Well, there's a definite sub-genre, yah. But it's a little better now...
If you see one of those "aliens are here to save us from ourselves" plots now, you're usually looking at just lazy writing and not actual misanthropy. (BTW, this is why I like the theatrical release of The Abyss better than the director's cut-- it cuts out all of that cliche subplot. In the theatrical release, the aliens are just out exploring not intervening to prevent nuclear war or whatever.)