80s Movie Review - Aliens

Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 137 minutes
Year: 1986
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, Paul Reiser, Carrie Henn, William Hope, Jenette Goldstein, Al Matthews, Mark Rolston, Ricco Ross, Colette Hiller, Daniel Kash, Cynthia Dale Scott, Tip Tipping

Description: The planet from "Alien" (1979) has been colonized, but contact is lost. This time, the rescue team has impressive firepower, but will it be enough?

Review: “Aliens” is the sequel to “Alien” from 1979. This time it’s not Ridley Scott but James Cameron that directs.
The movie starts slow, just like the first, but then it’s a series of explosions and action sequences. The difference between “Aliens” and other movies in the genre, is that this it’s exciting from start to finish. Again there is this claustrophobic feel to it, where the aliens are hiding in catacombs and ruins.
Although the title suggest there will be a lot of monsters, the actual aliens aren’t shown that often. This helps to make the atmosphere more threatening. The camera stays close to the characters, which makes it more intense and scary. There are many shock effects, even after rewatching it. Those so-called ‘facehuggers’ freak me out every time!
 “Aliens” manages to grab you and never let you go.  Off all the movies in the series, this one might do that the best. James Cameron obviously understood the material he was working with. A genuinely scary and bad ass science fiction movie.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

80s Movie Review - The Terminator

Director: James Cameron

Genre: Action/ Science Fiction/ Thriller

Runtime: 108 minutes

Year: 1984

Starring: Arnold Schwarzengger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton, Lance Henriksen, Paul Winfield, Bess Motta, Earl Boen, Rick Rossovish, Dick Miller, Shawn Schepps, Bruce M. Kerner, Franco Columbu, Bill Paxton, Brad Rearden, Brian Thompson

Description: A human soldier (Michael Biehn) is sent from 2029 to 1984 to stop an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine (Arnold Schwarzenegger), sent from the same year, which has been programmed to execute a young woman (Linda Hamilton) whose unborn son is the key to humanity’s future salvation.

Review: Who would have dared to think that “The Terminator” would be a successful classic that still has a huge fan base to this day. The film directed by James Cameron was launched in the 80s as a B-movie, but the success was unprecedented. I am also a huge fan of the film, partly thanks to the special effects that were amazing at the time. And of course the way Arnold Schwarzenegger portrays the murderous cyborg, what eventually became his most iconic role.

Young Sarah Connor becomes the target of a maniacal cyborg who was sent to the past to murder the mother of the future resistance leader John Connor. In the future mankind will fight against murderous machines that seized power after a nuclear war. The resistance sends soldier Kyle Reese to the past to protect the unsuspecting Sarah and eliminate the ruthless cybernetic organism.

It was Schwarzenegger’s breakthrough role and since then it’s hard to picture anyone else in the role. Because he wasn’t director James Cameron’s first choice. Not, everyone knows Schwarzenegger and his most memorable role, even if they never saw any of the Terminator films.

The film is over 30 years old and the action film still impresses. Especially the scene in the dance club is very iconic and well-crafted. “The Terminator” is a dark and exciting film that contains a depressing atmosphere and bombastic action. It’s a great film that entertains from start to finish. I still think the sequel from 1991 is better, but “The Terminator” is, without a doubt, one of the best sci-fi action films out there.

Rating: 4,5 / 5