ALIENS (1986) - what the haters missed - film analysis / review

[@PaulFurber]

Folks, run don't walk and buy the full version of this. It's a really good analysis, even by Rob's standards, about the logistics of horror and action movies which is something I've never heard articulated before. It seems obvious but it's mega important that the physical and technological elements in these kinds of movies are plausibly explained, carefully tracked and detailed enough to fit seamlessly into the plot.

[@BlueMarsalis]

Does he justify them leaving no one on the Sulaco?

[@PaulFurber]

@@BlueMarsalis The original treatment had Bishop remaining on the Sulaco for the whole plot. In the final version, Bishop is with the landing party but can remote pilot the ship anyway, a piece of info that is seamlessly communicated to us. Not a problem. Can't remember what Rob says about it.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

@@PaulFurber I figure the justification for having the Sulaco empty (or just with Bishop aboard) is that a person might enforce quarantine regulations when Burke tries to bring a specimen on board, by whatever method. Bishop, being an android, would obey the Company protocol, and the information that Burke engineered the whole situation on LV-426 by sending the prospectors out to the location of the ship, is inserted into the movie pretty cleanly. The aliens are terrifying opponents, but Burke is the enemy.

[@BlueMarsalis]

@@PaulFurber Still dumb as rocks, the whole plot occurs because no one's onboard at the end of the day because of pure hubris essentially, it's an enormous contrivance.

[@druunderwood5602]

I just checked the colony log. Dated 0-6-1-2-2-0-7-9, BladeRunner timeline.

[@WMFilms25]

There are haters of ALIENS?

[@X2Magneto]

My thoughts exactly.

[@breadordecide]

When released it was seen as a needless sequel to a masteriece and just a dumb action movie. Lesson: dont listen to knee jerk early reactions to a film.

[@X2Magneto]

@@breadordecide it's nice to have that perspective. We often forget so much of what we know is in retrospect.

[@breadordecide]

@@X2Magneto My favorite is how empire strikes back was hated by fans on release. Too dark. Too much of a downer. Cliff hanger ending. Another favorite: critics absolutely hated the shining on release.

[@DaveyMulholland]

I've seen a few highly ignorant youngsters criticising the effects. HaIfwits

[@MindiB]

I’ve read observations that “Alien” is a haunted house and “Aliens” is a roller coaster. I agree that the genre switch was genius, and both movies are excellent and stand on their own merits.

[@collativelearning]

Yes Cameron himself described it exactly that way in The Making of Aliens, which is a great docu (the one they put out when the film was being released).

[@MindiB]

@@collativelearning lol-I knew I’d heard that somewhere! At least I wasn’t exposed trying to take credit for the concept! Thanks for the info.

[@LukeLovesRose]

Both are great. But Aliens is the better film overall thanks to James Cameron's attention to detail and craftsmanship

[@minicle426]

​@@LukeLovesRose Not really.

[@TheUnmitigatedDawn]

If "Alien" is a haunted house and “Aliens” is a roller coaster. What is Alien 3?

[@jameswilkinson259]

I like that Ripley stood counter to the Marines' bravado and bluster with caution and respect for the alien threat. Sometimes being tough isn't enough, and that was a tough lesson to the troops.

[@rexremedy1733]

Yes! To everything! I believe in media, especially in depictions of militaries, the quiet reserved professionals never get any spotlight. Which is a pity! As it would be very interesting to see this in media.

[@sooz5703]

@Black Lesbian Poet isn't that irrelevant?

[@infinitesimotel]

STRRRONG FEMAAALE ROOOOAAAARGH! Nothing more feminine and attractive than a crew cut, spitting and cussing, lifting 50Kg dumbbell beating the shit out of everyone and staring at you menacingly, with a full beard!!! This is the socially acceptable type of woman today, our cultural priests have told us to worship. Also Ripley was exposed to the Alien so she knows what they are up against. The military drills this mentality into you so you can go and kill things, its common for people to complain about how they behave yet also extol them for "kicking ass". I don't agree with the concept of the military but this is how it is.

[@sooz5703]

@Black Lesbian Poet nah im out

[@zacharyberridge7239]

@Black Lesbian Poet you have serious issues.

[@WesCoastPiano]

The most amazing thing about Aliens is how much we end up caring for the supporting cast as much as the stars. Every. Single. Character is given fantastic dialogue and a moment to shine. I've never seen a film since that has that many likable characters in it. It's an absolute masterpiece.

[@WesCoastPiano]

@viewz they confuse smugness with likability

[@Otokichi786]

Take a look at "Train To Busan" (2016) to see how "minor characters" are likeable and sorely missed when...Oops! Spoiler.;)

[@worstxb1playertylerteehc635]

Couldnt care less for them

[@wallywibbly250]

"Every single character" is a bit of a stretch, but I get your point.

[@coinraker6497]

Even though Gorman sacrificed himself for Vasquez at the end I still never cared a lick about him. He was just too stupid and annoying. 🤣

[@247tubefan]

Ash: You still don't know what your dealing with do you? A perfect movie. It's cinematic perfection is matched only by its score. I can't lie to you about my admiration. But you have my endorsement.

[@MrSmokincodz]

Lol 😝

[@eddysandland58]

"For A Human Made Film Anyway!" Lol

[@chrissyknowsitall5170]

You have my deepest sympathy ‼️‼️‼️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@other-terrestriallifeform1851]

That is absolutely the most brilliant comment on this whole sock drawer of a thread my friend!WELL SAID!

[@LUCKO2022]

Perfect my ass. It skips the Alien infestation. I wanted to see the colony reaction to the Alien. Plus we don't get to see inside the ship more either that annoys me since the Jordan's went in differently than the Nostromo crew. I want to see what else is in that ship. Plus it contradicts the original film because the company already knew about the signal, the Alien and such. So waiting 57 years after the Nostromo fails to shop up is complete hogwash.

[@NegotiableHemingway]

Everything about the aliens crawling on the ceiling scene when they’re all in the room wondering where the all are is one of if not the most intense, suspenseful and excellent scenes I’ve ever seen. The cinematography, the lack of sound or music and how the room is blood red indicating impending doom. Fantastic scene!

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

I saw that back in the 80's when I was about 12, I totally emptied my ass.

