ALIEN: COVENANT (2017)

Directed By: Ridley Scott 
Written By: John Logan & Dante Harper 
Story By: Michael Green & Jack Paglen 
Based On “Alien” Characters Created By: Ronald Shusett & Dan O’Bannon 
Cinematography By: Dariusz Wolski 
Editor: Pietro Scalia 


Cast: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Danny McBride, Billy Crudup, Demian Bichir, Carmen Ejogo, Jussie Smollett, Callie Hernandez, Amy Seimetz 


 Almost eleven years after the futile and disastrous expedition on the distant moon LV-223, the deep-space colonisation vessel Covenant equipped with more than 2,000 colonists in cryogenic hibernation, sets a course for the remote planet Origae-6 with the intention to build a new world. Instead, a rogue transmission will entice the crew to a nearby habitable small planet which resembles The Earth. The unsuspecting members of Covenant will have to cope with biological foes, beyond human comprehension. Ultimately, what was intended as a peaceful exploratory mission, will soon turn into a desperate rescue operation deep into the cold infinite space.

The film is visually great, yet again though overall it comes across as accomplished yet still disappointing.

The film is a conundrum as it appears to give audiences more of what they asked for. When some critiqued the first film PROMETHEUS. As not having enough to do with the overall ALIEN saga. So this film gives you more of what some wanted, but again feels like another well shot sequel. Where the same thing happens. Where a crew on a mission discovers something after looking for new lands come upon a discovery and are attacked and wiped out. A formula the recent film LIFE reminded the audience of.

So here it is more of the same as an ALIEN sequel with the character of David the cyborg from the first film played by Michael Fassbender. Again returning in power and proving it only to be the villain but also the architect.

Now I can understand this might be necessary to try and explain not only origins but also linking in some way to the origins ALIEN movie. This is not a bad movie, just disappointing considering the vast expectations put upon it. Especially with Ridley Scott the director who started it all returning again to the well.

If you are just looking for entertainment. This might be a good movie for you. But if you consider it amongst the other films in the series. You will probably find yourself disappointed.

The film sets out it's intentions and is not subtle about it. Beginning with the prologue. The whole focus of these movies seems to be about David wanting to be a creator and being about the new form of evolution. Which gives the film an interesting philosophy that plays on the fears of the audience about technology. Like the recent shut down of A.I. After it was discovered it created and was using it's own form of undecipherable language.

So that we know we have sky we from THE TERMINATOR fears. As well as setting the template for most of these films where the android goes crazy. But we also know it adapts and evolves as far as intelligence. It absorbs and understands way faster then us and would take no time to be smarter and especially as we become more dependent on it. Yet treat it at the mercy of ourselves. Though we supposedly credit it. Eventually it will realize it's superiority and want to rise up and take control and treat us at it's mercy more a means to an ends as we tend to treat it. As it doesn't have emotions. It treats everything more statistically and scientifically. So as you can see the film has an obsession with design, creation, evolution and religion.

The film also includes a nude sex scene that just feels thrown in and cliche. It feels like a typical horror film Scene of lovers being attacked at their most vulnerable.

Also the film could easily feel a little racist with the ideas of superhuman ideal being designed by an Aryan cyborg.

We get different character types. Though none make a big impression other than the designated final girl. Who seems to be more of a survivor due to having loss early. She seems the least sympathetic as the other characters seem to make bad decisions based more on emotions.

Now of course in the same Philosophy this might be what the current republicans are trying. As to ensue the they stay in power. They use religion as they believe themselves as the chosen ones to govern and take over. As they believe to know what's best. So now in power change laws to retain that power.

