Rating: 
Summary: Beyond my wildest expectations!
Review: Forget any and all negative reviews, for this title is a MUST have for any Alien, Sci-Fi, or even combat fans. The Aliens: Special Edition cleans up many loose plot threads, adds a well deserved boost of character development and motivation, and depicts the last stand of the Colonial Marines in a more realistic, desperate manner. The Special Edition faithfully restores the absolutely vital cut footage, and repairs most of the "Hollywood Formula" damage done when it was originally sent to the cutting room. Director James Cameron should be praised for this badly needed re-vamp that far surpasses the original. Notable additions include: scenes from a pre-Alien infested LV-426, the catalyst for the Alien infestation, massive character development (as stated above), and the introduction to the awesome and deadly UA 571-C robotic sentry guns. The restored scenes heighten the action, and enriches the human drama. This version is long overdue, but better late than never.
Rating: 
Summary: I need to clarify this ...
Review: The Director's cut is the BEST version. The extra 17 minutes some people complaining about are essential, not only to understand Ripley's relation with Newt, but also to the complete saga, the development of Ripley's psyche. I think these scenes never should have been deleted in the first place, cause they make the characters more human and sympathetic.
Rating:
Summary: Never mind the critics (if they exist), this movie rocks!
Review: Didn't see this blockbuster? Shame on you! Go out, buy the tape and see it. I am 100 percent sure you will be convinced of the magnitude of this historic masterpiece!
Rating:
Summary: Aliens is a superb example of how to make a sequel.
Review: Aliens has been one of my favorite movies since it's original release. James Cameron created a masterpiece of a sequel that I will always enjoy watching. I am disturbed by the negative comments about the Director's Cut. Those 17 minutes helped the movie in every way. The need for editor's to chop movies to there bare essentials just to appease those who do not appreciate character development at the movie theaters, is an unfortunate standard in Hollywood and too many films suffer too much editing. I enjoyed the extra footage in Aliens as it helped explain why Ripley was so attatched to Newt and willing to go against the Queen for her. I encourage others to ignore the negative comments about the Director's Cut and enjoy a more proper version of this film. Aliens tastefully mixes fright and suspense with great action. I truly enjoy the very brief glimpses of the aliens throughout the early parts of the film. You never really get a lengthy look at the creatures until the very end. I feel that adds to the over-all terror they inspire when they appear because you want to stare and absorb their shadowed appearance but Cameron brilliantly disallows that. As with The Abyss and Terminator 2 Director's Cuts, I am pleased James Cameron takes the time to develop worth-while characters in his films. He is indeed a thorough director and Aliens is a fine example of this. My highest recommendation is awarded to this sequel.
Rating:
Summary: One hell of a sequel
Review: This movie is twice as large and twice as exciting as its predecessor. It picks off where the first one left off and right away you'll be sucked into a world of Aliens. It explains and shows more of how this Alien creature acts. Unlike the first one, when the problem was only one Alien, Aliens is now the batch, and that meant 360 degrees of acid-spitting hell. Ripley is back and badder than ever. She is portrayed as the remaining hero again, but this time she fights the head-honcho the Alien Queen in a grueling but well-fought battle to the death. It is sad that this movie I thought James Cameron did a superb job of is now overshadowed by Titanic. Aliens is his masterpeice. From beginning to fantastic end, Aliens is truly one hell of a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: extra footage takes away 2 stars
Review: I'm a big fan of the entire Alien series, and Aliens is my favorite of the 4 movies. The movie itself gets 5 stars. I am, however, extremely annoyed that I can't watch the movie without the 17 minutes of new footage. The new footage is completely unnecessary. Everything that the footage "reveals" (Ripley's maternal nature, the relationship with Hicks, etc.) is stuff that a discerning viewer would have been able to see from the original version of the film. All the extra footage does is make me appreciate the role of the film's editor, who did a pretty good job the first time around. Perhaps someday people will realize that just because you *can* pack a lot of stuff on a DVD, doesn't mean you *should.* Sometimes it's best to leave well enough alone.
Rating:
Summary: Best of the series!
Review: This movie continues the tradition of the first Alien movie while adding a few surprises along the way. The movie also better explains the aliens themselves. More action, better story, better effects embody this highlight of the series. Even better than the recent "Alien Ressurection" Good characters such as Newt, Hicks, Bishop and the unforgetable Queen Alien.
Rating:
Summary: We could do without the extra footage
Review: Aliens is such a great movie, it is a shame they had to ruin it with 17 painfully boring minutes of extra footage. This DVD serves as a reminder as to the great job editors can do for a movie. The extra footage provides us with a pointless scene in which Newt's family discover's the alien ship, a cheesy sideplot revealing Ripley's motherly side, and sappy heartwarming talk bewteen Ripley and Hicks. Yes, with four minutes left until nuclear meltdown, Hicks tells Ripley his name is Duane. These are indeed 17 minutes best left on the cutting-room floor. Let us hope that they reissue Aliens on DVD in its original form. Then I will give it five stars.
Rating:
Summary: much-needed extra scenes!
Review: While I don't subscribe to the oft-mentioned opinion that ALIENS is an improvement over ALIEN, I still enjoy ALIENS immensely, moreso in this format. First of all, I feel the film's special effects (in parts) are much more successful on a "small screen", esp. the blue-screen effects with actors in front of explosions or fires. Second, the film flourishes in this letterbox treatment. Third, the added scenes, in ALMOST every instance, add to the experience, and strengthen the film's powerful "motherhood and loss" theme. They also help to make the setting more fully-realized. While I maintain my feeling that the film gets excessively gorey and gooey towards the end, and that the menace of the aliens is minimized by there being so many that are killed, this still is bravura film-making, and a true example of how supporting characters SHOULD be handled, so the viewer actually CARES about them. Give me that over effects any day...
Rating:
Summary: Best Alien movie ever !! Too bad - not-so-good DVD Transfer
Review: This movie would have definately gotten a 5 star review, BUT.... THE DVD transfer is below the standard. After seeing the Alien DVD I was expecting to see another perfectly mastered movie, but to my big surprise the picture quality is quite grainy, and way worse than that of the Alien DVD. Also I have to reiterate that I think the English subtitles are quite annoying. They could be quite useful for deaf people, but for everyone else they're just a nuisance, and should best be turned off. What good is it to translate sound into things like "computer beeping" or "sound of heavy breathing" ? All-in-all a very good DVD which could/should have been a lot better.
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