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With Aliens: Colonial Marines dropping today for video gamers world wide I thought it would be a great time to talk about the majesty of it's source material. To be honest with you, adding the Sci-fi stipulation in the article's title was a bit of a cop out. If I'm being honest I think it's hands down the best direct action movie ever made. I just know the level of flack that comes with making a statement like that in a genre so wide. I stand by my opinion and am going to make my case here and now. If, while you read this, you start to get heated about my reasons just do us both a favor and stay frosty marine.
The Characters
There are very few un-notable characters in this film. Hell, even the drop ship pilot is memorable. Here are the four that make it for me. (PS. No I didn't forget Ripley, just didn't see her as any more than the connecting piece from the first film)
- Corporal Dwayne Hicks (Michael Biehn): First and foremost Biehn is Hollywood's most overlooked action hero. The guy was simply amazing during his run which peaked here, with Aliens. The new age strong silent type with an added dimension, a soft side. As Hicks he's perfect; A highly trained killing machine who inspires confidence in everyone around him. Nothing particularly special there. It's that soft side that sets Cpl. Hicks apart, the small moments where you catch him doing things like lifting Newt up to a counter so she can see what's on a computer screen.
- Bishop (Lance Henriksen): Filmmakers always like to make robots human-like in some facet, but it always seems forced. Henriksen perfects what so many tried to do. Bishop is cold at times, yes, but the difference comes in his movement and voice which is in no way robot. The nice touch is that he really lives...err...operates according to Asimov's three rules, the icing is that he seems to live by them not only by programming but by choice as well.
- Sargent Al Apone (Al Matthews): In my humble opinion Sgt. Apone is the most entertaining platoon Sargent depicted on film, period. As you'll catch in a later section Apone is all about personality from the way he talks right through to how he walks. Bonus points for being the coolest guy to chomp on an unlit cigar. Total Package.
- Pvt. Hudson (Bill Paxton): It's Paxton being Paxton but with all the right environmental variables. He's another you'll better understand at a later section but I think it's fair to say this movie would remain fairly grim throughout if not for Hudson.
The Dialogue
Now, when were talking action were not talking Oscar winning world commentary. We're talking testosterone enhancing one-liners of sheer baddassery. While most of the script is quote worthy, here are my selections.
The Design
Vehicles
When you look back at the modern era of film there is one director who consistently brings amazing design aspects to his films. James Cameron is hands down the best when it comes to consistently cool vehicles and weapons. His aerial vehicles have yet to miss if you ask me. The HK's from The Terminator, the air assault vehicles from Avatar, and the coolest of the bunch, the drop ship from Aliens. For those who don't remember those missile laden wings fold out from inside the ship. I wish I could give you a description of what makes this thing so awesome looking but it just oozes cool in my opinon. Even the details, like how the inside looks like a blackhawk or a compressed C-130 from today's military. It's that dirty future thing that Star Wars originally brought us. The ground transportation is almost even more simplistically amazing. The APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) almost couldn't be more simple. With only a few more angles than a rectangle these Marines were rolling on dubs way before (err...I guess after in their universe) we even thought of wheels so big. It's only outside offensive weapons are a single turret which, in a stroke of genius, folds onto the back of the vehicle in tight spaces and a forward facing dual cannon. You can almost see an early version of Batman's tumbler in the APC and I would be very surprised of Chris Nolan didn't draw at least a little inspiration it.
Oh, M41A pulse rifle, you dirty temptress. You set the bar far to high for any modern firearm to achieve. Again simple wins out, you can really tell that a lot of thought goes into these designs and though most wouldn't notice there are painful levels achieved to make these weapons a real view into future warfare. From the display showing the number of rounds left (also seen more recently in COD: Black Ops 2), to the quick mention of caseless ammunition not only does Cameron make his stuff look good, he makes it look possible. This isn't even to mention the sound it makes, which we will cover in a minute. On the defensive side of things you have the armor. Each, with the exception of Biehn who was brought on at the last minute to replace another actor, was customized by the actor wearing it.
It really is quite amazing how much of today's military can be seen in their gear. While the level of protection seems to have gone down in the near future one can't ignore the mix of Vietnam/Cold War era gear mixed in with things we have today, like the shoulder cam or the eye pieces worn by the pilots (which are almost identical to those worn by modern Apache helicopter pilots). This is where Cameron really nailed it, it's enough of a technology increase for the viewer to know they are in the future and have some advantages, but not so much that they are dehumanized and impervious.
The Sound
In the original Alien it was all about suspense, lack of noise, lack of motion, anticipation of an unknown threat. Aliens set a lot of the rules for what a sequel needs to be but it doesn't totally drop the suspense in favor of action, quite the opposite. The crowning achievement of this film is the sound. I think that gets over looked a lot, it really shouldn't. The motion tracker sound effect is one that, in my film-going experience, has caused more anxiety than any other. It's SO simple a click as it pans out and a high pitched beep for every perceived threat. That's not so bad...until you realize that each beep is an alien on its way. Taking a tip from the Jaws theme the slow increase of tempo and pitch become so uncomfortable that you want to get out as much as the characters do. The steadiness of it's increase while all else goes to hell around it is the final nail in many new prescriptions for Xanax.
