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Aliens

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Alien sequel is bigger, faster, scarier.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    A corporate executive character who claims to be "an OK guy" is really murderous and treacherous in his greed. What little we see of the world of the future seems dominated by evil businessmen and bullying soldiers. The multiracial "Colonial Marines" are overconfident, swaggering braggarts. Ripley, on the other hand, turns from the fear-paralyzed victim of the last film into a tough, idealized action-heroine.
  • Violence:

    Mostly in quick flashes, but still severe, as human characters are splashed with acid, torched with fire, or have little aliens bursting out of them. One man is literally torn in half, with the qualifier that "he" is an android, not human, with beige-colored blood and viscera. Gunfire, bombs, and flamethrowers are directed at the aliens. Much of the violence and lethal danger is threatened against a small child.
  • Sex:

    Indistinct glimpses of pin-up pictures in a locker room. Some mildly suggestive banter between co-ed Marines.
  • Language:

    "F--k" and "a--hole" in soldierly banter and anger.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Social drinking.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Aliens

Parents need to know that the relentless, ravenous clawed monsters here are likely to give small kids (and others) nightmares. This is a violent feature, even more so than the original Alien. Besides the rerun of the grisly moment when embryonic aliens burst out of people (in reality and in dream scenes), we also see quick cuts of victims seared with acid, getting set on fire, and blowing themselves up with a grenade. Most disturbing of all -- or, at least, the most nakedly manipulative -- is the perpetual threat of ghastly violence/death/contamination being directed at a frightened, screaming little girl. There's also a plethora of swearing and lots of adoring fondling of guns and high-powered weapons.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the military metaphor in the film; it's said James Cameron deliberately had Vietnam on his mind when he depicted a group of gung-ho Marines charging into tunnels only to get shredded to pieces by hordes of an enemy that keeps on coming. Do you think this applies to the Gulf Wars as well? What could the characters have done differently? Do you believe in the showdown between the bereaved mother Ripley and the monstrous mother alien "queen"?

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Our Members Say

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Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title off for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    Not as good as the first, but equally close. A great James Cameron flick, faster and more action packed then it's rival Alien. Way off limits for younger ones.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title iffy for age 14 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

    Less exciting sequel to the terrifying movie "Alien."

    Parents should know that this film contains graphic violence. Aliens attack humans numerous times and this time the humans fight back. The aliens are shot at with machine guns, shot guns, and they are run over, resulting in acid blood spurting everywhere. A human is burned with acid and there is some strong language. There are no strong positive messages or role models.

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in Oregon
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Great Movie, But a Lot of Violence

    Loved the movie! But a bunch of violence like people getting ripped apart and cut in half by huge aliens. There is also some language. There is also a bunch of weapons like flamethrowers and machine guns.

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

  5. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in California
    I rate this title off for age 16 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    Yikes!

    Scary. I've been told about it. Have'nt seen it, but I've seen the preview and the storyline. Yikes!

  6. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language

  7. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate language
    • Negative message

    Definately too innapropriate for kids

    I like this movie, but it definately has a lot of content that's innapropriate for young kids like very graphic violence and profanity and the characters in this movie can tend to not be great role models.

  8. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in North Carolina
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0

    Greatest. Horror movie. Ever.

    I honestly thought this movie was better than the origional. Any fan of the genre has to see this movie, and the first one. How could the reviewer just give it three stars? Food for thought, get people who actually like horror movies to review horrer movies. It's inapropriate for young kids, but it's great and you know it. Deal with it.

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 17 and give it 5.0

    Good action film

    Aliens is the best of the series in terms of film quality, acting, action, etc... But it is NOT a movie for kids.

  10. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 5.0

    Aliens

    Aside from a few cheesy moments near the end, I believe that Aliens is perfect and one of the finest sci-fi/action films ever created. The original Alien is a flawless classic, and as a sequel Aliens doesn't disappoint. I think that I still slightly prefer the original, but Aliens is nevertheless a nerve-wracking ride that will get your adrenaline pumping. It's intense, entertaining, and sometimes even terrifying. I loved it. Parents be warned: lots of intense violence, although it isn't overly gory or graphic. Plenty of f-bombs, too. However, there is no sexuality/nudity. I'd say that Aliens is okay for teenagers and older kids who can handle intense films.

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 12
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 3.0

    Not as good as prequel, But still Okay

    I thought this movie was okay. If you love violence you will probobly love this movie. There is frequent use of weapons, but overall worth watching. I would reccomend watching the 1st movie in this series or else you may be overly confused.

  12. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0

    Great Movie!!!!!!

    I love this movie!!! Common Sense should give it at least 4 stars, but it deserves 5. Yes, it's violent, yes, it's gory, yes, the characters know how to say the F-Word, and they do a lot, but for mature teens and adults, it is a great Sci-Fi-Horror Sction film. 5 stars.

  13. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0

    Arguably better than the first

    Aliens is a great action sci-fi film for mature teens and adults. This film has graphic violence and strong language. But it's awsome. Check it out if you haven't already.

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