[@minicle426]

Which is strange, since they should have been right on top of Hicks the moment he popped his head up.

[@chkooper3985]

I think it's because they look like giant cockroachs.

[@iwaswrongabouteveryhthing]

when the alien came out of the water near the girl was intense

[@DVincentW]

The sentry guns in the tunnels were in the version I saw in the theater in 1986. It built the Fear and suspense effectively. People in the cinema were freaking out.

[@kanakawase]

Aliens may be an action movie, but it's still scarier than most modern horror movies. The way the aliens tear through a platoon of heavily armed space marines just makes them more terrifying.

[@Otokichi786]

Yes, but many of the Colonial Marines were disarmed and only Smartgun operators Vasquez and Drake were "mowing down corn."

[@ravensthatflywiththenightm7319]

It's certainly scarier than the first and third movies. Escalation is key to any sequel, and Aliens delivers.

[@AlchemistOfNirnroot]

I don't find any of them scary tbh. I just like the concepts, style and originality. The latter is definitely missing from horror films as of late.

[@springbloom5940]

The Marines were fuckups that were setup as stooges.

[@watamatafoyu]

I think it's the humans in Aliens that come off as much more human than most modern horror victims, which seem more like paper cutouts to be shredded.

[@Yora21]

Never quite thought about it before, but it's interesting that in the final fight, Ripley is taking on the alien queen not with any of the weapons of the soldiers, but with equipment she is familiar with and that comes from her walk of life. That's another way of how she exerts her own agency, and a case where the non-combatant female hero does not have to suddenly turn into a very powerful soldier who is better at soldiering than the experienced professionals.

[@stormtempterf8058]

Plus she needed to remove the queen without undue harm, because if she went and got a pulse rifle and put enough lead in the queen to bring her down, the acid would eat right through the hangar and then the hull.

[@wiseauserious8750]

Well said

[@watamatafoyu]

Uh, she used the soldier's grenade launcher, flame thrower, and machine gun, taped together, on the queen, the grown protectors and the eggs.

[@airnoiphongsavath3340]

Spot on!!!!!!😀😀😀😀

[@maratonlegendelenemirei3352]

@@watamatafoyu Don't forget the Phase Plasma Rifle in the 40watt range.

[@anonymousanonymous5327]

One of the biggest insults to the series was trying to replicate apone in Idris Elba's character, not everyone sees it but it's there. The characters of aliens were incredible and the cast were perfect

[@CanadianPale]

True, but that just echoes how _every_ piece of media in the franchise tries to replicate Ripley...

[@Banana_Split_Cream_Buns]

Same goes for Hudson and Fifeld.

[@kenobi639]

3:19 Rob Ager predicated the premise for Alien: Romulus with big chap making a return. Prophetic!

[@userb3nje909]

Came here to make this comment.

[@spinlok3943]

Wait a minute, this movie had haters? I thought it was against the law of the universe to hate it!

[@winternow2242]

Lots of Prometheus fans hated this movie because the people who loved it seemed to hate Prometheus.

[@uberderek]

@@winternow2242 yeah, it seems that the people who were critical of prometheus don't apply any of their same criticisms to aliens because aliens won't hold up at all.

[@Clay3613]

Jay from RLM.

[@minicle426]

Well the annoying/rabid fanboys will certainly tear your throat out for daring to criticize it. :P

[@southlondon86]

In space no one can hear those haters.

[@fistyann8434]

I slept in my older brother’s room the night I saw Aliens. Scared the shit outta me, *and* it’s a longtime favorite. Infinitely rewatchable.

[@rifle2563]

Rob's videos feel like an older youtube, his depth and observations are always well thought out and presented, thank you for the content rob!

[@Hoedatzodan]

What nobody ever talks about is the letter 'G' from Giger's name, in witch he designed the Alien ship. He was a true artist in that sense.

[@RandoSando.]

"Bringing back that alien in a sequel is a ridiculous prospect." Alien romulus: 👁👄👁

[@johnnytactical3054]

It’s such a great movie…it’s not even about the Aliens…it’s about the struggle for human survival, mother/daughter bonding, a bit of love and betrayl

[@stormtempterf8058]

Its a little bit of a lot of things, slathered over a very large vietnam allegory framework.

[@toweypat]

(Vin Diesel voice) It's about family!

[@johnnytactical3054]

@@proto-geek248 they are not the focus of the movie.

[@rdecredico]

all movies are about us, ya nimrod

[@johnnytactical3054]

@@pellaria8012 I enjoyed it…great change of pace from Alien

[@Bale4Bond]

3:20 "Bringing that particular Alien back in a sequel is a ridiculous prospect" Well have i got news for you, Rob…

[@robertbusek30]

He knows, he’s done a review of Romulus…

[@Bale4Bond]

@@robertbusek30 He didn‘t know at the time this video was released…

[@jamesalp01]

I just want to say, I appreciate the fact that you refer to the monster as "the alien," and not as "the xenomorph," which has become common recently. I have always felt that the use of that word was the writers' way of quickly and economically showing the audience that the Lt. Gorman character did not have the respect of the marines serving under his command. He prefers technical jargon over the pithier phrase, "bug hunt." It seems to me that those who use the term "xenomorph" as though it has become a semi-official name for the alien creature are only revealing that they don't get what Cameron and Hurd were doing in that part of their script.

[@manart6506]

Xenomorph maybe makes more sense in many English speaking places but in Mexico we only know the creature as the “Alien” as we don’t know that word from anywhere else and wasn’t translated for the titles of the movies. *we have the word “Alienígena” but it’s easy not to think about it with just “Alien”.

[@jekw23]

That’s actually a very good point. It was a way of quickly developing the character that’s now used everywhere.

[@collativelearning]

Good one. Totally agree. Xenomorph ... yeah, sounds like the kind of unnecessary technical jargon a brown-noser would come up with.

[@gregor5423]

@@collativelearning speaking of brown nosing , well the exact opposite. At 16:09 you refer to Riply’s nightmare bursting out of her as a face hugger . Surely it would be a lovely cute baby xenomorph ? . I’m an idiot for pointing this out , I know .

[@moviearchaeologist9655]

@@collativelearning Or a Xenophobic 😉

[@my-back-yard]

The genre change is one of the keys to this film's success. Arnie changing from Villain to Hero is why T2 has been the only good sequel to that series. Empire has the other guys winning. Sequels without major revolutions/evolutions from the original usually don't do well.

