If you start counting down when the computer tells her that she has "15 minutes to reach minimum safe distance"....the reactor explodes exactly 15 minutes later in real time! Now that is masterful editing!
"You know, nasty little fellows such as yourself always get their comeuppance." - a quote from Evelyn from The Mummy. I think it sums up Burke's fate perfectly.
As a testament to how Ripley dominated this movie Sigourney Weaver was nominated for an Academy Award for best actress for Aliens. Aliens was the first time an actress for nominated for best actress for a Sci Fi film.
It's a rare sequel that can stay true to the spirit of the original movie while also being of a different genre. Aliens felt like a natural conclusion to the events of Alien.
@@CasualNerdReactions Alien and Terminator I think, are the only two franchises to do this. Remarkable, really. Predator...eh, opinions on Predator 2 vary wildly. I'm not sure you could argue they were able to do in Predator 2, what was achieved in Aliens/T2 though.
@@CasualNerdReactions One thing you didnt show was when RIpley comes out in the yellow loader and she yells , "Get away from her You BITCH! That is when the audience goes wild.
I was there opening night, with a sold out showing. The audience went wild when Ripley appeared in that loader. Personally, the Alien story ends here. Anything you can imagine after this is better than what came after. Also, Sigourney Weaver was nominated for Best Actress for this role.
There’s a story behind the making of the third one that explains so much about our confusion over the choices made. Chris Stuckman (youtube) and his friend did some research on it and apparently there were lots of changes made to the ideas, the script, etc. Basically, it should’ve been a much better movie than the one we got.
The scariest part of this movie is when Ripley says to Newt "these people are soldiers they are here to protect you" and Newt says"it won't make any difference"
I saw this masterpiece in the theater back in 86. Imagine the awesome experience of seeing this with 300 strangers all screaming at the same time. The REAL reason they wrote this movie 50 something years in the future was because the planet in the first Alien movie did NOT have a breathable atmosphere. It would have been so impractical to have this new crew running around in bulky space suits. So...the future, atmosphere processors to teraform the planet and throw in some colonists.
☄️I remember when this first came out the hype about it was insane. Sitting in the theatre with their Dolby Surround Sound. The movie was so loud it literally made the theatre seats vibrate. It made you feel like you were actually on the asteroid with them. I’m 63 now and I still can remember that feeling like it was yesterday‼️ Loved your reaction‼️
I don't recommend continuing with the franchise, but if you do, I'd suggest evaluating the next two movies individually on their own merits, rather than their contributions to the franchise as a whole. Alien³ is dark -- like, sh*t all over your soul dark, and Fincher pulled no punches in destroying everything Cameron had set up. Alien: Resurrection is basically Buffy the Vampire Slayer in space -- it's cute and all, but rather silly and totally doesn't fit the tone of the rest of the series.
Agree. Third movie isnt bad, but it is something else. Alien: ressurection is kinda funy. At the time of release I was hate this movie. But with Covenant I discover more deeper feeling how to be disgusted :D
Agreed. If you do continue I would recommend looking at this one as the canonical ending and the other two as "what if" stories. They've got some fun moments in their own rights but do more harm to the overall narrative than good. It may be an unpopular opinion but I personally really like the first AVP movie and consider it part of the cannon even though the pg13 rating kept it pretty tame. The characters aren't well written but it's fun and gives the xenomorphs a grander backstory than the later Prometheus movies do.
Alien 3 has contributed to the franchise as much as Aliens, if not more. The "xenomorphs taking features of their hosts" idea is widely used in all Alien-based novels, comics and video games. Not to mention movies. Alien 3 has one of the best acting and soundtracks in the series. The royal facehugger is another great addition to the xenomorph life cycle
Powered suits of armour are an older concept than this movie (Or Edge Of Tomorrow, obviously). One of the first appearances of this type of gear is in the book Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein - and in turn the concept was inspired by the self-powered space armour developed by E.E. "Doc" Smith in his books back in the 1930s. They are the precursors of this now very common sci-fi trope, which has been ported to other universes such as the Halo or Fallout universes. Cameron actually put an interesting spin on them by having them be work tools rather than combat oriented.
"Burke did just die, right?" Nope. They don't kill you. But the scene where we see him cocooned was cut. Also, no, the queen taking the elevator isn't impressive because the elevator automatically goes back up to the platform. That's why Ripley had to call it back.
Smartest sequel I think I’ve ever seen - coming at the same material from a completely fresh direction. It makes it impossible to compare the two movies, and you’re forced to accept them both as great films on their own terms. PLEASE find time to watch Alien3. It completes the trilogy. It’s David Fincher’s first feature film. Studio interference plagued the production - but if you watch, PLEASE make sure you watch The Assembly Cut, which restored more of Fincher’s vision. Again, it’s in yet another completely different direction than the first two films, so it’s best to approach it by zeroing out your account of expectations. Many people hate that film, but a substantial minority of film nerds (myself included) consider it a flawed masterpiece.
Yes, the Alien 3 Assembly Cut is worth the watch, and is definitely an improvement on the theatrical version. Despite being disavowed by David Fincher, it does have its merits and if nothing else is beautifully shot. FWIW, while Alien is a horror film and Aliens is an action film, Alien 3 is an art house film and Alien Resurrection is a comedy.
My first time viewing Aliens was in my sophomore year of high school, in the early 90s, at a horror movie marathon sponsored by the drama department. I got to watch Aliens back to back with Alien and then followed by The Shining, The Exorcist, and Rosemary's Baby. It was an epic day in my world as a film watcher as I had strenuously avoided anything even vaguely horror up to then, being a really sensitive kid who got nightmares really easily. But that day woke me up to how much affection I have for horror and that I had developed enough as a person to really dig into those experiences. So, those specific films always demark the boundary of me traversing into horror territory and opening up my viewing possibilities. As a result, it's really a special experience whenever I get to ride along for anyone's first journey with those flicks (in person or thru UA-cam reactions). I am so glad you dug the flick. It is such a winner. You really did a good job of expressing how effectively Cameron continues the story while also making it his own seamlessly when you gave your post-film wrap up. As regards the sequels... the first film is a horror film, the second film is an action film, the third film is an art house allegorical film, and the fourth is a muddled agglomeration of tones and genres. I understand why a lot of people don't dig the third film, it moves the genre to a style less people are on board for and especially in the time period less people were accustomed to a horror film being used to tell an allegorical story with art house sensibilities than might be now. I think a lot of the dissatisfaction people experience with the third film is derived from the films sensibilities and intentions being at odds with the audiences expectations and understanding of what an Alien film can or maybe should do. I have a deep personal affection for the movie though and although it is very different from the first two and it struggles at times to align its narrative parts with its thematic and genre goals, it features some of the most poignant and powerful moments in the entire series so far for my tastes. Just wanted to put that out there without wanting to give any real spoilers.
Love? The cast, the acting, the characters and their interactions, the music, the special effects, the world... Hate? There isn't all that much to hate really, the movie is great and infinetely rewatchable *but*... it does feel a bit more movie-ish than Alien, Alien felt almost real and had more of that eldrich horror feel to it, meanwhile Aliens does feel a bit more like a movie... I think it's mostly the dialogue and delivery. I love Bill Paxton and his Hudson, but he does contribute to that feeling quite a bit. Plus, Aliens at the same time feels a bit more... confined. By estabilishing Xenomorphs come from an egg laid by a queen a bit of their mustique is gone... Still, one of the best sequels ever. And don't bother with Alien 3, it's just bad :P EDIT: Newt's screaming. If there's something to hate about Aliens, it's that.
@@christopherleodaniels7203 she lost her ovipositor, the events of Alien 3 are literally impossible. It also throws everything good about this movie in the trash. The Assembly Cut can never correct it’s deepest flaws. It may end the series, but it does so incredibly badly.
The drop ship left the door open on an infested planet... What I love about this film is that the Marines are introduced with such bad ass, confident music... We're meant to feel confident. Then, we realize it's aliens in numbers; & that the marines are overconfident & ill prepared for murderous aliens that can literally *blend into the background!* Add to that a green commanding officer -- this being only his 2nd combat op! The most iconic scene for me is when Ripley dons her "suit of armor" to face her "dragon/demon"! The fadeout the film ends on, where Ripley's face becomes a shot of Earth, is archetypal. Ripley has become the Warrior/Protector of Earth! This was the first movie I saw multiple times in the theater. The pounding, relentless music was intoxicating!
