Aliens Review - Off The Shelf Reviews

(Re-uploaded) Join Gary and Iain for a review and discussion of, Aliens (1986) by Director, James Cameron. Starring, Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen and Carrie Henn.
For more Off The Shelf Reviews:
Follow us on Twitter: / @otsreviews
KZbin: / hunterscrow
Facebook: / offtheshelfreviews
Support us: / offtheshelfreviews

[@AP-jl3rs]

That moment were Ripley pauses to enter the dark building because of her fears. She goes in knowing how scared she is, but also knows she needs to face them. I always thought that was a powerful scene left out of the theater version.

[@adamduffield7782]

Rip Bill Paxton and Al Mathews , both were absolute badasses!!!!

[@rogermazuca4582]

And also RIP Harry Dean Stanton 🙏

[@dominichowell6896]

And James Horner too. As you were saying about this score, it's so iconic that here in the States it was used on a bunch of other shows and commercials in the 80's. Anytime something was supposed to be exciting they would paste that music on top

[@xenablossom4682]

Bill Paxton reportedly improvised the “Game Over” line.

[@gdo3510]

Dench2020 so mediocre it’s iconic

[@Optics2024]

@Dench2020 yeeeeeah your joke doesn’t really work

[@darkdemonqueen]

@@Optics2024 lol haters gonna hate 🤷‍♀️

[@HonzoRich]

Hudson bitched the most, a lot justifiably, but he ultimately never waivered, he didn't stop fighting, he didn't run and hide, and remember he was the first to grab that door to protect the APC, mere inches from an aliens face. He fought as hard as everyone else and Hudson went down a badass.

[@LukeLovesRose]

Hudson has a great and redeeming character arc. I cant say that for any character in the original Alien

[@RodericPerez]

My argument for why Ripley did not fire the grenade at the queen is she knows how hard the alien skin is and I believe she knew there was only three choices; One: the grenade rebounds off the queen and kills ripley and newt, Two the grenade blows up the queen and the acid flies everywhere and kills everyone in the room. Three: the concussion of the grenade knocks out ripley and they die on planet. No upside to hitting the queen that close. Great video guys. Oh by the way Bishop would have assumed any weight change would be due to the garbage they crashed into.

[@johnthemachine]

Imagining what happened at Hadley's Hope is exactly like imagining what happened at the Norwegian camp in The Thing, its better when you dont see and your mind fills in the gaps

[@jamesmendonca2900]

I like that 'simulations' reference you made there. Anyway, Aliens is one of those perfect sequels, where everything is elevated. The action, visual effects, production design, the acting, the story, etc. I just love everything about this film. And you guys pointed all that out in ways you truly appreciate in a lot of these reviews.

[@nolimitsamputee5219]

My favorite film of all time. Never gets old and 99% of movie stands up to time. You can’t tell when this movie was made it stands up so well. Just awesome.

[@kenneththomas415]

And the Queen takes the Bishop. Lol couldn't resist the irony.

[@randallbesch2424]

There are no kings just Queens & pawns in the Xenomorph hierarchy. Even the pawns can spawn other pawns. royal jelly can make one a queen. There was also mentioned smaller ones that made the extrusions to the hive. We have never seen them.

[@Tyrant96]

How cool

[@PaoloLery]

This is a great one guys thanks. Going after Newt is one of the greatest soundtracks ever. Drake not wanting to leave, Hicks checking the ceiling, Hudson finally coming good, Vasquez’s last stand, Gorman going back for Vas, unstoppable Ripley. Man what a film.

[@alexjacobsen8487]

Iain’s enthusiasm and passion for this film is infectious 😅😅❤️

[@alexandruarnautuvraciu]

R.I.P. Bill Paxton!

[@volzman2172]

RIP Bill u will be missed

[@volzman2172]

@Dench2020 Yes really. You and I want be missed because we have never done anything to be remembered.

[@TheMattypoo21]

Aliens > Terminator 2: Judgement Day

[@LukeLovesRose]

To me, Aliens is the greatest sci-fi ever made. Alien is a great and slick horror film. I cant deny the power of Ridley Scotts original masterpiece. But what Cameron does with Aliens is on another level. He takes the characters to another level, especially Ripley. He takes the aliens to another level, especially by introducing the Alien Queen.