[@TheRealBDouble]

We can all agree that Alien and Aliens are great, classic films and that all of the actors, especially Sigourney Weaver, did VERY well.

[@alexjaybrady]

yup

[@TheVidkid67]

Bill Paxton was my favourite character "What the fuck are we gonna do man? We're doomed...game over man!"

[@coinraker6497]

@@TheVidkid67 yeah he was great for some comic relief. "Why don't you put her in charge!". 🤣

[@TheVidkid67]

@@coinraker6497 They were all top class, but for me he certainly stood out. I can really relate to him too because I've been in situations in places of work over the years where's there's always one who's a doomsday panic merchant 😂

[@LukeLovesRose]

Alien 3 and Resurrection were nightmares

[@mroctober3657]

The troop carrier vehicle is actually a tug for 747 jumbo jets that they got from Heathrow Airport.

[@stormtempterf8058]

They scavenged alot of old airline and airport materials as well. Most of Gateway Station and some of the Sulaco and colony were made with the stuff, like the bathroom sink in Ripley's room. It played right into their premise though, because a spacestation would be made of lightweight, undersized materials and items like an airplane, as would starship fixtures and a frontier colony prefab unit. A subtle detail I enjoy is the scene of Burke and Goreman arriving, as it shows how tight and cramped the p-ways are, and there is also trash and graffiti, which shows that not only is Ripley outcast from her old job, but she's been flung down to the very bottom of the station. A dockworker living in an almost pod apartment in the bad part of town. And the scene is like 3 seconds, lol.

[@mroctober3657]

@@stormtempterf8058 It's almost like embedded advertising for British Airways before such thing was invented.

[@rosiehawtrey]

Now you mention it...

[@diamondtek380]

You're absolutely right!

[@johntracy72]

The Cybertruck looks a lot like the APC.

[@sovcast8760]

I'd always wondered why they weren't overrun by sheer weight of numbers twords the end and why Ripley didn't encounter more xenomorphs when she went to rescue Newt. The inclusion of the auto guns in the director's cut answered that question and therefore, in my opinion, is the best and most complete version.

[@leonefurlan137]

Never thought about that! Good observation! (But yes,i see now you'd really expect more aliens to be arround the "queens lair")

[@fernandonavales5887]

Very good point. I always thought of the remaining xenomorphs guarding the queen Alien as the "Royal Guard" Aliens

[@PucknellProductions]

I figured the Queen sent most of the drones to the colony for the final assault and only left a skeleton guard

[@mallninja9805]

I love Aliens, but I have to concede that it _is_ a remake disguised as a sequel. All the same story beats are present. The slow burn buildup where nothing happens for the first half(ish) of the film, the Aliens slowly picking off the crew, the self-destruct of the infected main setting by detonating its thermo-nuclear reactor power plant, the surprise "it's not over yet!" of a single stowaway alien is aboard the escape ship, and final victory by blowing it "out the goddamn airlock!"

[@ravecrab]

Cameron did the same thing in Terminator 2 - it's more what I would term a remix than a remake. He deliberately brings back plot beats in both sequels but puts a twist on them to subvert audience expectations. In T2 it would be the famous reveal that Arnold is the good guy this time, or the tanker at the end being full of liquid nitrogen instead of petroleum. However, it's clearly not a remake in the real sense of the word because it dramatically develops from the original storyline rather than just repeating it. Ager touches upon it in his video - Aliens is fundamentally about Ripley overcoming her psychological trauma from the original film. Again, very similar to Sarah Connor in T2 - both women who've been traumatised and then have their stories questioned and scoffed at by predominantly male authority figures. And I think this is why the change of genre works so well - because the chance to pick up a gun and fight back is exactly what gives Ripley her catharsis and her growth.

[@IrishTechnicalThinker]

When Rob uploads a video I instantly watch. Very few channels are like that for me. Keep up the amazing work brother.

[@rickmaurer8726]

In the Alien movie comic, I remember while inspecting the alien space pilot chair, Lambert or Dallas touch something on the chair and deactivate the beacon. Hence why the colonists never detected a beacon.

[@jashloseher578]

This was also the case in the novelization as well.

[@proto-geek248]

That may also be in the novelization.

[@karnage8960]

The anisadora's crew does that in alien isolation

[@srsmopar3808]

When I first saw these movies, I just thought they were great movies. After my experience in the corporate world, I have come to realize that these are stunning masterpieces, and are the most realistic depiction of current corporate realty. All corporations are Weyland Yutani, and if your company is not currently like that, it will be soon. Be prepared.

[@n.b.l.5709]

Now think of all the possible "black projects" being done under them all...and the government...

[@yellowjackboots2624]

The man who hates Aliens hates life.

[@fractaljack210]

After Aliens and T2, I wish Cameron had been given Predator 2.

[@proto-geek248]

Predator 2 is very good flick.

[@KajiCarson]

'Aliens' has haters?!

[@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017]

"The only survivor in the first film was Ripley". Jonesy: Am I nothing to you?

[@robertbusek30]

I wonder what happened to Jonesy when Ripley didn’t come home…

[@richardmcgowan1651]

When something as simple as "looking up" can be such an epic moment in a film tells you everything you need to know great care was taken in making this film. Every Aliens fan knows what part Im talking about.

[@SpaceJockey805]

I didn’t think we needed a video covering this non-issue.

[@vorabee1847]

James Camerons characters in his movies are always well done. The relationships, the humans on their own, i was still a kid as i first realized that pattern in jims movies. Abyss, Aliens, Titanic, Avatar, etc.. At first it may doesnt look like it, but without it the stories wouldnt work as they do.

[@Anautistictherapist]

There are so few haters of Aliens that they aren’t worth worrying about.

[@ExoticalT369]

This reply. ❤️👏

[@jaimehewitt365]

It's a good action film. But just wish it wasn't so corny. The dialogue in this film makes you cringe. Used to love the film when I was little. But the acting bar weaver is so bad.

[@guillermoreyes9054]

​​@@jaimehewitt365 Just out of curiosity, what dialogue are you talking about?

