MovieChat Forums > Alien: Romulus (2024) Discussion > What a reprehensible waste of time

What a reprehensible waste of time

posted 3 months ago by TylerAArse (2870)
14 replies | jump to latest

More than half this movie was just copycat scenes from previous alien movies. Homage is one thing, but to rehash every story? They tried desperately to connect it to every movie. There was absolutely no originality. This is only entertaining if you know nothing about this franchise and watch it as an independent horror movie.

I seriously dislike young-adult movies. Just a cast full of idiot-like teenagers that I'm hoping all get "hugged". So this was a bust from the start. Then I couldn't understand half the shit they were saying. But there was nothing here that would make me wait for it to come to a streaming service to watch again.

The cinematography was excellent, tho. The alien (the one that grew full-size in a few hours?) looked great. The baby (the one who grew to 10ft in just a few minutes?) was decent. The whole atmosphere creepy and gloomy.

After Alien and Aliens, this franchise has slowly gone downhill. After this one, it just needs to die. Nothing fresh about it. Nothing new. Just rehashing.

[–] Cognoscente (2642) 3 months ago

This movie is supposed to be a gateway drug for Gen Z.

[–] CriticalSofa (52) 3 months ago

I suspect audiences got what they wanted—a straightforward, self-contained Alien horror film.

Let’s face it, Ridley Scott went a bit nuts with Prometheus and Covenant. They’re pretentious, with too many characters and too much going on.

[–] maximmm (3335) 3 months ago

dunno if i'd call them pretentious given just how idiotically most characters act in those films

[–] letess (1513) 3 months ago

I agree with the teenager thing. I hated it. I don’t mind young adults but this looked like a Nancy Drew caper. They did end up being fodder. I don’t think this movie could get made unless the sequel has all these elements of Alien. That’s why this movie is not original and that is why it isn’t scary. You already know what’s going to happen.

But it is still a very good looking movie with some interesting things.

There were several previews before the movie started and they were all sequels or remakes as well. This movie is way better than Twisters.

[–] Pete314 (3000) 3 months ago

Totally agree. Most of all about the "idiot-like teenagers" casting in recent movies. Twisters, for example.
They should integrate at least one adult character who can be taken serious by a more mature audience.

[–] TylerAArse (2870) 3 months ago

Thanks for the warning. I'll be avoiding Twister, also.

[–] [deleted] 3 months ago

I haven't seen Alien: Romulus but I have seen Twisters... Daisy Edgar-Jones is 26, Glen Powell is 35, Anthony Ramos is 32, David Corenswet is 31, Maura Tierney is 59, Brandon Perea is 29, Harry Hadden-Paton is 43... I've got bad news for you pal. You're old and out of touch.

The cast of Twister and their ages in 1996;
- Bill Paxton was 41.
- Helen Hunt was 33.
- Jami Gertz was 31.
- Cary Elwes was 34.
- Lois Smith was 66.
- Philip Seymour Hoffman was 29.

Hardly any difference, most of the principal cast members in both Twister and Twisters are in their early 30s. When you find yourself talking about people in their 30s like they're dumb kids then yeah, sorry, you're just getting old.

[–] Pete314 (3000) 3 months ago

The problem is they act stupid like teens. The cast in the original one did not. Maybe you shouldn't look at the age of the actors but at the maturity of the writers?

[–] BrandNewPoster (10996) 3 months ago

Characters in movies often act stupid for the sake of the plot. Not really anything new or unusual.

[–] mrbnk (419) 3 months ago

No, the age thing really is there. In Twisters, all the cast looks like tiktok moron teenagers. They will soon start casting 10 year olds - cough ghostbusters! cough - for what requires adults. Everything has to be accomplished by "Wunderkids" nowadays, where in reality they are a bunch of bumbling idiots.

[–] maximmm (3335) 3 months ago

I wouldn't call this the new norm though.... even if many old (on the death bed) franchises do appear to be heading in that direction

I have a suspicion that this is being done because big studios are now nearly always aiming for that ESG money - and old audiences are not into ESG casting/writing, so the only good option left is to try to appeal to the young wokesters.

[–] maul (1635) 3 months ago

The movie would have literally become twice as good simply by removing Ash and some other egregious callbacks. It wouldn't be a great film by any means, but I'd probably rewatch it based on its other merits.

As it stands now though... ugh. Fede Alvarez either needs to grow a spine in order to fight against decisions like this, or take his brain meds - because this shit was unacceptable and dragged the whole film down.

[–] Diddy1111 (401) 3 months ago

I don’t understand the high scores for this. It was standard issue. Nothing new except a half man-half alien 7’7 basketball player in an alien suit.

[–] TheArgentinian (7061) 3 months ago

"reprehensible"? gee, who pissed on your cheerios?