[@LisaDeeCanada]

I love your enthusiasm about the film. I share it fully!

[@Tony-rn5fm]

R.I.P. bill paxton

[@KingSidJames]

A master class in taking an existing IP and then building it into something spectacular.

[@SethMcFartlane]

_"Gorman is an idiot he shouldn't be in charge."_ Wasn't that the whole idea of Burke getting Gorman?

[@thomasbabilon9146]

Quite possibly the greatest Sci-Fi, Action, Horror film ever. 10/10

[@JoelCraike]

Aliens is definitely my favourite film of all time

[@mrpepre]

aliens sfx were amazing for the time, the scene where the aliens are crawling in the ceiling haunted me as a kid and still looks amazing to this day

[@jimbowlan5804]

The effects are some of the best I’ve watched this movie In 4 different decades and the effects still hold up today

[@FirebirdCamaro1220]

I like how the theatrical cut leaves everything on LV426 prior to the marine invasion to the viewers imagination, makes it scarier

[@JohnnyZenith]

Yes that bit should never have been put in, but the rest yes.

[@Optics2024]

Hmmmm dunno. Obviously enjoy both versions, so for me personally the more of this film I can watch the better. But get what you’re saying.

[@firstorder2450]

Thought the extra 20 minutes of aliens should never have been cut as it adds to Ripley's character development. Mostly plot relevant missing material.

[@menorahdarkness4877]

.. Fully agree , theatrical cut is better

[@tonyweak3842]

I love this review as much as the movie itself. Makes me feel like watching the movie for the first time again.

[@joeyshuny5]

I read that they wanted Hicks to be a little older and the first actor was. Then that guy got busted for drug possession so Cameron thought of Biehn from Terminator. So they went with the younger actor Biehn thank God.

[@FirebirdCamaro1220]

Jackie Vester The original casted Hicks who even filmed two to three weeks worth of scenes before being fired was James Remar, most famous for playing Albert Ganz, the villain in 48 Hours

[@andrewsreed03]

I think James Remar is better known for his role as Ajax in the Warriors.

[@andrewwblanchard6037]

@@andrewsreed03 AGENT MARKHAM 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS

[@tjenahoj]

James Remar? Dexter´s dad?

[@Draliseth]

@@tjenahoj That is correct.

[@teresalee467]

I saw this film In the theater when it first came out in the 80's it was and still is the best theater experience I ever had.

[@cdub7619]

first seen it when I was 8 in 87 on vhs. still my fave movie and still the best action Sci-Fi film

[@danielcrick8871]

The best sequel of all time! James Cameron’s best movie, too many classic scenes and quotes to mention. Wonderful review guys, thank you!

[@daverobson3084]

Best sequel of all time? Maybe. Or is it Terminator 2: Judgement Day? Or Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back? Or Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan? All are great sequels . Arguably Wrath of Khan wins as it is the most better than the original movie it is a sequel to.

[@bearsbeetsbattlestargalact6722]

The director's cut is the only proper way to watch Aliens. The extra footage gives so much more world building regarding Newt and the colony of Hadley's Hope.

[@menorahdarkness4877]

.. I actually prefer the theatrical version

[@bearsbeetsbattlestargalact6722]

@@menorahdarkness4877 to each their own.

[@semicharmedlife311]

The Matrix, Ghostbusters, Aliens. My personal Top 3. Enjoyed the review!

[@j.f.fisher5318]

My favorite addition to the director's cut is the first power loader scene because it usefully sets up her power loader skills. Also, James Cameron's first demo reel according to the bio piece in Wired that talked about him basically inventing 3D tech and getting Hollywood to use it so he could make Avatar was a fight between a woman in an exoskeleton and against a robot, so kinda his first two major movies.

[@damianstarks3338]

The Queen alien is one of the most iconic movie monsters in history.

[@SJ_RANKS]

In the special edition when they're in the lab trying to figure out what lays the facehugger eggs Hudson states that it's a queen I wish they had put that in the theatrical version

[@Tony-1971]

One of my favourite sci-fi movies, along with the original Terminator movie. Michael Biehn was great in those films. He lookin real old these days though. Love how he goes to the conventions though to see the fans. The guy is a real cool dude. He was awesome in Blood Dragon. I loved him in The Divide (2011) too. Been trying to find a movie he did in 1994 called Deep Red. It was a cheesy sci-fi movie, but id love to own it on dvd or blu ray.

