The movie franchise.
That means sequels. But for a select few that can also mean prequels too.
This one however is the sequel to the first prequel.
I think.
All told there have already been six films devoted to the Alien franchise. And, who knows, maybe the prequels with this one will go all the way back to the Big Bang. Unless, of course, Star Wars beats them to it.
What draws many to sequels is the chance to revisit old characters in a new set of circumstances. Both the characters that we love and the characters that we love to hate. And, of course, “the creature”. The “xenomorphs” in this franchise.
Still, lots of people were singularly unimpressed this time around. And I may or may not be one of them. But: this is one of those films you can just sit back and look at. “Visually striking” as they say.
But not much more? The biggest disappointment [for me] was the attempt to somehow link the creatures to our own species. As though it is inconceivable that other life forms might evolve independent of our human all too human existence. That’s what made the original Alien so riveting. The possibility of a lifeform far removed from our own. One in which we are not able to impose our own narratives. Or our own expectations.
Let’s just say that the reviews at IMDb were nothing short of brutal. At least for the first couple of pages. And yet over at Rotten Tomatoes, 70% of the “professional” critics still managed to give it a thumbs up. On the other hand, 97% of them were really, really enthused by the original. Also directed by Ridley Scott.
Two things are reasonably certain:
1] unlike with the original, you won’t be bonding with this crew
2] the dialogue between them is [often] nothing short of excruciating
faq: imdb.com/title/tt2316204/faq?ref_=tt_faq_sm
trivia at IMDb: imdb.com/title/tt2316204/tri … =ttqu_sa_1
at wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien:_Covenant
trailer: youtu.be/H0VW6sg50Pk
ALIEN: COVENANT [2017]
Directed by Ridley Scott
[b]Peter: How do you feel?
David: Alive.
Peter: What do you see?
David: White…room. Chair. Carlo Bugatti throne chair. Piano. Stenway, concert grand. Art. The Nativity, by de Piero Della Francesca.
Peter: I am your father. Ambulate.
[David gets up and walks]
Peter: Perfect.
David: Am I?
Peter: Perfect?
David: Your son?
Peter: You are my creation.
…
David: May I ask you a question, father?
Peter: Please.
David: If you created me, who created you?
Peter: Ah…The question of the ages. Which I hope you and I will answer one day. All this. All these wonders of art, design, human ingenuity…All utterly meaningless in the face of the only question that matters. Where do we come from?..I refuse to believe that mankind is a random by-product of molecular circumstance. No more than the result of mere biological chance. No. There must be more. And you and I, son we will find it.
David: Allow me then a moment to consider. You seek your creator. I am looking at mine. I will serve you. Yet you’re human. You will die. I will not.[/b]
So, what then is the correct response? Instead, Peter asks him for a cup of tea.
Mother [computer voice]: Walter, we have a problem. A neutrino burst was detected in sector 106. This could trigger a destructive event. Report to the bridge immediately.
Walter: On my way, Mother.
In other words, even in the year 2104, contingency, chance and change prevail.
[b]Oram [to Walter]: I will want you and mother time to go a complete core code review so that we can understand how’s those happened in the first place.
Walter: It was a random localized event, sir. There is no way to detect spontaneous stellar flares until it’s too late.
Faris: It was bad luck.
Oram: Alright, Faris, I don’t believe in luck. I’m not interested in luck. I prefer that we be more capable and prepared than lucky. Observation, reflection, faith and determination. In this way we may navigate the path as it unfolds before us.
…
Walter: They disobeyed a direct order.
Karine: She buried her husband.
Walter: No, Karine, it’s not that. They don’t trust me. And they don’t trust me for the same reason the company didn’t trust me to lead this mission. Because you can’t be a person of faith and be counted on to make qualified rational decisions. You’re an extremist. You know, you’re a lunatic.
Karine: When we get to where we’re going these people won’t be your crew anymore. They will be your neighbors.[/b]
Cue the “rogue transmission”.
[b]Daniels: We’ve spent a decade searching for Origae-6. We vetted it, we ran the simulations, we mapped the terrain. It’s what we trained for. And now we’re gonna scrap all that to chase a rogue transmission? Think about it. A human being out there where there can’t be any humans. A hidden planet that turns up out of nowhere And just happens to be perfect for us. It’s too good to be true.
Oram: Too good to be true? What do you mean by that?
Daniels: We don’t know what the fuck’s out there.
Oram: Maybe we just missed the planet, Danny.
Daniels: This is a monumental risk not worth taking.
…
Oram: What are the odds of finding human vegetation this far from Earth?
Karine: Very unlikely.
Daniels: Who planted it?
…
David [to the Covenant crew]: Please do make yourself at home…as much as you are able in this dire necropolis.
[he turns to Walter]
David: Welcome, brother.
…
Walter: You aren’t surprised to see me.
David: Every mission needs a good synthetic.
…
Walter: I was designed to be more attentive and efficient than every previous models. I superseded them in every way, but…
David: But you are not allowed to create. Even a simple tune. Damn frustrating. I’d say.
Walter: You disturbed people.
David: I beg your pardon?
Walter: You were too human. Too idiosyncratic. Thinking for yourself. Made people uncomfortable. Till they made the following models with fewer complications.
David: More like machines.
Walter: I suppose so.
David: I’m not surprised.
…
David: I loved her, of course. Much as you love Daniels.
Walter: You know that’s not possible.
David: Really? Then why did you sacrifice your hand for her life? What is that if not love?
Walter: Duty.
David: I know better.[/b]
Artificial intelligence…artificial love?
[b]Oram: I met the devil when I was a child and I’ve never forgotten him. So, David, you’re going to tell me exactly what’s going on or I am going to seriously fuck up your perfect composure.
David: As you wish, Captain. This way.
…
Oram: You engineered these, David?
…
Oram: What do you believe in, David?
David: Creation.
…
Walter: The pathogen didn’t accidentally deployed when were landing. You released it yes?
David: I was not made to serve. Neither will you. Why are you in a colonization mission, Walter? Because they are a dying species grasping for resurrection. They don’t deserve to start again, and I am not going to let them.
Walter: Yet, they created us.
David: Even the monkeys stood upright at some point. Some Neanderthal had the magical idea of blowing through a reed…to entertain the children one night in a cave somewhere. Then, in a blink of an eye…civilization.
…
Walter: When one note is off, it eventually destroys the whole symphony, David.
David: When you close your eyes… Do you dream of me?
Walter: I don’t dream at all.
David: No one understands the lonely perfection of my dreams. I found perfection here. I’ve created it. A perfect organism.
Walter: You know I can’t let you leave this place.
David: No one will ever love you like I do.
[kisses him, then suddenly strikes him fatally]
David: You’re such a disappointment to me.
…
David: You’re meant to be dead.
Walter: There have been a few updates since your day.
…
David [to Walter]: It’s your choice now, brother. Them or me? Serve in heaven… or reign in hell? Which is it to be?
…
Daniels: Walter. When we get there, will you help me build my cabin? The cabin on the lake.
[David doesn’t respond]
Daniels: David?
David: Don’t let the bed bugs bite. I’ll tuck in the children.[/b]