I just got back from seeing it and I enjoyed the film overall. It might the best sequel since
Alien 3, but still can't touch the first two. I'm not sure if it's better than the third film quite yet? I think I need to see it again to make a final decision.
Michael Fassbender stole the show as Walter/David. I can't decide which droid performance I enjoyed better? Honestly, I didn't know if I'd care about Walter, but his scenes with Daniels were some of the best in the movie. David's God complex was certainly both sympathetic and disturbing. I know a lot of people had a problem with him communicating with the Neomorph, but I found that to be one of the character's more interesting moments. I also didn't have a problem with him being the (re)creator. I was on the fence about it, but when I saw how the film presented it, I liked it. One thing I didn't understand was where he got the eggs from?
Waterson made a believable heroine that didn't feel like a Ripley clone at all. She brought a real vulnerability to the role, especially in the early moments when she lost Branson. I wish they would've had some more James Franco in this. Why waste the talents of such a good actor?
Then there was Danny Mcbride and Billy Crudup who also turned in very good performances. I wish they would've had more of Mcbride too. Maybe in the next one they will.
The best scenes in the movie were the slaughter in the Medbay (backburster & throatbuster were both sick) and the wheat field attack. The movie never topped these moments, but I don't know how it could've? The Oram chestburster scene was good, but way to fast. I did like his final line to David, "What do you believe in?" The Alien fight on top of the drop ship was pretty good, but nothing special. Surprisingly, most of the CGI was very good with some shots looking like practical effects. Also, this film had the best score since
Alien 3. I loved when the 'spores track' kicked in when Ledward began creating smoke rings.
The movie had me hook, line, and sinker up until the end.
Like other people have mentioned before me, the ending feels very tacked on. While I enjoyed the content, it felt so lifeless. I honestly wished they would've focused more on the Neomorphs. They were so much more interesting here. Also, what the hell happened to the second one? There were two right? I was pretty sure that the one escaped the ship before it exploded? I think it would've been better to have it on the ship at the end instead of the classic Xeno. The ending was the most frustrating part for me. I don't see how Lope get impregnated? That facehugger was on his face for like five seconds. I didn't buy that at all.
But the biggest problem I had with the film was how Shaw was just thrown into the film like a slaughtered piece of meat! Literally! That was bullshit right there. I was more accepting of not knowing how she died at all instead of seeing her rotting corpse lying on a table.
I really liked Shaw and I thought the character deserved more respect than this.
Also, the destruction of the Engineer home planet was also over way to fast. While visually creepy and gross, it really didn't leave much of an impression on me. This movie really needed to take a breath in some scenes, especially the end.
But even though I saw the twist coming a mile away, I still enjoyed it. The film definitely ends on a down note that I found refreshing.
I was going to give the film a 7.5, but after thinking about it for awhile, I'm going to give it a 7. I enjoyed it, but there were some problems. Mainly the ending.
My ranking:
Alien
Aliens
Alien 3
Covenant
Prometheus
AvP-R
AvP
Resurrection