[@annieromo74]

I was just thinking that the Sulaco looked like a giant pulse rifle when, Iain, you said the exact same thing . Its such a unique design. This entire movie is a "unique design"! So much for sequels not being as good as the original ... Aliens destroys that myth! It's cinematography, the great script that was given to the terrific actors, the music - exceptional! Thanks for reviewing these, Iain & Gary!

[@AarenJable]

Bill Paxton RIP

[@dbexodia10]

There was a concept for an albino-like Xenomorph that was specifically tasked with building the hive walls, but it never made it into production. It had a long "tongue" similar to a Facehugger's proboscis. @21:15

[@Cwhirt910]

So many unique alien designs never made it to the movies. Reason why I'm some what partial to Alien Colonial Marines the game so many cool alien designs in the game even overall the game isn't that amazing.

[@daviddefranco2614]

Amazing review as always, gents! Is a Starship Troopers review in the works? Get some!

[@Grouncontrol]

C’mon guys- Newt was not meant to be a replacement for Jonesy. She’s meant to be a surrogate for Ripleys’ own daughter, Amanda.

[@davidjones272]

She even calls Ripley mommy at the end!

[@Kerwalk]

“I have a class-2 rating...” *chews on cigar* “Be my guest!” Lol

[@PopFlipCatchStickRol]

I randomly stumbled across this review again 3 years later. I've been developing a Sci-Fi horror video game and trying to capture that same thrill, awe, terror and excitement that Aliens gives. One of my favorite memories as a child is watching Aliens and Terminator 2 at home all by myself over and over again. I was probably like 7 years old at the time haha. Thankfully I have an awesome mom who loved the movies too, so she let me watch them to my hearts content. For me, Aliens is my favorite movie of all time. In my 34 years of existence, I simply have not seen another movie that has stuck with me or has made as much of an impact as Aliens. It will forever hold a special place in my heart. RIP Bill Paxton. You were a legend.

[@mikeyvester]

There is one absolute and unconditional truth in the universe, Aliens is the greatest motion picture ever.

[@ilikethecokev2]

Truly a masterpiece.

[@hcaz5818]

mikeyvester totally ruined what it's all about

[@Naldo2001]

Lt. Gormon is just like Lt. Wolfe from Platoon. Inexperienced in the field

[@jimbobeire]

7:41 that slow panning zoom of Ripley's hand is suggestive of a FaceHugger.

[@Private-Hudson]

The knife scene is sped up Gary. Look at Apone's face and you'll see

[@MegaKilerr]

My favourite movie of all time!

[@WooZIE997]

mine too man ive been watching it for 28 years lol

[@joeyshuny5]

Me too!!!!

[@josephmakowski5975]

My 2nd favorite movie. Beaten by Terminator 2: Judgement Day

[@alexanderadonyae7937]

💯💯💯💯

[@JoelCraike]

Aliens is my favourite movie too

[@Tomurow]

I just finished watching this great review only to find that Hudson has actually passed away... 😢. Game over man... 😭

[@dustman96]

Game over...

[@shadekerensky3691]

lol And it's funny to think that realistically that Queen would have been rattling around in the leg cavity and they would have been like, "Is there debris in there? Oh, that's the Queen." *hits landing skid release button and the Queen falls out screaming to hit the ground with splat* "Welp, let's get back to the Sulaco."

[@Bat-Twenty-Two]

It was apparently James Remar as the original Hicks. I think it was for the best that Biehn got the role, one of the reasons being we didn't have dueling gravely crusty voices between Remar and Henriksen.

[@rogermazuca4582]

Should've sprinkled in a little Michael Wincott and wow 😮 Loved that he was in Resurrection 👄

[@Rilyn666]

whats weird is that when the camera is passing through the locker room / armoury there SA-80 rifle along with the pulse rifle and flame throwers :D

[@arthurreyes2632]

Bill Paxton is the only actor killed by a Terminator, Alien and Predator.

