Alien: Covenant (2017)

[Darkstream]

Originally Posted by mwynn

I agree yet, I think tying up everything nicely in one film would be difficult, and maybe not possible.

It doesn't sound like it, based on what everyone is saying.

I mean, if we are just revisting familiar tropes we've seen before, how much more does one have left to say?

Yeah, the whole meaning of life and questions of where do we come from were deep and interesting, if not a bit pretentious, in Prometheus, but it seems most of that was abandoned with this film anyway, and it's not like we're really going to get any answers from Scott. So what's left to say that needs to be stretched out into two more movies? I understand telling a story with beautiful photography and throwing in some of the scary monster stuff for us fans, but there needs to be something more. It almost sounds like the android stuff is more interesting than anything else. Might as well just make that Blade Runner/Alien crossover at this point.

[Steedeel]

Originally Posted by tob

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b79aw9dZLfE

This is what I was fearing Tob. Cheers for the link mate. I always end up mostly agreeing with Kermode so this seems like the final nail in the coffin as far as research/reviews are concerned. Truth is in the pudding now, will let you know how it goes mate.

[Booker Dewitt]

Originally Posted by HimmelBlau

An example of how people are divided on this movie.

Flickering Myth's Luke Owen gives it ( Film: / Movie: )
https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2017/...covenant-2017/

And here.

Flickering Myth's Robert Kojder gives it (Film: / Movie: )
https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2017/...covenant-2017/



There is no unifying opinion that the film is really bad see the film yourself, and don't let one person decide it for you.

Man, I've been out of the movie review game for a while now. People actually using the whole film/movie schism to avoid having to create a single statement on a production.

Just weird to see you post two reviews showing the dissensus among a outlet for the film when their review format fundamentally requires having two views.

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by Darkstream

It doesn't sound like it, based on what everyone is saying.

I mean, if we are just revisting familiar tropes we've seen before, how much more does one have left to say?

Yeah, the whole meaning of life and questions of where do we come from were deep and interesting, if not a bit pretentious, in Prometheus, but it seems most of that was abandoned with this film anyway, and it's not like we're really going to get any answers from Scott. So what's left to say that needs to be stretched out into two more movies? I understand telling a story with beautiful photography and throwing in some of the scary monster stuff for us fans, but there needs to be something more. It almost sounds like the android stuff is more interesting than anything else. Might as well just make that Blade Runner/Alien crossover at this point.

Yes I think that Fassbender has taken over these movies. Getting to Lv426 in one more film will take a lot of work, and some force.

[Show spoiler] Funny that you mention nothing left to say because the end of the film can easily flow into a redo of Aliens.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Darkstream

It doesn't sound like it, based on what everyone is saying.

I mean, if we are just revisting familiar tropes we've seen before, how much more does one have left to say?

Yeah, the whole meaning of life and questions of where do we come from were deep and interesting, if not a bit pretentious, in Prometheus, but it seems most of that was abandoned with this film anyway, and it's not like we're really going to get any answers from Scott. So what's left to say that needs to be stretched out into two more movies? I understand telling a story with beautiful photography and throwing in some of the scary monster stuff for us fans, but there needs to be something more. It almost sounds like the android stuff is more interesting than anything else. Might as well just make that Blade Runner/Alien crossover at this point.

Scott already did provide the threads you can unravel for answers in Prometheus. The Lawrence of Arabia nods regarding David who watched Shaw's dream at the beginning in which her father advised her that faith is a choice to believe; subsequently the removal of her crucifix followed by the abortion scene, existential threat, return of her crucifix and ultimately survival, all point to answers. These are explored in a way very congruous to the way Scott explored "the other" in the original Alien film. That the themes seemed pretentious was rather brilliantly pawned off on the scientists who were a pretentious bunch.

[Head bugs]

Nitpicking Alien Covenant - YouTube

Is this fair?

[Darkstream]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Scott already did provide the threads you can unravel for answers in Prometheus. The Lawrence of Arabia nods regarding David who watched Shaw's dream at the beginning in which her father advised her that faith is a choice to believe; subsequently the removal of her crucifix followed by the abortion scene, existential threat, return of her crucifix and ultimately survival, all point to answers. These are explored in a way very congruous to the way Scott explored "the other" in the original Alien film. That the themes seemed pretentious was rather brilliantly pawned off on the scientists who were a pretentious bunch.

A stupid bunch, you mean?

Come on, if there is one constant criticism, and many apologies by Prometheus fans for, is how dumb some of those scientists were. And unfortunately, it seems a lot of those dumb human acts carried over to Covenant -- although, we can probably make the excuse that many of those colonists aren't scientists.

Part of what made the original Alien brilliant is the fear of the unknown and the precautions and protocol that the scientists had to act under. All that conflict between Ripley and everyone about bringing the infected Kane back on board the Nostromo, citing quarantine regulations, not only created realistic tension, but made sense! That was something that was greatly missing in Prometheus, and now it seems Covenant.

What sucks for me is that I've grown to love Prometheus, despite my criticisms with it, but now it seems that Covenant kind of undermines my acceptance of Prometheus and demands that I accept more.

[tob]

Originally Posted by Steedeel

This is what I was fearing Tob. Cheers for the link mate. I always end up mostly agreeing with Kermode so this seems like the final nail in the coffin as far as research/reviews are concerned. Truth is in the pudding now, will let you know how it goes mate.

No problem Steedeel thanks.

[Pieter V]

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Feature Run Time: 2:01:55
Credit Start Time: 1:55:21
End Credit Offset: 1:55:24

[Blu Lemmy]

4 hrs people!!!!!