[@gridlock7425]

I made my own edit of the film, between the director and theatrical cuts. Kept the Ripley/daughter stuff Cut any scene of the colony or its population before Rip and marines arrive, because it's far better to discover the colony with the characters to keep the tension Chopped that one goofy scene of Vasquez and Hudson finding hamsters Kept the sentry guns This cut preserves the mystery of the colony, preserves the maternal angle for Ripley, preserves the tense scene with the sentry guns (without which it feels like the film jumps around) and then everything else is as-is.

[@MrHereWeGoYo]

Perfect.

[@RepublicTrooper125]

What I also loved about Aliens is that even though almost all of the marines died they put up a good fight compared to other militaries in most horror/sci fi action movies. Armies are useless tv trope is an extremely tiring one and I’m shocked that Aliens approach wasn’t used more often than what is shown in the film industry!

[@HeyMykee]

Agreed. I think it's because they're the secondary characters, not just backgrounded like the military usually is.

[@HeyMykee]

Plus I believe Cameron was paying tribute to David Drake's futuristic militarty science fiction in his Hammer''s Slammers series and others. One character is even named Drake. The stories of course are entirely about the military unit and it's composed of unique individuals, though they're all expendable units at the end of the day if necessary.

[@neilholmes8200]

7:05 I love that the colonists are lead by a character played by Mac Mcdonald, when I first saw the extended edition it was before imdb, so I didn't know he was called Commander Simpson. In my head I used to call him Captain Hollister, his character name on Red Dwarf

[@WhatsUpFella]

I’m honestly a fan of every mainline entry in the series. They’re all doing their own things and contribute to the universe. I use to loath Resurrection but I’ve even grown to appreciate that. It’s one of the few franchises that’s auteur focused. That being said the original Alien is for me certainly the best. Great video as usual, gave me more to appreciate about Cameron’s sequel.

[@WhiteChocolate74]

Resurrection is just so much fun

[@misterpinkandyellow74]

@@WhiteChocolate74 is is garbage

[@Mrtwistedblack]

Resurrection is fine in part but the film has no substance in the middle. It just starts and ends. I loved the human / alien baby it was terrifying in the cinema. It’s noises it made were absolutely on point.

[@arklowrockz]

When I first saw it when I was 18 I absolutely fucken HATED that Vasquez got killed in it!! For me my favourite thing about the film is the complete immersivity in it. My imagination utterly captured for its duration.

[@collativelearning]

A friend of mine said Vasquez ruined the film. He hated her. I thought she was great ... a female fighter in a movie who was actually believable. Jeanette Goldstein even had the muscle to back it up.

[@MrDirtclodfight]

Saw it in the theater opening night on acid twice. Laughed my ass off the entire time it was completely absurd

[@tezzerii]

Vasquez - my favourite character after Ripley! Her death annoyed me too. Favourite line - one of the guys says "Hey Vasquez, you ever been mistaken for a man?" Her reply, "No. Have you?"

[@robertbusek30]

@@tezzeriiAnd that guy talking trash was, of course, Hudson…

[@bryguysays2948]

I remember seeing this for the 1st time as a kid. The beeping sound(that detects movements) getting louder and louder the closer the Aliens got to the Marines made my anxiety go through the roof!

[@waynegoddard4065]

I still get a nice feeling when I sit down to watch any of the Alien films. Same feeling when you change channels and find The Thing is just starting. Predator films do it too. Even the sucky ones. I love it all.

[@ericwilliams626]

Cameron relied on different visual elements for telling a story. He was more Americana about it, things blowing up, guns going off, its a war by golly! Ridley is more about mood, establishing a psychological battle, the elements are different, its not about guns and violence. That's the key difference between the two. Cameron had a plot, Ridley illustrated a problem. It really boils down to who creates the best PROBLEM and how do they solve this problem visually. Guns are easy, but a visual scenario is what Ridley is good at and he proved it with his ending to Alien. We want a lever to pull to exit all our problems away into space, now don't we?

[@violinmerchant]

"I don't believe in the term 'canon' to describe broad narratives spanning multiple franchise entries by different writers who had different ideas. It's not like there's an ACTUAL Alien universe which all the movie, books, comics and video games conform to." This is why I love this channel

[@darkprince2490]

Other people have noted the same thing before. Ager likely copies some of "his ideas" from the comment sections of his videos.

[@violinmerchant]

@@darkprince2490, my friend, are you suggesting that this marginally subtle jab at MCU style autism is such a profound insight that Rob needed to plagiarize it from his comments? 🥴

[@darkprince2490]

​@@violinmerchant The comment was not really about Ager but about you and your apparent naivete, as you were gushing with "This is why I love this channel"

[@violinmerchant]

@@darkprince2490 Clearly my comment really rubbed you the wrong way. I still don't understand why but you're clearly trying to provoke me for reasons known only to you. If your second comment is be believed, then the first thing you said is unintelligible. It leaves a person who read it multiple times with the impression that you were implying the quoted excerpt I provided is somehow stolen by Rob Ager from his comment section, with the implication being that I'm too much of a brainless normie to recognize the obvious scam you seem to be implying is being perpetrated in this video. If that's what you are saying, in reference to my comment, then it strikes me as a pretty retarded and misplaced objection since the statement is so generalized and self evident that anyone with half a brain could have independently come to the same conclusion. That is, in fact, the point of the quote. Now if you have an actual problem with my original comment, it would really help me if you could put some actual effort into clarifying what you are trying to say instead of trying to provoke me into a petty argument, which I will gladly do if pressed and which I will almost certainly win.

[@collativelearning]

@@darkprince2490 Lol. That's BS. If I do lift an idea from the comments section I always announce I got it from there. Unlike a lot of other film "analysts" on YT, I have my own ideas and don't need to plagiarize :)

[@lawrencesinderson]

This is the only film I watch and hope that I'm accidentally watching an alternative version where some of my favourite marines actually survive...

[@fermentillc]

This was the 4th movie I ever saw. Great parents right. Ripley will always be the greatest female hero ever portrayed.

[@mk-ultramags1107]

I was lucky as well. I still remember having 'Predator' and 'Commando' on the same VHS when I was 6yrs old. My neighbor had a strict Mom and wasn't allowed to watch anything like that until years later. My house was the movie sanctuary.

[@Sillysillylittleman]

In this movie she was the biggest badass of any movie ever.

