apples to... I don’t know, an assault rifle with a grenade launcher. And that’s exactly why Aliens works. It takes everything you love about the first movie and cranks it up to 11, but in a completely different way. This isn’t just a rehash of Alien—James Cameron took the groundwork that Ridley Scott laid and made his own insane action-horror-sci-fi hybrid.
Let’s just get into it: Aliens is an amazing action movie. Like, I don’t even care if you’re not into sci-fi or horror, this movie is pure adrenaline. Cameron said, “Okay, we’re done with the slow-burn horror of the first movie—now let’s throw in a squad of space marines, give them big guns, and let them go to town.” And it works. The tension is still there, but this time it’s paired with explosions, gunfights, and just a whole lot of badassery. It’s a completely different vibe from the claustrophobic, creeping dread of the first one, but it still manages to keep you on the edge of your seat.
But here’s what’s really impressive: Aliens doesn’t sacrifice character for the sake of action. Ripley is back, and this is where she becomes an icon. I love her in the first movie—she’s smart, resourceful, and the ultimate final girl—but here? She’s a straight-up warrior. Watching her go from survivor to action hero is so satisfying, and she’s not just doing it to blow stuff up. She’s got this whole arc with Newt, and it gives the movie heart, which is not something you’d expect from a movie where aliens are getting blown to bits. Ripley is protecting her new “family,” and it makes those moments where she’s up against the Queen so much better. Plus, that line—"Get away from her, you b****!"—legendary.
Now, the marines. This crew is just full of characters that are instantly memorable. Hudson? Hicks? Vasquez? These are the kind of characters that stick with you. They’ve got personalities, they’ve got great banter, and even though most of them end up getting obliterated, you actually care when they do. Cameron knows how to make you like a character in five minutes before throwing them into a meat grinder. Hudson, especially—his whole arc from cocky to scared out of his mind to going out like a hero? Perfection.
We also need to talk about the Xenomorphs because this movie doesn’t just throw one alien at you—no, no, no. You get a whole hive. The stakes are higher, and the Xenomorphs feel more dangerous than ever. Plus, the Queen Alien? She’s terrifying. That whole final battle with Ripley in the mech suit vs. the Queen? That’s action movie history right there. It’s insane, and it’s the perfect way to end the movie. You can feel the scale get bigger, but it never feels like it’s trying too hard to outdo the original.
Now, let me be clear—I still love the original Alien. It’s a horror masterpiece. It’s a slow, creeping nightmare in space. But Aliens is... something else. It’s like if Alien is a haunted house movie, Aliens is a war movie with a haunted house stuck in the middle of the battlefield. You can’t compare them directly because they’re aiming for such different things. One’s trying to scare the pants off you, the other is trying to blow your mind with action and keep you scared. Both succeed.
So yeah, I’m stuck. I can’t tell you which one is better, but what I can tell you is that Aliens is easily one of the best sequels ever made. It takes the original concept, flips it on its head, and still manages to be its own thing. James Cameron knew he couldn’t outdo the first Alien in terms of pure horror, so he didn’t even try—he made one of the best sci-fi action movies of all time instead. And that’s why, no matter which one you prefer, you can’t deny Aliens is a straight-up classic.