The cause of many "is this sequel better than the original?"
arguments, Cameron's follow-up to Ridley Scott's Alien is
essentially Vietnam in space. Action replaces suspense, one alien is
replaced by many and Sigourney Weaver's Ripley assumes iconic
stature. To claim it lacks tension is wrong: nothing much happens for
the first hour, leaving the nerves a little jumpy. When the action does
begin, it's superb, building up to a rambunctious bluff-ending trump
card. New themes about maternity and big business are added to the
already crackerjack alien mythos. For my money, the best of the Alien
movies.
