Aliens

Matt and I wanted to review a summer blockbuster and decided to watch Aliens. I was mildly concerned because I never saw the original movie. I was afraid I might not be able to understand all the subtle nuances since I hadn’t seen the first movie. But, hey, in my defense, Alien came out when I was in high school, Aliens the summer I graduated, and I had other things to do. I also have never been a sci-fi chick, so skipping these movies didn’t seem like a problem to me. What I discovered after watching Aliens is that Sigourney Weaver kicks ass and I need to watch the first movie.

In Aliens, we discover that Sigourney Weaver (Ripley) has been discovered by a space salvage crew after floating in orbit for 57 years. Obviously, she is shocked to have she lived in suspended animation for such a long time. Unfortunately, waking up comes with a price. She starts to remember the horror she had endured and is tormented by nightmares.

Ripley, who once commanded her own ship, was forced to take a menial job with the salvage company who found her. When she relayed her tale of aliens with “acid for blood” the company was skeptical, but she never changes her story and was obviously sincere about her experience. When a farming colony goes missing, Ripley is allowed to join a Marine expedition to search for the colonists. If the expedition goes well, Ripley was promised a job as commander of her own ship.

The Marines are a gung-ho bunch who see no worth to Ripley’s experience, and charge in, making a bad situation worse. In general, the Marines annoyed me. (Even a very young and cute Bill Paxton worked my last nerve.) Fortunately, most the Marines are killed off, and the remaining members of the team turn to Ripley to save them from the aliens.

Along the way, Ripley finds a lone survivor from the colony. This survivor is a savvy little girl who has managed to hide from the aliens. Ripley and the girl, Newt, form a bond and function as mother and daughter. Never mess with a Mama lion, she will always fiercely protect her cub; stupid aliens.

There are many alien chase scenes and I won’t take the time to explain them all, but rest assured, Sigourney is not going to fall victim to these slimy beasts again. She ends of saving Newt and escaping the alien horde. Like there was ever a doubt?

This movie was lots of fun, even though it didn’t challenge me intellectually; I loved it. Hey, who says every movie has to have a deep and profound effect on us? Aliens gets four stars for the ass-kickingly, fun romp that it is.

Michelle D. Kieffaber