Documentary - The Making of Aliens (James Cameron, 1986)
Documentary about the making of Aliens (1986) by James Cameron.
Aliens is a 1986 American science fiction action film written and directed by James Cameron, produced by Gale Anne Hurd, and starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, William Hope, and Bill Paxton.
It is the sequel to the 1979 film Alien and the second installment in the Alien franchise. The film follows Weaver's character Ellen Ripley as she returns to the planet where her crew encountered the hostile Alien creature, this time accompanied by a unit of space marines.
Gordon Carroll, David Giler and Walter Hill of Brandywine Productions, who produced the first film and the later sequels, were executive producers of Aliens. They were interested in a follow-up to Alien as soon as its 1979 release, but the new management at 20th Century Fox postponed those plans until 1983. That year Brandywine picked Cameron to write after reading his script for The Terminator; when that film became a hit in 1984, Fox greenlit Aliens with Cameron as director and a budget of approximately $18 million.
The script was written with a war film tone influenced by the Vietnam War to contrast the horror motifs of the original Alien. It was filmed in England at Pinewood Studios and at a decommissioned power plant in Acton, London.
Aliens grossed $180 million worldwide.
It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including a Best Actress nomination for Sigourney Weaver, winning both Sound Effects Editing and Visual Effects. It won eight Saturn Awards, including Best Science Fiction Film, Best Actress for Weaver and Best Direction and Best Writing for Cameron. Aliens is considered one of the best films in its genre.
Just got finished watching it again for the thousandth time. Ellen T Ripley is MY superhero.
The actress who plays Vasquez also appears in Terminator 2: Judgement Day as John Connor's foster mother. And she has a short appearance in Titanic, right before the ship sinks.
Watch 'near dark' had just about all of them in! :)
That's true.
She also plays in Lethal Weapon 2. She is one of the inspector.
No she's not, that's Maria Conchita Alonso
I know Vasquez was supposed to be all tough, but she's just comes off as cute when she's not in character.
Hudson: Hey Vasquez, have you ever been mistaken for a man? Vasquez: No, have you?
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH AHHHHHHHHH what scene is that smarty
David Kim you’re just too bad!
Perfect response to a jerk. lol
It’s funny how Jenette is so different from Vasquez they are like two different people Lmao
The writers took this from a real smartass male reporter interviewing Tallulah Bankhead on her "husky, man-like voice: "Does anyone mistaken you for a man?" Where upon Tallulah responded with the greatest, ultimate putdown retorts, ever: "Why no, dahling. Do you? 😝
I have personally watched this movie 70-80 times ... every year I try to watch it at least 3-4 times. And the only flaw are those explosions on "background". I accept them, because its 35 yrs ago. But this aside ... the film is still stunning. Masterpiece. Excellent screenplay, excellent cast, extraordinary performance of every character. The atmosphere. Oh God.
The Queen's misaligned hand when she tears Bishop in half bothers me. A few other effects show their age, but a fantastic film nonetheless.
I’m the same the first 2 are my favorite films of all time, was really looking forward to Ridleys prequels but it really pissed me off he had newer technology than the first 2 movies like touch screen monitors on the ships . Should have been black screen monitors with green text. He destroyed the original feeling of a worn out future look
Dooshun, those are rookie numbers. Keep at it kid, we'll see you in the big leagues one day 😏👍👍😁😁
@@mot0rhe4d40 lol.
Same here. This film is a stone cold classic. I watch it 3-4 times a year also. Its just superb. On every level. The highest exponent of its kind. Coming in 7 years on the back of a well received, well regarded classic first installment. It built further into the universe, gave us a crew of characters we love to this day, fantastic set pieces, superb music (James Horner, take a bow, RIP) a taught and solidly plotted story and an iconic ending if ever there was one. These films were taken for granted by some. The shoddy and lesser sequels and cash-is illustrate that. This film, like its female hero and the gang of rough necks she blasted off into space with, will forever be in a class all on its own.
Best Alien film ever made.
I guess you really *are* an okay guy, Burke! :)
That is Alien.
Aliens 3 is awesome.
1st is best
Der erste ist von der spannung am besten, der zweite von der action und dem gesplatter . Alle Alien Filme haben definitiv Filmgeschichte geschrieben.
I miss those days when going to the movie theater was an FANTASTIC and INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE, unlike today.
Back to the future, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones, Robocop ,The Goonies... Awesome years ^^
Let's Roooock!
@@Yianden I'm looking forward to introducing my little son to all these movies (all in good time of course...)
