Movie Review: Alien: Romulus

As a cinephile who’s been around the block a few times, I must confess that my heart skips a beat whenever I see the iconic Alien franchise grace the silver screen once more. The nostalgia kicked in big time with “Alien: Romulus,” as it seamlessly wove elements from the original masterpieces, “Alien” (1979) and its sequel, “Aliens” (1986). However, my inner film critic couldn’t help but question the continuity – how on Earth did Ash, who perished in the first movie, end up in this one?

In various parts of the globe, studios keep old movie sets and props used in previous films, such as “Alien: Romulus.” The initial sequences of this new film evoke a sense of déjà vu, mirroring the sets from the original 1979 Alien or its sequel, Aliens (1986), with their vintage computer monitors and related equipment. In terms of science fiction movies and what is widely regarded as the most iconic Alien creature, these initial two Alien films are timeless classics and the genesis of the nearly 50-year-long Alien movie franchise.

In the recently released “Alien: Romulus,” there are numerous echoes of the initial two Alien films and a character named Ash from the original production, who is an android portrayed by the late Ian Holm. Refreshing my recollections of the 1979 Alien film, I remember that the spacecraft Ash was traveling on exploded. Considering this incident, it seems puzzling how he could reappear in this movie, given a timeline approximately 20 years after the original narrative’s conclusion. How does his character manage to make an appearance in this sequel?

As a seasoned space enthusiast who has spent years studying the mysteries of the cosmos and the potential dangers that lurk beyond our atmosphere, I find this story particularly intriguing. The idea of a group of younger astronauts journeying through the vast expanse of space, 67 light years from Earth, to retrieve a valuable specimen on their space station called Romulus, sounds like an exhilarating adventure.

In the newest Alien film, Rain, portrayed by Cailee Spaeny, who’s already made a name for herself early in her acting career, takes center stage. David Jonsson, a good friend of Rain, plays the android character Andy. Other characters like Kay, played by Isabela Merced, have minor roles. A unique twist to this story is that when a human is impregnated with an Alien while pregnant, as depicted in this film with Kay’s character, it results in a previously unseen hybrid of Alien and Human creatures. This fresh concept is the sole original element in the entire movie.

Near the conclusion of this tale, it seemed to me that the final events bore an overabundance of concepts reminiscent of the sequel to “Aliens,” which felt forced and unoriginal in their execution.

All things considered, I found the most recent Alien film to be satisfactory, yet I was taken aback by its 82% score. Compared to that, my own evaluation would be roughly 70%, recommending it primarily to devotees of the Alien series.

2024-08-16 17:50

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