My wife watches Aliens for the FIRST time

[@Uncle_T]

"Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?" "No, have you?" Makes me chuckle every time. 😁

[@CrazeeAdam]

Lol. One of the best come backs in movie history

[@significantone]

@@CrazeeAdam It certainly is. James Cameron can write a book on how to make female characters badass.

[@johnbox271]

An actual strong female character.

[@MikeB12800]

The fact that the actress that played Vasquez plays John Connor’s foster mom in T2 still blows my mind!

[@omaewamoshindeiru616]

@@MikeB12800 shes not my mom Todd

[@kyoshiro13]

Paul Riser was proud of his acting as a villian in this one. He has said that when his mother first saw it in the theater, she cheered at his death.

[@tortoiseoflegends4466]

I love that, in the finale, they show that despite being the badass protagonist Ripley is not a trained soldier at all. Despite being heavily armed, she wastes a load of ammo panicking and really doesn't kill many Xeno's. Ripley is a brilliant example of a badass character who isn't perfect at everything.

[@VegetaLF7]

Exactly. She's a master class in looking at how you can let your supremely badass heroines have actual realistic flaws and not take away from their badassery. She's not a soldier, there's no reason to expect her to act like one. What she is though is a survivor.

[@philipturner9087]

And Ripley being a human female breaks the accord.

[@oldgordo61]

@@VegetaLF7 And being a survivor made the difference.

[@refurbishedtechpriest9076]

This is very true, and I feel like this is one of the reasons why her character is so recognized and beloved. Though at the risk of seeming petty, I feel inclined to correct you on something. In the finale, Ripley didn't waste her ammo while shooting in a panic. That was anger. A moment of pure catharsis.

[@3Rayfire]

@@refurbishedtechpriest9076 Precisely, she had aliens in front of her and was going to exorcise her demons with ballistics and explosives. Also meaningful she does more damage to herself, since by doing that instead of getting while the getting was good she pissed off the Queen, helped her get loose from her supports, and then didn't have the firepower to finish her off when she followed her.

[@colin641]

The queen reveal always sends chills throughout my body. James Cameron nailed this sequel

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

And the power loader reveal!

[@LukeLovesRose]

He nailed every sequel so far, from Aliens to T2 to Avatar: The Way of Water

[@spaceguy8000]

Fun Fact: The Power Loader in the film was a full-scale prop constructed around stuntman John Lees, who was concealed inside, immediately behind Sigourney Weaver. Constructed from aluminum, fiberglass and PVC plastic, the finished machine weighed around 600 lbs and included hidden counterweights disguised as machine components to help balance it. Even so, owing to the suit's weight and bulk, it had to be either suspended from wires (concealed within the radio antennae on the suit's shoulders) or mounted on a counterbalanced crane for filming. It featured electrically operated claws, although the various hydraulic systems on the arms and legs were cosmetic only. The tandem design allowed Sigourney Weaver to be in the operator's seat at all times, while Lees controlled the suit from within.

[@coolhive2941]

Excellent description. Just wanted to add they used miniatures in a few shots as well. (Near the end)

[@spaceguy8000]

@@coolhive2941 That's what I loved about late 70's & 80's scifi. They used practical effects that were extremely realistic and blended into the story without noticing the effect.

[@mcborge1]

Another fun fact, the armourd personnel carrier (APC) used to belong to British Airways. It started life as a commercial jet towing vehicle.

[@WoodysPickle]

@@mcborge1 and then it got promoted to Alien ass kicking mech!

[@Silver-rx1mh]

@@spaceguy8000 Yep, I visited the studios/workshops when this was being made and lovely set of miniatures they were too. :)

[@lastboyscout73]

Paxton's one liners are some of the best of that era. I still quote them sometimes.

[@kabnoot]

I'm always quoting "game over man!"

[@christopherplummer1299]

Daily quotes back in my AF days.

[@AleksPizana]

"Stop your grinning and drop your linen."

[@aaronw.markel9319]

“Then let HER take charge”

[@Mantikal]

His best one was in the movie Predator 2 - the extreme strobing effect scene in the subway tunnel where he dives in to attack the predator (even though you know he's going to be wasted) "Come on motherfucker, let's dance!!!"

[@johnlynem]

Don't know if you realized it, but Michael Biehn who plays Hicks ( Ripleys kind of love interest) is the same actor that plays Kyle Reese in Terminator and Johnny Ringo in Tombstone, so yes, a great actor.

[@thebkg]

Not sure Jenn has seen those two movies yet.

[@jahu5440]

We can't give enough credit to Stan Winston for his work - his special effect work is the reason why Aliens, Terminator, Predator and Jurasic Park dinos look so cool.

[@WilliamTheUnkownShoutout]

@jahu5440 hello my friend The Thing (1982) directed by John Carpenter and Alien (1979) directed by Ridley Scott both of them the greatest sci-fi horror movies ever created as well:).

[@thefilmlodge]

Interesting fact. The character of Hicks was originally casted with actor James Remar. He was fired on set after it was found he was working under the influence of narcotics. Cameron called Michael Biehn on a Friday, he was there on set, the following Monday to shoot. The actors were of similar size so wardrobe didn't need any adjustments. James Remar is left in the film as Hicks for one shot. It is when the Marines enter the hive. His back is turned to the camera. Cameron left it in because the shot was too expensive to re-take with Michael Biehn now in character as Hicks.

[@bankbarcomo806]

And Remar was clean from then on! So yay?

[@Supraboyes]

what about the only actor that has been killed by a terminator, predator and alien. but another nearly did the same.

[@thefilmlodge]

@@Supraboyes Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton

[@Supraboyes]

@@thefilmlodge bill got killed by all 3, lance being a android in aliens survived.

[@angelohernandez6060]

I believe Lance playing the biological human Bishop dies in the terrible Alien 3. Maybe that one doesn't count since real Aliens fans feel that movie never happend?

