
Aliens
Review created: 08/12/07(updated 08/13/07)

In an effort to open my mind, I watched the first movie in the "Alien' series, and I was surprised to find that I liked it, and it scared me. Maybe it was the scene where the alien baby burst out of John Hurt's chest (I had a gas attack once that felt just like that, and while it was going on, I thought about the movie because that scene was so gross. Also, since seeing it I always think about the singer, Shakira, who has dance moves that look like she has an alien baby inside her trying to get out and run, screeching, across the stage and into the wings.)
Maybe it was the chance to see Yaphet Koto (He did 'Blue Collar' with Richard Pryor years ago, and he also did some t.v. show with cops in it, the name of which escapes me at the moment because I watch very little t.v.) Maybe it was the presence of Tom Skerritt of 'Mash' fame. I've liked both of them for years. Or maybe it was the chance to see Veronica Cartwright, who shows absolute disgust and terror on screen like nobody else I know. Whatever, I found that I liked the movie, even if I didn't fall completely and deeply in love with it.
Then came 'Aliens,' the second in the series, and the one of four that was directed by James Cameron, of 'Terminator' and 'Titanic' fame. While I've never been a big sci-fi/action fan, and probably never will be, I have to admit that Sigourney Weaver absolutely rocked in this second installment.
Here we find her reluctantly accompanying a troop of marines to a distant planet that has ceased communication with earth. Soon we find out why; murderous aliens have taken over in a big way and only Newt, a young girl played by Carrie Henn, has managed to survive every onslaught they've made, so far. The rest of the movie is about efforts they make just trying to stay alive in the face of aliens who have no plans to give up their murderous activities without a real fight; they just keep coming and coming.
The aliens answer to a queen who is both tough as nails and extremely fertile. In one of my all-time favorite scenes, she and Sigourney do battle as Sigourney tries to protect the little girl. Each one gives as good as she gets.
Even if the alien queen is supposed to be a creature who acts purely on instinct, she seems to always be thinking, calculating and doing her best to win the battle. And Sigourney does her best to win as well. In one of the most powerful scenes ever recorded on film, they go at each other and the alien queen seems to be saying "if I go down, you're going down with me."
I love seeing a strong woman on screen who can take care of herself while saving others in the bargain, even when her opponent has acid for blood, and one who doesn't suddenly trip over some imaginary rock, fall, and wait for a passing hero to come to her rescue. (And who, then, filled with gratitude, takes all of her clothes off. In fact, nobody gets nude in this movie but Sigourney can drive a mean fork lift.)
I don't care that some people have tried to characterize Sigourney's performance as 'feminist' like there's something bad about that. I say, 'you go girl.' Kick that alien butt before she kicks yours; you know you better because you know she's going to kick yours if she gets the chance. (My ex-husband used to say that self-preservation is the first law of nature.) Did I love this movie? Newt said it best: "A-ffirmative!" I think all girls, young and not so young, need to see it and memorize its message. (Every 'boy' needs to see it too.)
Review ID: 10000000004204473

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