Filmmaker reacts to Aliens (1986)

[@magicbrownie1357]

The final 45 minutes of this film are, hands down, the most heart pounding experience I've ever had in a movie theatre, which is where it is best experienced. I was LITERALLY on the edge of my seat for nearly an hour. James Cameron never fails to deliver.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Literally nonstop. It reminds me of Mission Impossible on that regard!

[@LeeMaitland]

@@JamesVSCinema that part when the noise dies down and Ripley realises she's standing in the middle of the nest... For me, the best most hair raising moment in cinema.

[@chrisrubenstahl2046]

@@LeeMaitland I love the little head tilt Ripley does before she starts destroying the eggs. The movement and her expression nail the "we had a deal, you tried to screw me over, so the hell with you" attitude of the moment.

[@Waylock_The_Alpha_Omega]

The music when she gets rescued omg I heard that same music in other movies that’s how epic it was. I went to the movies to see this I was like 10 years LoL then, classic movie

[@MrsDuck356]

@@chrisrubenstahl2046 yeaaaaaa

[@Uncle_T]

"Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?" "No, have you!" Makes me LOL every time I hear it. Such a great burn! 😁

[@radarodonnell]

Wookwood (previously Holly) has spent hundreds of millions to give us strong female characters. That one line gave us Vasquez. Bleepin' eh!

[@jeffthompson9622]

Jeanette Goldstein was great in that role and in Near Dark. It was also good to see her in T2.

[@dbsti3006]

"You know, Burke, I don't know which species is worse. You don't see them fu*king each other over for a goddamn percentage." When put into perspective at how terrible the aliens are, she really said something about government and corporate greed. I loved that line.

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

That line I use in my real life in regards to corrupt companies and governments.

[@dondavenport7077]

The legend regarding this movie is that James Cameron, fresh off his success with Terminator, met with Fox. They asked him what he wanted to do next. He went up to the board and wrote 'Alien' on it. Then he added the S. Finally he put a line through the S making it a $ dollar sign (Alien$). They greenlit it immediately. Cameron recently said it was a bit more complicated than that, but he did write Alien$ on the board.

[@BadDubII]

The shot of the alien coming out of the water is one of my favourite shots ever

[@whitejosh444]

Too bad he didn't show it :(

[@BadDubII]

@@whitejosh444 agreed, it’s the one scene i was waiting for

[@danielflynn9141]

I remember Roger Ebert's review of this film quite clearly. He felt like he was going to be sick by the end of the film, but was totally exhilarated. I don't think anyone has portrayed a protagonist of a Sci-Fi film better than Sigourney Weaver did here, and she is also one of the best action film characters ever. All the action has clear motivations and is full of emotion.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Exactly. Everything has a reason!

[@briantology_reacts]

She was nominated for an Oscar, if I remember.

[@demonlordoftheroundtable2456]

@@briantology_reacts for the first movie I believe, a horror main lead (let alone a female horror lead) getting nominated for best lead was basically unheard of at the time which is fucking awesome

[@LordLOC]

@@demonlordoftheroundtable2456 No she was nominated for Aliens for Best Actress at the Oscars. She lost to Marlee Matlin if I remember correctly. Aliens was nominated for like 6 or 8 Oscars I believe, Alien was "only" nominated for 2 Oscars (it won for Best Effects) for 1980 Academy Awards. Weaver getting nominated for Aliens was a big deal though as horror/scifi movies still didn't get the appreciation they deserved back then (and even now really).

[@demonlordoftheroundtable2456]

@@LordLOC Thanks for correcting me, good to know

[@colinedmunds2238]

There’s an extra level to Ripley’s trauma in the director’s cut. She had a daughter, Amanda, who was about 11 years old when Ripley left for the mission in Alien. She died of cancer a few years before Ripley was found. Ripley effectively abandoned her daughter, and is obviously traumatized by the loss and blames herself. It adds a mother layer to her relationship with Newt, as it is also a chance for her to redeem herself

[@TheseBitchesWantNikes]

It's ridiculous that they cut that out.