[@RolandDobbins]

The single most brilliant aspect of this brilliant film is the choice of title.

[@instinctivelychelsea2905]

I liked the idea of the name of Prometheus with keeping in mind the full Greek myth and all the stories about Prometheus, even with just him stealing the fire for humans.

[@proto-geek248]

Angry Inexperienced Child.

[@melenatorr]

I think the daughter resentment element would have been out of place given Ripley's particular employment situation: she doesn't seem to have "chosen her life in space" out of a sense of adventure or excitement: she was part of team of interstellar truckers, doing grunt work for extremely long hours for what seems to have been very poor treatment and pay. My guess is that Ripley chose the employment that she could get rather than the job she would have been happy to elect. So the daughter's resentment at Ripley would have been a very snarly and distracting storyline that would have needed exploring. I feel the writers and Cameron were correct in leaving it out.

[@sooz5703]

great point

[@collativelearning]

Hmmmm. Ripley is very smart. She seems the type who would find a way to be there for her growing kid.

[@sooz5703]

@@collativelearning also a great point 😂

[@melenatorr]

@@collativelearning Ripley is very smart, but she can't control the schedules and routes of the jobs she's assigned to. The Nostromo isn't the Enterprise, it's a very grungy place to work doing grungy work on its schedule. Makes me think of the situation of the George Raft character in "They Drive By Night", an ambitious an intelligent person trying to move forward in the trucking business. He and his brother don't choose to be out on the road. It's their job.

[@stormtempterf8058]

I agree with Maria. Its a calculated move for most people. They gamble that a few big score long hauls will earn enough for them to get out of the buisness. I don't have anything canonical to back it up, but my feeling of the whole situation was that Ripley got her commercial flight license, was going to do trucking runs for a bit to build up cash and experience, then move on to something bigger, or better, or more stable, or where she could bring her daughter with. She took a risk that a few missed months early on, would get her the flex to be with her much more, later on. I could be biased because my father and one of his uncles also had a similar plan (with trucks not starships). The overhead killed their ability to get ahead though, so they abandoned it for more lucrative, but still remote tradecraft. There were times I wouldn't see my dad for half a year, but then he could take the other half completely off if he wished, or work light, and have the time for us. I look at Ripley, and I see a similar personality and lifeplan intention.

[@SysterYster]

A lot of movies and books nowadays seem to forget the most important step... making people care about the characters. Nothing else matters if I don't care about the characters. At least a little. Make them relatable and logical (from their point of view at least).

[@saiyansomething73]

I think Cameron was going for contrast on multiple levels between Alien and Aliens. First, there was no way he could make a horror themed movie and be able to top or even equal the first movie. So the action route would be a workable alternative. Second, the horror in Alien was reinforced by the crew's lack of or inability to use real weapons against the Xenomorph. So you have people getting to attack the monsters with all the firepower you could dream of. Third, who better to have an expansive arsenal than Space Marines! And instead of single creature, a whole army of them. And fourth, instead of mere survival as a motivation, protection is what drives Ripley through the movie. Both fraternal, as in saving the marines in the hive, and maternal, in her quest to save Newt. Also as a final note, I think the subsequent sequels failed to one degree or another because the two primary plot "roads" had already been taken and anything else would feel like a re-tread.

[@collativelearning]

Totally agree. the sirst two films cover evereything that needed to be covered really. Prometheus had some great expansion ideas, but it was so disconnected from the other films it should have been an entirely new sci-fi movie of its own. It didn't need to be part of the alien universe.

[@toweypat]

The obvious next step for a third Alien movie was to up the ante again--this time by introducing the aliens to a heavily-populated planet, perhaps even Earth. If only!

[@robertbusek30]

Regarding the immense firepower you noted here, Hudson’s speech during the drop explaining to Ripley all the toys they’ve got really drives that home. Yet, as Ripley realizes and Newt actually says, “It won’t make any difference…”

[@RPRsChannel]

*_"So it's just another bug hunt?"_* *_This line in the movie really sparked my imagination as a child and I'd always hope there would be more movies of these marines hunting down these Aliens or similar. The term xenomorph means strange alien, implying this wasn't the first encounter. But when you send time and time again marines to kill off small critters, the term "bug hunt" seems fitting._* *_Thing is, this has a double meaning. It could actually mean they sent in marines to step on what turned out to be just bugs. It also means spending time and resources on what one thought would be something that turns out to be nothing._* *_It could mean another wild goose chase._* *_It either is a real military/marine expression, or they made it a new expression for the movie._*

[@johntracy72]

Well, the aliens were insectiod. They did kind of resemble praying mantises.

[@user-bf6gi4kt4w]

I saw Aliens 17 times in theaters in '86. Hicks (presumably) shoots Hudson after Hudson is dragged down into the subfloor. This 1-2 second cut has been excised from every video version I've seen since. Does anyone else recall this? It's a really quick cut, but it adds a lot of weight to Hicks' comment to Ripley "Hey, if it comes to that, I'll do us both..."

[@wayfaringman8418]

I remember it. That particular moment spawned countless imaginings and recreations of it when I went with friends to hunt some bugs.

[@collativelearning]

Wow, I don't even remember that. Should have kept it in.

[@stevenscott2136]

I never saw that, so it must already have been gone from the VHS home-video way back then. You're the first I've ever heard of it.

[@HailAnts]

I don't think this was ever shot. It was only mentioned in the novelization by Alan Dean Foster. BTW, the _Aliens_ novelization, IMO, was absolutely terrible. Foster is a complete hack who only specializes in novelizations. I think Cameron agreed because when it came to the novelization of his next film, _The Abyss,_ he specifically hired respected author Orson Scott Card to do it. And that one was great. Even if you've seen the movie it's novelization is well worth reading. He adds a huge amount of back story, and speaks for the NTIs without it being stupid..

[@Wallyworld30]

17 Times in theaters? WTF? Do you just go to the theater every day of the week? Most I'd ever seen a film in theaters was Starship Troops was 3 times. First time was on date with girl I was dating, second with my friends and third on my own to absorb everything about the movie.