[@andyjohnson4907]

Just in case someone hasn't already mentioned this legendary story, apparently, when James Cameron was pitching an Alien sequel to the studio executives, the very first thing he did in his pitch was to write the word "Alien" on the board, then add an S to the end, and finally drew a vertical line through the S to make a dollar sign. "Alien$" Brilliant!

[@j.f.fisher5318]

If that's true, then his understanding of how to talk to executives is truly phenomenal lol.

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

@@j.f.fisher5318 I mean, he's got them convinced enough to throw him money for any idea he has. _Lots and lots_ of money!

[@stevenfriedman2902]

James Cameron: Ok Avatar made a lot of money right? Execs: Yeah so? James: Well how about Avatars? Execs: No that is just stupid James: Avatar$ Execs: My god you're a genius!!!

[@vianneyb.8776]

Movie pitcher: "Adding more aliens will make us a lot of money." Executive: "Oh, money! That's the thing I like!" Movie pitcher: "It sure is, sir!"

[@andyjohnson4907]

@@vianneyb.8776 It sure is.

[@DaveAlkema]

I like how the first 20 minutes of this movie are literally "Ripley's Believe it or Not"

[@lordstarkiller2010]

LOL!!! Nice one!!! 😂👍

[@The_Page_5_Chronicles]

Cringe

[@Jace-xw3ly]

@@The_Page_5_Chronicles Clearly don't know what cringe means

[@philipocallaghan]

@@user-ky1zg2rw6k Don't feed the troll.

[@The_Page_5_Chronicles]

@@philipocallaghan I'm well fed. :) I feel better now

[@ShinoNC]

I love the part where Ripley and the queen first meet. They come to an understanding, Ripley won't kill the queens babies and the queen would let Ripley leave with her "baby". But then the face hugger egg hatches breaking that truce. It was so good. Two things you left out of the viewing was when the queen stabbed bishop Ripleys first reaction was to push newt out of harms way, and after closing the air lock newt calls Ripley "mommy".

[@j.f.fisher5318]

After watching way too many times I realized that Riply's (entirely understandable) mistake is she should have only destroyed half the eggs.

[@lukemcniven4131]

@@j.f.fisher5318 I don't understand why? I'd rather not have a dozen facehuggers chasing me out of there

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

@@lukemcniven4131 Destroying all the eggs leaves the aliens with nothing to protect. Ergo, mama is coming after Ripley. That said, who could blame Ripley?

[@RyoHazuki224]

@@AngeloBarovierSD Right for sure. Though she should have just booked it anyway, even with the facehugger egg opened up without taking that time to blast all the eggs with fire and shoot at everything. Cuz ultimately, the place was going to explode regardless so all the aliens would have died through that. Queen sitting there, plopping her eggs down, thinking everything is fine, then BOOM, vaporized in a nuclear blast.

[@AngeloBarovierSD]

@@RyoHazuki224 Perhaps but the blocking of the scene suggests there were worker aliens on the far sides of the egg farm. Lighting them up created a barrier between them. (That said, I'm reasonably sure her decision was largely emotional.)

[@Drdreez02]

I think the main reason you can't pick between what movie is better is because Alien is a space horror, while Aliens is a space action movie, both great in their own right. Also just watched your Alien reaction and when I heard it would have been Jen first watching, I just grabbed a back of chips and told myself this is gonna be good, can't wait for the chest burst scene.

[@petercolson2990]

Both absolutely fantastic films, both excellent examples of their respective genres. In terms of film-making, Alien is just a little better constructed, but Aliens is far more accessible and enjoyable (and importantly, quotable!)

[@toocrazyfilms]

What means "better constructed"?

[@petercolson2990]

@@toocrazyfilms world-building, characterisation, set design, the build-up of suspense, and the overall construction of a tight, tense narrative. Alien is a SLIGHTLY better example of the film-makers craft than the sequel, and makes more with the budget than the better funded sequel. Don't get me wrong, Aliens is AMAZING, and it's indisputably more fun to watch. And with the improved budget, you get what you pay for. But the original edges it out in what it achieves. Everything's a lot more 'lived-in' and believable.

[@bwestacado9643]

@@petercolson2990 "Game over, man. Game over!"

[@phillipzan2005]

"She probably stinks." "Get her a shower, shampoo" Yes because that is the biggest concern. Not that fact that girl has seen horrors that give nightmares, nightmares.

[@chrisadams8182]

“Drake… We are leaving!!!” Micheal Biehn is an absolute legend. No one else could have played Hicks.

[@indestarbright9646]

This was the movie where people (myself included) began noticing that James Cameron movies consistently had very strong, tough (both emotionally, and physically) female lead characters, who if they weren't strong in the beginning of the movie, would become strong by the movie's end (like Linda Hamilton in the first Terminator movie). In this movie, the only match for the Aliens was Ripley, the toughest alien was the Queen, the sole survivor at the outpost was Newt, arguably the toughest soldier was Vasquez (either first up, or pulling up the rear), and the military craft pilot and military unit medic were all females.

[@boboboy8189]

James Cameron said he grew up with his tough mother in military base. no wonder he is military nerd

[@ek2156]

Alien and Aliens just never get old! You can watch the movie 40 years later and they still are amazing. No need for silly CGI, great sets, great actors, both are really perfect science fiction movies. The only other sci-fi movie that comes close to these is the movie "The Thing" by John Carpenter. You need to watch it, you would like it also.

[@TheRibottoStudios]

James Cameron is really just on another level. He's probably a nightmare to work with, but that level of perfectionism is why movies like this, Avatar, and Titanic, look as good as it does all these years later. But Titanic's visuals are damn near unmatched. Even after all this time that ship looks REAL. Cause they BUILT it.

[@w41duvernay]

CAMERON did have problems with the Bits at the film studio.