[@IceCenders]

Yeah I can't believe he did not watch the full version, what a shame.

[@alexa.english174]

"Game over man, Game over! WTF are we gonna do now. " If you can think of a better quote over impending death I'd like to hear it.

[@kennethburmeister8119]

"I'm your huckleberry" -Doc

[@JamesVSCinema]

LMFAO. It’s pretty damn great!

[@johnfriday5169]

We're all gonna die - Billy, Predator

[@Kovy2003]

RIP Bill Paxton

[@okeefe757]

I saw this in the theater when I was 11 in 1986. The cheers were huge on the "Get away from her you bitch!" line

[@dmwalker24]

Cameron does such a great thing by adding 'mother' to the list of Ripley's traits. Going back in for Newt is nothing less than the bravest thing I've ever seen in a movie. So brave that if there hadn't been the interactions between her and Newt, it would be almost unbelievable. But I think as a lot of us know, mothers will occasionally do some wild shit when they have to.

[@lkf8799]

Well, she went back for the cat in the first one so we know she is awesome and loyal 😺 She never got to reunite with her daughter so her bonding with Newt is wonderful ☺️

[@nooneofimportance2110]

That's why Ripley is one of the best female characters of all time! One word, three syllables, Motherhood. Grieving mother with PTSD, surrogate mother to Newt, mother figure to the grunts, mama bear when she goes into the hive and fights the queen on the Sulaco.

[@greyd.99xsome]

The Motiontrackers are a very cool device. The signals resemble Heartbeats. The closer the danger, the higher the rate. Nice tool by Cameron.

[@ThomasSoles]

This is how you make a sequel! I love the slow build. The clues and shadows. The quiet tension and nervous trigger fingers. The fact that our protagonist are seasoned marines that are armed to the teeth should equal a very one sided victory. Instead, the moment the screen explodes with the first action, we see our heroes decimated by a monster they cannot understand. Such an amazing film. Not one moment of wasted story telling.

[@matveyev_d]

One of the best examples of powerful, well written female characters. Before it was a thing. Awesome movie!

[@whitejosh444]

I second that. She has PTSD. She is afraid like one should. But she gets it done. She is the ultimate badass

[@malignor9035]

Blows my mind that this was made in '86. Such masterful effects for the time, showcased by some top shelf directing and cinematography.

[@neinstein-says]

Shoutout to James Horner for creating one of my favourite movie soundtracks of all time in just four days after production delays. Legend.

[@shesemerald2011]

Dude when you said "Be a leader!" With that voice I was through!!! 😂💀 Also R.I.P Paxtons fought Aliens, Predators and Terminators the only one to do all three if memory serves.

[@shesemerald2011]

Wait... Lance did too. No disrespect to Lance

[@QuayNemSorr]

"Hey maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal!" Always gets a chuckle from me. The great Bill P. is awesome in this movie.

[@qwi2311]

The cinema version of this was okay but the extended version became one of my Top 5 movies ever as soon as I saw it. It combines the lore of the first film and integrates the horror into a great action flick.

[@ViewfromtheVoid]

@@cjkalandek996 Exactly, they should've kept that scene to also add to the whole "Motherhood" theme of this movie.

[@jamesmoyner7499]

I don’t know of any others, but Sigourney Weaver was the first woman to be nominated for Best Actress for an action film with this!

[@angellopez3202]

Newt has to be one of the most resilient kid in a movie! Having to survive by yourself in a ship full of xenomorphs is no easy task

[@JamesVSCinema]

A survivor!

[@bucklberryreturns]

She's no Kevin McAllister! 😁

[@zenhaelcero8481]

Kevin woulda had those aliens stepping on rakes and legos and shit

[@bucklberryreturns]

@@zenhaelcero8481 You know it bro. Lego is end game shit.