[@jarodshepard1046]

It is crazy when you think that Ridley went through all of that trauma in a just a few months at the most. She wakes up from blowing one out an airlock to find that she has lost everything and everyone is gone. A month or less later she is sent back to the same planet and goes through all of that. Goes back to sleep and when she wakes up she finds out she is carrying a queen and one is already running around killing and that happens within just a few days lol. The last few months of her life where she is conscious is a terrible nightmare lol

[@jjohnson3469]

Its so well-acted and the supporting characters absolutely make it. Apone is a stand out, and ofc Biehn and Paxton and you can see clearly how Drake and Vasquez get along and how different all the marines are. Bishop is so different from so many of the other roles I know Henriksen from, and his reserved acting is superb. Paul Reiser as the slimy corpie is fantastic, because he's convincing and likable up until he starts sabotaging things.

[@stanimirgeorgiev.87]

The greatest part of the Cameron genius is that back in those days there were no films of this quality and intricately constructed plot and believability of characters for Cameron to watch and learn from, he did it all as a pioneer, on his head. Today some really professional director or / and screenwriter can do more easily something like this quality , because now we have many references that we can use as an example, and from which we can take ideas and vision like Cameron Aliens. But back there, there were no referees of such quality level to compete with which is a huge disadvantage because taking an example, referencing, and competing are some of the most important elements to up-building something. Being first at something always is a big challenge and always the hardest part of anything.

[@rafael357]

The Space Marines are very memorable to this day. I love both their individual characters and interactions. Hicks, Vasquez and Hudson will be remembered forever.

[@minicle426]

I found them mostly a bunch of annoying walking stereotypes. Really couldn't care less once they started dying. 🤷‍♂️

[@joehill6916]

Agreed; Drake and Vasquez get relatively little dialogue but you get their characters and relationship (itself a fantastic and still unusual male-female non-romantic/sexual friendship) instantly.

[@Marc-dj5fk]

I got my 8 year old daughter to watch aliens for the first time recently...she loved it!

[@tragiclantern]

This is easily the finest installment in the entire Alien franchise, in my opinion.

[@yippeeki-yay1691]

One of the greatest sequels/ sci fi horrors of all time, anyone who hates on Aliens isn't even worth responding to.

[@truefilm6991]

Always thought that the mid-late 1980s were a sweet spot. I consider Aliens (the director's cut even more so), together with the first Die Hard, to be the finest and most satisfying popcorn movies (no "message" here) ever made. Perhaps T2 comes close.

[@franciscanstudent]

I'd say that Aliens does have some messages, but they're rather subtle in delivery.

[@truefilm6991]

@@franciscanstudent Yes it does, but as you said, they are not forced. There are topics included such as what motherhood really means (trauma of loss of a child, unconditional love to the point of near self sacrifice, even with a surrogate child), courage and cowardice in the face of real danger, corporate greed, the age old question of what makes us human,....

[@gregsmith7949]

I totally agree. Me personally, I would also add Predator to that list.

[@truefilm6991]

@@gregsmith7949 Yes, absolutely. As testosterone laden as it might be, it's an excellent movie.

[@chongsfury4358]

I remember the underwater movies that came out in 1989 the abyss, deep star 6, and leviathan, I always had a love for those 3 movies, and watch them whenever they're on TV.

[@CodeUltra911]

" 3:19 Bringing back that particular alien for a sequel is a ridiculous prospect" 💀 2024

[@dylanmccormack5542]

Great work Rob. Love this film

[@brainrussell6811]

Brilliant movie. I first watched this upon its release at a late night, 70mm capable screen/theatre in Atlanta along with my best friend, our best girls and a jammed pack audience. Other than the occasional, well-earned giggles, courtesy of Bill Paxton, the audience was both respectful and on-edge... you could literally feel the collective tension rising as the story progressed. And then came the scene when all hell broke out - on film and in the theatre! When Ripley opened that storage hatch and uttered those "famous words" the theatre erupted with people yelling, cursing, jumping out of their seats, pumping fists, etc. I fondly remember a chorus of "kill that bitch!" It was so spontaneous and unexpected. But Cameron is a master writer/storyteller/director... and I have to believe that this response was more the rule than the exception. Anyone who disses this movie either has an agenda or a severe case of ADHD.

[@MarcoGosatti43]

Two of the greatest/scariest films ever made, shocking tbh. I watched them far too young, thinking no problem Lol. They done it's job to scare the hell out of me. The terror, fear, tension, realism makes it pure horror. Both are groundbreaking masterpieces way ahead of it's time.

[@krocketonboost5236]

They don't make'em like this anymore. Legendary movies

[@greyone40]

Hadn't noticed the escape pod being called the Narcissus before. Another Joseph Conrad reference. You nailed it. The characters are what make both of the first alien films fantastic. All the acting was excellent as well. I can't recall any moment where a line seemed inappropriate, out of place, or poorly delivered.

[@collativelearning]

Aliens esp is very underrated in that way. Paul Reiser was brilliant as Carter Burke, but hardly ever gets praised. Paxton was outstanding.

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

It’s interesting that he’s a comedian and plays the villain brilliantly like Robin Williams did in a few films.

[@USALibertarian]

A nearly perfect movie. Cameron is actually a master of human drama.

[@UntitledShowwithBobandPat]

I agree with most of what you said. Most horror sequels lean towards being more action based or comical based. Most horror in essence are mysteries. You are dealing with an unknown. What are some of the greatest unknowns? What's in the dark, strangers, odd acting strangers, what's under the water, what's in space, unknown creatures, and of course death, what it is and what happens to someone's body and or soul after death. The more we learn about something the less scary it is. It can still be dangerous, just not as horrifying.

[@swampmusicinfo]

When watching Aliens the first time with people from Eastern Europe, they really really appreciated the extended cut of Aliens. Seeing the base bustling with people working, with seeing Newts family going to the Navigators wreck got them more interested and invested in the story. The shorthand in the first version is elegant and efficient but if you feel like the colonists are foreign you make lot less assumptions unless it's shown.

[@epo1980]

I am from central-eastern Europe, and I do not really get the point why it is interesting how they reacted. According to you your description their reaction was the same as everyone else's.

[@swampmusicinfo]

@@epo1980 With it jumping to the wrecked base. It's spooky like the story of the Mary Celeste where there is evidence something bad happened. It gets to the action quicker. I think extended cut is more popular now but in my opinion more for the drone guns and scenes like that not the padding showing the colony before the disaster. I like the mystery of not knowing what the colony was like beforehand and just finding it like a grave. I myself prefer the extended cut overall.