- Apone: All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal's a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I LOVE the Corps!
- Apone: All right, sweethearts, you're a team and there's nothing' to worry about. We come here, and we gonna conquer, and we gonna kick some, is that understood? That's what we gonna do, sweethearts, we are going to go and get some. All right, people, on the ready line! Are ya lean?
- Apone: Alright, sweethearts, you heard the man and you know the drill! Assholes and elbows!
- Hudson: Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man?
Vasquez: No. Have you? - Hudson: That's it man, game over man, game over!
- Hudson: Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen!
- Hudson: I'm ready, man, check it out. I am the ultimate badass! State of the badass art! You do NOT wanna fuck with me. Check it out! Hey Ripley, don't worry. Me and my squad of ultimate badasses will protect you! Check it out! Independently targeting particle beam phalanx. Vwap! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phase-plasma pulse rifles, RPGs, we got sonic electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks...
- Hicks: Stay Frosty
The Design
Vehicles
When you look back at the modern era of film there is one director who consistently brings amazing design aspects to his films. James Cameron is hands down the best when it comes to consistently cool vehicles and weapons. His aerial vehicles have yet to miss if you ask me. The HK's from The Terminator, the air assault vehicles from Avatar, and the coolest of the bunch, the drop ship from Aliens. For those who don't remember those missile laden wings fold out from inside the ship. I wish I could give you a description of what makes this thing so awesome looking but it just oozes cool in my opinon. Even the details, like how the inside looks like a blackhawk or a compressed C-130 from today's military. It's that dirty future thing that Star Wars originally brought us. The ground transportation is almost even more simplistically amazing. The APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) almost couldn't be more simple. With only a few more angles than a rectangle these Marines were rolling on dubs way before (err...I guess after in their universe) we even thought of wheels so big. It's only outside offensive weapons are a single turret which, in a stroke of genius, folds onto the back of the vehicle in tight spaces and a forward facing dual cannon. You can almost see an early version of Batman's tumbler in the APC and I would be very surprised of Chris Nolan didn't draw at least a little inspiration it.
Weapons
Oh, M41A pulse rifle, you dirty temptress. You set the bar far to high for any modern firearm to achieve. Again simple wins out, you can really tell that a lot of thought goes into these designs and though most wouldn't notice there are painful levels achieved to make these weapons a real view into future warfare. From the display showing the number of rounds left (also seen more recently in COD: Black Ops 2), to the quick mention of caseless ammunition not only does Cameron make his stuff look good, he makes it look possible. This isn't even to mention the sound it makes, which we will cover in a minute. On the defensive side of things you have the armor. Each, with the exception of Biehn who was brought on at the last minute to replace another actor, was customized by the actor wearing it. 
It really is quite amazing how much of today's military can be seen in their gear. While the level of protection seems to have gone down in the near future one can't ignore the mix of Vietnam/Cold War era gear mixed in with things we have today, like the shoulder cam or the eye pieces worn by the pilots (which are almost identical to those worn by modern Apache helicopter pilots). This is where Cameron really nailed it, it's enough of a technology increase for the viewer to know they are in the future and have some advantages, but not so much that they are dehumanized and impervious. The Sound
In the original Alien it was all about suspense, lack of noise, lack of motion, anticipation of an unknown threat. Aliens set a lot of the rules for what a sequel needs to be but it doesn't totally drop the suspense in favor of action, quite the opposite. The crowning achievement of this film is the sound. I think that gets over looked a lot, it really shouldn't. The motion tracker sound effect is one that, in my film-going experience, has caused more anxiety than any other. It's SO simple a click as it pans out and a high pitched beep for every perceived threat. That's not so bad...until you realize that each beep is an alien on its way. Taking a tip from the Jaws theme the slow increase of tempo and pitch become so uncomfortable that you want to get out as much as the characters do. The steadiness of it's increase while all else goes to hell around it is the final nail in many new prescriptions for Xanax.
The last stop on my marathon tour of one of my all time favorites is something I touched on a bit earlier. The sound of the M41A pulse rifle. For years and years I didn't know what it was that made the sound so awesome, it would have been included had I not figured it out, but while researching for this article I finally happened on a theory. The deep whir of the pulse rifle spitting death at the Xenomorphs is almost a human counterbalance to the high pitch battle cry of the alien species. Yin and Yang, I'm getting zen on this people stay with me. OK I may have gone a bit down the rabbit hole on that theory but listen to the two and tell me they don't sound at the same time similar and completely dissimilar.
Here's hoping that when I get home from work with my copy of Aliens: Colonial Marines tomorrow I'm in for an experience that comes even half as close to what I get, still to this day, every time I watch this pillar of action.
That's it man, game over man, game over.