[@seamusburke639]

@@bucklberryreturns The Legos come out when the kid gloves are off.

[@koanikal]

When I was 11 in 1986, not long after Aliens was in the theaters, it was available on HBO. My Mom, stepdad and I watched it when I was visiting my Mom for the summer, and I recorded it on VHS, and literally watched it every day throughout the rest of the 2 months or so of that summer. I still have that VHS recording, for sentimental reasons. Great movie that still holds up.

[@DanJackson1977]

James is big into scifi, and anime (at least he was in the 80s). but hes also a designer, painter, & model builder.. an all around artist. He designed the Terminator endoskeleton and Hunter Killer tanks, the Alien Queen, the creatures in the Abyss, and a lot of movie background matte paintings.. the most famous one might be the New York post apocalyptic skyline in John Carpenters ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK. Its said he can do pretty much any job on a movie set but acting.

[@JamesVSCinema]

That’s badass, thanks for the additional info!

[@joshuatitsworth9190]

His special fx work for Roger Corman is great. My favorite being Battle Beyond the Stars.

[@Weazel1]

@@joshuatitsworth9190 He got his first directing gig because of his second unit work on Galaxy of Terror. They needed a pickup shot of maggots on an arm, but being maggots, they just sat there in the fake blood. So Cameron got the idea to run a low voltage current under the floor which “livened” up the maggots and made them wiggle and squirm. While filming this, Roger Coreman was showing investors around the set and watched in shock when James said “Cue the maggots” and they suddenly stated wriggling about. Roger thought that a man that could direct maggots could direct anything and gave him Piranha 2 to work on.

[@deardish6843]

Damn I'm a lil jealous that his answer is waaay better than what I would've wrote lol

[@thefuppits]

Some may not realize, Cameron drew from his imagination all the animals and plants for Avatar. He's done the same thing for the sequel, only, it's underwater - created entire ecosystems from sheer imagination, mixed with his knowledge and passions for science.

[@briantology_reacts]

My absolute favorite sequel of all time. Extended Edition for the win!

[@seamusburke639]

20:00 As much as I love the entire movie and the Marines, the third act is so memorable it could've been the entire goddamn movie and I'd have been completely satisfied. Just that little breath Ripley takes to steel herself before getting off the elevator. Incredible acting.

[@Texpantego]

Saw this the first time when it came out with an actual audience. So good with a crowd.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Theater must’ve went nuts!

[@logandarklighter]

@@JamesVSCinema I saw this in the theater the first weekend it was out - with a bunch of my sci-fi geek, anime and all-around cinema nerd friends. ( How OG Fanboy were some of us? When they had the (early in the film) shots of the power loader, a guy on one side of me called out "Starship Troopers!" and someone else called out excitedly "They got MECHA?" And this was in the mid-80s - when that kind of knowledge was still pretty "niche". :D ) But nothing - NOTHING - beats being part of a GENUINE audience investment moment like that moment that Ripley stomps out at the end, confronting the queen in that power loader and says - "Get away from her, you BITCH!!!" THAT. ENTIRE. THEATER. LOST. IT'S. COLLECTIVE. MIND!!! If a theater audience could have GIVEN its entire energy to a character on screen to beat down evil, it would've HAPPENED. I've been to Rock Concerts where there wasn't as much crowd energy! The only moment I've ever seen that even came CLOSE to this was at the end of Star Trek IV - when the new Enterprise was revealed. But that moment with Ripley going Class A Mama Bear mode STILL beats it by a mile! I wish I could give you that experience. A real feel for that energy! But I can't. I can only describe it. You really HAD to be there!

[@VadersRage]

@@JamesVSCinema Took a date to this movie back in the day. Yeah.....the theater was nuts. I sat in the seat with my legs pulled up to my chest. If I put my feet on the floor, the aliens were gonna grab them! My date was clawing at my arm and burying her face in my chest the whole time. THAT'S the part that I enjoyed the most😁!

