Starring Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn, Bill Paxton, William Hope, Ricco Ross, Al Matthews, Jenette Goldstein, Mark Rolston and Daniel Kash. Written and directed by James Cameron, from a story by Cameron, David Giler and Walter Hill. Music by James Horner. Budget $18.5 million. Running Time 154 minutes. Originally released in 1986. BOX OFFICE HAUL $183,291,256.
57 years after the events of Alien, Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) is found drifting in her life pod in deep suspension and revived to take the blame for the destruction on the Nostromo and the death of its crew. Meanwhile LV427 is in the process of being terraformed and the contents of the derelict alien spaceship have been unleashed on the unsuspecting terraformists causing untold mayhem. When the colony goes silent, Earth sends a Marine troop to investigate and Ripley tags along for some more shits and giggles, although this time with the action ratcheted up to 11.
As soon as Ripley and the Marines lands on LV427 the film explodes into action and doesn't let up for one instant.
I saw this, the Director's Cut just two years ago back up on the big screen, the first time since it was originally released in the cinema. I loved it the first time I saw it in 1986 at a Preview and I've never stopped loving it, if anything as time goes on my love for it grows, cos they just don't make films like this anymore.
This is a fantastic sequel and a damn good film in its own right, utilising optical and practical effects and superb model work from John Richardson and his hand-picked crew. Actually, isn't it funny how old CGI dates horribly but not well done old practical effects. This film is just so inventive, the script is so tight, so well written, the cast and the characters all acting as adults and not making stupid plot choices just to propel the story along.
Anyway, yet again witnessing this on the big screen was just an utter treat and one you should never give up the opportunity of seeing. It reigns supreme up, twenty feet high. It doesn't need saying but it's lost none of its power, drama or scope. It's superbly paced, and edited, and this is yet another Cameron film that really is a note-perfect, it's amazing to think this was his third film as director.
You can see why every film in the franchise after this just screwed the pooch, after the sublime genius of Ridley Scott and Cameron there really was no way to go. If only they'd left well enough alone. Oh well. Nothing that has come since has damaged this ones reputation.
Loved it then. Love it now. Can't fault it. 10/10
You can see why every film in the franchise after this just screwed the pooch, after the sublime genius of Ridley Scott and Cameron there really was no way to go. If only they'd left well enough alone. Oh well. Nothing that has come since has damaged this ones reputation.
Loved it then. Love it now. Can't fault it. 10/10
