Aliens (Special Edition)
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.20 You Save: $5.78 (39%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $1.09 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of Aliens (Special Edition)
Movie Review: One of THE BEST horror films ever made
Summary: 5 Stars
The movie Aliens is one of those rare instances where the sequel not only expands on a good film, but is superior to the original. I truly loved watching this movie, and have fond memories of this film when I first saw it in the theater. I jumped out of my seat several times, and was pleasantly surprised by this film in a good way.James Cameron loved the original Alien movie, and you can tell that he loved this movie from the opening moments of this sequel that he wrote and directed. The emergency shuttle that Ripley escaped from the Nostromo in the previous film looks exactly like the same ship in every way. The attention to continuity is shown not only in the sets, but also in the story, as Ripley looks at photos of people from the previous crew as she testifies to the infamous corporate leaders about her first encounter with the alien.
I won't go into detail what happens next in the film, only that just when things look bad, they get even worse. The additional 17 minutes added to the film on DVD are good, but aren't essential because the story is just as good either way. The supporting cast that make up the Colonial Marines are a well balanced, well thought out cast. They all really do stand out as individuals in this movie. When Gene Roddenberry had started work on the new Star Trek series, he screened this movie to help him and his team to come up with ideas for characters for what would become Star Trek: The Next Generation.
The themes in this movie are the same as the original, only better -- the distrust the common people have for the corporate world -- Ripley standing up to the injustices done to those who are victimized. Sigourney Weaver is a wonderful heroine. When I saw this movie in the theater, I remember the audience cheering loudly for her. This was a great movie.
Movie Review: A WORTHY SEQUEL TO THE ORIGINAL
Summary: 5 Stars
I must admit that I am a person who normally loathes sequels of any kind. So many times sequels seem to be done to "cash in" on the original- and many times I have left a theatre feeling "ripped off" realizing this.I would have to say after seeing the original Alien my expectations were not that high. I basically went to see Aliens for the "curiosity" factor. I also had nothing better to do that evening.
Aliens is a worthy sequel to the original because nothing was compromised. The story held true to the original and many questions were answered in Aliens that were not in the first one.
I just finished watching the DVD version of Aliens. This is an excellent DVD!! So well produced and transferred in "real" letterbox format. The added 17 minutes of the movie also answer a few questions. I never knew that Ripley had a daughter- this would explain why Ripley was so close and extremely protective of Newt. I really appreciated her character more thinking this- it added more dimension to Ripley- as a mother.
The added footage also explained the happenings on LV-426 before and during the attacks by the Aliens. We also get to see Newt's family and what happened to them. I think that this adds more dimension to Newt.
In all, Aliens is an excellent addition to any sci-fi DVD library. Extras galore on the DVD version- cool behind the scenes stuff, trailers, star bios, ect. Worth the money for the extras alone!! It's a great movie- even if you didn't see the original.
As I stated before- I think that most sequals are inferior to the original. Aliens is an exception to this rule. I just wish that more sequels were as good as this one!
Movie Review: The best science fiction movie ever
Summary: 5 Stars
Up front, I must state that Aliens is my all time favorite science fiction movie. The action is intense and scary and unlike many science fiction movies, the personalities of the characters are as important as the futuristic aspects. The DVD version has 17 additional minutes of footage and unlike some expanded versions where the extra is little more than padding, each additional frame significantly adds to the story.
We see the colonists going about their lives, Newt's parents are the ones that enter the space ship and her father is the one infected. The extra footage allows us to see the colonists as people with lives and concerns, so we care more about them than their role as infection fodder. Some of the additional film gives us background on Ripley and her life. This explains her emotional state and why she forms an immediate maternal bond with Newt. Since the climactic scene is a battle between two mothers, this is a key point.
The extra footage also cleared up one point that had always puzzled me. In the VHS version, when Ripley and the surviving troops are barricading themselves in the colonists command center, they did not set booby traps in the tunnels. Since they had grenades, this made no sense to me. The extra footage in the DVD version had them setting up robot sentinels, so they did in fact set the traps, unfortunately the explanation ended up on the cutting room floor.
Aliens is without question superior to the prequel, after viewing the DVD version, I don't think I will ever watch the VHS version again. The extra footage explains so much that the VHS will forevermore appear hollow when compared to the DVD.
Movie Review: A Most Worthy Sequel
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw Aliens in the theaters when it first came out in the summer of 1986, and it hasn't lost any of its bite since then. James Cameron's ambitious sequel is very different in its overall tone compared to Alien. Here we get a thrilling action film that still retains the gothic horror that Ridley Scott so vividly created in Alien.Sigourney Weaver got an Oscar nomination for her reprisal as Ellen Ripley. She gives the character a wonderful sense of strength, compassion and depth. Her great supporting cast includes Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henrikson, Bill Paxton and young Carrie Henn as Newt. The music score by James Horner is among his best, as he captures the the suspense and action sequences perfectly.
The special effects and production design are first rate. Stan Winston slightly changed the look of the Alien creature, but his Alien Queen is a amazing work of art. The film recaptures the eerie and claustiphobic settings, this time within a ravaged colony complex that is teeming with an Alien hive. James Cameron who also wrote the story, stayed true to the original material yet created a thrilling action film that has heart to it (Ripley and Newt's relationship)
This Special Edition includes scenes that were left out of the original theatrical release. I have no problems what so ever with the added scenes. The pace of the film starts off slowly (it always did) and continues to build up as the film reaches its thrilling climax. All of the restored scenes do add something to the storyline. This DVD edition looks and sound awesome and is filled with extras. Aliens is a classic in its own right.
Movie Review: A Great Movie....
Summary: 5 Stars
but there are plenty of reviews here telling you that and also telling you why it's such a wonderful movie. So I don't think you'll mind if I respond to one of the folks that left a review. Jason Reynolds III of Houston, TX, man, when you wrote that review what were you thinking? Did you watch Alien and Aliens all the way through? From beginning to end? Because if you did, my friend, you'd know that there was no way in hell you would be able to reason with these creatures. So what if they followed some ancient religion that required they kill any species not their own?
I follow a very ancient religion, as do a few other people I know, and it's called survival of the fittest. Fine, these aliens want to kill me for their religion. It's their right to try but nobody is gonna tell me that I have to be politically correct and just let some aliens kill me. And if you think Ripley or those Marines were going to think anything different than trying to stay alive, you are nuts!
Ripley, nor any of her crew in the first movie or the second, tried to harm these creatures. The first move was made against them and they were knocked off one by one. The alien itself in the first movie never tried to communicate with the people. That road goes both ways, buddy. And when one's life is in danger, especially if it were me, I'm not gonna waste much of my time being politically correct. I'm gonna save my butt and ask questions later. Ripley was only trying to survive and protect people she cared about. Survival of the fittest, my friend, that's what these movies are about. Keep the politics to yourself. :)