Stop putting an where it doesn’t belong.
@@chloehennessey6813 Can you elaborate on that "where"???
ahhhh Michael Biehn. Wish that guy would come back and do more major sci-fi flicks again, he's great.
He did the voice for the game Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon. Great little game packed with 80s stuff
The thing is, I would think. To stop while you're on top. And he is in two of the best sci-fi movies of all time. And I don't know if you have noticed but hollywood seems to be bankrupt. Why would he want to go back for a wet shit sandwich. My fear is they would do that to him.
@@mot0rhe4d40 he didn’t tho he’s in straight to dvd movies if you looked at his IMDb.
@@jerrygodeep4787 Fair enough. I haven't looked up all of the movies over his career. Last thing I recall seeing him in was " The Divide "
He was great in command and conquer tiberium sun
Bill Paxton, the only actor who was murdered by a Terminator, Predator, and alien. Great actor, will miss you !
And nearly killed by a tornado. ;-)
Lance Henrikson was killed in The Terminator, Alien Vs Predator and Aliens.
@@kingyup447also Robo Cop
Holy shit. It's true!
@@kingyup447both of these guys were literally killed by the coolest things ever RIP Bill Paxton, we love you mate 🙏🙏🙏🙏
They just don't make them like this anymore! My favorite movie of all time. So cool to see how this was created... James Cameron is the G.O.A.T.
I second all three points
There will never be another movie like this. This is literally perfection. Ellen Ripley craps all over the female wannabe heroes of today. Sigourney was just incredible in her role. All of them were, in fairness.
Facts she wasnt overpowered and she wasnt flawless like most female “heroes” today
It could never be made today simply because of how freaking dangerous it was for the actors. So many close calls. All the pyrotechnics, flame throwers and firing of blank ammunitions... all of that would be done with CGI today. I'm watching this documentary and thinking "Holy crap this was dangerous." The APC fire scene in particular was nuts. All of that shit was actually on fire and they were actually choking on the smoke.
@@swagwolfgang overpowered? Lmao if this movie came out today, you would still be crying.
@@theman8034 what exactly am i crying about
Apone guy is a real warrior, so basically he didn't act at all
People of the 80s were so resourceful and inovative, beautiful!!!!!
3:49 and Vasquez is just standing there listening to this guy talk and thinking: ''Look man!! I only need to know one thing: where they are... (mimicks shooting a gun)'' :D :D :D :D
lol :)
The facehugger sequence is something every living person should experience.
I agree! The sound when the Facehugger runs over the wet floor is so creepy, I always get goosebumps!
@Paul Staker you mean watch the actual scene or they should have a facehugger attach itself to their face ? i can do without that thank you very much.. LOL! but it is one of the great iconic scenes from SCI FI /HORROR ! this is not only one of the best sequels ever but one of the greatest examples of what this genre can produce ! Be safe in the night bro!!
I love how grossed out Sigourney is the guns and in the very next frame you got Paxton being totally gung ho about it. He was a cool dude.
Ironically, a screen capture from "Copycat," shows Sigourney (as Helen) aiming a gun at someone. The scene was, apparently, cut from the movie. But it's still ironic, given Sigourney's anti-gun stance.
Only man to have been killed by the terminator. The predator and alien...... lol
RIP Bill Paxton. Game over man. 😔
he was from Texas so he probably could fire a gun before he could ride a bike
The best movie ever , i watched it in 1996 for first time and still my favorite .
..i seen it opening weekend 1986.. 80's is the best generation still for movies
Seeing the amount of work it took, methods and techniques used to achieve this result is mind blowing! This is a masterpiece in so many ways I can't describe it!
Cameron and crew managed to bring an entire alternate universe to life. I agree with you.
When film making was an art and not a CGI fest.
Peter #Facts !
Still is art
@@hschenck3394 Ha! Good joke, mate.
How many people behind a movie those were the great productions ,actors ,stunt men ,technicians i say thanks to all that gave us the greatest emotions ever
There's nothing wrong with CGI. You see CGI all the time and don't even realise it, so it can be a tremendous tool. Only the bad stuff is obvious.
Hey guys, did you know that Lance Henriksen was supposed to be the terminator in T1. He finally became the inspector who got killed but it seems that James Cameron loved his look as a machine. He finished as the droid Bishop in Aliens 3 years later and also in Alien 3 when he makes the overview of the flight when Ripley asked who was in the spce ship. I love that guy, he gives so much to the movie...
The best Science Fiction action movie ever.