One of the best sequels of all time, in any case, right up there with "The Empire strikes back" and "Terminator 2". I'd mention "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" as well, but that isn't technically a true sequel, since the first movie in this case was a stand-alone story not really connected to its successors story-wise.
Empire Strikes back is for me in top 3 movies all time. And (just my movie tastes) but I think Empire Strikes back is a better movie than Aliens in terms of cinematography and story line.
I know the grenade death was sudden and hard to take in, but in my opinion it was the best possible solution. They die a painless death, take out a bunch of aliens with them, block more from getting through, and above all don't get facehugged and chestbursted which is arguably the worst outcome.
Oh my gosh it was so much fun experiencing this with you! This is probably one of my top three favorite movies of all time and I watch it at least once a month and I’m still jumping through my seat! You are an amazing reviewer and I’m so glad you love the movie!💜💜
Not only is the Queen the most iconic movie monster in all of sci-fi (don't fight me on this, guys, you know it's true), but the powerloader exosuits were such an amazingly believable prop they got calls from cargo and construction companies asking where they could get one.
That's amazing! It really was so well done, I didn't even question how they did it because it worked so well and looked so good! I love that construction companies called looking for one.
The thing I prefer about the theatrical version is that the pacing is better and I don’t think we needed to be so blatant about the mother daughter connection between Ridley and Newt . I got it , without being hit over the head with it .
I've probably watched Aliens 100 times and still love it as much as the first time. It's just an all time classic with so many memorable scenes. "Get away from her you bitch!" Is the most iconic one liner of all time. As for the sequels it's really hard to say...The 3rd one is worth watching once, but you have to know before hand that it's super dark in tone and takes a completely different story path than you expect or want. It will rip your heart out from the beginning and it's not an easy pill to swallow. Alien Ressurection (the 4th) is honestly a really bad movie but for some reason I kind of love it for how insane it is 😂 It's a completely different tone than the others and even has some bizarre comedy in it. Alien Resurrection REALLY goes off the deep end, but I must admit the special effects are really good. It's really up to you. Prometheus is actually pretty decent, but Alien Covenant pretty much throws out the story trajectory Prometheus ends on and is kind of upsetting. Pretty much past the first two movies the series becomes a mess, much like the Terminator series. Once James Cameron moved on from the series, the magic was gone.
Alien Ressurection is memorable for one thing and one thing only - it was the first ever product I was asked to produce ID to buy (I had been successfully buying alcohol for many years prior with no problems)
The Alien franchise ended with this movie in my humble opinion. I chose to forget any of the ones that followed. Even Promethius. But it won't spoil these first 2 if you choose to watch the rest. The first one and the sequel are simply perfect in my opinion. I went to see Alien two times on opening day in 79. I was 23. Still one of my absolute favorite movies. It and Aliens are timeless. Few movies hold up as well. Especially scifi.
@Thomas Frederick I completely agree. All the money grab movies that came after this effectively degrades the franchise. This was its peak and for me the franchise ends here.
Thank you!! When I was in College My Roommate who was an Alien Fanatic (like me) doesnt Even acknowledge that there were ANY movies after this one. I couldnt agree with you more.Alien 3 Doesnt exist , and neither does 4.
One of the first times that Hollywood truly empowers a female character to become the hero. As a father of daughters 7 and 12 at the time, this impressed me.
You asked how Cameron could turn a horror franchise into an action one...he did the same thing with Terminator. He is the master of changing genres to suit the story line.
Perfect film! Ahem. James Cameron turns the first film up to a million in Aliens. Cameron is one of the best directors ever to grace the Director's Chair.
Alien is the "Haunted house" to Aliens "Roller coaster", both Ridley Scott and James Cameron are amazing directors. Just like the first 2 terminator movies, the first 2 alien movies are so good it made it an almost impossible job to sustain the quality, with an original idea for further sequels.
You nailed this. To go forward and keep quality you would need a really unique idea and well, from mixed comments it seems they didn’t live up to this masterpiece.
@@CasualNerdReactions If you do watch Alien 3, watch the Assembly Cut as it's a much more cohesive version of the movie. My opinion of Alien 3 has improved quite a bit over the years; however, I would honestly just stop at Aliens. The magic of Aliens was its ability to shift tone, change genres, feel like a successor to the original, and yet still give you something that felt new (even though the 2 films share quite a few story/plot elements). The problem from here on out, at least for me personally, was the feeling of "been there, done that" that began to set in. The sequels after Aliens have their moments, and I wouldn't call any of them terrible films (except maybe Alien: Covenant), but Alien-Aliens is such a perfect duo there's really not much reason to go forward unless you just have to have more from this universe.
Ridley Scott created one of the greatest modern horror movies of the age. Cameron got the brief for a sequel, and knew there was NO WAY he could match, let alone beat, Scott's film as a horror film. So he didnt try. He instead created arguably THE greatest sci-fi action film of all time - and as well released a film with probably the most number of detailed memorable characters of all time.
Now you know why Aliens is among the few sequels in movie history that outranks even its original, or the very least lives up to the same high standard. Cameron was both very smart & respectful when he made his sequel. Because he understands what any continuation needs. Any continuation must have what the original had & also be more & of something different as well. There are numerous easter eggs from Alien in Aliens, even down to the mentioning of corn bread! He fought to have Ripley back, Fox originally didn't want our greatest heroine ever to return, can you believe it!? And Cameron was clever enough to realize that the actual horror could not be done again since the surprise is already out, so he continued with the fear already established & gave the humans a slim fighting chance this time & made the whole thing cool with his touch of action. The first film started it all but it is the sequel that made this story into a franchise. Aliens is a film you wanna return to for the rest of your life. I've watched this film hundreds of times, no exaggeration. And, hopefully, it'll be many hundreds of times more. It never gets old or dull no matter how many times you watch this thing, the adrenaline is always present.
Being able to fight back but still be woefully in the bad end of 'will most likely die' makes things a lot scarier. it's why certain videogames work better when you can fight back against the horror, even if just temporary - cuz you have to FACE it head on to do so. You can't just run and hide every single time.
25:48 It was the scream that got her the part. The movie was filmed in England for tax reasons and so when the producers needed a young American girl for the role they came up with the idea of touring the USAF bases in England looking for a suitable candidate and found Carrie Henn whose father was an NCO. She auditioned and got the role once they heard her scream even though she had no prior acting experience. Her real life older brother also won the role of her brother in the film.
It's a relatively minor inconsistency, but when Ripley is being interrogated by the Company, she tells them that Kane said there were thousands of eggs in the alien ship. However, when she & the rest of the survivors are in Ops & making plans, she asks, 'So who's laying these eggs?' Then they go into a discussion about how there must be an alien 'Queen'. Given what Ripley already knew, she would not have asked that question, instead assuming the Xenos were carrying them over from the alien ship. This is one of the road bumps caused by Cameron's insertion of the the whole Queen concept. Fairly early on in writing, he became adamant he wanted to make them like insects, along with that concept. However, interestingly that was *not* their background in the 1st film. The Xenos were completely artificially created biomechanical organisms. They had insect characteristics, but were cobbled together from many different types of animals. They were also given traits no animal had, like their mechanical spring-loaded inner mouth.