[@unropednope4644]

Lance henrikson almost makes the cut. He's been killed by an terminator and a predator.

[@Otokichi786]

2:40 Hold on there, Spunkmeyer, We don't find out Ripley's (and Hicks') first names until near the end of the Special Edition! (No reveal in the original.) I bought the Special Edition Laserdisc (!) back in the day and found out all kinds of things that weren't in the theatrical version. 5:45 It was interesting to see "Haldley's Hope" and "Newt" before her family found the Alien spacecraft. (Laserdisc!) 9:15 I thought that the "Sulaco" resembled a fully deployed Swiss Army knife, displaying menace. 10:50 I wonder how many Tomboys got fed that line in elementary school? 13:06 Only on the SE Laserdisc before DVDs arrived. 15:04 Ditto. 17:00 I was suspicious about how quickly Ripley was able to connect/comfort Newt. "Sisterhood" didn't wash; Ripley had to have been a Parent. Once again, I didn't get the complete picture until the SE Laserdisc showed "Amanda Ripley," which the theatrical version didn't. 20:50 Details that I'm never going to un-hear.:( 22:00 Blow up the cooling pipes and it's "Nostromo' go boom!" again. Should Ripley have said that to Gorman? Aside from Flame units and a shotgun, "harsh language" against the Alien drones would turn this "Bug Hunt" into "Custer's Last Stand." 25:55 Pandemonium breaks out, 3 or 4 are burnt or taken, and it's "Vasquez time." 41:08 Not in the theatrical movie.

[@PipeRetrogamer]

28:40 since xenomorphs have a similar social structure to ants, it may have been a scout.

[@michaelnicely4102]

I wanna believe the company sent a guy (Gorman ) who has no experience to lead knowing he will mess up and a least one of them might come back facehuggered

[@jimbobeire]

Burke probably handpicked him, he wanted someone who was still used to automatically following orders and not experienced enough to spot when someone has a different agenda.

[@5oups3yeVi3w]

So glad I came across your channel :D

[@BirdsElopeWithTheSun09]

I just realized that the Dropships and APC's from the first Killzone game look almost exactly like the ones from this movie.

[@nicholassnyder2241]

Great, under-rated games, Horizon Zero Dawn is great as well, Go Guerilla Games!

[@Tony-rn5fm]

thank you james cameron for aliens

[@yaquelineventosa7100]

@Dench2020 shut the fuck up.

[@thefabul1zer949]

Love your reviews guys, so much passion for the subject matter. Great stuff!

[@pyrodiscoflash6115]

Alien is The Monster in The Doomed Ship in Space, Aliens is the Action Prequel to their Invasion of Earth, then they go Art House for some reason, This Movie is Just Joy of Cinema, Awesome Review

[@Private-Hudson]

I can still remember going to the pictures to see this back in '86, And my god what an experience..My number one film and always will be..It completely blew me away...It'll always be a classic just like the original Alien before it...Brilliantly Directed And Acted..In camera effects just like Rob Bottin - The Thing..better than CGI and always will be...Hick's was a great choice James Cameron just said play Reese from the terminator to Michael Biehn..Do you see the Likeness? And you'll be ok, great actor.Great review guy's and even now at 48 years old I still get the same excitement out of this classic as Ian did, The visuals..oh my god..lol....R.I.P - Bill Paxton you'll be sorely missed by my generation who grew up watching you..Safe Journey Hudson..Miss you Bill Paxton film will never be the same again, great Actor..

[@lesleyhulshoff6563]

I like your reviews,... were on the same level on opinions on movies... very detailed....keep it up!

[@oliviawilliams6204]

Newt tales is no longer canon... but there is a novel covering those event now called River of pain

[@lunapyrope9683]

I wish Jonesy got to be around more in Aliens. He was Ripley’s comfort, even holding hands with him for 60 years. But I guess that’s part of the symbolism, that Ripley loses her old comforts and has to move on. And as much as I love Vasquez as a character, I kind of hate how they did brownface on Goldstein as opposed to getting a Latina actress to play her. And yes, I know she has Brazilian heritage but they really darkened her skin and gave her a stereotypical accent.

