[chrispenycate]

Indeed - in my youth the role of any female character was to scream, panic, faint and be carried off (preferably in revealing or torn costume) by some marauding BEM – purely decorative. I consider the development positive.
Though I don't know the films in question (though the DVD of "Aliens" is here in the rack, I won't wait to answer until I've watched it) but the trend is obvious; Women and minorities will get roles as heroes, and villains.
And so much the better for the art.