[@Whoo_Boy]

He doesn't know what to do with the Alien or the Terminator franchise now. The terminator franchise is supposed to be a time-traveling war between humans and A.I. story. Instead, the focus is always trying to one-up the abilities of the previous terminator and the story revolves trying to survive those abilities in the real life present day. The next natural progression of the alien franchise, after Aliens should have been the purpose of the aliens. The aliens don't seem to have any real purpose. I think Alien: Prometheus tried to go there as a main idea, but the story didn't support that main idea. It was the same for Alien: Covenant. The aliens never eat they only kill when threatened, but otherwise capture their prey in order to propagate. The "face-huggers" inside the eggs the queen lays seem to stay inside their shells until a host is present and then only the same number of eggs hatch/open as there are hosts. There may be 50 eggs laid and 10 hosts cocooned and only exactly 10 eggs will open.

[@josealmeida2842]

There was a Hollywood meme before memes were even a thing and it was, “You can’t scare me, I’ve worked for James Cameron.” Ed Harris very nearly drowned in the filming for “The Abyss” but was one of the few who did not complain what Cameron was putting him through. To this day Kate Winset and Mary Mastriantonio refuse to discuss their time working with Cameron. James Horner almost quit doing the score for “Aliens” because he got fed up dealing with him. To his credit Cameron did start sitting down with with his lead actors before filming and tired to get across just how difficult and demanding he was going to be.

[@josealmeida2842]

-Who need their nipples twisted? -Not gonna say it Jen? Ok, then I will, Holden Thomas Hartman!

[@3Rayfire]

Excuse me. You forgot to mention *The Abyss.*

[@jimclayson]

Best sequel EVER. Sigourney Weaver is LEGEND. I was twelve when it came out and I've watched it dozens of times over the years and I thoroughly enjoy it each and every time. As for "Alien" versus "Aliens," I love them both, but I have a slight preference for "Aliens." Michael Biehn IS a criminally underrated actor. He's appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows since the late '70s, although, of his earlier work, he's probably best known for playing Kyle Reese in the first "Terminator" ('84) movie. He was also in "The Seventh Sign" ('88), "The Abyss" ('89) (alongside Ed Harris), "Navy Seals" ('90) (alongside Bill Paxton), "Tombstone" ('93) (again, alongside Bill Paxton), and "The Rock" ('96) (again, alongside Ed Harris). He tends to play military men and cowboys most of the time. As I understand it, he taught himself the fancy gun-spinning tricks he showed off in "Tombstone" to perfection.

[@Efro1632]

I'm glad you said this. Michael Biehn is an absolute legend who deserved to be in many more classics.

[@boki1693]

I do put the second Terminator right up with this movie for best sequel.

[@CxOrillion]

He's also the enforcer dude that Mando duels in Ahsoka's first episode of The Mandalorian, Ch 13.

[@michaelskinner9188]

Corporal Hicks, the “head guy for the military group” as Jen describes him is of course Michael Biehn who plays the original (and best version) Kyle Reese in James Cameron’s first Terminator movie.

[@QueenCocopuff]

The music in this movie gives me a rush of chills every time!

[@andareon]

My favourite of the Alien saga, what a banger of a sequel, James Cameron always pushes things beyond the lines. When I was younger I had a few of the space marines action figures and for the life of me I don't believe I watched the movie at the age I was still playing with action figures :D

[@bretthake7713]

Corporal Hicks is played by Michael Biehn, probably most known for playing Kyle Reese, the protagonist (and eventually John Connor's father) in The Terminator

[@Rikrik1138]

And Johnny Ringo in Tombstone.

[@Save_One]

In bit of a legendary/mythological pitch meeting with execs, "Cameron wrote the word "Aliens" and then drew two lines down the letter “s” to make a dollar symbol".

[@patrickcromwell7554]

I remember a friend once mentioned that when Apone asks them all for the clips to their rifles, Drake and Vasguez only give up this small cylinder thing and said that they surely had MORE ammo than that given the huge-ass cannons they had. It occurred to me then that what they gave up was NOT the ammo, but some sort of battery pack that powers their whole rig. Since it is all one piece AND an armor that is all connected the ammo must also be all connected. Just something you may or may not have wondered.

[@Otokichi786]

I figured that it was a "fire control module," since the Smartguns had an "MG42" 250 round drum.

[@saaamember97]

FUN FACTOID: The actor who plays Drake (Vasquez's compadre) in this movie, also played inmate Boggs (The head of the "The Sisters") in The Shawshank Redemption.

[@mamunestor]

That image of Ripley’s daughter was actually Sigourney’s mother. The first time I saw Aliens was on TV and they put in the scene with her Daughter. Everyone thought I was making stuff up. And I started to believe I had dreamt the whole thing, until the Special edition came out. Ripley never wanted to make a sequel or revisit the property. Cameron was hot and wanted to make a sequel so he got the rights. And boom. Probably the best sequel ever made… that and T2…

[@Sentinel3D]

They asked the actress who played Newt as a kid on Oprah if she was afraid when she was being grabbed at by the alien queen. She said that it was just people shoving a claw at her on the end of a broom stick. It wasn't scary. BTW, she's an elementary school teacher now, and I think a rare American who just played a British accent.

[@abrushwithtravel]

One of her parents was in the US Air Force stationed in England. When they were looking for a local actor to play Newt the majority of the candidates were kids that did commercials and after all their script readings they would smile. So the production team went with a non-actress.

[@borgtennis]

The action score in this movie is out of this world!!!! I remembered back then the use of steel percussions left me with the taste of fear in my mouth. Also the insurmountable odds they had to overtake. Hats off!!

[@fan-i-am]

Vasquez actress also played in Terminator 2 as John Connor's step-mom. Also, the drop-ship was also used in Terminator series as a Hunter-seeker used by the machines

[@ZantiDC]

i dont know if someone mentioned this but the actress that played Vasquez Jenette Goldstein was also in Titanic

[@brandonsiedlik]

I did go to a screening of Alien 1979 back in 2018 with veronica cartwright (Lambert) moderating it and she did say that the blood spatter in the original was a surprise to everyone

[@chrisb7831]

Love both movies, and I can't disagree with anyone liking Aliens more, but the atmosphere, set design, and mystery in Alien is unmatched for me.

