I have always loved watching movies. I remember growing up in the days where Blockbuster existed and movies still existed on VHS. For you young people, Blockbuster was a magical place where you could rent the newest releases or your older favorites.
I remember the excitement of Friday nights. We lived in an apartment complex next door to Blockbuster. We would rent movies and pick up dinner. Then, we would spend the night watching movies and eating junk food.
I don’t recall much from my childhood, but I do recall one of the only times my family took me to the theater to watch a movie. It was 1986. I had just turned 6 years old. It was the most magical thing I experienced. Fear. Shock. Laughter. Maybe a crush. That movie was Aliens.

To this day, it is still my all-time favorite movie. Sometimes, I watch it every day for weeks on end.
Why do I love it? One word. RIPLEY.
She is the OG female badass. I fell in love with her strength. When I was little, I wanted to be just like Ripley. She rises from the ashes like a phoenix and overcomes her fears.

Why do I keep coming back to it? Two words. The Xenomorph.
It’s the year 2025 and they still can’t make a more iconic creature. All the CGI in the world doesn’t compare to the craftsmanship of the xenomorph. I remember being in awe and terrified as the same time. Now, the feeling of amazement still exists. How the hell did they pull that off in the 1980s?

Two more words. Corporal Hicks.
Man, did I have a super crush on Corporal Hicks.







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