[@VadersRage]

@@logandarklighter You're absolutely right about the energy in the room and audience investment. This was SO CLEAN for 1986 and the crowd was THERE for it! It was the same for my theater. "Get away from her you BITCH!!" sent the whole place into a frenzy. People were still quoting it on their way out to their cars. Well, that and "Game over, man. Game over."

[@christiaanvandenakker901]

I remember two big cheers when I saw this in the theater: 1) When Vasquez yells, "Let's rock!" and makes the aliens taste lead for the first time, and 2) the reveal of Ripley in the loader and the famous line that follows.

[@JamesVSCinema]

It's Game over man! Game oVeR! ------- Want to vote on what I should watch next? Click here! www.patreon.com/jamesvscinema Be safe out there and enjoy the day!

[@samrevis6214]

Also this line was improvised by the actor

[@magicbrownie1357]

Bill Paxton was a great actor! And taken from us far too young. RIP Bill.

[@thinkbeyond3457]

Did you watch the special edition? Doesn't have a lot more but the extra minutes are quality and should have easily been left in the theatrical release. Still waiting for a 4k on this one as the 4k of Alien is solid.

[@fabianmorales4203]

Was this the special edition??? You should've watched the special edition. Oh my God is it way better.

[@gol6683]

The original is where it’s at. The special edition is just simply more, sometimes studios know when to cut unnecessary scenes

[@AppleShrapnel]

This one will always hold a special place in my heart. My father got this on laserdisc (when THAT was still a thing :P ), along with a few other films, that my brothers and me watched dozens of times. Aliens is much easier to appreciate as an adult, but even as a kid I loved the intensity of them exploring the facility with the motion sensor, the terror of some of the alien reveals... it's really an iconic masterpiece. :>

[@Fabian_Lobo]

I've been watching a lot of your reactions and the commentary alone is fantastic, super insightful and always finding that extra layer that only someone involved in flimmaking would notice. The best to you and yours and to my fellow humans in the comments.

[@chuckzilla3000]

Have to give a shoutout to James Horner’s score for this movie. Compliments every sequence.

[@Dystopia1111]

You can really hear some recurring themes between this and his soundtrack for Star Trek 2. And as you said every bit compliments the mood of the scene perfectly.

[@marcuseriksson2871]

That thirty minutes went by fast. One of the best sequels ever made.

[@warrengday]

Thanks very much for focusing on the trauma thread of the characters, both opened up a new level of appreciation for the writing, and ultimately ended up being therapeutic for me, and there is nothing to be more grateful for than that.

[@jimmykarlsson2567]

When Ripley go down the elevator totally alone against a ton of the most terrifying creatures we ever saw, who wiped out a whole special ops military crew. Is probobly one of the most badass moments in movie history

[@mattdrago4660]

“So he really does like incorporating actual advanced technology into his films.” Very well said mate. This is so true about James Cameron and a strong aspect of him as a person. Always looking to advance forward and discover.

[@radwolf76]

My favorite example of this is the experimental Liquid Breathing tech in The Abyss. The scene where they demonstrate it on the rat is real, the rat is actually breathing liquid. Later on, when the system gets used again, it's special effects, which is probably for the best since later research found that there were too many complications for humans to actually use it.

[@mattdrago4660]

@@radwolf76 fantastic film and a huge step into the future. Was lucky to go to an exhibition here in Australia that had quite a few built props and working tech from The Abyss.

[@algomaone121]

Ripley is running on pure survival-potency adrenaline in the end!

[@Matthewbyrd86]

Love your reactions man and I like your style - more educated than a lot of people who react to stuff

[@1armronindad748]

I remember watching this when I was kid. It was Saturday night and my Mom said " you have to watch this movie" It was on a channel called Super Channel I was only 6 years old. I cherish this movie. One of the best sequels ever.

[@cuzidodgebullets6797]

Your mom is now one of my heroes... just saying

[@cinemappendix1389]

Watching the end of this movie always pisses me off about "Alien 3." I can think of no bigger slap in the face to a built-in audience than the beginning of that movie.