I would never compare Alien and Aliens on which is better. they are two very different beasts and it got 7 years of time between their releases. Not to also mention larger budget and such (iirc). I think Aliens is on par with Terminator 2 for best movies, and alien with The Terminator for the first movie in the series. The Sequels wouldn't be anywhere as good without the first one in their series to look back to for references, plot setup, etc. Also, hilarious thing is that a lot of people seem to dun really trust Paul Reiser's character in this movie early on.... and as a said it's hilarious cuz back in the days of those movie's release and prior to it, Paul Reiser was known for 'that good guy/buddy' roles, and as such it was a very shocking reveal that he was a badguy scumbag in this movie at that late-reveal. Also also, nice comment on 'does anyone listen to ripley!?' and Hicks is in full agreement to nuke the shit out of the fucking planet XD Also also - the sequel: Any chance of seeing you play Alien: Isolation? :p
James Cameron specifically wrote "Aliens" with Sigourney Weaver in mind, the studio didn't want to pay her by Cameron insisted that he wouldn't do the project without her... James Cameron originally wanted the actor Lance Henriksen who plays "Bishop" to play the the killer cyborg in "The Terminator". Cameron even had artwork and makeup effects that were started for Lance. Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposed to be Kyle Reese in the first Terminator movie but after reading the script he persuaded James Cameron that he'd be better off in the role of the Terminator. The rest is history... At the time, for an actor to take the role of a killer in a film was running the risk of being typecast. Just ask Tony Perkins after he played Norman Bates in Hitchcock's "Psycho"... He didn't surface again until an ill-advised sequel was made in the 80's and then was quickly forgotten... I remember seeing this in a packed theater in 1986 and the applause, the jump scares and just the feel of the audience, that is something that I really miss.. Seeing this with you, it's like I'm transported back in time. I love your reactions but also your keen analysis and insight into movie making.
Thanks so much Scott! I’m so grateful for James Cameron both for being firm in his insistence to get Sigourney weaver back for aliens and his flexibility and putting Arnold in the role of the terminator. Both made history.
🤘💜🤘 Loved your reaction. I was 14 when this movie came out in 1986. Some friends & I snuck into this rated R movie and LOVED it! I'm sure you've been told that Vasquez was actually played by a red headed white woman named, Jennette Goldstein. She played the foster mother in Terminator 2 and had a small role in Titanic. She played Vasquez so well.🙂
And now, she runs a bra shop..... Everyone knew who Vasquez was. Before the Internet, in the 1980s and 1990s, pretty much everyone I knew called pull ups in front of them 'Vasquez pull ups'... just like they all called the five finger fillet game the 'Bishop knife game'.....
Thank you so much Heather! That is my goal, to as much as possible truly capture the first time watching experience. Can’t always achieve it (especially if I don’t enjoy the film, lol) but it means so much to hear I accomplished that with this one.
I was born in 1986. Once again we see Sigourney Weaver as Ripley as she wakes up in a new time period with a new group of people and expendables. Introducing Bishop
Another great series of how it was done documentaries was the El Mariachi trilogy. Rodriguez wrote, shot, edited, and scored all three with 3 generations of cameras. It's the best I've seen comparing analog, early digital, and 2nd gen digital.
Thank you for making this reaction video! I felt the same way you did when I saw this in the theater 37 years ago. I didn't expect it to be as good, if not better, than the original. My friends and I were totally blown away; we talked about this film for a long time.
I saw ALIENS in 1986 at a theatre in Chicago and the audience went NUTS!! It was non-stop screaming and gasping from beginning to end! I went with my wife and my best friend, and although my best friend has past away, ALIENS brings back a lot of memories with him RIP Fred.
A little late, but if you followed closely, Amy would have been 9 going on 10, when Ripley promised she would be home for her 11th birthday. Newt's school picture stated that she was in 5th grade, (9 or 10) when Ripley found her. "Mommy" indeed! Thank you, editor's cut.
Trivia: The Studio actually tried to pursue a story without Ripley because they were too cheap to pay her for what she deserved, but Cameron refused to do that version (in my imagination, he told them to F themselves XD ). Burke's character was so sleazy the actor's own mother cheered for his death. The little girl, Newt, that was her first and only movie role. And she liked the chute scene so much she kept screwing it on purpose so she could have another go before Cameron noticed it. That picture of Ripley's daughter is actually Sigourney's mother. Also, in that scene where Newt is hanging onto Bishop, you can see a hole on the ground where his body is coming out (Cameron hoped the audience's eyes would be set on the 2 actors hanging for dear life, and it worked).
How did Newt manage to keep the alien away from her all by herself and Ripley needed two people to get it off of her. Is Newt a robot? I guess you have to watch the next movie!
I'M GLAD you watched the director's cut. the theatrical version left some important things out like ripley's daughter. for me, it helped her create a stronger bond with newt.
My favorite character in this movie is Burke. No one ever gives him credit for being a hero and sacrificing himself to save Ripley and Newt by going into the room with an alien while locking them out so they’re safe. What a guy!
I saw this in the theatre opening weekend. It was an absolute blast. The audience was completely losing their shit, especially the laughter at certain lines. ‘Get away from her, you bitch!’ caused absolute pandemonium of cheering and applause. One of the best movie theatre experiences I’ve ever had.
The magic words "I JUST FINISHED ALIEN FOR THE FIRST TIME!". Envy and respect 🙌 🙏 lol. Alien...one of the best horror movies. Aliens....one of the best sequels/action movies.
Ellen Ripley is one of the greatest action heroes in the history of cinema. "That girl is a total beast and I love her" - That's John Connor's foster mother, how crazy is that shit.
To go from Ridley Scott an amazing director to James Cameron an equally amazing director has given this franchise an iconic legacy that will NEVER be produced!! Love the reaction Chris this is my 3rd watch of you cant wait to see more!!!
I also was there opening night with my girlfriend and the excitement and anticipation was shared by the whole theater audience. Besides the utterly perfect directing, and everything else that makes this one of the best sequels ever I remember during the last 20 or so minutes my girlfriend had to yank her hand out of my grip which she said was getting more uncomfortable and tighter by the minute as the end unfolded. I was totally oblivious to that being so rapped up in the chaos of the scene.one of my best memories of the best years of the 80s oh how I miss you.
Sounds almost like Hubby & I. Aliens was the first movie we saw at the theater after getting engaged (really romantic, huh? 😁😄). We loved the action and suspense but it also scared the crap out of me like no other movie before or since. After nearly 36 years of marriage, Hubby still teases me about cutting off the circulation in his arm from gripping it so tightly throughout the movie.... He says it was like being on a date with a boa constrictor wrapped around his arm! 😄😂🤣
I'm glad you watched the Special Edition. It is arguably the greatest sci-fi ever made. Arguably the greatest sequel ever made. It's just a shame they never made a worthy sequel.
I think they should show movies like this re released in theatres again, people would love to see them on the big screen. Movies like this from the eighties and nineties need to be seen how they were meant to be😎
I'm guessing you haven't the seen the directors cut of Alien, based on one of your comments here. In that version of Alien, Ripley finds several crew members, including Dallas, trapped in the weird alien resin/gloop. She tries to free Dallas, at which point he wakes up and begs Ripley to kill him. This is also why, when Ripley is asked if she had ever seen anything like the Alien nest before, she said yes but much smaller (she never saw inside the Alien ship because they lost comms).
The first time I saw this, I was up all night with the flu... It was when the movie premiered on HBO, I guess? Roughly? So I was four or so, depending on when it was. My family had just gotten cable! 😂
I think this was your best reaction yet - the faces, the verbalisation, the eyes ... wonderful. It was like watching it for the first time all over again.
Oh, you're watching the Director's Cut version! In the theatrical version, we don't see any of the colonists until after we're told that they lost contact. Personally, I like that version because not seeing anything of the colony until after its fall makes it more mysterious and frightening.
This and terminator 2 are the greatest sequels ever made. Skip the rest of the Alien series and go to Prometheus . Love your reactions dude.. keep up the good work
You are right on the money lol everybody I watched react to this said “why isn’t anybody listening to Ripley” love the reactions keep it up man 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
I am so glad I subbed to you. Your reactions get better and better as I work my way through them. As a side note, this movie also features character actor Mark Ralston, whom I spoke about in my comment on your "Shawshank Redemption" reaction. He plays Drake, PFC Vazquez's partner with the heavy machine gun. One of the things I love about this movie is that it carefully removes all the Idiot Ball questions. (Like, "Why didn't they take off and nuke the site from orbit?") that occasionally occurs in other action movies. The marines don't make that many stupid decisions once they figured out the situation, and when their smart decisions don't work out, its for logical reasons that are supported by the movie itself and aren't just arbitrary fails.
Thanks so much! I’m glad you’re enjoying the reactions. I agree, the marines here definitely make less stupid decisions than other films! One reason why it is so engaging.
5:50 - Androids facial features are designed to look like the creator of the company (Weyland) who produces them. Check out Alien vs Predator for a fuller explanation.
