I've always liked James Cameron’s “Aliens” (1986) more than Ridley Scott’s "Alien" (1979), primarily because I find its story to be stronger. It’s common for people to describe “Aliens” as an action movie, but it isn't just empty thrills; the real action doesn’t even begin until a full hour into its 2 hour and 18 minute running time (the extended version is about 16 minutes longer). The best films that mix horror and action build suspense and develop characters before unleashing all the terrifying chaos. Some people have issues with Newt's constant screaming, but she’s just a little girl, and I think her reaction is understandable given the circumstances. Others find Bill Paxton’s Marine character to be too whiny, but isn’t that how some people behave when faced with being utterly defeated—even experienced soldiers—especially by monstrous aliens? There's also criticism about portraying the Marines as foolish, arrogant "oo-rah" types, but I was in the Marines myself and saw guys like that acting this way. Those are the kinds of Marines who would be chosen for a dangerous mission – the overly confident ones who get things done effectively. The first encounter with the aliens around the hour mark is one of the most frightening scenes ever put on film; it really brings the Marines down to earth. The rest of the movie follows the survivors as they desperately try to escape the planet alive, where destroying the creatures becomes a secondary goal. Ripley’s protective feelings toward Newt add something positive and make Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) more relatable. The scenes involving the alien Queen create an exciting and lengthy conclusion. Also, Lance Henriksen stands out as the "artificial human" and Paul Reiser is memorable as a character you love to hate. On the negative side, it’s obvious that much of the movie was filmed on sets, but that's typical for science fiction films like “Star Trek.” Another drawback—at least in my opinion—is that there are no traditionally attractive women in the cast, though this was also true of the first film. I think the female crew seems more realistic without someone like Juno Temple or Megan Fox being involved, honestly. Ultimately, "Aliens" is easily one of the greatest monster movies ever made, even exceeding the original and far better than the sequels that followed. GRADE: A

Source on TMDB