Aliens 4K
review by Bobby Blakey
It is usually hit and miss with sequels to any film, but director James Cameron has taken on the challenge numerous times with both his Terminator and Avatar franchises to much success and even Piranha II: The Spawning back in 1982. After his success with the original Terminator, he took on the Alien franchise with his follow up to Ridley Scott’s 1979 original film with Aliens. Now the film is getting an all-new digital and physical 4K Collector’s Edition release along with other James Cameron films The Abyss, True Lies, Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water.
Aliens follows Ripley, the sole survivor of the space tug Nostromo’s deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. She agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426—and this time it’s war.
The film features the return of Sigourney Weaver as the only survivor of the original film along with Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Carrie Henn and Paul Reiser. I love Alien and think it walks that perfect line of
thriller, horror and sci-fi drama that could have just been its own thing and one and done. It is rare that a sequel comes a long and lives up to its predecessor let alone surpass it, but Aliens does just that.
This entry brings that same balance the original had to offer with a heavier focus on the action and horrors of it all. Is it better? That is a matter of opinion, but to me I must admit I do like this one more. The step up in technology and the awesomeness of the xenomorphs themselves take everything to the next level in the best way possible.
Weaver brings an even more badass level to the character that is not only afraid of returning to deal with them, but ready to not go down without a fight. Like most horror films, the true evil of this film is some of the humans and their ulterior motives, this time around being Paul Reiser. He is such a hated character they even have a new Marvel Comic coming out in their What If? line focusing on the character.
Once again, the late Bill Paxton steals the show with some of the most iconic lines. This film was where I first noticed one of my now all-time favorite actors Lance Henriksen, which at the time I didn’t realize he was in Terminator as well when I originally saw this. He brings his usual gruff tone and persona to a role that gets to shine right alongside Weaver until the very end.
I love this movie and with this new 4K look it explodes off screen better than ever. While not all the sequels are great this one for sure does the original justice while standing on its own as both a great sequel and an awesome film all its own.
Grab your copy of Aliens when it hits Blu-ray and 4K on March 12th from 20th Century Studios.