If you’re a member of our forums you may have seen we’ve been following reports that Alien: Covenant has received some serious cuts for its release in China on the 16th of June, significantly trimming the presence of Alien in the film.
Reactions have been coming out from advanced previews of the film in China and The Bejinger are reporting that the edits are not going down well with moviegoers!
“On a Baidu message board, one viewer who attended an advance screening called the censored version “extremely frustrating” to watch, estimating that the film’s monsters are only shown on screen for a total of “one to two minutes.”
Calling himself “Angel Will Drive,” the poster said the “distinct” cuts are most noticeable in two scenes in the film’s second half, explaining that all gory images of aliens covered in blood have been removed as have scenes in which humans are attacked.
One scene from Alien: Covenant that involves a “broken back” has been changed so that “in the China version you can only see the scared expressions of the people outside the door.”
It is being reported that a total of 6 minutes have been cut, putting the Chinese edit of the film down to 116 minutes. The majority of the cuts seem to have been focused around the Neomorphs, the Alien and gore.
While 6 minutes may not seem like a lot, The Bejinger report that the audience found that the cuts result in Alien: Covenant being “abrupt” and as “ruin[ing] the rhythm of the film.”
These kind of edits are typical of film releases in China and likely come as no real surprise to those aware of this. 20th Century Fox’s Logan also saw 14 minutes of footage removed for its Chinese release.
Keep a close eye on Alien vs. Predator Galaxy for the latest on Alien: Covenant! You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to get the latest on your social media walls. You can also join in with fellow Alien fans on our forums!
When I saw it, the tubes folded back as the alien went down. Is there still an issue of clipping?
I'm still not convinced there are any bad CGI shots in the film, nothing on the level of Maz Kanata from The Force Awakens anyway.
Subtitles.
At least you get to see some blood burst from Oram before the alien comes out. You get the idea of what's happening. And you see enough of the alien to get that it's present in each scene.
I just got the impression from the reports that the alien was strictly removed for no reason and the whole film wouldn't make sense, that the edits went way beyond cutting for violence, and I don't think that's the really case here. The editing and pacing aren't quite as masterful in this edit, but I think it's still a watchable film that Chinese audiences shouldn't be deterred from seeing in the theater.
Then if they enjoy it enough to want to see it at home, they should buy a foreign blu-ray or bootleg a foreign cut and be treated to a little extra footage.
I was worried that much of the movie wouldn't make any damn sense, but they retained just enough to keep the movie coherent.
It sucks that the Chinese have to deal with censorship and I'm very thankful to live in a county that lets me put my eyes on pretty much whatever I want, but I think reports of "cutting the alien out" were exaggerated and probably hurt the box office in China unnecessarily.
*snip. We don't allow the sharing of pirated movies or etc here. Please don't share again. Hicks.
Just skipped to the final fight. It looks horrible after censorship. Jesus.
LOL "has left this veil of tears"= read in David's voice.
It was Fassbender-on-Fassbender action.
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs2.quickmeme.com%2Fimg%2F9a%2F9a944615dd985630aa8fb3e573cfa19ee3182615ceadcd2218e87194a498e73b.jpg&hash=3d35d6379002857522042b450f024eed809708f8
Is there a gay kiss in Covenant? Must have missed that.
I think we've already noted this was cut but -
Two words: Premature ejaculation. Them salmon can swim upstream and dance on the rocks.
But Lucas actually changed the original movies to fit with his prequels, adding digital characters and what not (but thankfully fans have restored the originals and are available to download, if illegally). The original Alien films are still intact. You have to appreciate that this is a new story and not a continuation of the old films. But if you don't like it, I feel sad for you, because there is so much to like.
hehehhe
around while the lady so obviously kicks the air that they superimposed the cartoon on...
Or listen to it's awful predator type noises. God, the more I think about it the more I get angry at this movie.
I really wanted to love it so bad and I really love so much of it but they fuсked up the most IMPORATANT
PARTS, which are the fuсking ALIENS!!!
https://media.giphy.com/media/mLfgSwPpmZ2ww/giphy.gif
Alas, poor ridleyhater has left this veil of tears.
lol, yeah well his Tag tells you everything you need to know, he just wants to provoke a reaction. That's why I ignored his posts.
Intersteller didn't float my boat either and I usually love Nolan's movies.
You can only say why you like Covenant so many ways and have people hit back with your wrong and its shit before you just give up.
To be fair most forum members on here who didn't like the film articulate this in an adult, reasonable way whilst still respecting the views of those who do like the film.
Unfortunately you will always get those who just make base, sweeping statements and believe everyone who disagrees are wrong but I think they are a minority and just try to ignore them as difficult as that may be.
I loved the film just as you did and no one can change my view no matter what they say.
I loved it too. The criticisms are extremely varied from the fanbase. Some hated that it destroyed the mythos from Prometheus. Others are pissed that David is the creator of the xeno. Others are mad about pacing. And some people are even upset about cgi monsters. The movie certainly isn't perfect, but I enjoyed it a lot.
. ,and if the movie never get a sequel cause of bad B0 it would be a tragedy. .but at least we got covenant and thats something. .a movie that for me was up there with the first 2.
As far as I know, Chinese censors don't really cut the film themselves. The FOX cuts the film and delivers the new version to the censorship. Censors decides whether it is passable or not.
Hell, the Stones can't even play Brown Sugar in China because it's about interacial sex.
And interesting about them cutting the David/chestburster mimic part of the scene! If China censors Christian imagery, it may fit with the whole Jesus Engineer/decaon mural theory.
Respect from a guy imaginatively named ridleyhater?
Glad to hear. I actually thought Prometheus was the boring one. I thought Alien Covenant improved upon the terrible pacing and horrible dialogue of Prometheus and really delivered. I liked Alien Covenant a hell of a lot more!
@salt the fries:
Maybe YOU should show some respect to what cinema is. Ridley scott clearly doesn't anymore. ( even this site had a story that claimed covenant was rushed to made into a sequel when prometheus was already so messed up that they should have given more thought about the direction of the sequel. but nooooo... ridley wanted to be a careless irresponsible filmmaker like today's self indulgent brainless directors, trumping his once good rep.) and who said box office is the ultimate judge??... but box office does show films like covenant is not on the same level as his glorious ALIEN etc as audiences know the sequel is as screwy as the "all over the place" prometheus. Even ridley admitted he made mistakes. these filmmakers are given hundreds of millions of bucks to make at least a movie with some clarity and precision in basic storytelling, and you would agree and expect them ( esp seasoned "masters" like ridley) to be careful with developing covenant after the "mistakes prone" prometheus! did hitchcock work like this movie after movie? He learned to be very careful after each mistake and then made a subsequent better film, with far less time and money. and you want me to respect irresponsible development/ filmmaking exemplified by covenant just because it's from ridley (whom we rightly expected a lot)
My reply post to "salt the fries" was somehow posted inside xanadu's post. If that's the case, Dont know how that happened (apologies to xanadu.)