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Aliens poster

Aliens

year 1986decade 80sdirector James Camerongenre Sci-figenre Action

137 minutes

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Cast

Selected cast credits · Film reference

Sigourney Weaver Ellen Ripley
Michael Biehn Dwayne Hicks
Paul Reiser Carter J. Burke
Carrie Henn Rebecca "Newt" Jorden
Bill Paxton Hudson
William Hope Gorman
Ricco Ross Frost
Al Matthews Apone

Aliens | The Rewatchables

host Bill Simmonshost Chris Ryanhost Sean Fennesseyproducer Craig Horlbeckproducer Chia Hao Tatproducer Eduardo Ocampoproducer Matt Pevic theme Summer of CR
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Most Rewatchable Scene

Motion trackers / ceiling reveal; alien-hive ambush

In the discussion (12)
Approx. transcript time · 00:55:38Read transcript
  • Ripley’s nightmare
  • Meeting the Marines, Vasquez’s pull-ups and Bishop’s knife trick
  • Discovering the facehuggers and Newt
  • Finding the cocooned colonist and the hive ambush
  • Ripley taking control of the armored vehicle
  • Bishop volunteering to reach the transmitter
  • Motion-tracker countdown and aliens above the ceiling
  • Hudson’s last stand and Gorman/Vasquez’s shared death
  • Newt in the water
  • Ripley rescuing Newt from the egg chamber
  • Power-loader finale, Bishop torn apart and the airlock rescue
  • Two preferences favor the tracker sequence; the ambush is another explicit preference

The most "year the movie came out" thing

Vietnam echoes and 1986 Hollywood conventions

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:04:20Read transcript
  • Vietnam-war overtones
  • A female action lead treated as a novel proposition
  • Michael Biehn replacing James Remar
  • Burke’s contemporary-looking blazer
  • Metroid and the female-hero reveal are linked to Ripley

What’s Aged the Best?

Slow-burn structure, practical craft and the ensemble

In the discussion (11)
Approx. transcript time · 01:07:43Read transcript
  • An hour-long build before the first sustained alien action
  • Timeless hostile-terrain war structure
  • Physical sets, miniatures and creature effects
  • The war-focused promotional tagline
  • Paul Reiser as a comic actor playing a villain
  • Organic continuation from Alien
  • Video calling and other simple future technology
  • Michael Biehn’s screen presence
  • Hudson and Hicks as contrasting partners
  • Filming the Marines’ introduction late to capture their familiarity
  • The finale’s countdown matching elapsed time

The Butch’s Girlfriend Award for the Weakest Link in the Film

Burke’s scheme; Newt’s parents; Newt / missing motivation

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:21:31Read transcript
  • Burke’s plan to bring an alien specimen home is challenged
  • Newt’s parents bringing children to investigate the derelict ship is questioned
  • Newt’s prominence and self-assigned nickname are criticized
  • Ripley’s daughter backstory is defended as crucial motivation in the extended cut

What’s Aged the Worst?

Vasquez casting and omitted Ripley backstory

In the discussion (6)
Approx. transcript time · 01:25:52Read transcript
  • Jenette Goldstein’s portrayal of a Chicana character is discussed critically
  • Omission of Ripley’s daughter from the theatrical cut
  • James Horner’s compressed scoring schedule
  • The scripted co-ed shower scene and its removal
  • Alien 3 killing Hicks and Newt
  • Later action movies unfavorably compared with Aliens

The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award

Franchise direction, Vietnam comparison and Ripley’s final line

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 01:29:53Read transcript
  • Aliens may be the best entry while constraining the franchise around Ripley
  • Aliens may be a better Vietnam film than Full Metal Jacket, without necessarily being a better movie
  • Ripley’s famous final line delivery is criticized; another participant defends it
  • Craig is invited to prepare for this category in future and has no prepared take here

Apex Mountain

Weaver, Biehn and Goldstein: yes; Cameron and Paxton: no

In the discussion (9)
Approx. transcript time · 01:45:16Read transcript
  • Sigourney Weaver: yes
  • James Cameron: no
  • Michael Biehn: probably yes
  • Bill Paxton: no, with Twister and Titanic cited
  • Extraterrestrial movies: E.T. offered instead
  • Alien franchise: disagreement between Alien and Aliens
  • Jenette Goldstein: yes
  • Body-concealment performances: examples discussed without resolution
  • Paul Reiser: no; Mad About You offered instead

Is This Movie Better With…?

Impressions and a proposed refresh of the roster

In the discussion (5)
Approx. transcript time · 01:58:47Read transcript
  • Zane Lowe interviewing Ripley
  • Barney from The Vanishing is proposed
  • Hudson is proposed for future impersonations
  • Frank Hackett from Network is proposed
  • The group discusses refreshing a recurring roster

Who Won the Movie?

In the discussion (4)
Approx. transcript time · 02:08:10Read transcript
  • Two Cameron votes and two Weaver votes are explicitly tallied
  • Paxton is mentioned as a personal favorite, not a fifth final vote
  • Individual speaker mapping remains unresolved in this pass
  • The group suggests a public poll to resolve or explore a true split
Podcast choices
Speaker not identified
Sigourney Weaver
Speaker not identified
Sigourney Weaver
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James Cameron
Speaker not identified
James Cameron
Speaker not identified
Sigourney Weaver
Speaker not identified
Sigourney Weaver
Speaker not identified
James Cameron
Speaker not identified
James Cameron
Speaker not identified
James Cameron
Speaker not identified
James Cameron