[@morningstar9233]

In another video about the film learned that Goldstein came to audition for a part not knowing much about the film. She assumed from the title "Alien" that the film was about illegal aliens (or immigrants) and adopted the Latina look in reference to many illegal immigrants in America having these origins. She was shocked to discover the actual story of the film and the bemused casting directors decided to keep her look as they felt it added to the credibility of the military unit, in that the army recruits soldiers from a wide diversity of ethnic backgrounds. So it was really an accident that they decided to run with. They chose Goldstein because she's good and were not looking for someone to play a Latina, it's just how she showed up on the day.

[@mattmidgley4275]

This film is a perfect example of how to take a fantastic film and open up its universe instead of just copying and pasting what the first did, just as T2 did OTSR 👊👊

[@johnashley327]

We're on a space elevator to hell. Going down.

[@MuckMan_Movies]

My favourite film of all time! Went as far as getting tattoos including Ripley, Alien, chestburster and facehugger on my arm. As well as naming our dog Hadley.

[@BirdsElopeWithTheSun09]

Another reason for why the marines are so believable is that the guy that plays Apone was in actually in the military.

[@FireTiger941]

Yes, and Al Matthews actually assisted in training the crew to behave like Marines! :)

[@adamduffield7782]

Yep Al Mathews served in Vietnam. And it shows . RIP Al Mathews you were a legend

[@johnnymcauliffe1289]

47:12 "Smack my Bishop" -Prodigy

[@Jose_Hunters_EWF_Remixes]

I've been in love with Sigourney since I was a teen...

[@TheRedDevil-1968]

Van Lewen from Wutani was played by Paul Maxwell, who years earlier was the voice of Steve Zodiac in the classic "FIREBALL XL5."

[@Bamfism]

Easily TOP 5 MOVIES of ALL time!!!!

[@dangottlieb5383]

Never really understood the beginning of this movie. Why is it the analysis team that went through the lifeboat "centimeter by centimeter found no evidence of the creature" Ripley described? There must have been tons of trace evidence of the Alien. It was all over the lifeboat, slobbering goo out its mouth and so on. At this point in the movie Burke would not have been able to cover up the evidence, and the company would have no reason to suppress the evidence, so what is going on?

[@jonaskoelker]

> We got phased plasma [pulse] rifles I'm guessing they're in the 40 Watt range, based on how much of the crew from The Terminator reappears in this film: Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, James Cameron behind the camera, Stan Winston doing the special effects. ("It's just what you see here, pal" // "uzi nein milimeedah" // "you can't do that" // "wrong!")

[@bbtb785]

LOL...Gorman gets knocked out by some falling boxes - I laughed so hard I peed a little.

[@christopherprior5307]

Terrific fabulous brilliant review knocked out the ball park as always thankyou

[@johnw8578]

Saw this movie at the theater in '86 as a teen and loved it!

[@Emma-ll5wv]

I love Vasquez too - I really feel her roar of frustration when she realises her leg doesn't work any more.

[@BlackDonner305]

Great work as always, guys.

[@dejabu24]

RIP bill Paxton

[@seanknight2516]

For a first time viewing, the theatrical cut works better, you know what Ripley and the and the marines know. The directors cut is good but seeing newts dad getting face hungered spoils it a little.

[@jackcraven2266]

Great review of all time cult classic movie guys! IMO, no matter what happens to the Alien franchise in the future, Aliens will always be one of the best action sci-fi films ever made.

[@mongomongo7664]

I don't mind seeing colonialists before they were wiped out the calm before the storm

[@HDGuy001]

Just finished your Poltergeist (1982) review which was absolutely SPOT ON! Now I'm binge-watching all your other reviews! Aliens is one of my favorite sci-fi movies of all time and here I am!

[@bentramer682]

This movie will always make me feel 11 years old again I love this movie, no matter how depressing it can get, I still have so much fun watching it.

[@robertallen2109]

I like the theory that Gorman was a company plant. I've heard though that he's supposed to represent inept officers on the American side of the Vietnam war.

[@yourdashingheroidol7909]

An unwitting plant perhaps. Maybe chosen for his inexperience/testing/pysche evaluations etc. Don't think he seemed in any way culpable. He represents the Officer candidates who gain their commission through schooling etc. rather than enlisted field experience. That West point/Annapolis grad stacked w/ribbons on their chest in school, assuming that translates in the field when they are assigned a platoon etc. and know more than those with actual experience. Gorman was that type of character. Don't think he was evil though. Just human and flawed.

