There are rare instances when a sequel, even a film with a very different style and genre, manages to match the prestige and quality of its predecessor. This is what James Cameron achieved with "Aliens: The Last Stand," the sequel to Ridley Scott's 1979 cult classic, which once again starred the magnificent Sigourney Weaver.
Taking the sci-fi saga from its original horror roots to an action-packed vibe, the title once again sees Ellen Rilpey take center stage after she, as the sole survivor of the Nostromo, survives her first encounter with the deadly alien lifeform known as the Xenomorph. Returning to Earth and greeted with skepticism by the community, she sets out on a mission across the galaxy to investigate the disappearance of some colonists on LV-426, awakening emotions of uncontrollable terror.
Recalling her experiences on set way back in 1986, Weaver mentioned an anecdote in which she defended the actors against a stubborn and still immature Cameron, who from then on would learn to relate better to his crew. During filming, when a young actor was struggling with some scenes, the actress told the director, after hearing him yell at his colleague, "When you yell at an actor, you yell at all of us, so try to understand that what he's doing is really difficult. Maybe try shooting something else while he gets used to doing things your way." This episode, Weaver continues, not only convinced Cameron to take a break, but also helped establish a more stable and productive working environment, based on tutelage rather than authoritarianism.
Reflecting on the workload and pressure Cameron faced in those years, managing such a young group of actors and such a major production, Weaver also stated how the director has become much more mature and skilled at managing human relationships over time: "He's a good guy. I really think Jim has become more balanced."
And highlighting his light-hearted, humorous side, which usually emerged during off-set dinners, he added: “He wasn’t like that during filming. He was incredibly funny and witty. I can understand why he couldn’t express himself the way he wanted to during Aliens, because it was a difficult set, especially for him.”
