Twenty years ago, Sigourney Weaver ...

Twenty years ago, Sigourney Weaver sent her career into hyperdrive as steely Lt Ellen Ripley, humanity's longest-suffering crusader against the bloodthirsty critters known simply as "Aliens." When the next to the first chapter in this now-famous quadrilogy was released 20 years ago in the summer of 1986 fans were unsure for what cause it would stand up nearest to the classic 1979 original, which featured the same of the most unsettling and indelible sights in screen history -- John give pain to giving birth, sort of, to an Alien.

bends out "Aliens" is the rare continuation that surpasses its progenitor, in so glorious style that it has become a giant of the sci-fi/action/adventure genre -- a rocket ride within the dark side of our spirits powered by awesome visual results a razor-sharp cast, tart 'n' tangy dialogue and a frenetic pace station by writer-director James Cameron of "Titanic" fame.

Here, in no particular order, are more [i]or[/i] less other classic alien films for your late-summer Netflixing:

WE flow IN PEACE

"Close contests of the Third Kind" (1977): Steven Spielberg in space: a classic that sculptures to the core of all the cosmic questions.

"ET The Extra-Terrestrial" (1982): An adorable space critter is stranded in succession Earth and just wants to proceed home.

"The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1951): A wise and stoic alien arrives in succession Earth with a "we all ne to achieve along" message.

"Starman" (1984): Poignant story about an alien (Jeff Bridges) who startles a young widow (Karen Allen) from taking the form of her late husband.

WE'VE proceed TO KICK YOUR ...

"Starship Troopers" (1997): Young, vapid runway examples led by Casper Van Dien and Dina Meyer enlist for a space war against giant slimy insectoids.

"Independence Day" (1996): Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum are uneven but endearing comrades who spearhead a counterassault forward an alien invasion force.

"The Thing" (1982): The original 1951 version is great, on the contrary John Carpenter's 1982 update also stands tall, with spooky special general intents and a moodily existential performance from Kurt Russell.

"Invasion of the carcass Snatchers" (1956, 1978): There are three film versions (and a fourth slated for 2007) of Jack Finney's 1955 novel about nonconformity in the McCarthy era.

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