[@swampmusicinfo]

@Derry Douglas especially Troll 3

[@ExtremeBogom]

@Derry Douglas Even though Ridley Scott is known for them?

[@C-man553]

Masterpiece. The Mother/Daughter relationship that develops is the central driving key.

[@LukeLovesRose]

Aliens is really about a lost mother and daughter finding each other. And that's one more reason why Alien 3 sucks.

[@chrishateley5582]

Alien: Isolation would've made a great sequel in keeping with the atmosphere of the first movie. It also offered a very clever yet simple explanation to a plot hole that most people don't even realise is there: why the Nostromo picked up the distress beacon from the derelict, while the ship (or ships) that colonised LV426 evidently didn't.

[@proto-geek248]

Which is explained in this video.

[@TheMattyNation]

“GAME OVER MAN. GAME OVER!” - RIP Bill, you are missed! Great video as always!

[@TheCormster]

Hey, I totally think you should make more Warriors videos. The behind the scenes story of Fox/Tom Waites, Luther: Greatest screen villains and Cleon in the game and film

[@collativelearning]

Amazing movie, never boring.

[@TheCormster]

@@collativelearning I know, right; never get tired of it. I wanna remake it into a franchise when I’m older. Has such TV/movie series potential. The film could do with a closer look from you. Watching your new Aliens video whilst typing this

[@josephdarkhelmet9494]

I'd like to know how Burke got the Facehuggers out of their containment quietly and without one of them attaching themselves to his face. How did he get the creatures into Ripley's quarters?

[@Hicks-g1m]

Aliens is such an iconic movie will always stand the test of time. I liked the the other alien movies to the relationship between Newt and Ripley is what made the movie so great losing her daughter and saving Newt felt like Ripley had a second chance

[@minicle426]

I found it pretty dated myself. Oddly, I found Alien held up better.

[@jasonvoorhees310]

It still holds up. Which is why you see the Alien formula used in other movies to this very day. Most previously used in The last voyage to Demeter. It's a great concept when executed well. Relatable characters stuck in one place without escape with a terrifying creature we no nothing about. The sequel has that plus action.

[@swampmusicinfo]

One thing felt amusing were how Eastern European audiences were absolutely horrified the hippy/pioneering colonist parents would take their kids on a prospecting mission! It's kind of a 1970s or neo-hippy cultural trope of parenting.... going off on some speculative wilderness adventure with your kids in tow. Completely Alien to the former CCCP!

[@donniecatalano]

All of this outstanding writing, acting and management... and in 2023 we have that Zegler thingy being a lead in Disney movie. Poor us.

[@LeeWanner]

Aliens! One of my favorite movies. I am never "over it". I'm so happy to see you put out more content on the movie. You've put out a lot of Alien content already, I know (pretty sure I've seen all of it, including the paywall stuff) - I worried in the past that maybe, you know, maybe everything there is to say about it has been said? Then a new upload from you! Looking forward watching in now!

[@PeteFD1986]

Alien 3 is underrated, especially the Assembly Cut

[@swampmusicinfo]

Prometheus is a great film that's an awful Alien film.

[@weisswurstfruhstuck8523]

I as a critic of aliens have to tell you. You are right. It was a good decision to make an action movie not another horror movie! It’s like another development of Ripleys character and could be watched as one long movie even with a second climax ! Great analysis Mister Ager and you are right. I rest my case. I lost 😂

[@retractingblinds]

12:50 There is one horror film I can think of which succeeds while eschewing/muddying the perception of physicality and reality, Jacob's Ladder. I've recently fallen in love with it, and I'm surprised to see you haven't covered it. Would you have any interest in it? Sorry for the off-topic comment :)

[@arklowrockz]

Jacob's Ladder is an awesome horror film. one of my absolute favourites

[@jeanpaulmichell7243]

I've mentioned it to Ager, he replied MAYBE he'll do an analysis of it (I also asked for Angel Heart, I love doing a double feature with it and Jacob's Ladder); he said the movies explain themselves well enough at the end, so not much reason to analyze. I actually disagree slightly; there is still plenty to talk about and marvel at, both films are incredibly well made and worthy of attention, I think.

[@retractingblinds]

@@jeanpaulmichell7243 I see where he is coming from. I feel Jacob's Ladder is hard to miss, but there is definitely art to its atmosphere that deserves appreciation as well as its depiction of characters. There's not much to analyze but plenty to talk about.

[@collativelearning]

In my last viewing about maybe 7 yrs ago, I felt the film was self-explanatory (even though I like it), but might go back to it anyway.

[@coinraker6497]

Yeah it's a great movie and I know you mean the original because the remake I couldn't even sit through. @Jeanpaul Mitchell, yeah Angel Heart is awesome too. I mean can you get any better than Robert DeNiro playing the devil!

[@BUGHUNTER6]

"Bringing the original alien back is a ridiculous prospect" I agree... some directors though

[@sorensaxson3631]

This movie, all i can say is an eternal masterpiece. I just love it!

[@americankulak2294]

I think it's the greatest sci-fi, action movie ever made. It's absolutely flawless. Watch the third act. It's a solid hour of a rollercoaster ride. He brings you right to the point where one more scene of exposition would have been too much...and then he drops the brakes and let's the whole movie go nuts.

[@HeyMykee]

Weird theory just for fun-there's a Queen, right? And a Bishop. In a sense Ripley is the Human queen, and they're each protecting their offspring. But the human way and the alien way is totally different-Alien offspring are nothing but expendable untits to be thrown endlessly at the enemy, to win through sheer numbers and kamikazi suicide tactics. I wonder if Vasquez and Drake are like Knights? Taking a few steps forward, then turning and firing their big guns? OK, not serious, just playing around.

[@gregsmith7949]

Hmmm. 🤔 Great insight.

[@collativelearning]

Yeah definitely a parallel, though Ripley questioned which was worse after Burke's antics.

[@lewislewis3531]

Not sure I'd call it an action movie. The characters get massacred in every encounter. It's more like survival horror with action elements. There are even ammo concerns, a ticking clock and an unkillable amount of enemies.

