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Movies / Upcoming / Aliens
Aliens

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Aliens (1986)

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Reviews Counted:43

Fresh:43

Rotten:0

Average Rating:8.8/10

Consensus: While Alien was a marvel of slow-building, atmospheric tension, Aliens packs a much more visceral punch, and features a typically strong performance from Sigourney Weaver.

Runtime: 2 hrs 34 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the sole survivor from the original ALIEN, is awakened after 57 years of drifting through space, her stories disbelieved by Company executives who tell her that the... Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), the sole survivor from the original ALIEN, is awakened after 57 years of drifting through space, her stories disbelieved by Company executives who tell her that the alien's planet is now inhabited and colonized. When contact is suddenly lost with the colonists, Ripley returns to the planet with a squad of marines, an android (Lance Henriksen), and a Company executive (Paul Reiser) with a mission of his own. Once on the planet, no survivors can be found except for Newt, a little girl who awakens motherly instincts in Ripley just in time for the acid-blooded aliens to attack in what quickly becomes a one-sided battle for sheer survival. Considered by many to be the best of the series, ALIENS is a fast-paced, high-intensity thrill ride that set a new standard for action films and cemented director James Cameron's status as one of Hollywood's leading directors following the success of THE TERMINATOR. Weaver received an Academy Award nomination and became a feminist hero for her strong, sensitive performance as the survivor Ripley, while costars Reiser, Henriksen, and Bill Paxton all give career-making performances in this landmark sci-fi extravaganza. [More]

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, William Hope, Jenette Goldstein, Al Matthews, Mark Rolston, Ricco Ross, Colette Hiller

Director: James Cameron

Director: James Cameron
Screenwriter: James Cameron
Story: David Giler, Walter Hill, James Cameron
Producer: Gale Anne Hurd
Composer: James Horner

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Aliens

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1 - 20 (sorted by source; Australian critics are listed first)
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Click to read the article

Full Review Source: In Film Australia | comment Comment
01/01/00
Luke Buckmaster
Luke Buckmaster
In Film Australia
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
10/10/03
Rebecca Murray
Rebecca Murray
About.com

Scott's tension-building atmospherics are replaced by Cameron's high-octane punch.

Full Review Source: AboutFilm.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Carlo Cavagna
Carlo Cavagna
AboutFilm.com

A non-stop action fest.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Marjorie Baumgarten
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle

If you were to only see one movie in your entire lifetime it would have to be ALIENS. James Cameron has delivered a masterpiece that will never in a million years be topped...

Full Review Source: Bloody Disgusting | comment Comment
08/27/09
Brad Miska
Brad Miska
Bloody Disgusting

If only all blockbusters were this good.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
09/24/07
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

One sequel that surpasses the original.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment 4 Comments
09/24/07
Dave Kehr
Dave Kehr
Chicago Reader

The ads for Aliens claim that this movie will frighten you as few movies have, and, for once, the ads don't lie.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
02/18/03
Mark Palermo
Mark Palermo
Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Everything a sequel should be.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
05/26/06
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Where Alien was largely a gothic horror flick, packed with suspense, Aliens is an action adventure, loaded with thrills. (Alien Quadrilogy)

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
04/09/01
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

Blockbuster combination of blistering action, smart sci-fi and gooey monsters.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Scott Weinberg
Scott Weinberg
eFilmCritic.com

A movie experience that sticks with you and begs for numerous revisits . . . the kind of film that marks career milestones and re-defines genres.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
03/18/03
Brian Mckay
Brian Mckay
eFilmCritic.com

Some critics consider this chapter to be better than the first, but the two movies are vastly different: Ridley Scott's is a scary horror film, whereas James Cameron's is a high-tech actioner with superlative set-pieces.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
07/14/09
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Truly great cinema.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
09/24/07
Ian Nathan
Ian Nathan
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Cameron's strength lies in solid storytelling in the muscular fashion that he stages the action, creating exciting thrills and intense suspense without ever descending into the mere mechanical.

Full Review Source: ESplatter | comment Comment
09/20/08
Steve Biodrowski
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter

Aliens never strives to be as accomplished as the original, but it's wit and turbo-charged battles make it a wild and electric ride, one with the best replay value of the franchise.

Full Review Source: Film and Felt | comment Comment
09/29/03
Gabe Leibowitz
Gabe Leibowitz
Film and Felt

No review available.

comment Comment
07/10/03
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

"Absolutely smashing!"

comment Comment
01/01/00
John Hartl
John Hartl
Film.com

One of the few films that can be predicted perfectly, but it’s so well crafted -- and so damn exciting -- that we just don’t care.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
06/25/02
Blake French
Blake French
Filmcritic.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; Australian critics are listed first)
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