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Here's a piece from PHARROUT magazine written by T. K. Duncan about my second favorite Bill Paxton movie. Pharrout has the first reprint rights, which basically means no copying without asking me for permission first. There's more to come, so keep checking back!
ALIENS
Retrospectre
by T. K. Dunncan
ALIENS is my favorite of the series for many reasons, some of which I will explore below.
1) ALIENS worked first and foremost because of the story.
James Cameron's scripts always have that great human dynamic at their core. Characters we really grow to care about, no matter how screwed up or nasty they may be. They are fleshed out real human beings, so we get taken in hook, line and sinker. Just about anyone else writing the Marine unit probably would come up with 2D soldiers that were best left in a comic book.
Look at Ripley. She went from just another member of the crew in ALIEN to a compassionate mother and warrior in ALIENS. This didn't happen in the first scenes, as like all of Cameron lady leaders, their strength grows as time passes. Ellen Ripley was a victim of circumstance and almost gave into her nightmares, unable to sleep and function without thinking of those gestating xenomorphs from LV-426. She's figured as crazy, when the Company pretty much puts her on trial for the destruction of the Nostromo, not believing her story of the ALIEN. When the 'Company' sends Carter Burke to inform her that they've lost contact with the colony on LV-426 (Acheron), Ripley grows again. Having nothing to lose back home (now that her daughter is dead) she decides to face the fears and try to conquer them. And as everyone knows, she eventually does. Cameron reinvents the former Warrant Officer into a woman to be reckoned with both for her courage and her love.
Cameron allows many of his principal characters growth, from Ripley to Vasquez. Corporal Hicks seems to be the most well-rounded character from the beginning. His respect for Ripley grows as ours does, so its kind of like having a confidant up there on the screen, he reacts to her as we do. Even the hysterical Hudson isn't cartoony. What we know of his background, he's enlisted for the dividends and has only four more weeks before he's a civvie again, no wonder why he cracks up.
The director's ability to find actors that really get into roles is another reason why all of his films come across with a strong deal of credibility, no matter how fantastic the situations may be.
Michael Biehn adds a warmth, and strong yet subtle heroic air to Hicks. As good an actor as James Remar is, Ireally don't think he could have pulled off playing the quietly heroic young Corporal with the same drive, passion and conviction as Biehn. You believe in Hicks right away and grow to admire him as Ripley does as the film progresses. Hicks was the tough guy with a tender heart, in more gentle way than Reese (Michael's star-making character in THE TERMINATOR), and you were glad when he got through this hell with Ripley and Newt. Besides Biehn wore that armor like a Colonial Marine, he was real for those 2 hours and 17 minutes. Definitely somebody you want protecting your hind, and other parts of your body.
Bill Paxton, like Biehn , is a consummate actor who dives head first into his roles. Private Hudson is the one character everyone remembers him for (look at all those web sites will ya!), and it's clear the cockiness Hudson first emits is one of what a breeze his military career has been-and how soon it will end-he's invincible and will go out with flying colors. And no one ever gets tired of his wise-cracking tirades, except of course, Vasquez and the other Marines.
Hudson was comedic relief sure, but he's also the mainstay of the best horror films-there is always one that panics-Hudson, regains his composure and does what he has to.
Jenette Goldstein, she tackles her roles in a similar fashion to Michael Biehn. Totally making her characters real by subtle actions. As Jenette told Kim,"Vasquez was a real human being". And Cameron-who could have easily written her as comic book heroine-wisely chose to let the youngest and toughest Marine grow from stubborn to sympathetic. Goldstein's body language really added to the character in waves, and her instance to play the Private First Class as a real human being really gave the ex-gang gal great presence.
Lance Henriksen. Lance who almost was the TERMINATOR, got his chance to be mechanical as ALIENS synthetic Bishop. He plays the part more like a valet or butler at first. Then we see perhaps a little of Ash in him as Burke wants him to preserve and study the ALIENS. When Ripley challenges this, Bishop clearly looks confused. He always seems like he has to apologize to her, and when she comes around to his corner at the end of the film, its a growth for the both of them. Respect returns. Henriksen played the synthetic as he does his all of his characters with an intense concentration that makes them believable even if they aren't human.
Newt is a great role for a child. And Carrie Henn did a swell job as the tough little girl who really helps save the day with her knowledge of the air ducts. She saves Ripley as well. Giving the Warrant Officer purpose to fight her fearsome adversary as well as redeeming herself as a mother.
2) Cameron's great knack for action and suspense.
His techniques have been studied and poured over in numerous other tomes and web sites.
But you can't beat him when it come to non-stop excitement. I still think the Power Loader battle, the sub-level 3 sequence and his 'Tech Noir' shootout from the TERMINATOR are amongst the all time greatest action sequences ever lensed.
3) His ability to realize a complete world by environment, cinematography, costumes and characters.
Cameron, like Scott, has a wonderful visual ability to create a world that seems all too real. The director was involved in every step of the way from designing the Sulaco, to the Marines armor and weaponry, to the lighting and mood. When completed, we saw a very realistic military environment, and believed in it for all 137 minutes.
4) His commercial sensibilities.
ALIENS is a commercial product, but Cameron like Scott, certainly knows how to drag an audience into the experience on screen whether they want to be or not. Istill get a lump in my throat in several sequences in ALIENS. I still shut my eyes, I still get really scared, and I still laugh. From an artist's p.o.v. and his love for comic books, James brings incredible thrills to the viewer. If you looker deeper, you will see the character-driven humanity that really endears these people to us. Makes us root for them, cry with them or yell at them.
Interesting note:as mentioned in the Phlicks section, Cameron largely based his Colonial Marines on Robert Heinlein's pulper STARSHIP TROOPERS. Take a look at the book to find the origins of the importance of women in the military, their superior flight capabilities, the armor, and of course "Bug Hunts". As a long time comic book and pulp Sci-Fi fan Cameron took from these elements and in a defining twist created both characters and universe rich in dimension and dynamic. In closing, James Cameron masterfully extended Ridley Scott's opening chapter in the ALIEN saga. If you haven't seen the Spe. Ed. of ALIENS find someone who has a copy, most of the deleted footage really adds to this classic film. One of the best Sci-Fi films of the 80s, and one that has been copied but never duplicated.