[wonderer99]

Alien: Covenant still has 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. This thread is baffling.

[TunaKaan]

It was alright. I really liked the first (prometheus) half, but the second (alien) was really weak. They didnt answer any of the questions Prometheus asked but at least we know what happened to Shaw, she was mentioned more than I thought she was gonna be. Alien designs were the best in the series, they were very creepy but I dont know why they bothered with practical suits on set. Everything was CG. David was the highlight. Its just, there was no engaging action sequence in the second half, at least I wasnt entertained, so the movie ended on a low note, very underwhelming.

And I didnt find it scary or intense at all. Most effective one was the back burster scene but trailers spoiled it way too much. Plus not much gore, it was just cg blood everywhere. I expected much more intense scenes. Xeno was not needed, Neomorphs were just too good, I wanted more of them but they were surprisingly not used much. But very scary and haunting, especially adults. What I liked the most about the movie was the couples dynamic. It worked and I believed they cared about eachother. All of the characters are very real, and not dumb goofy scientists.

But still a nicely made movie, good performances, nice score, great visuals. But I like Prometheus better. 7.5/10

[DeanCorso]

People are hard to understand these days!!

[mwynn]

Originally Posted by wonderer99

Alien: Covenant still has 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. This thread is baffling.

I thought we did not care about RT?

[dallywhitty]

Just came back from Alien: Covenant.

Very, very good for the most part. I read the test screening spoilers months ago so I wasn't exactly surprised by anything that unfolded. I'd already readied myself to the reality that this wasn't gonna be the Prometheus sequel I wanted. It was at its best when it was focused on the characters as they explored the planet. I particularly loved the interactions between Walter and David. Where the film failed for me was in the last thirty minutes or so. It felt by-the-numbers, tacked-on, and surprisingly devoid of tension.

[Show spoiler]I don't think they should've bothered at all with having another xenomorph show up on the ship. I did, however, really like the moment in which Daniels realised that it was David instead of Walter.

It's a shame the third act was so meh because that sorta thing always leaves a bad taste, especially when the preceding scenes are so good. I'd recommend the film based on the strength of the first two acts, though. Covenant is marginally better than Prometheus. It has the better script, undoubtedly, and I prefer the darker, less clinical cinematography. I just wish it had concluded on a stronger note.

[pEgLeG]

It's funny that so many people find issue with the scientists being stupid. Many scientists are in fact very stupid. Many of them lack the intellectual flexibility to think for themselves and solve puzzles; they have honed one narrow skill, and they can only solve problems that were put before them by either their prof, or their boss, but they can't seem to independently construct a problem to solve based upon their situational awareness, because they have little, or none. They aren't all Feynmans.

btw: I don't take Orndorf's review too seriously, considering that he gave an Amy Schumer movie a better score. Even a crap Ridley Scott movie would be better than Schumer's magnum opus.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Darkstream

A stupid bunch, you mean?

Come on, if there is one constant criticism, and many apologies by Prometheus fans for, is how dumb some of those scientists were. And unfortunately, it seems a lot of those dumb human acts carried over to Covenant -- although, we can probably make the excuse that many of those colonists aren't scientists.

See above for Pegleg's excellent comments. I would add to that, sci fi as a genre has become formulaic by putting its own faith in science to the exclusion of all else. The very name science fiction is something of an oxymoron. Science is really the modifier and the genre is in fact FICTION. Therefore, if you're going to make statements about humanity in a film, you should at least challenge yourself and the audience by turning some clichés on their heads. The biggest cliché in the genre is that the scientists are the know-it-alls who are going to save the species. Do you really need more films like that? Hurray for Scott and Prometheus writers to have the balls it takes to cast scientists as morons for a change. As Einstein himself said, "science without religion is lame" and he seemed to have a fair bit of insight, did he not?

Part of what made the original Alien brilliant is the fear of the unknown and the precautions and protocol that the scientists had to act under. All that conflict between Ripley and everyone about bringing the infected Kane back on board the Nostromo, citing quarantine regulations, not only created realistic tension, but made sense! That was something that was greatly missing in Prometheus, and now it seems Covenant.

Ash wasn't a scientist so much as an android programmed to advance the corporation's agenda by making human life a negligible factor. He admitted that after his head was knocked off. Did you forget or miss that? Those themes were advanced thoughtfully in Prometheus (or did you miss David getting his noggin knocked off too). I haven't seen Covenant, but if the criticisms of Prometheus are any indication, people aren't looking beyond the surface, and often not even that. They're just looking for any excuse to whine about a thoughtful, well-produced sci fi masterpiece, and I don't use the term lightly.

What sucks for me is that I've grown to love Prometheus, despite my criticisms with it, but now it seems that Covenant kind of undermines my acceptance of Prometheus and demands that I accept more.

Why does it suck to grow to love a good film? This is really weird! My guess is you'll grow to love Covenant too, but if I were you I'd think really deeply about these films. As Scorsese is fond of saying, good films make you learn things about yourself.

[CaptWithNoName]

For anyone who has seen the IMAX version: does the aspect ratio open up or remain standard scope? Just curious before I buy my tickets. Thanks in advance.

[TunaKaan]

Originally Posted by CaptWithNoName

For anyone who has seen the IMAX version: does the aspect ratio open up or remain standard scope? Just curious before I buy my tickets. Thanks in advance.

It's standart

[Portista]

Originally Posted by wonderer99

Alien: Covenant still has 75% on Rotten Tomatoes. This thread is baffling.

Revenge of the Sith has 79%. It's a strange world.