[@Samael2824]

People always talk about Weaver's performance, or the Villain. But I have to commend the Marines, we never get anyone talking about how James Cameron actually got a former Marine Drill Sargent and put them all through training together to make them seem like a real team.

[@redviper6805]

Bishop managed to be helpful even after being split in half, unlike a certain gold droid in Empire Strikes Back

[@antviper135]

"Are you referring to me!"🤖

[@CChissel]

So glad you’re doing the sequel so quickly after the first, both are great films in their own way.

[@xanthiusdrake2775]

The third one is... ehhh I mean its not as good as the first two but its all right, but the fourth one? yeah no that one is crap.

[@insiderang8570]

So basically Scott told THR in an interview in 2019 why he didn't direct the sequel. “Interestingly enough, I was never asked to do the sequel. Maybe because I was such a tough guy when I was doing it, they didn’t want me back. But I was also in the habit of not wanting to do a sequel then either. So I would never have done it.” The exit of 20th Century Fox studio head Alan Ladd Jr., and a lengthy legal battle over profits from Alien stalled plans for the sequel. Following the success of James Cameron's "The Terminator" , Brandywine greenlit "Aliens" and tapped Cameron to write the screenplay and direct the sequel to Scott's hit. In 2015, Scott told THR he planned to reconnect with the Alien series with Prometheus as the first of three or more movies that would eventually revisit the creature

[@Grimloxz]

How in the hayyyeeeelllll could you leave out Hudson saying, “Why don’t you put her in charge!!!!” LOLOLOL

[@musicandmoviefan9217]

36:29 Michael Biehn - Movie Roles include: Cpl. Hicks - Aliens Lang - The Mandalorian (episode - the Jedi) Johnny Ringo -Tombstone Kyle Reese - Terminator Cmdr. Anderson The Rock Russel Quinn - The Seventh Sign and tons more. This guy has like fifty or more roles to his name.

[@anthonyhudak9363]

This and another movie you'll get reacting to soon are in my top 5 films of all time. Aliens is the definition of escalation in movie terms. I love the growth and difference in characters especially Ripley. I love the warrior xenomorph design and the final battle between Ripley and the Queen is just so badass and probably something we won't see to that scale of practical effects ever again

[@HQofrandom]

which is the other movie? Aliens^3?

[@anthonyhudak9363]

No it's Predator

[@The_Devil_Breaker_]

Fun fact! Ripley's daughter Amanda is the main character of an EXTREMELY good game called Alien: Isolation. Isolation takes place 15 years after the events of the first film, while Ripley is unlocated. Amanda has to contend with the Alien threat herself after venturing to a salvage ship that found the Nostromo!

[@VegetaLF7]

Plus it also includes a DLC where you play as Ellen in a remake of the original film's events. Damn good game, scary as all hell and makes you realize just how absolutely terrifying the Xenomorphs are.

[@joshhunt4146]

Rumours are they are making a sequel but I always thought it would be a good anthology series with different horror movies. Jurassic Park Isolation? Predator Isolation? Halloween Isolation? Possibilities are endless!

[@borgtennis]

Actually when Ripley Has to go down the elevator shaft to save Newt and is armed to the teeth, is my favorite scene. (among many others ... the aliens entering the room and the whole countdown with the motion detector) Vasquez as the rear guard covering their escape. That woman had guts!!!!!!

[@weldonwin]

Also, Vasquez killing an alien by putting her boot to it's head and unloading a handgun into its temple

[@shanefraser7764]

Vasquez is the Baddest always first in the door with her mate ready to Rock, those two dying in the Air vents was a glorious and Honorable way to Die

[@MarvelX42]

I got to goto a Halloween atttraction that had the only still functional animatronic Alien Queen. It is amazing to see in person and up close.

[@onemanreactionfaction7636]

Just think. James Cameron went from xeroxing and studying filmmaking text books at the USC library while he was working as a truck driver to cranking out incredible stuff like this. The American Dream!

[@csako2668]

Something not pushed enough was a major reason that influenced why Reply agreed to go. As a mother, Ripley felt she had abandoned her daughter. She felt out of place now, knowing her daughter had grown up, lived a life, and died all without her being there for her. Learning there were children at the colony. Ripley deep down believed she owed them this as a way to hopefully redeem herself, and her worth. Newt becomes the proxy daughter Ripley needs to save for both of their sakes.

[@tortoiseoflegends4466]

It's good, but personally I still prefer the theatrical version. Seeing the colony after the devestation makes it more eerie IMO and without the daughter plot, it makes Ripleys relationship with Newt more genuine. With Ripley having a dead daughter, Newt feels a bit like a replacement, or a rebound daughter.

[@DeanStrickson]

That and The Company had blacklisted her unless she went.

[@baeleth]

If you watch Alien³, I recommend the extended cut. I loved the theatrical version already and only saw the extended cut a few years ago. Even better. I'll never go back.

[@Bad_Wolf_Media]

11:03 I've seen this move about 400 million times, and I think this is the first time I caught the "Terminator" reference with Hudson mentioning the "phased plasma pulse rifles." In the first Terminator, the T-800 goes into the gun shop and asks for a "phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range." Cameron tipping his hat to Cameron.

[@timothymattingly2303]

Fun fact: Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, and Michael Beihn were all in the original Terminator which was also directed by James Cameron

[@VegetaLF7]

Bill Paxton is also the only actor to be killed by a Terminator, Xenomorph, and Predator (Aliens, Terminator 1, Predator 2)

[@Frantzypantz]

1) I'm wondering if Jen recognized John Connor's papa 2) You two should definitely cover Live. Die. Repeat. (aka Edge of Tomorrow) during Alien-fest

[@mrdavman13]

It is called edge of tomorrow, the movie title.

