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‘Alien: Covenant’ Review – Better Than ‘Prometheus’ But Lacks True Scares
By Chris Tilly
An In-Depth Review.....
In this sequel to Prometheus that also serves as something of a prequel to Alien, the crew of the Covenant head for a planet on the far side of the galaxy on a mission to colonise. A rogue transmission tempts them to make a pit-stop elsewhere however, and when they touch-down, all hell breaks loose, the crew becoming embroiled in a deadly fight to survive.
Righting the Wrongs of Prometheus
Prometheus - Ridley Scott's last Alien movie – was a frustrating viewing experience, the film filled with great ideas and concepts, but scuppered by some terrible characterisation and a plot that asked big, philosophical questions, then failed to answer them.
Alien: Covenant improves upon its predecessor, making use of what worked and discarding the material that didn't. But it's still light years away from the brilliance of the first two films in the franchise, because try as it might, Covenant lacks the genuine scares of the original Alien, the operatic action of its sequel Aliens, and that all-important ingredient – Ellen Ripley.
Establishing the Crew
Following a brief prologue that sets up the film's major themes, Covenant begins as all Alien films begin, by introducing the crew. And what sets them apart from previous Alien crews is they are couples, their mission to colonise a distant planet.
When we meet the team they are in a state of shock however, an accident waking them from hyper-sleep seven years early, and incinerating one of their number. The captain no less. Billy Crudup's Oram steps up to take charge, though his religious beliefs mean the crew is loathe to trust him, thereby setting in motion a debate between science and religion that continues throughout the movie.
His faith convinces Oram to take notice of the rogue transmission the Covenant receives, directing the ship to a planet that appears out of nowhere, and apparently fulfils all their needs. But it sounds like it's too good to be true. And of course, it is.
Katherine Waterson is introduced as the film's other human protagonist, Daniels. The dead captain was her husband, and suddenly alone, Daniels starts to question her reasons for being on the mission, allowing the film to explore another of its major themes, that of love vs duty.
Both actors deliver solid performances, though for much of the film they are given little to do. As are the rest of the crew of the Covenant; nameless, faceless folk popping up only to be killed off. Danny McBride's Tennessee is the sole supporting player who really makes any kind of impact, though that's largely because he's Danny McBride.
Fassbender Dominates
But as with Prometheus, the real star of the show is Michael Fassbender. In that film, he played the somewhat sinister android, David. Here he again plays an android, but Walter is a good deal more affable, his American accent less ominous than David's cut-glass English tones.
Walter assists the crew on their mission, and also helps Daniels through the grieving process, appearing to develop feelings for her, which Fassbender masterfully emotes in minimalist fashion.
But it's via several twists and turns – which we won't spoil here – that the actor is truly allowed to shine, making the film feel like it could be taking place in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner universe as much as the Alien series.
Fassbender comes to dominate proceedings, and while there are times when it feels like he's somewhat hamming it up – especially when the film gets to the business of answering those big questions – his scenes are frequently the film's most engaging.
Alien Action
As for the aliens themselves, they've never looked or moved better, and as ever are the stuff of true nightmares. These aren't the creatures that the crew of the Prometheus was dealing with. Nor are they the fully-formed xenomorphs that Ripley battles. Rather they are something in-between, with a startling look, lightening speed, and a new means of entering the carrier that will have you reaching for the sick-bag.
Their first appearance is a brilliantly realised set-piece that perfectly combines action and horror. Scott expertly ratchets up the tension, the escalation of violence mirroring the crew's gradual realisation of what they are dealing with.
Unfortunately, it's the best such sequence, with the horrific scenes more gory than scary, and the action visually impressive, but failing to quicken the pulse. Indeed at times, it feels like the film is going through the motions, following a template and hitting the beats required of an Alien movie. That's particularly noticeable in the film's final few scenes, which pit Daniels against a particularly irate alien, and which feel like they could have been transplanted from any one of Covenant's predecessors.
Is Alien: Covenant Good?
In avoiding the pitfalls of Prometheus, Alien: Covenant is a vast improvement. Screenwriters John Logan and Dante Harper had the unenviable task of tying up that movie's loose ends while at the same time telling a new story in their own right. And in both respects, they've done a commendable job.
There are times when the film is both exciting and engaging, and some of the cod philosophy and psychology is even pretty thought-provoking. Though I'm still not sure anyone other than the filmmakers was asking the questions that Covenant answers.
But there's a Ripley-shaped hole in the heart of proceedings. Noomi Rapace's Elizabeth Shaw was charged with the task of carrying the fight to the aliens in the last film, and did a competent job. It's Katherine Waterson's duty as Daniels here, and again she's just fine.
But an Alien movie needs more than that. We're dealing with the deadliest creature in the universe, and that demands more than just fine. It needs an actress with the presence and charisma of Sigourney Weaver. And a character as compelling and engaging as Ellen Ripley. In short, you need a hero that's worthy of such a villain.
Without Ripley, and in spite of a solid storyline, some terrific visuals, and an enjoyably over-the-top performance from Fassbender, you can't help but feel it's just another sci-fi film in space.
By Chris Tilly
An In-Depth Review.....
