Aliens landed on Home Video today in 1987, after a July 18, 1986 theatrical release.
James (The Terminator) Cameron sure as hell wasn’t going to just make an “Alien II”. In true 1980’s fashion, the methodical slow-paced suspenseful approach of the 70’s was out, big muscly militarised action spectacle was in – and all out of bubble gum. While it’s a chapter in the overall Alien Franchise-ology, at the time it was designed to stand on its own and keep well out of the acclaimed original’s firing range. In fact, it garnered its own accolades and Oscar legitimacy by way of Sigourney Weaver’s well-deserved nomination for Best Actress.
In terms of cinematic short-hand, it practically staked its claim on an action-sci-fi-horror sub-genre… things were henceforth dubbed “Aliens-clones”. And even though it takes place far in the future, it’s very much set in the 80’s with smoky touches of yuppy military–industrial complexity. It’s up there on the shelf with Robocop.
I was the unfortunate nerd who missed seeing it in theaters, and after a couple of age-restricted attempts at video rentals in ’87, I moved on and didn’t get to see it until the 1989 CBS broadcast – with extra scenes mid you.
I was late to the game, but it was indeed game-over, my mind was properly nuked from orbit. This is one of the all-time greats.