[@andreabindolini7452]

Almost criminal.

[@wearywanderer7018]

I couldn’t decide on what to praise here without naming literally everything. This is a MASTERPIECE. The writing is great and the production are phenomenal. They got aliens on the floor, they got aliens on the walls and they got that huge queen that looks totally legit. And how the hell did they might that huge fight at the end so convincing?? That shot of the xenomorph rising out of the water behind Newt is one of the greatest things I’ve seen.

[@shaharadegan9993]

Loved your reaction! This one is my favorites and I agree the set designs were amazing. I’m not into horror or these type of alien movies, but the first time I saw this I remember the scenes in ship giving my nightmares and later thinking if you look at the tracks of an underground railway system, they look like the walls of a the alien ship; creepy.

[@jcrosato]

I remember reading Roger Ebert give this 3 1/2 stars: "I have never seen a movie that maintains such a pitch of intensity for so long; it's like being on some kind of hair-raising carnival ride that never stops. I don't know how else to describe this: The movie made me feel bad. It filled me with feelings of unease and disquiet and anxiety. I walked outside and I didn't want to talk to anyone. I was drained. I'm not sure "Aliens" is what we mean by entertainment. Yet I have to be accurate about this movie: It is a superb example of filmmaking craft. " Moral of the story, I learned not to trust critics XD

[@0725038]

Ripley is such a great character. Such a strong female icon. Has and knows her weaknesses, but keeps going and pushing when needed.

[@elichilton7031]

One of my all time favourites. Excellent reaction. James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver and cast, spectacular filmmaking. One of my favourite aspects of this movie is James Horner's great score, it enhances the film to an amazing degree.

[@justwatching6186]

Alien-space horror Aliens-action adventure Bill Paxton’s character is iconic “We’re toast man” Great videos 🤟🥩

[@martenfredin213]

As you say Cameron has an ability to expand on good concepts, there is a reason he has done the two most highly rated sequels ever. I want to point out a thing that he does that goes unnoticed, he copies himself. Scene 1. "Closing the door on the enemy / finding out their strengths". Done twice in this movie and then again in the elevator scene in T2. Headshot leads to acid spray..... headshot leads to attack from above in 10 sec, ilustrating the short time it needs to "regenerate". Scene 2. "Object of rescue getting separated from their mother." In both movies done through a revolving object (fan / conveyer belt). In Aliens it´s an accident in T2 a tactical choice but the end result is the same. The child is left ALONE.

[@ricochetsixtyten]

The last 30 mins of this movie is one of the best I have seen in a long time, everything just ties up so perfectly with the fight and then the alien queen falling through the hole into space, amazing stuff.

[@Therap1ssed]

James Cameron has done some of the best sci-fi out there. Abyss, Terminator 1 and 2, and Aliens. He also pioneered the use of CG effects we see today. Avatar was also pretty groundbreaking despite all its flaws; and reintroduced 3D for better or worse. Avatar 3D in the theatre was a trip, it was actually filmed properly with a 3D camera (two separate captures eye-ish width apart) rather than the easy cheap way of digitally creating a 3D effect that most films did after that as a gimmick.

[@sakbromely]

A lot of people seem to forget the reason Ripley bonded to Newt like this is in part to the fact that Ripleys daughter was about the same age the last time she saw her. When she woke up she found out her daughter died of old age.

[@matthewford5094]

The movie that actually got Cameron into deep sea exploration was the Abyss, highly recommended if you haven’t seen it.

[@seamusburke639]

24:30 Can we take in the fact that that power loader fighting the Alien Queen is a real prop fighting a life-size puppet? THIS WAS ALL REAL.

