3) Aliens (1986)
Surprised to see Aliens so low? Sorry. There’s no denying this is a fantastic piece of filmmaking helmed by one of the best directors and screenwriters in the world, but while James Cameron’s incarnation is great fun, it never feels true to the spirit of the original Alien. Sure, reinvention is fair game, but Cameron’s decision to favor palatable thrills over slow-burn horror doesn’t translate into a sequel that feels like a force of nature. An excellent action flick? Sure. A true work of art? Maybe not.
In many ways, Aliens is the reason that the franchise has dovetailed with the expectations of Hollywood action movies in recent times. It manages to take the central concept of terror and bolt it on to the back of action romp, introducing a supporting cast full of bite and little brain.
Put it this way, I don’t care for the back-slapping marines that accompany Ripley on the trek. Yes, they’re supposed to be gleefully unaware of the dangers they’re walking into, but the presence of Hudson and co. removes a sense of creeping dread and makes Aliens a steady dripfeed of bloodshed instead. Nor can I stand Newt, the well-conceived yet annoyingly-acted surrogate child who spends much of the movie looking aimless and emitting bloodcurdling screams. Add Aliens to the pile of films that get the characterization of a child all wrong.
Still, the script deserves credit. The depiction of unbelieving bureaucrats scoffing at Ripley’s assertion that there’s an alien menace on planet LV-426 is perfect. Worse is their terrifying admission that they’ve set up a terraforming colony on the very planet. Finally, scenes like Bishop playing Russian Roulette with a knife and Hudson’s fingers and Ripley strapping herself into a mech are unforgettable, but Aliens is also a very different beast from its forebear and though it’s a clever, well-executed sequel, it’s somehow less impactful.