If you like Prometheus chances are you will at least find this interesting. But if you're a fan of Aliens, then steer clear.

Rating: 6/10 (13 August 2017)

If you like Prometheus chances are you will at least find this interesting. But if you're a fan of Aliens, then steer clear.
The problem is, the original Alien film is so iconic and examines important human issues so subtly that many people interrupt it different ways. Is it horror, sci-fi, an examination of gender, about sexuality, a story about god and creation, life and death? It's all of of those. But with Prometheus, and now Alien: Covenant, Ridley Scott is more interest in exploring the creation side of the story. All the themes from Alien and Prometheus are here. If anything they're more explicit and that may annoy some people, but the questions being asked are still interesting.
Put aside whether or not the characters behave how you would, they're characters. They represent themes and ideas. It's science fiction and they're not supposed to be heroes or villains like a normal Hollywood blockbuster. Mankind is out exploring the universe looking for answers and a place to live while their android creations are questioning their creators, wondering why they exist. There are some deep thoughts going on behind all of this. Why were humans created? Is there a god? Do we deserve to live? Why do we have to die? What's the point of living? Unfortunately because of the franchise's popularity, the film sits uncomfortably between several audiences: One where people just want a film like Aliens, where marines shoot and hoot and battle alien creatures; One where people want a creepy horror type film; And one where they want an intellectual exploration of the answers above. But even those people seem to want to have the answers to these unknowable questions given to them in the film. So Alien Covenant sits in an awkward place, being an incredibly popular franchise but with a creator who is only interesting in exploring certain aspects of his creation.
I applaud Scott for going deeper into what is in his mind, and the fact that I don't identify with any of the characters or get answers to his questions doesn't bother me. I just enjoy that someone is here trying to express something very deep about human existence through the medium of film.
People are complaining, "Why did this character do this or that?" But here is a film that asks "Why do we exist?" Why we do one thing or another is paled beneath that question. The opening scene sets the tone but I guess some people ignored it waiting for the action.
I suppose if you believe there is order to the universe and God created man, you may not enjoy the uncomfortable ideas the film explores - That by a combination of luck and some input beyond our control, human life as we know it came in existence. And ever since then curiosity, stupidity and an innate desire to create and procreate have moved us further. And that the same thing may happen again and supersede us. But if you're open to something that will provoke thought beyond the action on screen, then underneath it all there is something really interesting going on here. For me the film treads a little too much of the same ground as Prometheus but it still manages to add something interesting, even if it's just showing the limitations of our ability to examine these subjects.