[@firekrys]

I was too young to see it when I came out, but when my Dad showed it to me as a teenager, I had nightmares. Those damn face huggers. Of course later on, this has become one of my favorites. I even cosplayed Vasquez a few times. I loved watching you enjoy this, and I was able to enjoy it with you

[@jinchoung]

it does SUCH a good job of taking all the elements that were GREAT about the first one and then expanding on them in ways that honor the original. like even the way that BISHOP works in this movie RELIES on what we think of androids from ASH but flips the expectation on its head while dangling that possibility in front of us during most of the movie. and the fact that there are SO MANY CHARACTERS but each one is so clearly but briefly drawn. and just a shit ton of "fuck yeah!" moments. cameron knows how to deliver.

[@OmegaSoypreme]

Man the shot of Newt in the water with the alien looming up behind her is absolutely seared into my brain forever. I watched this film when I was far too young, scared shitless the entire time. But that shot in particular was like looking at a fucking nightmare. The dark, the water, the monster. Being a small child alone, at the mercy of all of it. All the things a kid fears in one moment.

[@JGRMSTR-ts6je]

It's such a great movie. The prop design is so amazing, the rifles, smartguns, the powerloaders, the dropship and APC all look so great even 40 years later, and that's before we get to acting and story.

[@sdube001]

This is the only movie I paid full price 4 times and also paid for a guest, to see. Usually I saw once then waited till it went to the dollar theaters or video tape.

[@JamesVSCinema]

Hahaha I mean it’s so epic!

[@nathandahler8088]

My favorite behind-the-scenes trivia on this one is how they only had 6 costumes for the "Warrior" aliens, and there was only one shot where they had all 6 on screen at the same time (when Hicks finds them being sneaky). Just showing the prop aliens blowing up constantly throughout the action scenes sells the immersion that there is an unstoppable horde of the creatures.

[@mikejankowski6321]

Another great movie review/reaction. You really exude an appreciation for all the things that go into a movie so your comments are very grounded. I don't think it is reasonable to try to rank these two against each other for which is "better", since they are so different. Each provides a wealth of things to savor in their stories.

[@CombustibleProps]

One small detail that completely blew me away that i missed all these years was that when the robot was cutting the hatch to the escape pod, you could see the speargun that Ripley used in the first film jammed at the bottom. GAH!

[@suesue4081]

I LOVE how @ 17:44 all of your movie analysis went right out the window lol bc you're now captivated by the fear. All I could do is yell "get out", too haha Such a great movie 💞 great reaction

[@helios0074]

The head tilt in the nest scene is just perfect. It's a brilliant example of a deadpan "...really?" An amazing performance and easily one of the best female characters ever in movie history.

[@FayYanique]

What I admire about this blockbuster sequel, that it not only is an excellent execution of the “bigger and better” formula, but that it has some heart too. Like the themes of motherhood and loss are so tragically beautiful. With Ripley having missed out on being a mother to her young daughter in those 57 years drifting in space and then finding and caring for Newt is kind of giving her that second chance and prob an extra reason why she’s so fierce in protecting her. Then to introduce The Queen Xenomorph, another damn fierce mother, in this movie as well. And it basically resulting in this grudge match of mothers, fighting for/avenging their babies. While also just being HYPED and exhilarating. I always go back and forth between Alien and Aliens in terms of favorites.

[@denali_coug6955]

Dude, long time watcher, first time commenter. I love how chill your vids are. Keep up the good work really enjoying what you are putting out.

[@007wars6]

Without a doubt one of the greatest action films and greatest sequels of all time.

[@ryand34561]

T2 as well :)

[@007wars6]

@@ryand34561 yup, Cameron knows EXACTLY how to do sequels!

[@meadmaker4525]

Loving the Aliens reactions. Can't wait to see you get to Prometheus and Alien: Covenant. Also, how have you not done Dune yet? I know you've probably got 100 movies in the queue, but seriously, Dune is a MASTERPIECE of film. Really looking forward to seeing you do that one. Hopefully, sooner than later.