A wonderful movie, the air in the theater was electric when Ripply showed up with the stacking unit, as armor. Loved the Cameron touches throughout. Big action scenes. My favorite. At one point you mention a "countdown scene" As the creature approaches. I suggest you check out almost the same exact scene in "The Thing From Another World" (1951). A movie I highly recommend. Alien 3 was a dark film and not a favorite. It had no place else to go. Prometheus was pretty and even promising. but the humans were idiots and the androids were evil still. I liked the follow up a little more. Searching for a revelation to come.
Once Ripley used her "Command Voice" in the briefing with the Marines the lower-ranking did start listening to her. Once Gorman was put in his place (knocked unconscious), Ripley started giving the orders.
Another awesome reaction to such a great film. This is my absolute favorite in the franchise. The sequels/prequels and spin offs are a mixed bag. Ripley is one of the greatest heroes is science fiction and film ever made. I quote some of the lines often. Fun Fact: The actors who play Hicks and Bishop are also in the original Terminator. Also directed by James Cameron.
I understand there was a scripted scene in the nest, with Ripley finding Burke stuck to the wall after rescuing Newt. He begs her to kill him. She hands him a grenade and leaves. Then there is a boom. I don’t know if it was filmed or not; I cannot recall ever seeing footage. EDITED: I just found a video discussing Burke’s fate. The scene was filmed, but Cameron decided to not use it. And she found him before rescuing Newt.
Fun fact: the final scene where Bishop was ripped in half made Lance Henriksen really sick when they were filming it. The white stuff that he spews was a combination of milk/yogurt and it spoiled really quickly under the lights and heat on the set, so Lance was basically gargling rancid dairy products for hours on end and it ended up giving him pretty bad food poisoning. Apparently he was a real trooper about it and didn't complain once. Talk about suffering for your art.
Until i saw Train to Busan, i didn't think it was possible to hate a movie character more than Burke. Rumor has it his own mother cheered for his death at the premiere because of his performance. He held the title for a LONG time, until that Korean masterpiece took it from him with another selfish businessman.
When it comes to people being cocooned and stuck to the wall in Aliens this idea was actually taken from the first Alien film, Originally Ridley Scott had a scene in it where Ripley finds a dark room and she finds Dallas alive but stuck to the wall and cocooned by the Alien, it was deleted from the theatrical version as they where trying to shorten the film run time and it was seen as not needed but was added back later to the directors cut version of Alien.
@@CasualNerdReactions Indeed and i think Ridley did that scene as just away to try and explain what the alien did with people it didn't instantly kill and at that time the queen idea did not exist, but this is why James Cameron is so good as he took one deleted scene and expanded on it and made it a core part of the second film. Also as for the other films yeah the rest are not good or well not as good as the first and second, the 3rd film was an utter mess as they went through many directors and had multiple script re-writes tro the point the final has barely any resemblance to the intended story and after that well hmm yeah.... That said still watch them for you know science
@@miller-joel Incorrect, if you watch the making of documentary he specifically states the scenes removed where to trim down the run time as the run time of the film was longer than what was considered an acceptable run time to cinema goers by the studio. I am sure you will come back stating how right you are and blah blah blah but the fact is you clearly never seen the documentary and never seen the man him self talking about this very subject.
If you go back to the scene where the shuttle leaves after picking up Newt and Ripley you can briefly see it's landing gear get entangled with something looking like metal struts. I always took that as a hint that the queen came aboard. I think Cameron didn't wanna give it away outright.
My maiden name is Hicks. When my family watched this movie, the scene in the shuttle when they go down to the planet and Hicks was asleep, my dad declared that he must truly be a Hicks! All Hicks’ can sleep through ANYTHING!
22:11 "Burke did just die, right?" No, it's far worse for him than that. (There's a scene where his fate is revealed but it was cut from the movie). By the way, did you know that calling someone a "Berk" is a British insult, supposedly cockney Rhyming Slang for Berkeley Hunt? I feel that this is not a coincidence. Great review as always from the best movie reaction channel on the Tube. I loved this! 👍
Cameron's rollercoaster take equals Scott's haunted house in space ethos frame for frame - THIS is how you enhance a franchise by taking the original source material and amp it up to 11! Weaver's justifiable Oscar nom elevated her with her ongoing iconic Ripley - arguably the greatest cinema heroine ever - and Stan Winston's astounding special effects - hello Queen! - are gnarlier and faster! Great reactions and yes one of the greatest sequels ever. The next 2 in the franchise are a bit uneven but Weaver is game and worth seeing.
I must say you are one of the best reactors (if not the best) I've seen. Intelligence, excellent communication skills, funny and good acting skills too.
The greatest sci fi action movie ever made. I wasn't a huge fan of Alien which is not really my cup of tea tbh, but Cameron absolutely knocked it out of the park with this, taking the established lore and using it to create an absolutely terrifying premise for our outmatched marines.
If you start counting down when the computer tells her that she has "15 minutes to reach minimum safe distance"....the reactor explodes exactly 15 minutes later in real time! Now that is masterful editing!
That’s amazing! I love real time moments in movies.
@@CasualNerdReactions I also use various iterations of "Have IQs just dropped sharply while I was away"? 😆
Yeah, I timed it too, the second time I watched it. It was precise.
Yeah one of few times in cinema that this happens.
"You know, nasty little fellows such as yourself always get their comeuppance." - a quote from Evelyn from The Mummy. I think it sums up Burke's fate perfectly.
As a testament to how Ripley dominated this movie Sigourney Weaver was nominated for an Academy Award for best actress for Aliens. Aliens was the first time an actress for nominated for best actress for a Sci Fi film.
It's a rare sequel that can stay true to the spirit of the original movie while also being of a different genre. Aliens felt like a natural conclusion to the events of Alien.
It really did. It feels complete.
The soul was still there, and ideas and plotpoints were developed on... rather than go Alien3 about it and kill off everyone that mattered in the end.
@@CasualNerdReactions Alien and Terminator I think, are the only two franchises to do this. Remarkable, really. Predator...eh, opinions on Predator 2 vary wildly. I'm not sure you could argue they were able to do in Predator 2, what was achieved in Aliens/T2 though.
I hated A3 so much I wrote my own script, where it was just a cold sleep nightmare.
@@CasualNerdReactions One thing you didnt show was when RIpley comes out in the yellow loader and she yells , "Get away from her You BITCH! That is when the audience goes wild.
I was there opening night, with a sold out showing. The audience went wild when Ripley appeared in that loader.
Personally, the Alien story ends here. Anything you can imagine after this is better than what came after.
Also, Sigourney Weaver was nominated for Best Actress for this role.
Alien 3 was really well-made, the set design and acting were top-notch. But you're right about the story, the beginning didn't make any sense.
Alien 3 is trash.
@@wackyvorlon Alien 3 is still Oscar material compared to every movie that came after.
There’s a story behind the making of the third one that explains so much about our confusion over the choices made. Chris Stuckman (youtube) and his friend did some research on it and apparently there were lots of changes made to the ideas, the script, etc. Basically, it should’ve been a much better movie than the one we got.
Dark Horse Comics Storyline is canon to me from there on.
The scariest part of this movie is when Ripley says to Newt "these people are soldiers they are here to protect you" and Newt says"it won't make any difference"
Ripley-"Don't you have any idea what you've done here?" I use this line a lot in recent years.
I saw this masterpiece in the theater back in 86. Imagine the awesome experience of seeing this with 300 strangers all screaming at the same time.
The REAL reason they wrote this movie 50 something years in the future was because the planet in the first Alien movie did NOT have a breathable atmosphere. It would have been so impractical to have this new crew running around in bulky space suits. So...the future, atmosphere processors to teraform the planet and throw in some colonists.
☄️I remember when this first came out the hype about it was insane. Sitting in the theatre with their Dolby Surround Sound. The movie was so loud it literally made the theatre seats vibrate. It made you feel like you were actually on the asteroid with them. I’m 63 now and I still can remember that feeling like it was yesterday‼️ Loved your reaction‼️
the sounds of the motion tracker is one of the greatest scary atmospheric inventions ever
Just like in Jaws.
