Saw an early screening of it in Chicago. Here's a mostly spoiler-free review:
Alien: Covenant might be the best Alien film since James Cameron's Aliens, but that really isn't saying much. I went in hoping that this film would breathe new life into this franchise and help redeem it, especially given that the last movie to feature the Xenomorphs was the dreadful Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. After having seen it, I can safely say that it does breathe new life into the franchise, but I can't really say that it helped redeem it.
The film features many of the pros that one would come to expect in a Ridley Scott film. The cinematography is good, along with the performances, and most of the visual effects. The film is solid on virtually every technical aspect, however, it's everything else around it that drags it down. The characterization is limited to nonexistent outside of both android characters played by Michael Fassbender and Daniels played by Katherine Waterston. Everyone else is either just there to die or to fill in an archetype role. It makes it even more frustrating when both prologue sequences released online are nowhere to be found in the film. Had those scenes been present in the film, they would have helped give context to many of the characters' relationships, especially when the final cut of the film offers little to none. Those online prologue scenes are also pretty much the only scenes where
What a waste! In fact the whole film feels like there's a lot on the cutting room floor, especially if you've been following all the new trailers and TV spots. There's quite a bit of footage that doesn't make it into the film.
The film also doesn't appear to have learned from Prometheus's mistake of having its characters do incredibly stupid shit. It's frustrating to see these characters make horrifically dumb decisions to fulfill a body count requirement or to drive the plot, and apparently this ship and its crew members have no protocol whatsoever. In horror movies, when the monster or the villain makes a kill, we want that kill to be earned! Not because the victims are helpless idiots who practically fed themselves to the monster.
The film promises to be both a continuation of Prometheus and an Alien film. Unfortunately, it doesn't really succeed on either endeavors. Without spoiling anything, the Prometheus aspect of the film feels underdeveloped leaving many gaps and unanswered questions. The Alien aspect of the film(you know, the Xenomorph stuff) feels shoehorned in at the last minute. In fact the entire third act feels rather tacked on. The film is hectically paced, with none of the build up and suspense shown in Alien and Aliens. When the creatures appear and start killing people, it all feels so quick that you're not really even given time to sense the fear, even though some of the gory moments are pretty fun. Michael Fassbender's David is easily the most intriguing part of the film, but that's all that I can say without giving away spoilers.
Alien: Covenant is barely a step above Alien 3 and is honestly no better than Prometheus(which I actually don't hate) because that film, despite its flaws, was legitimately more ambitious and original than what we got here. This film while mostly competent, often feels hollow and like a rushed attempt to change the direction that Prometheus took this series. While it has renewed my interest in future installments(thanks to the ending), I just can't in my right mind say that this particular installment was legitimately satisfying. 6.5/10