Better Than Prometheus But Forgettable Characters

Rating: 6/10 (22 April 2019)

In the year of 2109, the crew of the USCSS Covenant embark on quest to start a new colony on the planet of Origae-6 by virtue due to the rogue transmission where several colonists are in pods and human embryos are secured in frozen storage. Terraforming Chief Officer Daniels (Katherine Waterston) has a growing fear of reluctance when the crew appoints an android named David (Michael Fassbender who later plays a similar android named Walter) who had survived the unsuccessful Prometheus mission.
As soon as the title for "Alien: Covenant" materializes on the screen, I was excited to see Ridley Scott was going to direct his third film in the "Alien" franchise and I was equally mesmerized by the haunting score by composer Jerry Goldsmith. After several mixed reviews from the previous installment "Prometheus", it was time for Scott to return back to the basics and with the theory that in outer space, no one will hear you when you scream. Though at times "Alien: Covenant" can be a bit too talkative like "Prometheus", but it has scenes reminiscent to the original "Alien" movie with great details of graphic imagery, plenty of horrific gore and more excitement.
The movie opens up with a clear view of David's eye which is an homage of the Voight-Kampff test from the original 1982 "Blade Runner" movie by director Scott. Situated in a secluded immaculate white room, Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce) manipulates his creation David about the mysteries surrounding creation, while he gets him to play a piece by Richard Wagner, "Entry Of The Gods Into Valhalla". Clearly the template that led to the events of "Prometheus", we get cut to tens years later when Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) places David's head in a duffel bag and sends him off to space. We're now in 2109 and the crew of the Covenant is sending 2000 podded colonists to the hospitable planet Origae-6. The symbolic sounds to John Denver's "Country Road" indicates that this newly established planet will ensure better living conditions here on Earth. After suffering casualties that left the crew traumatic, the crew take refuge on this planet. There's breathable air, plenty of wheat, but sadly we hear no bird or animal sounds. Gasp!
"Alien: Covenant" does manage to succeed in upstaging "Prometheus" by utilizing the many many tropes that's been a trademark in the franchise. We have crew spewing off their hilarious banter, the ship's computer MOTHER makes a return, there's a conflict over quarantine, there's scenes involving dripping water, eggs along with Facehugger, Xenomorphs and Chestbursters. There are some twists added to the familiar formula that comes into place. We are introduced to a baby alien that resembles that of a Baby Groot. The Neomorphs seem more agile than the other Aliens in the franchise who have the capability to leap and move like a Velociraptor when they're confronting the crew.
The atmosphere in "Alien: Covenant" is high in intensity. When first encountering the domeheads, high levels of discomfort comes into effect with vicious shaking moments and several scenes of unsettling darkness to the creatures developing the skills of head-butting. It's not at the the same levels as Scott's previous films like "Alien" from 1979 to "Aliens" from 1986. There is some innovative death scenes but they remain less climactic as the original installments. Also the momentum is quite muddled up at time as well.
When it comes to the crew there are just too many and most of them are underdeveloped and not very noteworthy. For Waterston's character Daniels, she spends most of the time lamenting in grief. Taking over as the new captain on the ship, Oram (Billy Crudup) has more concern of his religious beliefs and if it puts his authority to question. The only true standout character is Danny McBride's character of Tennessee but it's because he wears a cowboy hat. The most interesting character has to be Michael Fassbender's portrayal of the character David and enhanced newbie named Walter. David is the only character on the newly discovered planet. There's some bizarre scenes where David instructs Walter on playing the flute, upstage one another in Romantic poetry which is weird in detail.
The balance within "Alien:Covenant" is that there are similar comparison to other Ridley Scott films like "Prometheus" and "Blade Runner" with Scott almost figuratively playing God in the series of discussions on board. The early "Alien" movies had a mix blend of 1980's slasher flicks with the science fiction elements to come with it. Unfortunately this installment has too much dialogue making it feel like it's trying too had to be intellectual and philosophical when it really shouldn't. The visuals from the previous outings are few and far between. With the success of "The Martian", Scott still has the knack for sci-fi adventures and can undercover huge details like sprouting sails and how aliens rely on atoms through the smoke rings. Though mostly serious there is some humourous quips from the script by John Logan and Dante Harper including one gag based on "Phantom of the Opera".
In the end it's a step up to the mixed feelings of "Prometheus" in which "Alien: Covenant" is strong in the the thrills department, but is sadly deprived of any star power or any memorable standout performance.