I don't recommend continuing with the franchise, but if you do, I'd suggest evaluating the next two movies individually on their own merits, rather than their contributions to the franchise as a whole. Alien³ is dark -- like, sh*t all over your soul dark, and Fincher pulled no punches in destroying everything Cameron had set up. Alien: Resurrection is basically Buffy the Vampire Slayer in space -- it's cute and all, but rather silly and totally doesn't fit the tone of the rest of the series.
Oh gosh, way to make #4 sound like something I would immensely enjoy- but as you said not as a part of the alien franchise.
Agree. Third movie isnt bad, but it is something else. Alien: ressurection is kinda funy. At the time of release I was hate this movie. But with Covenant I discover more deeper feeling how to be disgusted :D
Agreed. If you do continue I would recommend looking at this one as the canonical ending and the other two as "what if" stories. They've got some fun moments in their own rights but do more harm to the overall narrative than good. It may be an unpopular opinion but I personally really like the first AVP movie and consider it part of the cannon even though the pg13 rating kept it pretty tame. The characters aren't well written but it's fun and gives the xenomorphs a grander backstory than the later Prometheus movies do.
Alien 3 has contributed to the franchise as much as Aliens, if not more. The "xenomorphs taking features of their hosts" idea is widely used in all Alien-based novels, comics and video games. Not to mention movies. Alien 3 has one of the best acting and soundtracks in the series. The royal facehugger is another great addition to the xenomorph life cycle
@@irina1296 Agree
Powered suits of armour are an older concept than this movie (Or Edge Of Tomorrow, obviously). One of the first appearances of this type of gear is in the book Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein - and in turn the concept was inspired by the self-powered space armour developed by E.E. "Doc" Smith in his books back in the 1930s. They are the precursors of this now very common sci-fi trope, which has been ported to other universes such as the Halo or Fallout universes. Cameron actually put an interesting spin on them by having them be work tools rather than combat oriented.
"Burke did just die, right?"
Nope. They don't kill you. But the scene where we see him cocooned was cut.
Also, no, the queen taking the elevator isn't impressive because the elevator automatically goes back up to the platform. That's why Ripley had to call it back.
"I don't know how you would rescue her"
You become Sigourney F'n Weaver that's how
What do you love or hate about Aliens? I was so impressed at how it managed to change genres, yet still feel like a true sequel to Alien.
Smartest sequel I think I’ve ever seen - coming at the same material from a completely fresh direction. It makes it impossible to compare the two movies, and you’re forced to accept them both as great films on their own terms.
PLEASE find time to watch Alien3. It completes the trilogy. It’s David Fincher’s first feature film. Studio interference plagued the production - but if you watch, PLEASE make sure you watch The Assembly Cut, which restored more of Fincher’s vision. Again, it’s in yet another completely different direction than the first two films, so it’s best to approach it by zeroing out your account of expectations. Many people hate that film, but a substantial minority of film nerds (myself included) consider it a flawed masterpiece.
Yes, the Alien 3 Assembly Cut is worth the watch, and is definitely an improvement on the theatrical version. Despite being disavowed by David Fincher, it does have its merits and if nothing else is beautifully shot. FWIW, while Alien is a horror film and Aliens is an action film, Alien 3 is an art house film and Alien Resurrection is a comedy.
My first time viewing Aliens was in my sophomore year of high school, in the early 90s, at a horror movie marathon sponsored by the drama department. I got to watch Aliens back to back with Alien and then followed by The Shining, The Exorcist, and Rosemary's Baby. It was an epic day in my world as a film watcher as I had strenuously avoided anything even vaguely horror up to then, being a really sensitive kid who got nightmares really easily. But that day woke me up to how much affection I have for horror and that I had developed enough as a person to really dig into those experiences.
So, those specific films always demark the boundary of me traversing into horror territory and opening up my viewing possibilities. As a result, it's really a special experience whenever I get to ride along for anyone's first journey with those flicks (in person or thru UA-cam reactions).
I am so glad you dug the flick. It is such a winner. You really did a good job of expressing how effectively Cameron continues the story while also making it his own seamlessly when you gave your post-film wrap up.
As regards the sequels... the first film is a horror film, the second film is an action film, the third film is an art house allegorical film, and the fourth is a muddled agglomeration of tones and genres.
I understand why a lot of people don't dig the third film, it moves the genre to a style less people are on board for and especially in the time period less people were accustomed to a horror film being used to tell an allegorical story with art house sensibilities than might be now. I think a lot of the dissatisfaction people experience with the third film is derived from the films sensibilities and intentions being at odds with the audiences expectations and understanding of what an Alien film can or maybe should do. I have a deep personal affection for the movie though and although it is very different from the first two and it struggles at times to align its narrative parts with its thematic and genre goals, it features some of the most poignant and powerful moments in the entire series so far for my tastes.
Just wanted to put that out there without wanting to give any real spoilers.
Love? The cast, the acting, the characters and their interactions, the music, the special effects, the world... Hate? There isn't all that much to hate really, the movie is great and infinetely rewatchable *but*... it does feel a bit more movie-ish than Alien, Alien felt almost real and had more of that eldrich horror feel to it, meanwhile Aliens does feel a bit more like a movie... I think it's mostly the dialogue and delivery. I love Bill Paxton and his Hudson, but he does contribute to that feeling quite a bit. Plus, Aliens at the same time feels a bit more... confined. By estabilishing Xenomorphs come from an egg laid by a queen a bit of their mustique is gone... Still, one of the best sequels ever. And don't bother with Alien 3, it's just bad :P
EDIT: Newt's screaming. If there's something to hate about Aliens, it's that.
@@christopherleodaniels7203 she lost her ovipositor, the events of Alien 3 are literally impossible.
It also throws everything good about this movie in the trash. The Assembly Cut can never correct it’s deepest flaws. It may end the series, but it does so incredibly badly.
The drop ship left the door open on an infested planet...
What I love about this film is that the Marines are introduced with such bad ass, confident music... We're meant to feel confident. Then, we realize it's aliens in numbers; & that the marines are overconfident & ill prepared for murderous aliens that can literally *blend into the background!* Add to that a green commanding officer -- this being only his 2nd combat op!
The most iconic scene for me is when Ripley dons her "suit of armor" to face her "dragon/demon"!
The fadeout the film ends on, where Ripley's face becomes a shot of Earth, is archetypal. Ripley has become the Warrior/Protector of Earth!
This was the first movie I saw multiple times in the theater. The pounding, relentless music was intoxicating!
One of the best sequels of all time, in any case, right up there with "The Empire strikes back" and "Terminator 2". I'd mention "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" as well, but that isn't technically a true sequel, since the first movie in this case was a stand-alone story not really connected to its successors story-wise.
Empire Strikes back is for me in top 3 movies all time. And (just my movie tastes) but I think Empire Strikes back is a better movie than Aliens in terms of cinematography and story line.
Godfather II
you named probably what I could call the best sequels of all time. empire, terminator, and aliens.
Awesome soundtrack too!!
I know the grenade death was sudden and hard to take in, but in my opinion it was the best possible solution. They die a painless death, take out a bunch of aliens with them, block more from getting through, and above all don't get facehugged and chestbursted which is arguably the worst outcome.
I think one of things that makes this movie so great is that it's shot like a war movie, rather than just sci-fi/horror.
Oh my gosh it was so much fun experiencing this with you! This is probably one of my top three favorite movies of all time and I watch it at least once a month and I’m still jumping through my seat! You are an amazing reviewer and I’m so glad you love the movie!💜💜
Not only is the Queen the most iconic movie monster in all of sci-fi (don't fight me on this, guys, you know it's true), but the powerloader exosuits were such an amazingly believable prop they got calls from cargo and construction companies asking where they could get one.
That's amazing! It really was so well done, I didn't even question how they did it because it worked so well and looked so good! I love that construction companies called looking for one.
@@CasualNerdReactions Puppeteered miniatures for the full shots with strategic angles and cuts to block the control rods and cable mechanisms.
The corporation is the real villain of the ALIEN franchise.
The thing I prefer about the theatrical version is that the pacing is better and I don’t think we needed to be so blatant about the mother daughter connection between Ridley and Newt . I got it , without being hit over the head with it .
At the very end of the credits, there's the sound of wind howling ... then the sound of an alien egg opening ...
