Aliens Gave Us One of Hollywood’s Great Working-Class Heroes

James Cameron’s (1986) celebrates its fortieth anniversary this July. For generations, the groundbreaking action-horror masterpiece has won over fans with its effortlessly quotable band of hard-up marines and its fierce, iron-willed protagonist — Sigourney Weaver in the role of Ellen Ripley.Aliens However, has also been divisive. Critics like Pauline Kael, Roger Ebert, Sheila Benson, and Richard Schickel were split over how to interpret the film’s then-curious mixture of action and horror.…