To hear this feedback read out in Lee and Darren's inimitable style please check out the Black Dog Podcast Here
I’m going to try and write this one without gushing too much as I love Aliens in the same way that many people love their limbs.
I’ve spent 2 years without ALIENS in my life - No wonder life keeps dealing me shit blows, it’s Karma for not picking myself another copy of this film, I took the hint and Amazon have now profited by the princely sum of £6.
I remember being around about 10 when I first saw this movie, I think it was one of those Saturday night on ITV affairs – I even remember all the points where it got dubbed, to cover up the profanity – Shits for Fucks and the like as well as being cut off at 10 for half an hour while the news was on.
Yet to me, even at that tender age, it always felt like there was more, it seemed as though it was a little too rushed. Ultimately I’d be proven right, but if you’ll forgive me the tangent momentarily, it felt that no sooner had Ripley awoken, than she was on the Sulaco and being shipped back out to LV426 – with next to no time to take stock of her life, plus it all seemed too easy story-wise to just quickly get back to the planet and have the Aliens again. Eveyrthing seemed to happen just that little bit too quickly. Don’t get me wrong it was all great but I think I know why and I’ll go into that in a short while
In essence the theatrical cut is a stark contrast to the first film which took its time in the beginning and helped you relate to the characters you met, although the actor’s were maybe not given the time they needed to make those character’s more personable.
I know from listening back to “Quarantine Protocols are there for a Reason” that Lee isn’t such a huge fan of the Special Edition cut, but in my opinion it’s ultimately a better cut.
It fleshes out Ripley’s back story and ultimately the main theme of the film, that being maternal instincts - in a more succinct way- to protect the young is at the core of the “conflict” between Ripley and the Queen at the end. The evil corporate mentality of the little people being disposable is clearer, plus; the resilience of the human spirit under pressure. Viewers really needed the scene between her and Burke before the hearing, it helped to bolster the fact that Ripley’s old life truly is dead and her existence is now predominantly and unwittingly placed on a parallel with the Alien’s.
The early (Pre-Everybody’s Fucked) scene on the Colony with Red Dwarf’s Captain Hollister (Mac Macdonald) gives some validity to the confrontation between Ripley and Burke later on. Fair enough it did go on a bit – we maybe didn’t need to see the Jorden’s on their family jolly, but it was nice to see the day to day workings of the Colony. It added more to the tragedy later on when you see these people glued to the walls with Alien Goo.
With the later scenes with Ripley and Newt discussing the intricacies of childbirth, you’re reminded that this is, in fact a little girl who has been witness to horrific events and yet still soaks up knowledge and you’re seeing that Ripley is steadily finsing a new reason to live. Hence her learning how to use the Pulse Rifle, her maternal instincts are taking over and she is going to protect her child.
The scenes involving the Marines are crucial, without these scenes they’re portrayed as being pretty useless – the gear they salvage from the APC wreckage and the fact that they fortify their position is testament to the notion of them being an elite squad. We could maybe have done without some of the more throwaway moments, like the Ripley/Hicks exchange in the dropship, but in the end, these all serve to expand the story and don’t really take anything away.
And the Sentry gun bits are bloody cool
Still, this wasn’t the version I first saw, so something must have captured my eye in the original cut and now I know what that was and how the Special Edition further advances on the notion.
Darren in the aforementioned Black Dog Episode, called it “dirty Sci-Fi” however it actually does have a conceptual name. The notion of “The Used Future” is something that is readily seen throughout Sci-Fi, ultimately brought to the forefront by Mr Lucas’ Star Wars in 1977 and stamped home by Ridley Scott in 1979’s Original ALIEN. The idea that the future is a living breathing place and that just because all these fantastic technologies are available doesn’t necessarily eliminate the scientific fact that people use stuff and it gets beaten up over the years and that you’re only seeing a snippet of this universe. Other things have gone on before, and after the snapshot of that Universe you’re ultimately observing for a brief time. It’s this depth of vision and attention to detail that gives the Alien Saga an edge over it’s contemporaries (Let’s be honest Lucas sacked off the idea with the prequel trilogy, as did the Alien saga when they let Jeunet near the camera)
So, Aliens continued the story begun in Alien, everyone who’s worth their salt knows the story of the making of this film, how Cameron fell out with the English Crew, how Michael Biehn wasn’t originally cast as Hicks, how Weaver took a whole anti-gun stance as a result of her taking part in the film. Cameron and Horner’s feud over the music, which would ultimately sever ties until they both had a brain fart and did Titanic nearly 12 years later. The off Camera story is nearly as tumultuous as that the viewer sees on screen.
Who cares though – Alien had a lot of similar problems - a last minute cast change when John Hurt was hired in after Jon Finch discovered he had Bronchitis as a result of Diabetes, Ridley Scott fell out with the cast, as did the cast between themselves and Scott and Goldsmith fell out over the music. Yet they still crafted a masterpiece. 7 years later it can be argued that Cameron did much the same.
I love this film, it’s my comfort blanket – when I feel Ill – I’ll throw in Aliens and settle down. I think it was Black dog that introduced me to the notion of “Chicken soup for the soul” – Well Aliens is mine and I love it.
It’s a comfort to know that before he became obsessed with sunken ships, Developing 3d Camera technology and Dragon Flying Smurfs, James Cameron was a great Film Maker.
Aliens is the quintessential 80’s film, a commentary on the decade if you will. But that’s another story for another time.
Aliens rocks – No matter how fervently anyone tries to deny it – it will always remain one of the world’s best Action Sci-Fi Horror films.
Don't forget Black Dog is recorded every week and these guys seriously rock! as does the AMAZING VIDEO below
TTFN
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