Still crying over a fictional characters death from a movie you saw years ago?
Grieving a canceled-too-soon show?
We are, too.
Below, James Hibberd celebrates Ripley’s tense elevator scene from 1986’sAliens.
On one level, the scene is simply a riveting piece of suspense building.
Here Cameron employs, not one, buttwocountdowns at the same time!
The elevator descends, reads Camerons script.
Bars of light move rhythmically across her as Ripley stands facing the doors, watching the landings go by.
The heat grows more intense.
Pipes glowing cherry-red pass by.
Steam hisses and billows … Ripley removes her jacket and dons a battle harness directly over her T-shirt.
Her hair is matted, and she glistens with sweat.
Her eyes burn with a determination that holds the gut-panic in check …
This is the most terrifying thing she has ever done.
She begins to hyperventilate, soaking with sweat.
Her fingers slick and slippery on the rifle.
But the genius bit comes right before the end, and its due to Weavers performance.
Ripley finishes all her weaponry busywork and takes a moment to collect herself.
She closes her eyes, gets centered, and then gets her game face on.
Like: This is going to be horrible and Im going to do it anyway.
The moment is, oddly, relatable.
None of us have ridden a cargo elevator to fight aliens.
Ripley doesnt hit or kick anybody inAliens(other than shoving the loathsome Carter Burke against a wall).
Ripley’s toughness is in her intelligence, resourcefulness, and bravery.
Shes not fearless, shes smartlyfearfulwhile surrounded by foolishly overconfident Marines.
But then she does the noble thing despite her fear.
After 34 years, Weaver’s performance holds up as an incredible performance that transcends the genre.
