THROWBACK | 'Aliens' Retrospective
With new instalment 'Alien: Covenant' due for release next month, we're continuing our look back over the quintessential Science-Fiction horror franchise, this time focussing on James Cameron’s 1986 action-focused sequel.
Despite the success of the original film in 1979, the gap between 'Alien' and 'Aliens' was the longest of any in the Sci-Fi series starring Sigourney Weaver. Lawsuits between the producers and distributors, and fears over the budget of any sequel meant that it wasn’t until after writer-director James Cameron was brought on board following the success of 'The Terminator' in 1984 that Fox green lit the film.
However, there were further issues as Fox baulked at casting Weaver who, following the stardom that came with 'Alien', now commanded a much larger fee. After Cameron threatened to walk out, Fox eventually agreed to a million-dollar salary for Weaver.
These issues continued into the production phase as the British crew had little respect for Cameron and his production team, considering him a poor replacement for Ridley Scott. Furthermore, time pressures meant that the editing and scoring was done in the last couple of weeks before release.
After such drama, it’s amazing that the film was worthwhile, let alone one of the best sequels of all time. Returning hero Ellen Ripley (Weaver) leads some Colonial Marines back to the world Nostromo - where they landed in the first film, and investigates the disappearance of the colonists there. Not a unique storyline, but one that works well.
The film manages to draw on inspiration from classic military science-fiction such as Heinlein’s 'Starship Troopers', and Hollywood portrayals of the Vietnam War. Despite, Cameron decided to focus “more on terror, less on horror”, continuing to take the time to allow the tension to build over the first half of the film, avoiding cheap and easy scares.
Once again, the casting is close to perfect. Each actor portrays their character with adequate personality with the screen-time time they have. Weaver gives a superb performance, and would be nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress, as do 80s icons Michael Biehn as Hicks, Lance Henriksen as Bishop and Bill Paxton as Hudson. The marines tend to blur as one, but considering the inspirations, that may in fact be intentional on Cameron’s part.
The most surprising performance is given by Carrie Henn as the lost girl, Newt. Henn had no prior acting experience, but gave one of the best child performances in cinema at the time, nominated for and receiving numerous awards for her work. She managed to bring to life a worthy character with pathos and sympathy, but avoided usual annoying habits exhibited by many children in film.
When the action kicks in, it is brutal and terrifying. The huge number of 'Alien' creatures (which were given the moniker 'xenomorph' in this film) that the marines must face gives the audience film scares of a very different kind to the original, but they are no less scary.
Sadly, the film’s dark and brooding atmosphere would later inspire a long list of films that copy the hard-to-view action scenes, but ignore that the film technique is used sparingly and as a contrast to stable shots on outside observers.
The climax - consisting of Ripley’s rescue of Newt from an Alien hive, and a fight between Ripley in a 'power loader', and the Alien Queen - is one that could never be forgotten.
The original release earned another $150 million for Fox and was widely acclaimed as one of the best Sci-Fi / Action films of the time. Despite this, the Director’s Cut produced by Cameron in the 1990s actually improves the film, as there is added tension and building of suspense, more action, and even one of the best character moments in the franchise. Why Fox decided to cut the scene that most develops Ripley’s character before leaving Earth is a complete mystery to fans of Cameron's work.
'Aliens' is definitely worth a re-watch, and with 'Alien: Covenant' to be released mid-May, now is the time to return to this cult classic! David Nolan