[@mk-ultramags1107]

The genre change of 'Aliens' suited the expanded storyline as well as Cameron's sensibilities. While 'The Terminator' is a Horror/SF film, it's also loaded with action. Cameron is really good at using that action and blending it with other genres to create a very unique experience... Especially on his earlier films. Edit: Also, regarding the "Special Edition", Cameron has stated the theatrical cut is still the definitive version. While I usually watch the SE(Simply because I just enjoy being in that world for as long as possible), there's really no arguing that the pacing is better in the TC.

[@mroctober3657]

I wish he'd go back to Sci-Fi horror instead of mucking about the space smurfs.

[@mk-ultramags1107]

@@mroctober3657 I agree. I keep questioning his decision to spend over 2 decades of his career on 1 story... For as well made and innovative as it is. I bring up Scorsese and how in that same time frame, he's made like 6-7 really good films. It's disappointing.

[@mroctober3657]

@@mk-ultramags1107 A proper future war Terminator movie from Cameron woulda been nice. That still feels like unfinished business.

[@mk-ultramags1107]

If he directed another Terminator Film, it'd be a miracle. I'm sure he'd rather make Avatar 5-10

[@mroctober3657]

@@mk-ultramags1107 I blame his kids. If he didn't have kids he wouldn't have bothered with that Avatar nonsense. I don't even know if he has kids. I'm assuming he has kids and they are to blame.

[@salvitoripopadillo4539]

I'm not halfway through and I had to stop and comment. I've always said that you can't compare the two movies because it's just a continuation. A perfect sequel! I've also always said that the theatrical version is perfect other than the motion sensor guns scene. Everything else in the director's cut was unnecessary and some of it slightly cringe. Thank you so much for your fantastic work on the greatest film ever made!

[@minicle426]

Frankly, I'm not afraid to say I find Aliens absurdly overhyped and still prefer the original movie far more. The part where the Queen somehow managed to hold onto Ripley's leg without it somehow snapping off had me rolling my eyes.

[@Terrordome3000]

@4:44 Not entirely true. There are many moments in Aliens which do disguise the fact its remaking Alien. The major example being... Alien ending: An explosion is imminent, Ripley is unable to stop it from happening, she narrowly escapes in an escape vessel and believes shes killed the alien. She begins to get ready for the journey home when the alien reveals itself to still be alive. Ripley runs to hide in a cupboard, she puts on a suit and confronts to alien and eventually blows it out in space. Aliens ending: An explosion is imminent, Ripley is unable to stop it from happening, she narrowly escapes in an escape vessel and believes the explosion has destroyed the Queen and the hive. She begins to get ready for the journey home when the Queen alien reveals itself to still be alive. Ripley runs to hide in a cupboard, she puts on a suit (powerloader) and confronts to alien to eventually blow it out in space. Many sequels do this, and the best ones (like Aliens) are those that change the context as to repackage the same idea from the original movie. Cameron did the same thing with Terminator 1 and 2.

[@Terrordome3000]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iomUXqGvfr1mask expanded on this in a video, if you fancy watching.

[@mroctober3657]

It also features Lady Gaga in her first acting role as the drop-ship pilot Corporal Ferro.

[@MetalsirenIXI]

lmao she do kinda remind me of her.

[@mroctober3657]

@@MetalsirenIXI She found the design of the alien face, without any "eyes" ,to be inscrutable and so it went to form the basis of her smash hit Poker Face.

[@ryangettig274]

Colette Hiller was a real woman,not a Gag Reflex=LG,FFS!:)

[@henryburby6077]

i didnt feel particularly connected to the secondary characters in aliens. unlike their predecessors, they seem like well-executed stock characters.

[@MrSmokincodz]

I actually love alien 3.

[@thehackmusician]

being from Birkenhead, it makes me homesick when Rob ends the word something with a very clear K lol. Keep up the great work mate!

[@mateoskydancer2177]

Reebok made special shoes based upon Aliens, there were 2 pairs I remember. A glossy black pair to represent the alien queen and a matte yellow and black for the forklift mech that Ripley uses to fight the queen. I think cbg19 showed them off and said she was going to wear one for one foot and the other for the other foot. Check em out theyre called the reebok alien stompers.

[@andymclafferty600]

I'm fairly sure you can (or at least could) get the Reeboks Ripley wears in the movie, too

[@midnightblue1874]

Aliens was good movie from perspective of acting and atmosphere, but it was full of plot holes from left to right as a sign of makers rushing and trying to squeeze so much material into 1.5 hour. You really needed to be super duper immersed to not see them, especially from military logistic PoV. Ripley came as an advisor, but she didn't gave any advice about Aliens, how do they look like, behave etc , that are stealthy , well camouflaged , huge, fast and extremly powerful creatures, so soldiers could know with what they are dealing with... No one stayed at mother ship after they descended on the planet, which is huge game braking plot hole, because almost everything revolves around this dumb move, it is simply the dumbest move ever...at least they could have 1 or 2 androids for just that role if reason is consuption of oxygen and whatnot. Sending soldiers into unknown and death trap at reactor in their 1st encounter, before trying that with some kind drone or anything that can be remote controled from distance to survey the critical area and also not having a backup plan if things become messy. After realisation that at reactor they cannot use standard ammunition, noone at right mind would send experienced soldiers to die before backing up and reevaluating situation for better plan. This is what Ripley was there for, because only she know how these creatures are dangerous and powerfull, she knew that pistols cannot do much... There is an expression that life of one good soldier is worth life of a 100 civilians for a reason. They knew that they are entering in very tight area and that there is a huge posibility of friendly crossfire. Also, there were no cameras at reactor which is kinda dumb that most important part of whole crazy expensive complex doesn't have visual surveillance, but this one is not that big because reason can easily be that Alien cocoons covered the cameras, but still... Alien 1 didn't have that much plot holes and mistakes and in my eyes was far better for immersion compared to Aliens.

[@KerrAvon7]

Just FYI....a superb graphic-novel of ALIEN exists, and one little detail is that Dallas presses a button on the "Space-Jockey"'s chair/gun...turning off the beacon. If you can find this masterpiece of art, I suggest that you pay any price to acquire it. If you love it half as much as I do, then you'll have spent wisely. I don't know why no-one seems to know it even exists, because it's AMAAAZING!! I mean, it's ALIEN!! Amazing! Alien! Amaaaazing...etc., etc.