Yeah, i never really liked the dome got ditched. it made it somehow to me look less like a 'being' to me. also, somehow, i never can get out of my imagination that the 2 black bumps on it's chin are like eyes. i know they arent, but i saw a jumping spider picture once and then i saw a picture of the aliens climbing upside down on the cieling and i can't unsee it now.
to be really honest, the more i 'analyse' cameron's aliens, the less i start liking it. its design changed and looked indeed more ant-like/animal-like, they added screeching sounds (for example when they got fired by the sentry guns and when overrun) which do sound 'odd' but make it more animal-like in nature, and i can't remember ever hearing that really alien sound you hear when the alien first time ever appears as an adult.
the Queen then again is absolutely awesomecakes. even though it is a bit too animalistic too to be very critical.