I've probably watched Aliens 100 times and still love it as much as the first time. It's just an all time classic with so many memorable scenes. "Get away from her you bitch!" Is the most iconic one liner of all time. As for the sequels it's really hard to say...The 3rd one is worth watching once, but you have to know before hand that it's super dark in tone and takes a completely different story path than you expect or want. It will rip your heart out from the beginning and it's not an easy pill to swallow. Alien Ressurection (the 4th) is honestly a really bad movie but for some reason I kind of love it for how insane it is 😂 It's a completely different tone than the others and even has some bizarre comedy in it. Alien Resurrection REALLY goes off the deep end, but I must admit the special effects are really good. It's really up to you. Prometheus is actually pretty decent, but Alien Covenant pretty much throws out the story trajectory Prometheus ends on and is kind of upsetting. Pretty much past the first two movies the series becomes a mess, much like the Terminator series. Once James Cameron moved on from the series, the magic was gone.
Alien Ressurection is memorable for one thing and one thing only - it was the first ever product I was asked to produce ID to buy (I had been successfully buying alcohol for many years prior with no problems)
William Gibson: ua-cam.com/video/fS0cMEl8YJI/v-deo.html
I probably watch this movie around 200 or more times it is that freaking good. 💪😍
Hicks listens to Ripley, so that's at least one of the Marines.
The Alien franchise ended with this movie in my humble opinion. I chose to forget any of the ones that followed. Even Promethius. But it won't spoil these first 2 if you choose to watch the rest. The first one and the sequel are simply perfect in my opinion. I went to see Alien two times on opening day in 79. I was 23. Still one of my absolute favorite movies. It and Aliens are timeless. Few movies hold up as well. Especially scifi.
@Thomas Frederick I completely agree. All the money grab movies that came after this effectively degrades the franchise. This was its peak and for me the franchise ends here.
William Gibson: ua-cam.com/video/fS0cMEl8YJI/v-deo.html
Thank you!! When I was in College My Roommate who was an Alien Fanatic (like me) doesnt Even acknowledge that there were ANY movies after this one. I couldnt agree with you more.Alien 3 Doesnt exist , and neither does 4.
I'm so glad they didn't do ANY OTHER Alien movies.
William Gibson: ua-cam.com/video/fS0cMEl8YJI/v-deo.html
One of the first times that Hollywood truly empowers a female character to become the hero. As a father of daughters 7 and 12 at the time, this impressed me.
Great reaction video! Respect to this movie... Still holds up visually. I saw this in theaters when I was 19. To this day in my top three of all time.
It really holds up so well!!
You asked how Cameron could turn a horror franchise into an action one...he did the same thing with Terminator. He is the master of changing genres to suit the story line.
Great reaction
Perfect film! Ahem. James Cameron turns the first film up to a million in Aliens. Cameron is one of the best directors ever to grace the Director's Chair.
Alien is the "Haunted house" to Aliens "Roller coaster", both Ridley Scott and James Cameron are amazing directors. Just like the first 2 terminator movies, the first 2 alien movies are so good it made it an almost impossible job to sustain the quality, with an original idea for further sequels.
You nailed this. To go forward and keep quality you would need a really unique idea and well, from mixed comments it seems they didn’t live up to this masterpiece.
@@CasualNerdReactions If you do watch Alien 3, watch the Assembly Cut as it's a much more cohesive version of the movie. My opinion of Alien 3 has improved quite a bit over the years; however, I would honestly just stop at Aliens. The magic of Aliens was its ability to shift tone, change genres, feel like a successor to the original, and yet still give you something that felt new (even though the 2 films share quite a few story/plot elements). The problem from here on out, at least for me personally, was the feeling of "been there, done that" that began to set in. The sequels after Aliens have their moments, and I wouldn't call any of them terrible films (except maybe Alien: Covenant), but Alien-Aliens is such a perfect duo there's really not much reason to go forward unless you just have to have more from this universe.
Ridley Scott created one of the greatest modern horror movies of the age.
Cameron got the brief for a sequel, and knew there was NO WAY he could match, let alone beat, Scott's film as a horror film. So he didnt try.
He instead created arguably THE greatest sci-fi action film of all time - and as well released a film with probably the most number of detailed memorable characters of all time.
William Gibson: ua-cam.com/video/fS0cMEl8YJI/v-deo.html
Top 10 best movies of all time and no new movie can ever take this down. Great Reaction!
You may be right about that! Total classic.
“Did it just separate from the egg laying equipment?” - OMG - I am crying! 🤣 - So glad you watched this movie!
🤣 thanks for the comment.
Yes, yes it did. Which made the premise of Alien 3 absolutely balderdash.
Now you know why Aliens is among the few sequels in movie history that outranks even its original, or the very least lives up to the same high standard. Cameron was both very smart & respectful when he made his sequel. Because he understands what any continuation needs. Any continuation must have what the original had & also be more & of something different as well. There are numerous easter eggs from Alien in Aliens, even down to the mentioning of corn bread! He fought to have Ripley back, Fox originally didn't want our greatest heroine ever to return, can you believe it!? And Cameron was clever enough to realize that the actual horror could not be done again since the surprise is already out, so he continued with the fear already established & gave the humans a slim fighting chance this time & made the whole thing cool with his touch of action. The first film started it all but it is the sequel that made this story into a franchise.
Aliens is a film you wanna return to for the rest of your life. I've watched this film hundreds of times, no exaggeration. And, hopefully, it'll be many hundreds of times more. It never gets old or dull no matter how many times you watch this thing, the adrenaline is always present.
Being able to fight back but still be woefully in the bad end of 'will most likely die' makes things a lot scarier. it's why certain videogames work better when you can fight back against the horror, even if just temporary - cuz you have to FACE it head on to do so. You can't just run and hide every single time.
William Gibson: ua-cam.com/video/fS0cMEl8YJI/v-deo.html
25:48 It was the scream that got her the part. The movie was filmed in England for tax reasons and so when the producers needed a young American girl for the role they came up with the idea of touring the USAF bases in England looking for a suitable candidate and found Carrie Henn whose father was an NCO. She auditioned and got the role once they heard her scream even though she had no prior acting experience. Her real life older brother also won the role of her brother in the film.
She was an excellent screamer! Great information, thank you. I love that they were really siblings.
reactions like yours is why I have come to enjoy reaction videos!
It's a relatively minor inconsistency, but when Ripley is being interrogated by the Company, she tells them that Kane said there were thousands of eggs in the alien ship. However, when she & the rest of the survivors are in Ops & making plans, she asks, 'So who's laying these eggs?' Then they go into a discussion about how there must be an alien 'Queen'. Given what Ripley already knew, she would not have asked that question, instead assuming the Xenos were carrying them over from the alien ship.
This is one of the road bumps caused by Cameron's insertion of the the whole Queen concept. Fairly early on in writing, he became adamant he wanted to make them like insects, along with that concept. However, interestingly that was *not* their background in the 1st film. The Xenos were completely artificially created biomechanical organisms. They had insect characteristics, but were cobbled together from many different types of animals. They were also given traits no animal had, like their mechanical spring-loaded inner mouth.
I would never compare Alien and Aliens on which is better. they are two very different beasts and it got 7 years of time between their releases. Not to also mention larger budget and such (iirc).
I think Aliens is on par with Terminator 2 for best movies, and alien with The Terminator for the first movie in the series. The Sequels wouldn't be anywhere as good without the first one in their series to look back to for references, plot setup, etc.
Also, hilarious thing is that a lot of people seem to dun really trust Paul Reiser's character in this movie early on.... and as a said it's hilarious cuz back in the days of those movie's release and prior to it, Paul Reiser was known for 'that good guy/buddy' roles, and as such it was a very shocking reveal that he was a badguy scumbag in this movie at that late-reveal.
Also also, nice comment on 'does anyone listen to ripley!?' and Hicks is in full agreement to nuke the shit out of the fucking planet XD
Also also - the sequel: Any chance of seeing you play Alien: Isolation? :p
The Alien is filled with dread, Aliens is more of an adrenaline rush terror.
James Cameron specifically wrote "Aliens" with Sigourney Weaver in mind, the studio didn't want to pay her by Cameron insisted that he wouldn't do the project without her...