42:41 "She had to carry errr... carrie..." That little hesitation killed me. X)
People used to work something out with their own hands back then, now the computer took it all over. Thank you so much, guys, you did my youth!
And in the same period of development the film industry started making war on writers, too. The goal was more profitable formula, and the shit scripts in 9 of 10 movies nowadays prove how damaging a move that was.
Who cares so long as it looks good?
my favorite movie of ALL TIME!
It really doesn't get any better.
I agree with you
Al Mathews and Paxton are the real MVPs.
Sigourney and Carrie have such incredible chemistry that it makes the film… credible.
Still the best Alien film.
do you mean Alien Franchise movies or any Alien types films ? if its any alien type film don’t forget to mention “Predator” 1987 - Arnold Schwarzenegger also the greatest Alien film of all time
'Behind the scenes' footage of 'Aliens' is more exciting than most action movies they churn out these days.
Had the pleasure of being able to view this movie in the theater when it first came out it was fantastic!!! Not sure if they've ever had a movie theater re-release but that would be awesome I would definitely buy tickets for that and I don't go to movies as an adult
I remember watching it on VHS back in 1988. I think I was 11. My parents let me rent it from the video store thinking it was some time science fiction movie. I was obsessed with it. The power loader, the queen, the battle at the end, I loved everything about it. It was my favorite movie then and it's my favorite movie today.
Just watched the 4K version there and oh my days it feels like watching Aliens for the very first time again!!!
Maybe you ought to put her in charge! Bill Paxton helped make that movie great. Best space movie since the Thing.
I wish all the miniatures from Alien 1 through 3 was all kept in a museum some where
I mostly watch Aliens at night. Mostly.
Love it!
@@carltrommetter8786 Thanks. But it seems like I'm not the only one who used this; I think this phrase was used by another person in one of the copies of the three-hour documentary floating around on KZhead. However, to my defense, I only saw that comment after I posted my comment here. But it's a logical one, and so it might have been used quite often. I will also say that I think this 90 minutes "Making of…" is a croped version of the three-hour "Superior Firepower". I haven't compared them yet but I have a strong suspicion. You should watch that; twice as much info as in this video. Lets Roooock!!!
lol 'newt''
@@billybobbob3003 Thanks. Stay frosty and alert!
I would've loved to hear a conversation about the second amendment between Vietnam vet and winner of two purple hearts Al Mathews(RIP) and Sigourney Weaver.
R.I.P Bill Paxton.
My favourite movie of all time. Saw it in theatres with the surround sound….omg…it was indescribable. I could watch it a thousand times and never get tired of it.
This movie gets better every time I watch it
One day my dad said, okay son, you can watch this now. My first rated R movie.
7:30 Al Matthews was a real Marine and a real Vietnam vet. Hollywood needs more actors like him. RIP Sergeant Apone!
One of the best, if not the best action sci-fi movies ever made. James Cameron, please come back and save this franchise!!!!
I had no idea Ron Jeremy was a set designer on this film. Dude's a true maverick.
HAHA - I THOUGHT THE SAME THING :) PORN IS JUST A SIDE HUSSLE FOR HIM :)
🤣🤣🤣
Was he used for the chest burster scene in costume?
@@Sacrilege83 same facial expression as all of his other films...so yes, quite possibly! 😁
@@Sacrilege83 Hairy-chest burster
You secure that shit Hudson
Aliens and Alien, Predator, The Terminator 1 and 2, The Exorcist and The Thing are truly the most legendary and greatest of the Sci-Fi horror genre bar none!
still haven't watched the thing..
@@tedtheturbot What!? you need to correct this, my friend. Asap! classic film and one of the all time best of its genre for sure.
The Exorcist wasn't science fiction
@@tedtheturbot Get on it! It's phenomenal!
@@kendallrivers1119your right guys just don't know why...
Jenette Goldstein never fired a gun.... yet has one of the coolest shots in the world swinging the smartgun into action shouting "LETS ROCK!" - that blew my mind wtf!
It's insane how different Goldstein looks as Vasquez from what she normally looks like without the makeup
I watched the film for the first time in February, and it was amazing
One. Of. Us.
I think I know the one secret why movies like this are so much better than movies today🙏🏻 Yes they build everything and its no CGI but you know what I think: I think todays CGI looks cool (nothing compared to the detail love in the past on set building etc but still okay) BUT with all the real flames, real explosions, real atmospheric stuff you see REAL instincts and fear in the actors faces and their “playing”. I think in the past they really live these things and you see what they feel 100% so In my opinion this is the real secret why these movies where far better than those today🤙🏻
Bro couldn't decribe it more beautifully❤️❤️❤️
@@mna2146 ❤️❤️❤️❤️
I have watched this movie a billion times and I know the lines by heart. Aliens is still one of the best sci movies ever made. Signourey Weaver is the queen of space**** Love her.