[@fieldstonestudios]

Please continue this series!!!! Alien is my favorite thing ever!!!

[@Neofelis131]

What I love is that the tie in video game alien isolation takes place 15 years after the first movie. And you play as Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, as she joins a team sent to retrieve the flight recorder of her mother's ship, the Nostromo. Kinda sad they never saw each other again.

[@povenmire207]

A few years back me and a friend went to see Alien and Aliens Directors Cuts at the cinema as a double bill. Had a great time.

[@coltonpiper6156]

Same!!! People were dressed up in aliens gear and I felt underdressed because I did not have anything lol

[@Texy88]

I did that on 31st October 2014. It was amazing seeing those on the big screen with an audience, and the certificate for both films dropped to 15 from its previous 18 so more people were allowed in to see it.

[@jonathanadnitt7704]

in 92 me and a friend went to a triple bill of Alien, Aliens and the premier of Alien 3 on the same night. Think i got home about 4 in the morning and after the classics of Alien and Aliens, Alien 3 was a disappointment.

[@coltonpiper6156]

@@jonathanadnitt7704 I bet spoiler for alien 3 coming up. I would have been pissed to see Newt and Hicks die off screen at the start of Alien 3. Right off to a bad start.

[@Texy88]

On the few occasions that I feel impelled to watch _Alien 3_ I can only bring myself to watch the Assembly Cut, which to me makes more sense, plus I find the Theatrical Version incredibly boring.

[@jasoncaldwell5627]

Regarding effects, there's zero CG- It's all puppets, practical effects, miniatures and matte paintings. A bit of backlit cell animation at the end explosion. Adam Savage has a great video where he examines the miniature for the drop ship. The insane details on it are a wonder- stuff you'd never see on even the big screen, but added for pure love of making cool stuff.

[@JoshSweetvale]

"Can soldiers kill the monster under the bed?" Premise of this movie: Hahaha, lol, no. Premise of Predator: _Yes_ but it's _really_ hard.

[@stevepitt1414]

The actress playing Vasquez has appeared in other James Cameron films; John Connor's foster mother in T2 and an Irish immigrant passenger in Titanic

[@manduheavyvazquez5268]

Masterpiece ever. The best sequel ever. Greatness

[@boboboy8189]

best sci-fi sequel ever but not the masterpiece movie though. movie sequel that beat this movie is LOTR the two tower and godfather 2

[@Quantum_Bluntz]

Another classic alien movie is Starship Troopers. Have y'all seen that already? I feel like everyone has lol

[@davidsavage5630]

Funny that she said "What is this? The Batmobile?" The place in this where they first encounter the Aliens with the stairs and catwalks was a set that was reused three years later for the 1989 Batman as the Axis Chemical Plant. All the Aliens set design and props were still in there when they started to prep for filming Batman. If you ever watch Batman 89 again it's super easy to tell it's the same place. It's all the stuff you see Jack Nicholson running around on trying to escape the cops right before he falls in the chemicals and becomes Joker. I believe you see a shot of the Batmobile driving in the exact same place as the APC Ripley was driving when your wife asked that. That actually blew my mind a little. Rewatch Batman again now and see how much it looks like Aliens in the chemical plant scenes and when the Batmobile destroys the plant..

[@edinalewis4704]

This is my all time favourite movie! Thanks for the great reaction!!!

[@ReneSejling]

Shooting sound effects in this movie is just amazing. Love those, and the movie.

[@irina1296]

First two films are the best but I love all Alien films. Each one adds something fresh, new and interesting

[@carladams5891]

OMG Jen's face after her heartburn joke.....Priceless!! Michael Biehn (I think that's spelled right) who played Dwayne Hicks, plays Kyle Reece in the Terminator with Arnold! Also, the actress who plays Vasquez in Aliens, plays the foster mom in Terminator 2. Personally I would love to see you two react to Mel Brooks movies Young Frankenstein and Spaceballs. As well as the comedies Top Secret and Clue! If you haven't seen them of course.

[@CraftsWithCrafts]

TRIVIA - Vasquez also played the foster mom in TERMINATOR 2 The yellow loader that Ripley uses was SO CONVINCING that after the movie several major corporations contacted the studio about actually buying them for heavy industry applications. The weapons mounts for Vasquez and Frost's HMGs were actually steadi-cam mounts.

[@johnthompson245]

I think some of the added scenes work agaist the movie. Showing the colony being asked to investigate, and seeing them attacked really lessens the tension when the marines show up and find nobody there.

[@coltonpiper6156]

Kudos for watching the special/ directors cut.

[@theevilbeard]

Michael Biehn rules. Tombstone, Aliens, Terminator, The Rock, The Abyss, Navy Seals...he just brings it in all of them!

[@VegetaLF7]

Plus his likeness was used for the cover of the original Metal Gear games. He *is* Solid Snake!

[@76063co2]

I think you are mistaken about watching the theatrical cut for your previous Alien reaction. I'm pretty sure you watched the Directors cut, since there was a scene where Ripley encountered a cocooned Dallas, which was only available in the later Director's cut. That's why Ripley seems confused in this sequel, when she sees the Alien's hive. She had never found Dallas in the original cut that was released. I am happy you watched the extended for Aliens, because it adds a lot more depth. It can't be over stated how much Ripley set the precedent for female action stars.

[@Sentinel3D]

One thing about Aliens and Terminator 2: Cameron went for the "Same thing but better." Ironic callback after callback, but better.