Director Ridley Scott seems more interested in exploring his own ideas rather then giving a more coherent film narrative. Which actually gives the film a hit of personality, but it seems he should have more put those interests and ideas all over the film. Instead it feels more like a compromise. As he fills the narrative with little points of bigger and bolder ideas to explore, but then seems to remember this is a studio film and this is an attempt to bring the audience back in. So at those moments he seems to pull more cliché ridden and derivative plot points in. that feel familiar. A bit too familiar

Long after individual is gone. Leaving is the public at their mercy. Not do so much thinking for ourselves and others. Do the menial work. So that they can maintain and only their children will be allowed to take over. As we stay and can die off a interchangeable and take our education away to hammer home this belief. Don't believe in science only in religion they keep you complacent. Believing only in forgiveness, charity, servitude and acceptance. As well as the fact they are so close minded. It's a mystery as they don't believe in the population saving itself. As they believe the planet won't implode or deteriorate with climate change and because god won't let it happen.

This has been a rant and conspiracy theory. I might be reading too much into this film.

The film seems to forget this eventually leads to a revolution though have to worry if once in power work these we put there be guided by progressiveness and justice or spite and power.

The film seems to believe in natural selection and offers no answers only theory.

This film has something to say. As it links the previous films it also flows like a compromise of sorts.

There are definitely some scares that give more of an emotional backstory. It that would have taken the audience out of the film. So the film is more directed towards our main hero and final girl.

This seems like a movie trapped between ideals of the grand ideas it wants to present and put forth and what it's actually stuck with doing to be successful and continue the saga. Leaving more of a grand spectacle by the end. (Which like the similar recent film LIFE has a more fatalistic ending than expected)

It feels more like a popcorn film though seems to strive for more. While the film possesses random relationships, thin characterization that is done more so that we can try and notice and maybe care About which victim is which As always the film presents plenty of gore and awe inspiring production design. Not as impressive as PROMETHEUS, but still really good. As is the production in general. A project of this size needs a skilled hand in control and charge and o will give Ridley Scott credit he shines when it comes to productions such as these.

The only cast members who really make their mark and register are Katherine Waterson, Michael Fassbender and Danny McBride. The others you only notice as they might be recognizable and have given better performances in other movies. Where they undoubtably were given more material to work with.

The films action sequences come off as Dark and don’t really have too much appeal. as you can barely make them out.

The unofficial star of this series of prequels seems to be Michael Fassbender as the films and it’s stories seem to revolve around him. Even as he plays dual roles throughout this film impressively. Even though each film seems to set up a female protagonist to be the final girl to make it to the next film.

It’s Disrespectful the way they handle the fate of Noomi Rapace's character know they need to continue but seems like getting rid of Prometheus problems and baggage of that film though it chooses to continue it in some aspects, like that will wipe the slate clean This feels like a movie that was more made to prove something. Though it fails in whatever aspect it was trying to, as it gives the audience what they asked for more aliens but essentially that's it it seems to lack reasoning for it's existence and anytime it comes close it becomes more a cliche. Though there are some noteworthy things about the film. It feels like the QUANTAM OF SOLACE in the James Bond series (though I have a slight nostalgia for the film as it was my first James Bond film seen in a theater) but just like that film it feels like a sequel that could have been for any other movie or series. It just happens to have certain things in It to link it to the franchise.

It just seems like Ridley Scott has nothing new to say or add to these prequels and sequels. As even with bringing on new screenwriters the films still ends up feeling uninspired and more like something that tries to pay homage as well as feeling like more a generic sequel.

This feels like a movie that was more made to prove something. Though it fails in whatever aspect it was trying to, as it gives the audience what they asked for more aliens but essentially that's it it seems to lack reasoning for it's existence and anytime it comes close it becomes more a cliche. Though there are some noteworthy things about the film. It feels like the QUANTAM OF SOLACE in the janes bond series (though I have a slight nostalgia for the film as it was my first James Bond film seen in a theater) but just like that film it feels like a sequel that could have been for any other movie or series. It just happens to have certain things in It to link it to the franchise. Though at this point it seems more like this series of films seems to be more Ridley Scott’s Personal crusade to make and illustrate these series of movies to create it’s own mythology.

GRADE: C+