Alien: Covenant
- Director: Ridley Scott
- Writer: Michael Green; John Logan
- Producer: David Giler; Walter Hill
CGiii Comment
It's nowhere near as bad as they say it is...and, it's nowhere near as good as it could have been...but, that can be said about practically every film ever made!!!
The Alien franchise began way back in 1979...after a strong start, it fell by the wayside...with some truly appalling installments...as for the crossovers, the less said. Then, in 2012, came [the prequel] Prometheus...heralding a new dawn for this money-making franchise.
Behind the scenes, there has been much chatter about Sigourney Weaver reprising Ripley (with Neill Blomkamp set to direct)...but, that seems dead-in-the-water...due to corporate interference and Ridley Scott's firm command of the Alien reins...let's face it, he who controls the purse-strings...controls everything! Creativity and finance rarely go [happily] hand-in-hand!
Prometheus made a bundle at the Box Office...Covenant looks set to do the same.
The critics of both films have failed to realise that 'the suspension of disbelief' is a vital component to the 'enjoyment' of any film...even more so when it comes to science fiction...these nit-pickers, well that's all they do, nit-pick...they set out to find fault. It's only a film!!!
And, a mighty fine one it is too! Yes, you can hear the corporate purse-strings dictate the set pieces, all the good [action] bits from the previous films are in here...all those diversity boxes are ticked...and, for those who want something a little challenging...it all gets a little cerebral...
A robot capable of love...Michael Fassbinder kissing himself...that's enough cud to chew upon for weeks!
Covenant has something for everyone, apart from the purists who all should jog on...it paves the way for what could be potentially an intriguing continuation, a gay singularity!
It all depends on how much the purse-strings re[de]strict those creative reins!
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, the crew of the colony ship Covenant discover what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world, whose sole inhabitant is the synthetic David, survivor of the doomed Prometheus expedition.
Be warned: There are major spoilers herein!
Alien: Covenant included husbands Lope and Hallet, members of the crew of the U.S.S. Covenant which is en route to colonize a new planet. The couple likely were known only to fans who searched out the short prologue film, The Last Supper, which more clearly established their relationship and included a kiss between the two. More general audiences probably had no idea the men were a couple until after Hallet died and the camera zooms in on their clasped hands, their wedding rings pressed together, as Lope whispers “my love.” Lope himself, and nearly the entirety of the crew, later dies. The film squeaked by in passing the Vito Russo Test as Lope’s death sets up the film’s finale, meaning that were he removed from the film, the plot would have been significantly altered.
It is disappointing that the gay couple’s relationship was only made clear after death given the graphic sexual talk between straight couples and their repeated use of “my wife” to refer to their partners. The small confirmation of their relationship did not have nearly the same impact on the audience as it would have if the prologue had been included in the film itself. Still, the inclusion of these characters in a major sci-fi action franchise, which opened in over 3,700 theaters, is a positive development. We hope this small step will lead to more substantial depictions of LGBTQ characters in the future.
Talk about not understanding the director's intention...ever heard of 'when the penny drops'? Some people would buy the DVD just to see the build up of that dropping penny!!!
Obviously, GLAAD wants every gay character to scream "I'M GAY!!!" from the outset!
Cast & Characters
Michael Fassbender as David / Walter;
James Franco as Branson;
Noomi Rapace as Elizabeth Shaw;
Katherine Waterston as Daniels;
Guy Pearce as Peter Weyland;
Billy Crudup;
Danny McBride;
Callie Hernandez;
Carmen Ejogo;
Demian Bichir;
Goran D. Kleut;
Amy Seimetz;
Jussie Smollett;
Uli Latukefu;
Benjamin Rigby