Such a great movie... Especially if you love good science fiction... I do not know of any other sci-fi movie that has better pacing than this movie. I don't understand why other movie makers don't take notice. BUT you have to watch the full director's cut... Once you've seen the DC of this movie you can never go back and watch the theatrical cut.
I disagree and prefer the theatrical cut because the DC slows the pace down when the theatrical keeps ramping it up. Don't get me wrong though I love both versions.
The theatrical cut is superior in terms of pacing. The additional scenes are fun but it ruins the surprise a bit.
This is why I’m in love with the movies back In the day compared to some movies now just love Vasquez she was my fav she a bad batch lmao love it
These are proper alien effects, clever people behind them too. Also made at Pinewood Studios and a decommissioned power station in London.
There will be no better movie ever made anymore 🥺
Like Al Matthews points out, Vietnam war is the reason for a lot of uncomfortableness guns for a lot of the actors and actresses. Many of them grew up during that period, hearing how bad it was and the unpopularness of the war grew. So it's understandable why so many were hesitant to do this more militaristic movie of the Alien franchise even though it made sense to involve military. Got to admire them for pushing through that fear in order to make this movie as good as it is.
Unlike today they didn't let their political beliefs get in the way of working together to give us one of the best movies ever made!
@@drakashrakenburgproduction5369 Money talks!
I'm loving the attitude of the SFC!
39:06 HOLY SHI- ITS A REAL FLAMETHROWER
EXCELLENT movie! Period. God bless Bill Paxon. Always a fan and saddened he is gone😔
I watch 2 times per year following movies: Alien, Aliens, Star Wars: New Hope, Star Wars: Empire strikes back, Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Conan(with Arnold S.), Predator, Rambo 2, Rambo 3, Top Gun, Ben Hur (Charlton Heston), Planet of the Apes (Charlton Heston), Good, Bad and Ugly, The Silence of the Lambs, Indiana Jones 1,2,3, Heat, The Thing, Deer Hunter, Batman (Jack Nicholson).
Just watched this movie again this week. My favorite film ever.
i love the realness of the times, HEre they are all these amazing actors being interviewed and they are telling all the life threatenin situations they had to go through to film this amazin master piece, and they are laguing about it. Now days interviews are the edited positive fantasized version of everything. Just like what happened recently with the show the view where the audio leaked of elizabeth hassleback swearing because barbara reprehended her. Nodody knew, everyone thought that show ran smoothly and turns out it mas a nightmare and its ok to be.
This documentary is pure gold. Amount of work and affort put in to aliens movie wld b enough to make 10 movies this days. This movie become part of my mind since i watched it as a 9years old kid on big screen. I remember i was literaly hiding my eyes in my hands but i was deeply amazed and fascinated ..and i still am asspecialy seeing how masterpeace work it was.. This movie is a hand shaped Diamond.
One scene of Alien/ Aliens is better than all 10+ years of MCU CGI Splooge.
CGI is also aging very badly, compared to good practical effects and sets. In 10 years the MCU movie will look like having old obvious CGI. A good example are the orcs in Lord of the Rings vs the Hobbit movies.
@@vast634 LoTR is one of the greatest examples of a perfect combination of CGI and real effects.
I love this movie, this and Predator are the best alien movies ever, and Aliens is the best out of the franchise
Vaskez my childhood's first love...
Well shit, I might as well admit it, yeah I also had a tiny crush on her, so bad ass, and so hot ;-)
Is she related to Vasquez?
Mine was Suzi Quatro, then Carrie FIsher, then Ellen Ripley in Alien.
Especially when she smiles.
Vasquez killed Chuck Norris
38:08 she watched Alien when she was 8 and she laughed at it? Jesus. What a little toughie! That movie TERRIFIED me when I saw it as a kid.
@tommym321 The Thing (1982) directed by John Carpenter scared me and terrified me a lot more than Alien (1979) directed by Ridley Scott and Aliens (1986) directed by James Cameron and I wonder if Carrie Henn saw The Thing (1982) when she used to be a kid as well:).
It seems like Bill Paxton was just playing himself this whole movie
Just like Klaus Kinski in his trash - movies!!!
