A L I E N COVENANT
3.0***
“Alien Covenant” is Director Ridley Scott on all 12 cylinders,
unfiltered and unapologetic. Alien Covenant is high octane science fiction,
like drinking a gallon of Red Bull. Beyond the adrenaline pace of the film,
Covenant is artistic, disturbing and provocative bursting with philosophy,
curiosity, life, death, and the concept of perfect killing creatures
whose prey is any living thing especially humans.
Beautifully filmed we see layer upon layer of Ridley's vision unfold, and from the stunning opening scenes, you immediately grasp that he has skillfully resurrected flashes of his 1st two Alien movies as well as his other visually haunting films like Blade Runner and Gladiator. And it works, indeed, it works very well.
Alien Covenant is, without question, a very intense film, from the opening sequence, to the final moments before the credits roll. The acting is good and believable, with vulnerable characters that convey what it must be like to have to deal with intense fear at close range. The story line is complex and may be confusing if you have not seen it’s prequel :Prometheus” ( which I had not). Not surprisingly, Alien Covenant is loaded with over the top horrific creatures : Xenomorphs, Face Huggers, and an array of new aliens, all of them visually terrifying and disturbing. Several of the scenes are extraordinarily graphic and gory, so leave the kids at home.
A lot of questions are left unanswered because there will be a 3rd prequel. Yes the scientists make the same stupid mistakes, and yes there are some plot-holes, but Ridley Scott has rejuvenated the Alien series. .In some ways “Alien: Covenant” plays out like a "greatest hits” of Alien and Aliens and that was okay with me .But the thing I missed most and expected was that oppressive never-ending-feeling of fear and horror… that on-the edge-of-your-seat scariness of the 1st Alien movie which ranks in my top 3 of scariest movies.
Beautifully filmed we see layer upon layer of Ridley's vision unfold, and from the stunning opening scenes, you immediately grasp that he has skillfully resurrected flashes of his 1st two Alien movies as well as his other visually haunting films like Blade Runner and Gladiator. And it works, indeed, it works very well.
Alien Covenant is, without question, a very intense film, from the opening sequence, to the final moments before the credits roll. The acting is good and believable, with vulnerable characters that convey what it must be like to have to deal with intense fear at close range. The story line is complex and may be confusing if you have not seen it’s prequel :Prometheus” ( which I had not). Not surprisingly, Alien Covenant is loaded with over the top horrific creatures : Xenomorphs, Face Huggers, and an array of new aliens, all of them visually terrifying and disturbing. Several of the scenes are extraordinarily graphic and gory, so leave the kids at home.
A lot of questions are left unanswered because there will be a 3rd prequel. Yes the scientists make the same stupid mistakes, and yes there are some plot-holes, but Ridley Scott has rejuvenated the Alien series. .In some ways “Alien: Covenant” plays out like a "greatest hits” of Alien and Aliens and that was okay with me .But the thing I missed most and expected was that oppressive never-ending-feeling of fear and horror… that on-the edge-of-your-seat scariness of the 1st Alien movie which ranks in my top 3 of scariest movies.
Rated R
for sci-fi violence, bloody images, language and some sexuality/nudity.
Clark
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