It has been a strange week for SMS. First, everyone skipped on seeing King Arthur last week. Then this week no one could decide on which movie to go see. Of course I was pushing Alien: Covenant because...Come on, it's an ALIEN movie.
As for everyone else, the theme of it being too scary kept surfacing. So I decided to make it extra scary by seeing the movie alone. (Those silly wusses!)
I have a slight confession to make. I love the ALIEN franchise. There is just something about these movies that thrills me. It may be because of the first time I saw the movie ALIENS way back in the late 80's. I can't tell you the exact date and I didn't see it in the theater. You see, the late 80s was the rise of home VHS rentals and premium cable channels like HBO and Cinemax. Back then movies would be released in theaters. Then maybe a year later you would see those movies available at the video rental stores. Then, shortly after that the movies would then premiere on the cable channels, and if it was a good movie, it could play on those channels for years!!
That is where I saw ALIENS for the first time. It was awesome! It was an action packed thriller that involved a group of military people fighting a giant alien monsters with this legendary scene.
YES! Get away from her, you bitch!
Following this movie there were releases of video games, and action figures all based on ALIENS. I was a fan of all it.
Then I heard that it was actually a sequel. Well I had to see the original! So I begged my mother to let me rent ALIEN (1979) from the local video rental store. She didn't want me to see it because she thought it would be too scary for me. After plenty of more begging and assurances that I wouldn't be scared, she finally broke down and let me rent it. And it didn't disappoint.
ALIEN was a much different film, and it most definitely terrified me. But after that I was hooked. I saw every Alien movie that was released after that. When Ridley Scott announced he was returning to the franchise that he created, I was extremely excited. Prometheus was released and I more confused than entertained so I was really hoping this next chapter in the franchise would return to its glory.
ALIEN: COVENANT does indeed return the franchises to its roots. There is a little bit of combining themes from both of the first and second films to give a good balance of action and terror. But I wouldn't say it is really that scary. Sure there are parts you may jump out of your seat, but there isn't any built up tension that gets the hairs on your neck to stand up. I would say the theme is more sinister than scary. The best character by far is the one played Michael Fassbender. He does a great job at being a malicious android.
ALIEN: COVENANT gets a G - Gratifying
I would suggest viewing it in a theater. Maybe try a late night showtime to make it extra creepy.
Next week we have a double feature week with Baywatch & Pirates of the Caribbean
Hopefully all SMSers can get on the same page this time!
