Alien: Covenant (2017)

I decided to take a couple days away from the blog to relax and to spend some time helping out a good cause by entering the dunk tank dressed as my favorite character Bert the Bird. That did not stop me from watching a couple movies. The first one that I am going to review from that group is the 2017 sci-fi entry Alien: Covenant.

Plot/ The crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination and must attempt a harrowing escape.

I have always been a fan of the Alien universe and was looking forward to this installment. Unfortunately, for me, this one did not leave me wanting more as it felt extremely forced and less organic than some of the earlier films that made the franchise great. While it was not terrible, it just lacked the dark and foreboding atmosphere that saturated the earlier entries. Plus, the characters left nothing to be desired and were flat and predictable throughout. Even the Xenomorph and the effects lacked the feel and intensity of the source materials and the ending was expected. The cinematography and scenery worked, the performances were not terrible, and there was potential within the storyline to create something interesting, this one just missed the mark. Overall, it just did not hit home like the originals. In the end, I really wanted to like this film, but I couldn’t. Sure, it was not completely terrible or the worst sci-fi flick out there, but it just did not resonate in the same way that the original Alien films did.

Prometheus (2012)

 

 

I think that I have had my feel for documentaries recently. While they are always entertaining to me, and I learn a lot, I cannot live in the realm forever. Sometimes, I just need some solid entertainment to help me pass my evenings. For my viewing pleasure tonight, I decided to take a walk into the Sci-Fi arena with the 2012 Ridley Scott entry Prometheus.

 

 

Plot/ A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

 

 

I am not a huge fan of the Alien franchise, so too me, this one had no real hype for me. I will admit that t looked interesting, but it did not strike me as something to stand in line for. Ironically, what I found when I finally decided to watch this was just as interesting as I expected it would be. While the story arc was vast, there definitely felt like there were some holes, but to me, it added to the mystery. The pacing was solid, the cinematography and effects were amazing and there was a lot to like in this film. Yes, there were some characterization issues, choppy editing and the acting was uneven, but that did not ruin the film.  In the end, I found this extremely entertaining, and a movie that I liked more than many of the Alien films. If you love Science Fiction or even Ancient Aliens, you should definitely check this one out.