[@Sixstringman]

He was the perfect officer........ on paper.

[@adrianvaughn3170]

Fantastic review of a forever fantastic achievement in filmmaking! Thanks guys!

[@Blizzard757575]

I love Iain's enthusiasm.

[@ShogunOrta]

Maybe Ripley thought shooting the queen's birthing canal "was" shooting at the queen. She probably didn't think the queen could detach from the birthing canal.

[@Cwhirt910]

How I always took it, plus it's a bigger target/more fleshy so takes damage easier than the aliens do.

[@d3athr0ck3r]

Ripley vs Ash I'd like to see that

[@teddybeer6206]

Evil Dead Ash or Alien 1 Ash?

[@jimbobeire]

I think Burke just undid the bolts holding the jars for the facehuggers, then in the time it took the facehuggers to knock the jars over, he was able to get out the door.

[@rossross9281]

😂 all the times I’ve watched aliens and it never occurred to me that ripley should just grenade the queen at the end 🤦‍♂️

[@Cwhirt910]

I just thought she figured the egg sac was attached to the queen and blowing that up would injure/kill the queen.

[@slothstradamus89]

I think at that point it was more about psychologically fucking the Queen up. Ripley was aware the station was gonna blow, and that the Queen and the whole hive are gonna be destroyed anyways. The Queen DIDN'T know that, so she sees Ripley destroying her entire life's work and offspring and she loses it, writhing uncontrollably and screaming. This was Ripley getting back at the Queen by taking her babies away...the same way the Xeno's took from Ripley any chance she had of having a life with her daughter, Amanda. Also, pretty sure Ripley didn't know the Queen could just detach from her egg sac and pursue them. She thought the Queen was gonna be stuck down there, too massive to move anywhere...and doomed to perish in the explosion while having her last moments consist of mourning the loss of her entire brood. Pretty poetic, really.

[@dbexodia10]

If a film is done right, the technical errors just become another enjoyable aspect.

[@PopFlipCatchStickRol]

I've seen Aliens probably 10 times and not once did I notice the hole cut into the ground for Bishop when their getting dragged out the air lock lol.

[@Cwhirt910]

I think that what makes the movie so amazing you probably did notice it but you're just enjoying the movie so much that your brain doesn't fully register it till someone points it out.

[@TheCLAYDODSON]

the only thing i hate about Aliens is the fact that there were only 12 people on the sulaco and that there wasn't even reinforcements.

[@shadekerensky3691]

Which also sadly makes sense considering the over-reliance on drones that a company in the future (and nowadays) has so they can save money which is attributed to greed means that the Sulaco is mainly run by a military "smart" AI like Mother and machines to maintenance "her" which would invalidate any use of organics on-board.

[@thesuncollective1475]

Nice ..seen this film about 20 times (probably nearer 50)..met Ripley once in a airport..she's very tall!

[@Davidcross0121]

Would love a good alien game. We have had alien games but none at the level I want. Ain't played the latest game isolation. The first two dead space games were spot on to how I would want a alien game

[@airfixx_8952]

Long bless Bill Paxton........ The manner of his passing is a tragedy. Love him to bits! So many memorable characters & performances. "That wasn't funny, man!"..... Thanks to you, Bill; it was f'kn hilarious! RiP my man!

[@noneya3635]

It kills me that this movie, Wrath of Khan, The Thing etc still hold up with practical effects after all these years and STILL only had a budget of 18.5, 12 and 15 million dollars respectively. Where as the new age Alien Prequels look like bad video game effects, and are completely dated for the year they came out.

[@JohnDenverAirport]

I love the idea of Xenomorph Interior Decorators .... there's a reality home-makeover show in there somewhere ... "I love what you've done with your spacecraft here but, hmmm, these walls and hallways, they're too obtuse, angular: I'm thinking, I really want to go organic in here ..."

[@BrotherJP333SP]

Bishop stands as my favorite character with Hicks a close second.

[@lotrgirl275]

Queen beats bishop. Thanks for the chess reference, James Cameron 😁