Let me put it this way: if Alien is a stunning display of Art, its sequel is a stunning display of Craftsmanship
- Miniatures for the drop ship and colony structures were utilized to great effect
- Depending on the level of action required, the aliens were depicted either by costumed actors or animatronic/puppet props
- James Cameron was in his prime, using filmmaking techniques like rear screen projection and reverse photography (for example the POV shot of the facehugger attacking Ripley is in reverse)
- Despite its reputation as an action movie, the film understood to never show the alien in a well lit environment. Something that Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, and Alien Covenant all failed to comply with.
- The movie feels like it takes place in the same universe as Alien, technology wise. The motion tracker introduced in the first movie feels like a natural progression of the more basic one shown in the first. The grungy utilitarian blue collar vibe is on full display. Contrast this to Prometheus which showcases all kinds of high tech despite taking place BEFORE Alien.
- Most important of all, the storytelling never tries to delve into the origins of the creature. It keeps it a mystery. Critics of Aliens say it ruined the creature by just making it a glorified bug. On the contrary, the creatures show tremendous intelligence (cutting power, operating elevators) despite only being a few weeks old. Furthermore, nothing about the Queen existing suggests its the only method of reproduction. It could have easily been a Company experiment, a one-off. They literally show that they have live samples of the creatures in the medical bay and were experimenting on them.
I can totally understanding liking Alien 1 more than 2. Alien is a one-of-a-kind existential gothic masterpiece. A masterclass. But to like Aliens less than 3, Resurrection, AVP, Prometheus, and Convenant is a display of incredibly shit taste.
BTW: friendly reminder that Amanda Ripley was introduced in Aliens. Every time you boot up Isolation, you're taking a piece of Aliens with you at all times.