[@HeatKingMedia]

I watched this film for the first time in 1995 when I was 4 years old. I fricking loved it and to this day its still one of my favourite movies/sequels ever. I didn't see Alien until after I'd seen this, Alien 3 and Resurrection. Goes without saying that the og is a classic. Alien and Aliens work so well together as movies. Whilst people do say Aliens is more action focused, I still find it to be a pretty tense horror experience. The entire Cocoon Sequence, Facehugger Med-Lab and Tunnel Chase are pretty intense and scary situations. This movie just builds up the tension alot with a horror approach and then BANG, into the chaos of the action. Such a good bloody film with a great cast of characters. The family theme in this is up there with what Cameron surpassed with Terminator 2 years later. The things I would give to have a proper sequel to this movie. Mmm. That said, again, Alien 3 isn't all terrible. Its dark, gloomy and depressing but maintains that horror feel of the original but tenfold with a goring approach. Not to mention the Assembly Cut is such a better paced and well told story but it doesn't quiet measure up to the likes of what 1 and 2 did. Its a good sequel but also a bad one at the same time because of certain creative decisions. But I like it. Its a unique gulity pleasure with some good performances from some unexpected actors that appear in it if you're a fan of Game of Thrones and Dr. Who.

[@Bananahammock681]

There is no Alien 3. Ripley woke up and lived happily ever after with Newt and Hicks and they found Jonesy who went on to have kittens with a stray they took in and everyone lived happily ever after.

[@MrGpschmidt]

The rare case where the sequel is as good or better than its equal - Weaver's iconic Ripley got her first Oscar nomination. I believe Ridley Scott passed on the chance because he was not in the manner of doing sequels and felt that he was done with it (ultimately he'd be involved later on in the franchise). Stan Winston's epic Queen Alien truly is a marvel of practical f/x. Nice job guys.

[@boboboy8189]

this movie actually fixed the most annoying thing that I have from the first movie. in first movie, when Ripley enter lab to search facehugger, why thy didn't open the light?. another thing is when they try to catch alien in group with net, they let 1 person to search that cat? I know it's horror cliche but it's very annoying.

[@TheSebiestor]

As far as they knew, on the first film, the alien was only a few inches big when they sent the guy to look for the cat

[@OfficialExilica]

I don't remember where I heard this from but when James Cameron was pitching the idea for a sequel, all he did was write "Alien" on a chalk board. Then he added a dollar sign (Alien$) at the end lol.

[@dusto34]

The actress who plays Vasquez is in multiple James Cameron movies, Terminator 2 as John's foster mom and in Titanic as the Irish mother telling her kids a bedtime story as the ship sinks.

[@guitarfreak888]

Michael Biehn who played Corporal Hicks, also played John Connor's father, Kyle Reese in Terminator.

[@benitocuevas5159]

I can't decide between the two movies just as you both have described. They are so different in tone and how they were shot . Each one gets a grade A in their respective categories. Fun Fact, the actress who played Vasquez, Jenette Goldstein, also played John Conners foster mom in Terminator 2. Michael Biehn who played Cpl. Hicks was also in The Terminator as Reese.

[@Jozz421]

"Bishop" and "Hudson" was in terminator as well. Cameron is great at reusing good actors...

[@TheSebiestor]

Wow, I've never spotted the Jenette Goldstein before 👍

[@randallrecord6296]

James Cameron fought for Sigourney’s 1million dollar paycheck for Aliens. Insisting to the studio that she’s worth it

[@venomfuryx3250]

Ripley: "This girl survived with no training all on her own" Hudson: "Why don't you put her in charge?" I love that part, too bad it wasn't included in the reaction.

[@weldonwin]

Fun Facts Time: No fewer than four cast members on this movie, worked as voice actors on Starfleet, a British dub of a Japanese sci-fi marionet series that ran from 1980-81. The series was an absolute favourite of the son of Brian May from Queen and thus inspired May to collaborate with Eddie Van Halen to create an album inspired by the show, as a birthday gift for May's son.

[@christophercurtis4131]

Michael Biehn, the actor who played Corporal Hicks in this film and Commander Anderson in The Rock, also played Kyle Reese in the original Terminator. He also played Navy SEALs in two other films, James Cameron's The Abyss and the movie Navy SEALs, which also starred Charlie Sheen, Bill Paxton, Dennis Haysbert from 24 and Rick Rossovich, who was also in The Terminator. Carrie Henn, who played Newt, only acted in this movie as she became a schoolteacher when she grew up. She also celebrated her birthday while making this movie and they had a little birthday party on the set, complete with a cake. Also, Newt's brother in the film was played by Carrie Henn's real brother.

[@patrickcromwell7554]

i find that there are quite a few of my friends who, when they watch movies or shows, they take anything said by the characters as definitive. as if that character KNOWS everything about any given situation. As an example when the power goes out and Ripley says "they cut the power." Hudson's immediate response is "What do you mean THEY cut the power? How could they cut the power they're animals." I find that many actually have that mentality about the Aliens even though they've been shown evidence to contradict THAT logic. Or they just assume that the Xenomorphs are very intelligent animals. They are in fact NOT lower case animals. They are a very intelligent Hive-like species. Their appearance makes humans assume that they are just beasts. I even read a review by Roger Ebert who shows utter disbelief that the Queen would have the intelligence and comprehension to use the elevator after Ripley and Newt escape. Like everyone else He made the assumption that they were just beasts acting on an instinctual Hive mind.

[@LukeLovesRose]

Arguably the greatest sci-fi ever made and arguably the greatest sequel ever made

[@ek2156]

One of the few sequels that lives up to the original movie! I really wish they would have stopped at this one, none of the other sequels captured the essence of Alien/Aliens.

[@byron7583]

I rematched all of the Aliens movies earlier this year, this one doesn't hold up as well as I remember. The first one is still a masterpiece

[@theonedollarbill4550]

A little trivia, the actor who plays Hicks (Michael Biehn) was also in The Mandalorian episode "The Jedi" (season2) as the mercenary who does a quick draw against Mando.

