The Marines' iconic pulse rifles were created using repurposed Thompson submachine guns from the 1920s . Meanwhile, the heavy smartguns were built by mounting German MG42 machine guns onto steadycam rigs.
Episode #14
Aliens
Aliens (1986) • Directed by James Cameron
Published 8 September 2026
In this episode of the Four Takes Movie Podcast, Martin, Luke, Adam and David tackle James Cameron’s 1986 sci-fi action classic Aliens, focusing on the 1990 Special Edition. They explore the film’s practical effects, unforgettable characters, behind-the-scenes stories and the powerful relationship between Ripley and Newt, while debating how Cameron successfully transformed Alien from horror into full-blown action. As always, there are plenty of tangents, laughs and questionable scoring along the way. Content warning: this episode includes discussion of sensitive and potentially distressing themes.
8.3/10
Four Takes Score
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About the Movie
Aliens
1986Directed by James Cameron137 mins
BBFC guidance: strong violence, language, horror
ActionThrillerScience Fiction
Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo's deadly encounter with the monstrous Alien, returns to Earth after drifting through space in hypersleep for 57 years. Although her story is initially met with skepticism, she agrees to accompany a team of Colonial Marines back to LV-426.
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Episode Notes
From the Episode
Are you ready to journey back to the hostile planet of LV-426? In the latest episode of the Four Takes Movie Podcast, the crew dives deep into the legendary Aliens Special Edition from 1986.
This classic sci-fi action masterpiece directed by James Cameron redefined cinema, and our hosts are here to break down every single explosion, jump scare, and practical effect. If you love high-energy movie analysis and cinematic debates, this podcast episode is exactly what you need to add to your playlist.
Before analysing the iconic struggle of Ellen Ripley against the terrifying Xenomorph Queen, hosts Martin, Luke, Adam, and David take some entertaining detours through the modern theatrical landscape. Join us as we review the emotional themes in the latest Spider-Man film, which surprisingly turned out to be a deep exploration of male loneliness. We also break down the three-hour epic adaptation of The Odyssey directed by Christopher Nolan, starring Odysseus as a sandaled John Wick kicking serious butt. Our hosts even debate if Samantha Morton deserves an Oscar nomination for her brilliant performance as Cersei, and share a quick tribute to the legal career of Danny DeVito in the classic film The Rain Maker.
But the real magic of this episode lies in the incredible behind-the-scenes trivia and guerrilla filmmaking secrets we uncover. Did you know that the high-tech communicator of Qui Gon Jinn in Star Wars was just a silver-painted Gillette ladies razor? Or that the Mr Fusion power source on the back of the DeLorean was actually a second-hand Krups coffee machine that now sells for hundreds of pounds on eBay? We even explain how the futuristic bases in Rogue One were filmed inside the Canary Wharf subway station in London with a bit of stainless steel cladding, and how the heavy smart guns of the Space Marines were built using German MG42 machine guns on Steadicam rigs. Fans of classic television will also love our discussion on the British science fiction comedy Red Dwarf, as we spot a familiar actor playing the colony leader in the extended cut of the film.
When we finally get down to the main event, we explore the incredible cast chemistry that makes this movie a masterpiece. Director James Cameron clever filming schedule had the actors shoot all the action sequences first, meaning the famous Space Marines cafeteria scenes were filmed last when the cast had already developed genuine real-life friendships. We celebrate the unforgettable performance of Bill Paxton as Hudson, screaming his legendary lines about the game being over, and discuss the brilliant Lance Henriksen as the android Bishop. We also explore the ground breaking acting of Sigourney Weaver, who earned a historic Oscar nomination for a summer action blockbuster.
Our discussion goes beyond simple action as we analyse the deep maternal subtext of the film. We look at the grief of Ellen Ripley as she mourns her daughter who grew old and died while Ripley was asleep in space, and how Ripley finds healing through her protective bond with the young survivor Newt. This beautiful mother-daughter connection is mirrored by the terrifying Xenomorph Queen, who is simply trying to protect her own nest of eggs. This clash of maternal instincts elevates the film from a standard monster movie into a timeless story of survival.
We also have a laugh at the legendary culture clashes on set, particularly between the relentless American director James Cameron and the British crew, who repeatedly halted production for their scheduled Yorkshire tea breaks. Finally, we share our traditional verdicts and scores out of ten, featuring a highly creative score of 8.9 out of ten from Adam. We also tease our next film, David Fincher classic Fight Club, which Luke has already redecided is a movie about IKEA.
The Four Takes Movie Podcast is your go-to source for entertaining, honest, and hilarious film reviews. Do not miss out on the fun. We invite you to subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform today. Whether you prefer Spotify, YouTube, Amazon, or Apple Podcasts, you can access all our episodes with ease.
Please be advised that this episode of the Four Takes Movie Podcast contains discussions of sensitive and potentially distressing themes. In analysing the psychological subtext of the Alien franchise, the team delve into several intense and serious concepts, which may cause distress to some listeners.
Listener discretion is advised.
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Did You Know?
Movie Trivia
When viewing the 4K remaster, the hosts noted that you can clearly tell the drop-ship pilots in the miniature model shots are actually small painted figurines.
The detailed scale models held up so well because they were built by expert craftsmen who also worked on classic physical-effects shows like Gerry Anderson's Captain Scarlet.
Director James Cameron deliberately shot all of the heavy action sequences first and saved the Marine cafeteria wake-up scene for the very end of production . This gave the actors time to form genuine real-life friendships, which translated into natural chemistry on camera.
In the 1990 Special Edition cut, the leader of the Hadley's Hope colony is played by an actor from the BBC sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf.
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