One of my favourite films of all time 👽
LOL, the guy who played Apone wasn't acting, he was just being himself!
This awesome! Thanks for the upload. One of those movies, that if I’m channel surfing and come across it, I’m watching the rest.
man watching this is so artistically inspiring
Thanks for the post
I live in Germany and was allowed to experience this movie as a young man in the cinema at the time, this film is great.
Real movie making! No digital crap
When I saw the movie first time in a theater on the big screen in 90's it just wrapped around my head for weeks to follow... the magic watching it still amazes me... the documentary is fun to watch
I love Vasquez!!!!
I have to say I never really like Cameron very much as a person but his films are incredible, after seeing this agin after so many years I have regained my respect of him, his vision was amazing in this film the very best of the series I think., Great docimentary, I would love to see it HD, I wonder If it is on the blu ray? I bought the BR as soon as it came out but as I atch everything on my PC now I dont even have my BR player unpacked lol
What did he do?
"The BEST" out of the franchise!
The whole cast is superb you cared for them.
unforgettable plot characters and human spirit...James Cameron tq tq!!
So many awesome one liners in this movie.
R.I.P BILL PAXTON✝️🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷
Al Matthews: The REAL Hero of this movie..
Hi Carrie,I really enjoyed your character Noot,really brilliant,I loved all the Alien,Aliens movies,and to this day it's still a great movie for all the hardworking by everyone.
This was military Sci fi at his prime. Probably the favorite movie of all time. Ripley is so badass
Yep. Gotta watch it again now.
I didn't know Ron Jeremy worked on Aliens :P
I love this movie so freaking much, but as a kid or young adult, i never wasted a thought toward what all the cast and crew did, with how much passion and drive and ingenuity they created all of this make believe stuff. I mean, the models, the animators, the FX, the lighting. And everything else (i know there's a ton more). It's my favourite movie of all times. I watched it last week and i seriously consider watchting it again, like, today.
I think it would have been so cool, if, in the power-loader fight scene, Ripley would have taken off one of the Queen's digits or something. Then you'd hear it scream while then a little bit of acid, flying out, would graze Ripley, all the the while battling together. The power-loader was never fully used imo.
I’m so happy about people’s thoughts on firearms back then, they aren’t toys and they should be handled with much care and attention. One of the greatest films ever
Simply luvly❤
Aliens turns 35 today! Another example of how sequels should be made James Cameron makes one of the best sequels in the Alien franchise Made $85 million at box office Love the extended version better Great action, memorable characters, solid pacing James Horner's score is very iconic More action-based but with the heart of Ripley watching over orphan girl Newt, this made Sigourney Weaver an action heroine subverting stereotypes and got her an Oscar nomination The late Bill Paxton still has some of the most memorable lines Really like Lance Henriksen as the Android Bishop, this actually solidified his career as an actor The loader mechs are the most impressive practical effects I've ever seen, no CGI involved all mechanical Love the alien queen too I'm so happy I got the vhs collection years back but the Alien Quadrilogy box set has amazing special features
back when directors actually put effort into making their movies
I’m an aspiring filmmaker and when I begin my work on films I want to bring back the concept of practical effects and low amounts of CGI
There are still plenty of directors who effort into making their movies. Don't generalize.
@@Flatgrimace5868thats the Way CGI isnt a bad thing but it should be used for necessary scenes Lower amount of CGI means more budget for great CGI Im sick of this lowlevel CGI they uses these days for movies Sure there aare great films like Avatar and Jurassic World but beside these there is no competitor anymore M. bay did a great job on transformers
1:15 miniatures were amazing
Wow amazing upload
Listen Hollywood, use more "in camera" effects THEN and only then add your CGI. Looks and feels so much more real!
I'm watching the special edition that was just released and GOD DAMN! This is a true master piece. It still holds up! Apone makes it feel that much real when it comes to the marines. To bad he died early on.
Love this and the first one. Magnificent. Mother Mary And Joseph! Sigourney is so beautiful.
Astonishing that this was only his 2nd film, if you don't count Piranah...
At 33:10 through 46:57 i just want to say God bless Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and God bless Carrie Henn as Newt both of them did really well and a wonderful job and Sigourney Weaver as Ripley and Carrie Henn as Newt both of them will be forever rememberd as both the greatest and the coolest actors for doing an excellent job in Aliens (1986) the greatest sci-fi action and horror movie ever created and directed by James Cameron as well amen:).
80s action sci-fi horror at it's best
Lovely documentary
Sou apaixonado por esse filme assistindo segunda vez só em 2019.