[@oxhine]

Hey, Holden and Jen! This is one of the best sequels ever made! Thankfully, you saw the superior SPECIAL EDITION version which has the Amanda Ripley scene, the functioning colony scene, Newt's family's discovery of the derelict ship scene, the automated gun scene, the Hudson speculation about queen ants scene and the name exchange scene. This is the version both James Cameron and Sigourney Weaver prefer. The future Ripley inhabits is implied to be a dystopic corporatocracy. The most pervasive and powerful corporate entity is the Weyland-Yutani Company, a 22nd-century version of the British East India Company of the 17th- to 19th-centuries. It is a multinational conglomerate involved in robotics, interstellar transport and terraforming with a stake in every colony world. The Company is the TRUE VILLAIN of the Alien universe. Ash and Burke were following a secret corporate mandate to obtain a xenomorph specimen in order to profit from research and weaponization. The colonists who venture beyond the compound like Newt's parents are prospectors who can lay a claim to any discovery they make. The Company would get a large percentage of the find but the colonist would own a piece. A valuable ore would mean a fortune! After Burke heard Ripley's story, he contacted the colony boss to dispatch someone to the coordinates Ripley had indicated in her report with no warning of danger. He must have done a little digging and found out about the Company Directive to investigate any possible sign of intelligent life and to bring back a specimen. He sent Newt's family straight to the derelict ship. Some trivia: The picture of Ripley's elderly daughter in the Special Edition is actually Sigourney Weaver's real-life mother! The late Al Matthews, who played Sgt. Apone, was a true-blue Marine who was the first black man to be promoted to Sergeant in the Corps during his service in Vietnam! The knife-trick scene was originally supposed to be performed by Lance Henriksen alone but he convinced director James Cameron to surprise Bill Paxton by involving him as they shot the scene! Paxton's wide-eyed terror is completely real! Fan favorite Vasquez is played by non-Hispanic Jenette Goldstein! She goes out like a warrior and enables Gorman to reclaim his honor. Ms. Goldstein now is the proprietress of a Los Angeles-based boutique that specializes in bespoke large-size bras! The motto of her company is, "At Jenette's, the alphabet begins with 'D'."! Bishop's programming to not harm humans or allow them to come to harm through inaction is ripped straight from Isaac Asimov's Three Laws of Robotics! Carrie Henn, who played Newt, never acted again but became a schoolteacher. She still maintains a correspondence relationship with Sigourney Weaver thirty-four years later. The late Bill Paxton, who has the distinction of being attacked on screen by an Alien, a Terminator and a Predator, will NEVER be forgotten for his reading of the line, "Why don't you put HER in charge?", referring to little Newt in her oversized helmet. Lol. "ALIEN 3: ASSEMBLY CUT" is a DIVISIVE film but it's an EXCELLENT entry in the series. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU SEE IT!!! Many will try to dissuade you but it is ESSENTIAL VIEWING! It's directed by David Fincher and features Charles Dance and Charles Dutton. It's brutal, fast-paced, has a solid cast, has some extraordinary scares, provides new insight into the creature, presents a fascinating dilemma and concludes the trilogy elegantly. I strongly encourage you NOT TO SKIP IT! Make sure you see the ASSEMBLY CUT (Special Edition with longer runtime). "Alien Resurrection" is the optional one because it's a hot mess except for one cool aquatic sequence. The ambitious prequels, "Prometheus" and "Covenant", mark director Ridley Scott's return to the series but they are mostly good JUST for Michael Fassbender's performances. Scott demystifies the creature and unsatisfyingly attempts to address who the elephant-headed pilot of the derelict spacecraft was. VIEWING ORDER: Alien Aliens (Special Edition) Alien 3 (Assembly Cut) Alien Resurrection (Director's Cut) [OPTIONAL] Predator (1987) Predator 2 Predators Prey Alien vs. Predator Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (Unrated) Prometheus [OPTIONAL] Covenant [OPTIONAL] INTERNAL CHRONOLOGY: 1719 Prey 1987 Predator 1997 Predator 2 2004 Alien vs. Predator 2004 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (Unrated) 2010 Predators 2018 The Predator [SKIP THIS AWFUL FRANCHISE-KILLING REBOOT] 2093 Prometheus [OPTIONAL] 2104 Covenant [OPTIONAL] 2122 Alien 2179 Aliens (Special Edition) 2179 Alien 3 (Assembly Cut) 2379 Alien Resurrection (Director's Cut) [OPTIONAL]

[@tommc3622]

Excellent compilation of facts and trivia. I would, however, argue against their being a "Company Directive" that refers specifically to this species. As Burke himself stated, if he went through proper channels, the whole company gets involved, and "there's no exclusive rights for anyone." Weyland-Yutani legitimately had no idea the derelict existed and still didn't really believe it after Ripley educated them. Weyland-Yutani and the I.C.C. washed their hands of it. Burke was acting on his own with knowledge he gained from Ripley, not a company database. It can be inferred something similar happened to the Nostromo. Some company suit heard a rumor about a signal and decided to swap his Android into a freighter's S.O. position and see what he finds. When the Nostromo is mysteriously lost, it's CYA time. That suit buries everything he's done, and nobody is the wiser for 57 years.

[@tommc3622]

Additional but of trivia; It's now largely accepted that "Blade Runner" and "Alien" are the same universe. Replicants and Androids are competing technologies/products. AND a Conostoga class starship (The Sulaco) can be seen briefly in Blade Runner 2049. 😁

[@KrazzeeKane]

I always felt that saying the 57 years thing in the dream sequence was a bad idea, because every single person then immediately asks if that was just part of the dream too--and it's not, but the theatrical version cuts out the only other scene that mention of the 57 year jump, Ripley's daughter passing. So it's easy for many to be confused on it. What they should have done is had Ripley and Burke talk, then she rests her eyes for just a moment and then we transition to the dream scene. That way the 57 years comment comes before the dream transition, and prevents confusion for the audience

[@wolfkniteX]

Here's an interesting piece of trivia, the Metroid games took a lot of inspiration from this film particularly the last couple minutes. A lone, badass woman having to deal with the galaxy's deadliest alien species that eventually has to escape a self-destruct sequence that blows up everything in the end.