[@Dystopia1111]

Agreed about Dune. As a longtime Dune fan I was prepared to be disappointed, but wow. Can't say they did it all exactly right, but I'm amazed they got this close. Damn that movie was impressive! If there is an extended cut on the way I'll be all over that on day of release.

[@jermainehaslam5634]

Great sequel and that shot of that transitions from Ripley's face to planet earth really shows that Ripley is the protector of the human race and great reaction !

[@L1VE3V1L]

This was the first movie I saw in the cinema where people got to their feet and cheered and clapped when that loader bay door opens. That was a formative moment for me. This movie is still my favourite of all time. I couldn't believe the atmosphere in that cinema. Not seen it before or since.

[@Lon_Suder]

Love your channel man. I really dig the analytical and educational approach you take with your vids, as a filmmaker. I'm a huge film nerd, and a great admirer of the filmmaking process itself, so your channel has been a mainstay in my KZbins. Keep up the excellent work sir.

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

Director’s cut/Extended version is just terrific. Adds so much to the story.

[@thedoneeye]

"It's great to see ventilation systems that are like...full body" "Ducts, why is it always ducts!?" Sigourney Weaver in 'Galaxy Quest'

[@HalifaxChicken2]

Loved how construction companies were pestering Caterpillar after this movie, asking when the walking loaders were going to be available.

[@YouTaus]

Fun fact: John Connor's foster mother in T2 and Vasquez... same actor.

[@Ross__A]

Such an amazing movie. A lot of the other comments already nail it: the sci-fi lore behind the xenomorphs, the cinematography, the acting, the sound editing, the performance by Ripley and Newt stealing the show. So incredible. Remember, James: They mostly come out at night. Mostly.

[@AironExTv]

Saw this in the first THX certified theatre in Berlin when it came out. Horror, action, pushed to the absolute max. Theatres are like rock concert venues and this was the show to blow your hair back. Everybody was great. Watched a video essay on how this was made and what troubles the production faced. The troubles made it all the better. Total blast, and a damn meme source to boot.

[@tamamawrites79]

This movie is my childhood. I wore tf out of that vhs omg 😂😂 Questionable parenting decision to let me watch this at 3yo, but I can still recite this entire movie 33 years later

[@pothocket]

This was my introduction to horror. Watched it far too young and was traumatized lol. Never really saw any body horror stuff before that so it had a huge effect on me. Now, decades later, I'll put it on while taking a nap on the couch. This is my comfort movie. Everything is so iconic now looking back. The characters, the lines, the gear, the locations... I couldn't even guess at how many times I've watched this over the years.

[@okradiohead7430]

James Cameron had an engineering background and became an extremely efficient and innovative special effects artist. Didn't take long for his skills (and his tenacity, goddammit he was a perfectionist) to translate to giving us the perfect film director for the post-Star Wars blockbuster film era. These production design elements (like the loader machine) are his baby and it took a man of science to accomplish it and make the tech so believable.

[@elwyndude]

Love this film in so many ways. The depth of character to Ripley. Showing trauma, heroism, leadership, motherhood. So incredible. The scene where she takes over the vehicle to save the marines is just so fucking boss. Its like, "sit the fuck down, I am the captain now". I agree, for me there is not Alien vs Aliens. One is a steak dinner you enjoy on night. The next is a lobster dinner you also enjoy. Incidentally, James Remar (Ajax in The Warriors) was going to play Hicks. His back is to camera at 10:29.

[@dirus3142]

I love the score in this film. It's pulse pounding, on the edge of panic, and kicks up the adrenaline to survive and kick ass.

[@MrLacSeul]

"Be a leader". LOL Good one James. 🤣🤣🤣

[@sentenced03]

I always loved the foreshadowing of that mech early on. you knew that thing was important!

