Cause & effect, setup & payoff – on James Cameron’s “Aliens” (1986)

Jenette Goldstein as the incomparable Vasquez

On this rewatch, I particularly loved the detail of Gorman being so disconnected from the reality of his command that he got Hicks and Hudson mixed up at the beginning. They may both be young-ish white dudes whose surnames start with H, but they are worlds apart in integrity, temperament and ability. Gorman’s inattention to detail is such a telling detail that foreshadows his impotence and lack of conviction later.

Truly, Cameron doesn’t waste any details and is a tremendously economic storyteller, although he really lays it on in the second half of the film.

And speaking of the second half: This was my first time watching the Extended Cut, which has the great additional scene. In the escape ship piloted by Bishop, before Ripley goes back for Newt, her partnership with Hicks gets a capstone — “Dwayne, Ellen.” In such a bombastic film (one of the most bombastic action films), a human, emotional and perfectly satisfying development within their building dynamic of mutual respect.

5/5 stars.