By far one of the best sci-fi movies. Not just in recent years ...

Rating: 9/10 (19 October 2017)

I'll try to not beat around the bush in this review: (minor spoilers included) Had to watch the movie three times in different theatres to come the conclusion I've put in the summary / title. And yes, that means that I am OK with all flaws in logic and mistakes certain characters have made.
Period.
That said, I have to admit, that even though I tried hard to not have expectations after what was presented in Prometheus, I was somewhat a bit disappointed that Covenant doesn't display much of the Engineers world and society. In addition, the look of the posters suggested a lot of xenos to be seen. Imho. But well... things came different on screen. With Michael Fassbender giving a STELLAR performance as both David and Walter. That prologue alone is something I have NEVER seen and felt before in any other movie. Props to Guy Pearce for his short-timed but powerful acting as Weyland.
What seemed confusing at first sight is actually a great narrative outline; not just connecting the dots between the climaxes of each act but underlining David's cold ambition to eradicate humanity once and for all.
But as with any movie, the main characters of any movie are only half as good if the rest of the cast suck. So even though I credit David as the movie's main character, I am also very fond of Daniels. Katherine Waterston managed to made me understand her character's skepticism and caution.... which in the end have proved to be dreadfully justified.
Yes, we have seen that characteristic in Ripley before. But this is something different...as Waterston comes across as an emotionally and highly vulnerable woman. Until that moment where she goes really badass.
Can't say nothing bad about the rest of the cast either: Jimmy McBride gives a solid performance as the movie's comic relief buddy, Billy Crudup as a consequential but faithful captain-by-accident and Demián Bichir as Chief Security Dan Lopé, whose husband Tom (Nathaniel Dean) dies giving birth to the second neomorph.
I just wonder what kind of logical methods some haters would come up with when they're in such situations like in the medbay.... which is one of the most horrifying sequences I ever saw in a movie.
The xenomorphs / protomorphs could have had a tad less audio effects but boy.. I still enjoy watching them. A LOT.
My general conclusion: I love the film not only because it took the prequel-series a great step back towards old territories but moreover because of what happens after Davids' actions onboard the covenant. And the reasons of what made him become the philosophically motivated killing machine he has become.