Search - Aliens [Special Edition]

Big-budget special effects, swiftly paced action, and a distinct feminist subtext from writer/director James Cameron turned what should have been a by-the-numbers sci-fi sequel into both a blockbuster and a seven-time Oscar nominee. Sigourney Weaver returns as Ellen Ripley, the last surviving crew member of a corporate spaceship destroyed after an attack by a vicious, virtually unbeatable alien life form. Adrift in space for half a century, Ripley grapples with depression until she's informed by her company's representative, Carter Burke (Paul Reiser) that the planet where her crew discovered the alien has since been settled by colonists. Contact with the colony has suddenly been lost, and a detachment of colonial marines is being sent to investigate. Invited along as an advisor, Ripley predicts disaster, and sure enough, the aliens have infested the colony, leaving a sole survivor, the young girl Newt (Carrie Henn). With the soldiers picked off one by one, a final all-female showdown brews between the alien queen and Ripley, who's become a surrogate mother to Newt. Several future stars made early career appearances in Aliens (1986), including Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, and Reiser. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Sigourney Weaver - Ellen Ripley
Carrie Henn - Newt
Michael Biehn - Cpl. Dwayne Hicks
Lance Henriksen - Bishop
Paul Reiser - Carter Burke

1986	Best Production Design (nominee)	British Academy of Film and Television	Peter Lamont
1986	Makeup Award (nominee)	British Academy of Film and Television	Peter Robb-King
1986	Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama (nominee)	Golden Globe	Sigourney Weaver
1986	Best Actress (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Sigourney Weaver
1986	Best Art Direction (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Crispian Sallis
1986	Best Art Direction (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Peter Lamont
1986	Best Editing (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Ray Lovejoy
1986	Best Score (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	James Horner
1986	Best Sound (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Nicolas Le Messurier
1986	Best Sound (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Michael Carter
1986	Best Sound (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Roy Charman
1986	Best Sound (nominee)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Graham Hartstone
1986	Best Sound Effects (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Don Sharpe
1986	Best Visual Effects (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Stan Winston
1986	Best Visual Effects (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	John Richardson
1986	Best Visual Effects (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Suzanne Benson
1986	Best Visual Effects (winner)	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Scie	Bob Skotak

Like its prequel, the "director's cut" DVD of Aliens is packed full of special features, and is a very high-quality presentation of the film as well. Most notably missing from the disc's special features is a commentary track with director James Cameron, but this is compensated for by an extended onscreen interview conducted just prior to the film's release. Other extras include an extensive still photo/concept art section detailing every aspect of the film, behind-the-scenes footage, theatrical trailers, and best of all, almost 20 minutes of essential, restored footage. Technically, the film has received first-class treatment as well, with a beautiful anamorphic transfer digitally remastered in THX. Aliens won several awards for visual effects, including an Academy Award, and the disc's producers have taken great pains to preserve these visuals in as pristine a manner as possible. There is almost no spotting or pixilation on the transfer, and the colors are well balanced with deep blacks and non-bleeding lights. The soundtrack has been faithfully reproduced and remastered in digital 5.1 THX, which serves the many action scenes well and creates a strong, eerie surround presence. Between the excellent transfer and comprehensive extras package, this disc is the definitive version of Aliens. ~ Andrew Hercock, All Movie Guide

These movies have the touch and feel of Aliens [Special Edition]...
65	Speed [Widescreen] (R)
85	The Terminator (R)
1	Dangerous Curves (NR)
7	One False Move (R)
1	Caribe (R)
14	El Mariachi (R)
S	Deadly Breed (18 & Up)
7	Beyond Justice (NR)
29	Das Boot (R)
These movies have the subject or theme of Aliens [Special Edition]...
53	Alien [20th Anniversary Edition] (R)
42	Alien 3 (R)
34	Spacecamp [Fullscreen] (PG)
32	Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (PG)
31	Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (PG)
30	Star Trek: The Motion Picture [Director's Edition] (PG)
2	Xtro 2 - The Second Encounter (R)
85	The Terminator (R)
2	Inseminoid [Widescreen] (R)
29	Explorers (PG)
2	Rocketship X-M (NR)
8	Fantastic Voyage [Special Edition] (PG)
1	Star Crystal (R)
76	Predator [Widescreen] (R)
S	Terror in the Midnight Sun
21	Innerspace (PG)
These movies followed Aliens [Special Edition]...
42	Alien 3 (R)
These movies share cast/crew with Aliens [Special Edition]...
42	Alien 3 (R)
85	The Terminator (R)
113	Terminator 2: Judgment Day (R)
87	The Abyss [Widescreen Special Edition] (PG-13)
53	Alien [20th Anniversary Edition] (R)
4	Southern Comfort (R)
8	Streets of Fire (PG)
22	Near Dark [Special Edition] (R)
8	Piranha 2: The Spawning (R)
87	True Lies (R)
4	Johnny Handsome (R)
8	Trespass (R)
38	Red Heat (R)
62	Tombstone (R)
20	Navy Seals (R)
3	The Lords of Discipline (R)
27	Dog Day Afternoon (R)
30	The Warriors (R)
These movies are similar to Aliens [Special Edition]...
2	Inseminoid [Widescreen] (R)
85	The Terminator (R)
43	Event Horizon (R)
74	Starship Troopers (R)
21	Supernova (R)
93	Pitch Black [Unrated] (NR)
35	Red Planet (PG-13)
51	Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within [Special Edition] (PG-13)
6	Boa (R)
74	Reign of Fire (PG-13)
31	Predator 2 (R)
42	The Cave [Widescreen] (PG-13)
68	Doom [Widescreen] [Unrated] (NR)