Aliens is quite possibly the most perfect sequel to any movie ever. Rocky II, Terminator 2, Godfather Part 2, Empire Strikes Back, it’s up there with the best of the best.
What makes Alien/Aliens special is that they are entirely different movies. Different styles, different feel, and almost an entirely different cast. All those other excellent sequels were continuations of the story, using characters and settings established in the first film. You start with Godfather Part 2, and you’ll be almost entirely lost with who is who and why you should care. You can go into Aliens entirely blind, and you’ll still get like 90% of the enjoyment. Watching Alien improves the experience, but is actually unnecessary.
And that’s part of why it’s so good. You should watch Alien, not just for the backstory on Aliens but because it’s an amazing standalone film.
It woulda been cool to get some more sequels, but alas…
1981: James Cameron works as a production designer on a Roger Corman “cash-in” of Alien called “Galaxy of Terror”. It’s mostly awful (mostly due to the giant maggot rape scene), but some of the production design is WAY better than anything in this movie has any right to be.
1986: James Cameron directs “Aliens”.
I’m using the release years here as opposed to production for simplicity, but Aliens is really just a cash-in of a cash-in of Alien.
Yep, and I’d say they are both sci-fi, so it’s fine to compare them on the list of best sci-fi. But I give the nod to Alien because I enjoy that more as a horror movie than I enjoy Aliens as an action movie. Like if we were ranking horror movies, Alien would be in my top 10, maybe top five. For action movies, I’d put Aliens in the top 20, maybe top 10.
Aliens is quite possibly the most perfect sequel to any movie ever. Rocky II, Terminator 2, Godfather Part 2, Empire Strikes Back, it’s up there with the best of the best.
What makes Alien/Aliens special is that they are entirely different movies. Different styles, different feel, and almost an entirely different cast. All those other excellent sequels were continuations of the story, using characters and settings established in the first film. You start with Godfather Part 2, and you’ll be almost entirely lost with who is who and why you should care. You can go into Aliens entirely blind, and you’ll still get like 90% of the enjoyment. Watching Alien improves the experience, but is actually unnecessary.
And that’s part of why it’s so good. You should watch Alien, not just for the backstory on Aliens but because it’s an amazing standalone film.
It woulda been cool to get some more sequels, but alas…
Exactly.
Alien is a horror film.
Aliens is an action film.
1979: Ridley Scott directs “Alien”.
1981: James Cameron works as a production designer on a Roger Corman “cash-in” of Alien called “Galaxy of Terror”. It’s mostly awful (mostly due to the giant maggot rape scene), but some of the production design is WAY better than anything in this movie has any right to be.
1986: James Cameron directs “Aliens”.
I’m using the release years here as opposed to production for simplicity, but Aliens is really just a cash-in of a cash-in of Alien.
Yep, and I’d say they are both sci-fi, so it’s fine to compare them on the list of best sci-fi. But I give the nod to Alien because I enjoy that more as a horror movie than I enjoy Aliens as an action movie. Like if we were ranking horror movies, Alien would be in my top 10, maybe top five. For action movies, I’d put Aliens in the top 20, maybe top 10.
Yeah. Alien is is my top four on Letterboxd.
I love Aliens, but I do think it’s inferior.
I love the characters, set pieces, and all but it’s just not there.
Hell, I rewatched Predator recently. I think it may be superior.