James Cameron originally wanted the actor Lance Henriksen who plays "Bishop" to play the the killer cyborg in "The Terminator". Cameron even had artwork and makeup effects that were started for Lance. Arnold Schwarzenegger was supposed to be Kyle Reese in the first Terminator movie but after reading the script he persuaded James Cameron that he'd be better off in the role of the Terminator. The rest is history...
At the time, for an actor to take the role of a killer in a film was running the risk of being typecast. Just ask Tony Perkins after he played Norman Bates in Hitchcock's "Psycho"... He didn't surface again until an ill-advised sequel was made in the 80's and then was quickly forgotten...
I remember seeing this in a packed theater in 1986 and the applause, the jump scares and just the feel of the audience, that is something that I really miss..
Seeing this with you, it's like I'm transported back in time. I love your reactions but also your keen analysis and insight into movie making.
Thanks so much Scott! I’m so grateful for James Cameron both for being firm in his insistence to get Sigourney weaver back for aliens and his flexibility and putting Arnold in the role of the terminator. Both made history.
🤘💜🤘 Loved your reaction. I was 14 when this movie came out in 1986. Some friends & I snuck into this rated R movie and LOVED it! I'm sure you've been told that Vasquez was actually played by a red headed white woman named, Jennette Goldstein. She played the foster mother in Terminator 2 and had a small role in Titanic. She played Vasquez so well.🙂
And now, she runs a bra shop.....
Everyone knew who Vasquez was. Before the Internet, in the 1980s and 1990s, pretty much everyone I knew called pull ups in front of them 'Vasquez pull ups'... just like they all called the five finger fillet game the 'Bishop knife game'.....
Great reaction. You actually had me on the edge of my seat like I'd never seem the film before
Thank you so much Heather! That is my goal, to as much as possible truly capture the first time watching experience. Can’t always achieve it (especially if I don’t enjoy the film, lol) but it means so much to hear I accomplished that with this one.
I was born in 1986. Once again we see Sigourney Weaver as Ripley as she wakes up in a new time period with a new group of people and expendables. Introducing Bishop
The behind the scenes on all the alien films are some of the best film documentaries ever.
Another great series of how it was done documentaries was the El Mariachi trilogy. Rodriguez wrote, shot, edited, and scored all three with 3 generations of cameras. It's the best I've seen comparing analog, early digital, and 2nd gen digital.
Great review, dude. A film that still holds up after all these years.
Hard to believe this came out 35 years ago.
Thanks so much, Craig!
Thank you for making this reaction video! I felt the same way you did when I saw this in the theater 37 years ago. I didn't expect it to be as good, if not better, than the original. My friends and I were totally blown away; we talked about this film for a long time.
Spectacular movie just saw it one of the best sequels ever made but T2 is the best sequel ever made.
This and Terminator 2 are examples of perfect sequels.
Vasquez is legit. Love this film
He: Folks, we've scored big this time!
Me: Folks, you've scored one last time!
I saw ALIENS in 1986 at a theatre in Chicago and the audience went NUTS!! It was non-stop screaming and gasping from beginning to end! I went with my wife and my best friend, and although my best friend has past away, ALIENS brings back a lot of memories with him RIP Fred.
That’s an Incredible experience. I’m so glad you, you’re wife, and Fred were able to share that. May he Rest In Peace.
A little late, but if you followed closely, Amy would have been 9 going on 10, when Ripley promised she would be home for her 11th birthday. Newt's school picture stated that she was in 5th grade, (9 or 10) when Ripley found her. "Mommy" indeed! Thank you, editor's cut.
Crazy thing about Ripleys daughter is you can play as her in a video game Alien Isolation and it's really good. It's like outlast bug with alien.
This movie and "The Empire Strikes Back" are probably the two best sequels made in modern time. "The Bride of Frankenstein" is also a terrific sequel.
Trivia: The Studio actually tried to pursue a story without Ripley because they were too cheap to pay her for what she deserved, but Cameron refused to do that version (in my imagination, he told them to F themselves XD ). Burke's character was so sleazy the actor's own mother cheered for his death. The little girl, Newt, that was her first and only movie role. And she liked the chute scene so much she kept screwing it on purpose so she could have another go before Cameron noticed it. That picture of Ripley's daughter is actually Sigourney's mother. Also, in that scene where Newt is hanging onto Bishop, you can see a hole on the ground where his body is coming out (Cameron hoped the audience's eyes would be set on the 2 actors hanging for dear life, and it worked).
Thanks for that
@@OffRampTourist ☺️👍
How did Newt manage to keep the alien away from her all by herself and Ripley needed two people to get it off of her. Is Newt a robot? I guess you have to watch the next movie!
I'M GLAD you watched the director's cut. the theatrical version left some important things out like ripley's daughter. for me, it helped her create a stronger bond with newt.
My favorite character in this movie is Burke. No one ever gives him credit for being a hero and sacrificing himself to save Ripley and Newt by going into the room with an alien while locking them out so they’re safe. What a guy!
A true hero. 👏
I saw this in the theatre opening weekend. It was an absolute blast. The audience was completely losing their shit, especially the laughter at certain lines. ‘Get away from her, you bitch!’ caused absolute pandemonium of cheering and applause. One of the best movie theatre experiences I’ve ever had.
That's amazing! I love it when the theater is fully engaged in the film. It makes a huge difference!
Avoid Prometheus unless you want to laugh at how mind-numbingly dumb it is.
The magic words "I JUST FINISHED ALIEN FOR THE FIRST TIME!". Envy and respect 🙌 🙏 lol.
Alien...one of the best horror movies.
Aliens....one of the best sequels/action movies.
Completely agree!
4:10 They did say it's a Colony, you can't Colonize without breeding, thus, kids.
Ellen Ripley is one of the greatest action heroes in the history of cinema.
"That girl is a total beast and I love her" - That's John Connor's foster mother, how crazy is that shit.
Closely followed by Vasquez, Dietrich, Ferro and Newt...
I feel like I just experienced something huge. My heart is pounding and I think I was holding my breath.
To go from Ridley Scott an amazing director to James Cameron an equally amazing director has given this franchise an iconic legacy that will NEVER be produced!! Love the reaction Chris this is my 3rd watch of you cant wait to see more!!!
I also was there opening night with my girlfriend and the excitement and anticipation was shared by the whole theater audience. Besides the utterly perfect directing, and everything else that makes this one of the best sequels ever I remember during the last 20 or so minutes my girlfriend had to yank her hand out of my grip which she said was getting more uncomfortable and tighter by the minute as the end unfolded. I was totally oblivious to that being so rapped up in the chaos of the scene.one of my best memories of the best years of the 80s oh how I miss you.
Sounds almost like Hubby & I. Aliens was the first movie we saw at the theater after getting engaged (really romantic, huh? 😁😄). We loved the action and suspense but it also scared the crap out of me like no other movie before or since. After nearly 36 years of marriage, Hubby still teases me about cutting off the circulation in his arm from gripping it so tightly throughout the movie.... He says it was like being on a date with a boa constrictor wrapped around his arm! 😄😂🤣
I'm glad you watched the Special Edition. It is arguably the greatest sci-fi ever made. Arguably the greatest sequel ever made.
It's just a shame they never made a worthy sequel.
I think they should show movies like this re released in theatres again, people would love to see them on the big screen. Movies like this from the eighties and nineties need to be seen how they were meant to be😎
I would definitely watch an Alien + Aliens double feature!!
The special edition of Alien was re released in theaters for the films 30th anniversary.
I'm guessing you haven't the seen the directors cut of Alien, based on one of your comments here.
In that version of Alien, Ripley finds several crew members, including Dallas, trapped in the weird alien resin/gloop.
She tries to free Dallas, at which point he wakes up and begs Ripley to kill him.
This is also why, when Ripley is asked if she had ever seen anything like the Alien nest before, she said yes but much smaller (she never saw inside the Alien ship because they lost comms).
When I was in my teens this was the "comfort film" I would watch every time I got a flu or fever.
That’s awesome! We all need movies like that, and this is a great choice.
The first time I saw this, I was up all night with the flu... It was when the movie premiered on HBO, I guess? Roughly? So I was four or so, depending on when it was. My family had just gotten cable! 😂
It was fun to watch you watch this one for the first time. This is one of my all-time favorite movies and Ripley is the ultimate badass!