In this sequel to Prometheus that also serves as something of a prequel to Alien, the crew of the Covenant head for a planet on the far side of the galaxy on a mission to colonise. A rogue transmission tempts them to make a pit-stop elsewhere however, and when they touch-down, all hell breaks loose, the crew becoming embroiled in a deadly fight to survive.
Righting the Wrongs of Prometheus
Prometheus - Ridley Scott's last Alien movie – was a frustrating viewing experience, the film filled with great ideas and concepts, but scuppered by some terrible characterisation and a plot that asked big, philosophical questions, then failed to answer them.
Alien: Covenant improves upon its predecessor, making use of what worked and discarding the material that didn't. But it's still light years away from the brilliance of the first two films in the franchise, because try as it might, Covenant lacks the genuine scares of the original Alien, the operatic action of its sequel Aliens, and that all-important ingredient – Ellen Ripley.
Establishing the Crew
Following a brief prologue that sets up the film's major themes, Covenant begins as all Alien films begin, by introducing the crew. And what sets them apart from previous Alien crews is they are couples, their mission to colonise a distant planet.
When we meet the team they are in a state of shock however, an accident waking them from hyper-sleep seven years early, and incinerating one of their number. The captain no less. Billy Crudup's Oram steps up to take charge, though his religious beliefs mean the crew is loathe to trust him, thereby setting in motion a debate between science and religion that continues throughout the movie.
His faith convinces Oram to take notice of the rogue transmission the Covenant receives, directing the ship to a planet that appears out of nowhere, and apparently fulfils all their needs. But it sounds like it's too good to be true. And of course, it is.
Katherine Waterson is introduced as the film's other human protagonist, Daniels. The dead captain was her husband, and suddenly alone, Daniels starts to question her reasons for being on the mission, allowing the film to explore another of its major themes, that of love vs duty.
Both actors deliver solid performances, though for much of the film they are given little to do. As are the rest of the crew of the Covenant; nameless, faceless folk popping up only to be killed off. Danny McBride's Tennessee is the sole supporting player who really makes any kind of impact, though that's largely because he's Danny McBride.
Fassbender Dominates
But as with Prometheus, the real star of the show is Michael Fassbender. In that film, he played the somewhat sinister android, David. Here he again plays an android, but Walter is a good deal more affable, his American accent less ominous than David's cut-glass English tones.
Walter assists the crew on their mission, and also helps Daniels through the grieving process, appearing to develop feelings for her, which Fassbender masterfully emotes in minimalist fashion.
But it's via several twists and turns – which we won't spoil here – that the actor is truly allowed to shine, making the film feel like it could be taking place in Ridley Scott's Blade Runner universe as much as the Alien series.
Fassbender comes to dominate proceedings, and while there are times when it feels like he's somewhat hamming it up – especially when the film gets to the business of answering those big questions – his scenes are frequently the film's most engaging.
Alien Action
As for the aliens themselves, they've never looked or moved better, and as ever are the stuff of true nightmares. These aren't the creatures that the crew of the Prometheus was dealing with. Nor are they the fully-formed xenomorphs that Ripley battles. Rather they are something in-between, with a startling look, lightening speed, and a new means of entering the carrier that will have you reaching for the sick-bag.
Their first appearance is a brilliantly realised set-piece that perfectly combines action and horror. Scott expertly ratchets up the tension, the escalation of violence mirroring the crew's gradual realisation of what they are dealing with.
Unfortunately, it's the best such sequence, with the horrific scenes more gory than scary, and the action visually impressive, but failing to quicken the pulse. Indeed at times, it feels like the film is going through the motions, following a template and hitting the beats required of an Alien movie. That's particularly noticeable in the film's final few scenes, which pit Daniels against a particularly irate alien, and which feel like they could have been transplanted from any one of Covenant's predecessors.
Is Alien: Covenant Good?
In avoiding the pitfalls of Prometheus, Alien: Covenant is a vast improvement. Screenwriters John Logan and Dante Harper had the unenviable task of tying up that movie's loose ends while at the same time telling a new story in their own right. And in both respects, they've done a commendable job.
There are times when the film is both exciting and engaging, and some of the cod philosophy and psychology is even pretty thought-provoking. Though I'm still not sure anyone other than the filmmakers was asking the questions that Covenant answers.
But there's a Ripley-shaped hole in the heart of proceedings. Noomi Rapace's Elizabeth Shaw was charged with the task of carrying the fight to the aliens in the last film, and did a competent job. It's Katherine Waterson's duty as Daniels here, and again she's just fine.
But an Alien movie needs more than that. We're dealing with the deadliest creature in the universe, and that demands more than just fine. It needs an actress with the presence and charisma of Sigourney Weaver. And a character as compelling and engaging as Ellen Ripley. In short, you need a hero that's worthy of such a villain.
Without Ripley, and in spite of a solid storyline, some terrific visuals, and an enjoyably over-the-top performance from Fassbender, you can't help but feel it's just another sci-fi film in space.
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And no dancing anything for anybody cause this situation is rather like a certain Norwegian Blue Parrot..... and part of the fun is the "Huh?" that comes along with it for the ride!