[@jrd33]

Chekov's gun in action :-)

[@jdogjohnson9038]

This indeed tells Ripley's story properly then 3&4 are bad dreams

[@filipohman7277]

Awesome Movie and Work Bro, Thanks!!!!👍👍👍👍 Greetings from Helsinki, Finland 🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸🇫🇮🇺🇸

[@thishappybreed6505]

The screen time of the sequence from Ripley going down into the nest, to the reactor blowing up, is exactly the same as the time given by the countdown in the fictional world of the film. (So kind of 'real time'). I remember timing it, because I just couldn't believe it. (This was on VHS, in the 80s, so I may have been slightly impaired, but I swear it's true!)

[@spiderfingers86]

This is the second one in which Ripley has been asleep in stasis for a while now with a new batch of xenomorphs to contend with

[@British]

Thanks bro, couldn't click faster when I saw this come up. Love your content.

[@badprotocol1105]

Those shots of the facehuggers with Ripley and Newt was mostly shot in reverse. Pretty cool. I should say, the put the facehugger somewhere, pulled it, then ran the footage in reverse so it look like the facehugger jumped forward.

[@somechannel5151]

(last movie) kane: "AAAAA AUGHHH KAJSHDIHFIGHB" ripley: "one sec, gotta record this"

[@jazzx251]

That "little girl" - that was her only acting role, just never got the acting bug - became an English teacher Amazing. A brilliant performance.

[@wayneclayton5426]

You could throw in Outland (Sean Connery) into the Alien universe as those who worked on it have lots of Alien connections

[@jasonp.1195]

I agree. For me Outland is the actual prequel to the events of Alien/Aliens.

[@RavenHeadInn]

Event Horizon ... its got a slight Alien vibe to it , but adds the Warp into it as well to make it truely insane ;) such a good movie

[@asdfasdf7199]

james cameron knew what he was doing. master film maker.

[@Weazel1]

I’ve watched this movie I don’t know how many times since it’s release and it took me a long time to realize that Apone was flipping off Hudson when he said “Look into my eye”. It was one of those “what’s the insult here?” before I noticed it.

[@colin641]

Dude, welcome to one of the most amazing films created. So memorable, quotable, etc. James Cameron is a master and it shows with this film. I can't count how many times I've watched this film and it still gives me chills. Michael Biehn is my favorite action star. My man Hicks. Have a awesome day man and thank you for your content.

[@you2449]

Princess Leia gets props for the Iconic Hair design - - But you gotta admit Ripley's Fro is just perfect and also memorable.

[@Kal_El1994]

Got my cookies, got my yoghurt, got my chair & the fireplace. Time to unwind with the hero J-J-James :D :D :D

[@ShelbyBaby27]

Saw this movie waaaaay too young (courtesy of my big brother), but it's my earliest memory of seeing myself on screen: Ripley having short curly hair, being tall, not wearing pink, dressed like a tomboy, etc. Also, I was in the bathroom during the reveal that Bishop was an android, so when the ailen ripped him apart I was done! I didn't drink milk for a week 😂😂😂

[@HowIamDriving]

Every time I hear someone saying "inner conflict" I hear the voice of James Earl Jones saying "There iiis no conflict!"

[@LordVolkov]

More than anything, I love how Aliens expands on the xenomorph biology & instincts. They craft their hive to camouflage their movement and hunt to capture, not kill, which is an element seeded in Alien (especially in a deleted scene where we see a captured Dallas). They also get way more screen time in Aliens as the xenomorphs are largely puppets rather that the original full-body suit. Bill Paxton always delivers! RIP to a legend. Check him out in Frailty. He's incredible. For a recent sci-fi with amazing set design - Silent Sea.

[@michaelvaldez538]

In the directors cut of this film, it’s shows that Ripley’s real daughter died when she was stuck in hyper sleep at the end of the first film. So she was also grieving for her daughter. Which is why she was so inclined to help Newt

[@lostintechnicolor]

James Cameron really does think like an engineer. He comes up with the concepts and designs for a lot of the tech used in his films, and he and his colleagues often create new tech specifically for his films. His brother Mike created a new type of camera that could be used for underwater photography for both The Abyss and Titanic.