[@VegetaLF7]

Honestly nearly all military scifi takes influence from this and from the Starship Troopers novel, most entries in that genre (Starcraft, Halo, etc) owe something to both these entries in terms of tone or aesthetics or structure. Hell, when the first Avatar was coming out and people were comparing the human aircraft in the film to those of the ones from Halo and if Cameron and his team was inspired by that game's look, he responded with "well we made it first" referencing back to this movie and the tech style here that would influence those other games.

[@ckmoore101]

Crazy how Cameron made the #1 and #2 top grossing movies of all time. He also made the top 2 sequels of all time, in Aliens and T2.

[@1983noddy]

One of my all time favorite movies. I'm an Aliens guy but I still enjoy the first one.

[@Gh0stbumbles]

The music for comet of the day legitimately scared the crap out of me.I had the video in another tab and I just hear this music and I thought press button somewhere.

[@borgtennis]

Finally !!! To put into perspective, back then sequels were rarely on par with the original. The Godfather 2 was the exception and Star Wars was a trilogy. Many many people didn't think it could be done. Alien was already a classic. The bar was high and the rest was... history. Up until the Matrix (over a decade later) Aliens is the best action movie. The other close ones are all Cameron movies. Terminator 2 and True Lies Vasquez has the best scene. The actress is the same who plays Connor's foster mother in T2

[@Wezqu]

One thing always gets me in this movie is the scene in the vents. When Vasquez kills one of the Aliens with her pistol while pinning the head to the side of the vent causing injuries to herself in the progress. Lieutenant Gorman goes to help her who has not done anything really heroic the whole movie so far except helping Ripley and Newt to get rid of the face huggers. In that moment he redeems the whole movies worth of bad choices by acting like a leader should. He could have easily told Hicks to go help her or just tell to leave her but he doesn't hesitate and goes himself. This of course ends to the situation where he and Vasquez get surrounded. Only line said is Vasquez telling Gorman "You always were and asshole, Gorman." before Gorman takes the detonator and they both hold it while the aliens get closer blowing themselves up. She in the final moment finally saw him as worthy to be her commanding officer and only way she could express it was with an insult. I love the movie because of the characters they all feel real and the soldiers act like they are soldiers. They don't flinch during the action and do what they need but after it they might whine and sound human but when the shit hits the fan they are all out doing what they were trained to do. Even Lieutenant Gorman who being so new got overhelmed in the first encounter and gave into panic is shown in the end be a good leader who cared about his men and women to danger himself when he had other options. Only really irredeemable character in the whole movie is Burke who never cared about anything else than his own interest.

[@glozwellvonzergelflerven7405]

The reason the genre shift works is because horror and action are elements that can work together and compliment each other in the same story. If Alien is act 1, then act 1 is about introducing the threat and why it's scary. So when the action starts in act 2 (Aliens) it hits harder because the threat and the stakes have been properly set up. Lots of action movies play as horror movies at the beginning when they introduce the antagonists, here the arc just happens over two films. So it feels natural. If they had switched to musical comedy it probably wouldn't have worked as well. Edit: I slightly prefer the first one, particularly as I get older. I like the way it takes its time. I deeply love both movies though.

[@wraith1701]

27:05 lol “Ellen-a Ripley”. 😂 Don’t forget their other hit, “Hicks-ing a hole where the rain gets in; Stops my mind from wandering 🎶”

[@brianbusby7334]

Great review, thanks. I was too young to see Alien at the cinema but saw Aliens in 1986 at the Odeon , Leicester Square, London, it was awesome! Everyone cheered when Burke met the alien ...

[@cyanide7270]

This movie is one of the few widely regarded as "better than the original". Alien is great, but this takes it to a whole new level, which on a personal note is the movie that made me, as a guy, idolize an actually well written, badass female protagonist, including the sorts of Sarah Connor and The Bride in Kill Bill, unlike what we typically get these days. Fun fact, Paul Reiser took his parents and sister to the premiere, and they hated Burke so much they cheered at his death, and his sister hit him for "playing such a loathesome character". A testament to writing a good villain!

[@CxOrillion]

I think "better than the original" is a bit strong. Alien is a horror classic for a damn good reason. I do think it's one of the best sequels of all time however. James Cameron really knows how to do sequels to horror movies. The shift from horror/suspense in Terminator to much more action focused in T2 is one, and following on the horror movie of Alien with this is another perfect example. The characters "know" about the danger now, but the stakes are higher and even if they know, they don't really *understand* the new threat environment, so you have to update the feel of the movie accordingly.

[@JeremiahwhiteWolf]

Michael biehn who played hicks was in the terminator as kyle Reese and he also was in the deleted scene in terminator 2 judgment day as Sarah Connor hallucination in the pescadero state hospital

[@JAYWALKER1000]

You've seen Michael Biehn (Dwayne Hicks) before - though he was a bit older. He's the Magistrate's right hand man in Mandalorian S2E5 (the Ahsoka Tano episode). He's also in Terminator.

[@christophercurtis4131]

Also, Jenette Goldstein and Mark Rolston, who played Vasquez and Drake, also appeared on episodes of 24. And Mark Rolston played astronaut Gus Grissom in the HBO series From The Earth To The Moon.

[@CineRam]

I have to wonder if Burke (or someone above him at the company) decided to lie to Ripley about not having any grandchildren. If she has absolutely no living relatives, then there's no one for her to return to Earth for, no one to help her resume her life. Ripley is essentially at the mercy of the company: They blame her for the destruction of the Nostromo, forcing her to accept whatever they offer her, meanwhile keeping her on hand in case they want to take advantage of her personal experience if they want to attempt another grab at the xenomorph. Burke claims that he sent the colonists to the ship entirely on his own, but it's also possible that he received an off-the-record directive from Van Leuwen to have the colonists seek out that ship on LV-426, with the promise that Burke would receive a big promotion if they were successful. I wouldn't put anything past Weyland-Yutani's executives and their tactics. Telling Ripley about any adult grandchildren that she may have would give her more options...options that the company wouldn't want her to take advantage of.