I think this was your best reaction yet - the faces, the verbalisation, the eyes ... wonderful. It was like watching it for the first time all over again.
Thanks so much, Sharman!
Oh, you're watching the Director's Cut version! In the theatrical version, we don't see any of the colonists until after we're told that they lost contact. Personally, I like that version because not seeing anything of the colony until after its fall makes it more mysterious and frightening.
This and terminator 2 are the greatest sequels ever made. Skip the rest of the Alien series and go to Prometheus . Love your reactions dude.. keep up the good work
What about Jaws 2?
Empire Strikes Back and Wrath of Khan also fall into that category.
@@kevinolexa8828 @Webwyrm I agree with both of you.
@@kevinolexa8828 totally agree with that
Hmm, how about Godfather Part II?
You are right on the money lol everybody I watched react to this said “why isn’t anybody listening to Ripley” love the reactions keep it up man 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
yeah I love it when mama tries to open just one egg to get her and ripley's like really? we doin this? ok! absolutely adore bishop. great video :)
I am so glad I subbed to you. Your reactions get better and better as I work my way through them.
As a side note, this movie also features character actor Mark Ralston, whom I spoke about in my comment on your "Shawshank Redemption" reaction. He plays Drake, PFC Vazquez's partner with the heavy machine gun.
One of the things I love about this movie is that it carefully removes all the Idiot Ball questions. (Like, "Why didn't they take off and nuke the site from orbit?") that occasionally occurs in other action movies. The marines don't make that many stupid decisions once they figured out the situation, and when their smart decisions don't work out, its for logical reasons that are supported by the movie itself and aren't just arbitrary fails.
Thanks so much! I’m glad you’re enjoying the reactions. I agree, the marines here definitely make less stupid decisions than other films! One reason why it is so engaging.
Ripley's dumb to not shoot the queen instead she shoots the eggs to piss off the queen even more.
5:50 - Androids facial features are designed to look like the creator of the company (Weyland) who produces them. Check out Alien vs Predator for a fuller explanation.
A wonderful movie, the air in the theater was electric when Ripply showed up with the stacking unit, as armor. Loved the Cameron touches throughout. Big action scenes. My favorite. At one point you mention a "countdown scene" As the creature approaches. I suggest you check out almost the same exact scene in "The Thing From Another World" (1951). A movie I highly recommend. Alien 3 was a dark film and not a favorite. It had no place else to go. Prometheus was pretty and even promising. but the humans were idiots and the androids were evil still. I liked the follow up a little more. Searching for a revelation to come.
Ooh I’ll be finally watching the follow up to Prometheus soon. Looking forward to seeing how that plays out.
"Why doesn't anyone listen to RIpley?" - said every UA-cam Reacter EVER!
Well, is there an answer?
Once Ripley used her "Command Voice" in the briefing with the Marines the lower-ranking did start listening to her. Once Gorman was put in his place (knocked unconscious), Ripley started giving the orders.
Another awesome reaction to such a great film. This is my absolute favorite in the franchise. The sequels/prequels and spin offs are a mixed bag. Ripley is one of the greatest heroes is science fiction and film ever made. I quote some of the lines often.
Fun Fact: The actors who play Hicks and Bishop are also in the original Terminator. Also directed by James Cameron.
So is Bill Paxton (Hudson). Bill Paxton has the honor of having one of his characters die at the hands of a Predator, Terminator, and Alien.
@@milescoburn1845 I completely forgot about that. Lol
I understand there was a scripted scene in the nest, with Ripley finding Burke stuck to the wall after rescuing Newt. He begs her to kill him. She hands him a grenade and leaves. Then there is a boom. I don’t know if it was filmed or not; I cannot recall ever seeing footage. EDITED: I just found a video discussing Burke’s fate. The scene was filmed, but Cameron decided to not use it. And she found him before rescuing Newt.
Fun fact: the final scene where Bishop was ripped in half made Lance Henriksen really sick when they were filming it. The white stuff that he spews was a combination of milk/yogurt and it spoiled really quickly under the lights and heat on the set, so Lance was basically gargling rancid dairy products for hours on end and it ended up giving him pretty bad food poisoning. Apparently he was a real trooper about it and didn't complain once. Talk about suffering for your art.
Wow! That would be worthy of a complaint, but good for him! A lot of respect earned.
"Don't you hug her face!" Dude... it's a Face-Hugger, LOL! These reactions are the best! :)
I heard that Paul Reiser, the actor who played Burke said his mother cheered when his character died
That’s the best story, honestly. A credit to his performance.
Until i saw Train to Busan, i didn't think it was possible to hate a movie character more than Burke. Rumor has it his own mother cheered for his death at the premiere because of his performance. He held the title for a LONG time, until that Korean masterpiece took it from him with another selfish businessman.
When it comes to people being cocooned and stuck to the wall in Aliens this idea was actually taken from the first Alien film, Originally Ridley Scott had a scene in it where Ripley finds a dark room and she finds Dallas alive but stuck to the wall and cocooned by the Alien, it was deleted from the theatrical version as they where trying to shorten the film run time and it was seen as not needed but was added back later to the directors cut version of Alien.
That’s awesome! I love that they continued that detail. Thanks for sharing.
@@CasualNerdReactions Indeed and i think Ridley did that scene as just away to try and explain what the alien did with people it didn't instantly kill and at that time the queen idea did not exist, but this is why James Cameron is so good as he took one deleted scene and expanded on it and made it a core part of the second film. Also as for the other films yeah the rest are not good or well not as good as the first and second, the 3rd film was an utter mess as they went through many directors and had multiple script re-writes tro the point the final has barely any resemblance to the intended story and after that well hmm yeah.... That said still watch them for you know science
@@miller-joel Incorrect, if you watch the making of documentary he specifically states the scenes removed where to trim down the run time as the run time of the film was longer than what was considered an acceptable run time to cinema goers by the studio. I am sure you will come back stating how right you are and blah blah blah but the fact is you clearly never seen the documentary and never seen the man him self talking about this very subject.
If you go back to the scene where the shuttle leaves after picking up Newt and Ripley you can briefly see it's landing gear get entangled with something looking like metal struts. I always took that as a hint that the queen came aboard. I think Cameron didn't wanna give it away outright.
I love that you can catch that upon rewatching, but wouldn't think much of it the first time.
My maiden name is Hicks. When my family watched this movie, the scene in the shuttle when they go down to the planet and Hicks was asleep, my dad declared that he must truly be a Hicks! All Hicks’ can sleep through ANYTHING!
😅 perfect!
22:11 "Burke did just die, right?"
No, it's far worse for him than that. (There's a scene where his fate is revealed but it was cut from the movie).
By the way, did you know that calling someone a "Berk" is a British insult, supposedly cockney Rhyming Slang for Berkeley Hunt? I feel that this is not a coincidence.
Great review as always from the best movie reaction channel on the Tube. I loved this! 👍
Cameron's rollercoaster take equals Scott's haunted house in space ethos frame for frame - THIS is how you enhance a franchise by taking the original source material and amp it up to 11! Weaver's justifiable Oscar nom elevated her with her ongoing iconic Ripley - arguably the greatest cinema heroine ever - and Stan Winston's astounding special effects - hello Queen! - are gnarlier and faster! Great reactions and yes one of the greatest sequels ever. The next 2 in the franchise are a bit uneven but Weaver is game and worth seeing.
Even though I didn’t care for 3, Weaver didn’t disappoint 👏 I was amazed at this one for how faithful, yet unique it was.
Alien: Pure sci-fi horror gold.
Aliens: Pure sci-fi action gold.
💯
The Actor who played Burke said his mother cheered when his character died in the film.
I must say you are one of the best reactors (if not the best) I've seen. Intelligence, excellent communication skills, funny and good acting skills too.
Thank you so much, Ann! Honestly you are so kind. I appreciate you!
@@CasualNerdReactions Much love from Montego Bay, Jamaica 👍🏼🇯🇲
The greatest sci fi action movie ever made. I wasn't a huge fan of Alien which is not really my cup of tea tbh, but Cameron absolutely knocked it out of the park with this, taking the established lore and using it to create an absolutely terrifying premise for our outmatched marines.