Ahead of a May 19 premiere in the United States, Ridley Scott's hotly anticipated new title Alien: Covenant follows on from where 2012's Prometheus left off. The previous installment flattered to deceive with a convoluted narrative that was seriously lacking in killer Aliens and engaging drama.
As far as the critics are concerned for this edition, Scott and 20th Century Fox have struck a balance by explaining the events of Prometheus well enough on one hand, while also giving the viewers the scares and violence of the frightful creatures on the other. Here is what they had to say about the blockbuster.
A Beautiful, Over-The-Top Compromise For Fans
Eddie Makuch of GameSpot thinks that the franchise has opted in on the grand set piece tradition carried on by Fast and Furious.
"Covenant is a fun movie that has a number of standout scenes, including one of the biggest, most over-the-top (and somewhat silly) set pieces in the franchise's history," Makuch writes. "It is a notable improvement over Prometheus, but it runs the risk of feeling too familiar and formulaic overall."
Todd McCarthy of THR simply says that it is a step forward from the step backwards taken five years prior.
"Stylistically, the film is a thing of cool beauty, with superb effects and a lovely score. Creatively, it's a major reset on a level with the series' best."
Kevin Sullivan of Entertainment Weekly is of the belief that the studio and Scott took notes from the reaction of Prometheus, without dismissing it altogether.
"One leg up that Covenant has is Scott's refusal to entirely jettison the biblical weirdness of Prometheus. There's still plenty of vague discussion about creation, but the movie is essentially a compromise between the prior film's fans and haters. Some of us (clears throat( will miss those big swings, but regardless of where you landed with Prometheus, there's bound to be something to delight you in Covenant because, Scott - thankfully - still makes 'em like he used to."
Covenant A Greatest Hits Compilation Flick
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardianoffers a 3/5 rating as he points out that many of the iconic scenes have been showcased in the franchise before.
"The vu has never been so déja: it's a greatest-hits compilation of the other Alien films' freaky moments. The paradox is that though you are intended to recognise these touches, you won't really be impressed unless you happen to be seeing them for the first time. For all this, the film is very capably made, with forceful, potent performances from Waterston and Fassbender. That franchise title is, however, looking increasingly wrong. It is a bit familiar."
New York Daily News critic Edward Douglas agrees with Bradshaw, arguing that Covenant is almost a mashup of previous films.
"Further proving his mastery of creating tension and thrills, Scott has effectively created a satisfying hybrid of Alien, Prometheus and even James Cameron's Aliens. Those looking for one of the better movies in the Alien franchise should appreciate what the latest movie brings to the mix. But it's not for the squeamish or faint of heart."
Source: NY Daily News, GameSpot, THR, EW, The Guardian
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