Full Spoiler Research: 'Aliens'
Rating: 3.8/5 stars
Rating (out of 5 stars): 5★ Life-changing / 4★ Very good / 3★ Good / 2★ Full of plot holes / 1★ Makes me angry
I will be researching this in detail.
I will be going full spoilers.
If you don't want to know the ending, say goodbye here.
Take care until we meet again.
[Plot]
#1
Ripley wakes up
Contact with the colony planet is lost. Heading to the site with soldiers
#2
Searching inside the building
Meeting the girl Newt
Encountering aliens and falling into a panic
#3
Burke and Ripley clash
Comrades die one after another
Getting separated from Newt
#4
Rescuing Newt. Bishop's spaceship returns and they are saved
#5
One last one had snuck in. Expelling it into outer space
Returning to Earth
'Aliens'—The Ultimate Tension Created by Unseen Terror
'Aliens' is a masterpiece that inherits the quiet terror of its predecessor while boasting high perfection as an action film. The greatest appeal of this work lies in the direction where the aliens do not show themselves easily.
The audience experiences the same terror as the protagonists, never knowing where the aliens are lurking. Scenes where only the motion sensor's response ticks closer, and the sight of soldiers advancing through dark corridors, heighten the anticipation and anxiety of 'when will they be attacked' to the limit. By not showing the enemy too much, it stimulates the audience's imagination and creates overwhelming tension.
Also, the presence of female characters in this film is very significant. The protagonist, Ripley, shows more mental strength and initiative than in the first film, and she would not even spare her own life to protect the girl, Newt. Her figure is not just a heroine, but a fighting protagonist who radiates a charm that will remain in film history.
Furthermore, the Marine Vasquez is an impressive presence. She possesses combat ability and bravery that does not lose to the male soldiers, and her figure fighting alongside her comrades to the end is truly cool. The fact that she is never treated specially because she is a woman, but is depicted as a capable soldier, further enhances the appeal of this work.
On the other hand, it feels as if the male characters are intentionally depicted with suppressed individuality. Although the Marines appear reliable, they become victims of the aliens one after another and do not become the center of the story. Therefore, what remains strongly in the audience's impression is the success of women like Ripley and Vasquez. In the 1980s, when there were many male-centered action films, this work can be said to have been very advanced as a work where women lead the story.
'Aliens' succeeds in fusing terror and action in an exquisite balance. The tension from the direction of not showing the enemy easily, and the presence of attractive and strong women starting with Ripley and Vasquez, push this film into a special work that does not end as just a sci-fi action movie. It is a masterpiece that will remain in film history and will not fade no matter how many times you watch it.
The Reality of the Villain Burke—The Tragedy of a Corporate Man
The villain Burke in 'Aliens' is not a simple bad guy. Of course, his actions of trying to bring the alien back to Earth alive, and sacrificing Ripley and Newt for that purpose, are unforgivable. However, looking at the principles of his actions, it is clear that he is a person who strongly reflects the reality of being a 'company employee'.
Burke opposes destroying the colony facility with a nuclear explosion. The reason is that he is looking at the enormous investment poured into the facility. For the company, that facility is a huge asset worth over 10 billion yen, and losing it in an instant is not something that can be easily accepted. That is why he thinks of recovering the alien and connecting it to the company's profits.
In contrast, Ripley has the exact opposite values. She thinks of the safety of all humanity as the top priority and insists that the dangerous creature called the alien should be completely exterminated. The conflict between these two is also a clash of incompatible values: 'profit' and 'human life'.
Eventually, Burke locks up Ripley, who is interfering with his plan, and tries to finish her off with a facehugger. Through this act, he becomes a complete villain. However, what is interesting is that his actions are not born solely from self-interest.
Burke is a corporate man who prioritizes the company's profits and is trying to carry out his duties. Of course, losing his ethics in the process and getting involved in wrongdoing can never be justified. Even so, when viewed as a person who followed the logic of a giant corporation and made a wrong judgment under the pressure of 'having to produce results,' his actions have a reality that also applies to the real world.
On the other hand, Ripley's position is also interesting. She was once a capable navigator, but her story about the events in 'Alien' was not believed, and after that, she had no choice but to work as a cargo officer. For her, the request to accompany the colony mission must have been a great chance to regain her lost honor and return as a navigator. She had sufficient reason to accept this mission to overcome her fear and settle things with her own nightmare.
However, ironically, the person who gave her that opportunity was Burke. And as the story progresses, Ripley has to fight for her life against the person who allowed her to return. This composition is very ironic and gives depth as a human drama.
Burke is a villain. However, he is not a monster. He is a person who prioritized the logic of a giant organization called a company, and as a result of seeking promotion and results within it, crossed a line that should not be crossed as a human being. That sense of reality makes the character of Burke impressive and creates the depth that prevents 'Aliens' from ending as just a sci-fi action movie.