I disagree with Aliens being shit, but I do see where you're coming from. Making her an action hero made her a lot less interesting as a human being. Action heroes are less interesting as human beings, because they all tend to speak the same language: that of violence and triumph. Ellen Ripley attempted violence in Alien, but quick thinking and a bit of luck is what actually saved her. And she triumphed, but it was a Pyrrhic victory, with every other member of the crew wiped out, the ship destroyed, and her life and career ruined upon her return. She was a human being. In Aliens, though she has some very human moments, she’s not. She becomes a powerful force in her own right, which can be fun, but can’t as easily be cared about.