Anyway, Alien: Romulus is the seventh film about these particular monsters. According to the producers, the film takes the franchise ‘back to its roots’. So we get a group of grimy crew-mates piloting a big rust-bucket of a spaceship who pick up an extraterrestrial stowaway and end up having to use their wits and courage to survive as it gobbles them up, one by one.

And it’s not a bad film. It’s nicely creepy, the special effects are good, the acting is perfectly serviceable. In fact, I could give you a normal review of Alien: Romulus, but just writing this is making me feel a little crazy. It’s not a bad film, but it’s also a direct copy of a much better film that already exists. That film is called Alien, and it came out in 1979. It had Sigourney Weaver in it. It hasn’t vanished. If you have a Disney+ subscription or a torrent client, you can watch it tonight. Why have we made it again? What’s the point? Why have we spent the past 45 years – which is longer than I’ve been alive – making seven different versions of the same film? What on Earth is going on?

  • @[email protected]
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    732 months ago

    Why have we spent the past 45 years – which is longer than I’ve been alive – making seven different versions of the same film?

    If you watch Alien, Aliens and Alien3 and come out with the idea that they are “different versions of the same film”, maybe the whole movie critic gig thing isn’t for you. Hell, they are not even the same genre.

    • @9point6
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      172 months ago

      Spectator journalist incapable of perceiving nuance

      In other news, the sun rose today

    • @[email protected]
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      52 months ago

      Kinda surprised the author could tell the difference between Alien, Predator, and Aliens v Predator at this point.

    • @[email protected]
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      2 months ago

      Alien and aliens are 2 very different take on the same ide (opinions differ on Alien 3), that is not the reviewer claim.

      Their point is that Romulus is a useless remake of a much better original.

    • Drunemeton
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      372 months ago

      Since Disney owns the rights to “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” so is…

      • @BigDaddySlim
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        102 months ago

        I fully and wholeheartedly support this

    • @Mobilityfuture
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      62 months ago

      If you watch the new Aliens movie they can kill your wife. Read the ticket!!

    • UKFilmNerdM
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      22 months ago

      I thought the first action set piece with the facehuggers in Romulus was the films highlight. The corridor section, not so much.

  • maegul (he/they)M
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    2 months ago

    I mean yes, totally. I haven’t seen it, yet, but will likely be going to the cinema for this one.

    But, to just throw an idea out there … covers of and homages to songs are normal and sometimes awesome in music, and fundamental in live music.

    So maybe the same isn’t so bad in film, especially if they’re not done badly, as it seems to be here.

    Maybe “the problem” is more the lack of properly original works, the copious unashamed cinematic universe slop and faithless reboots?

    In the same way that Bond films and Disney films find ways to manifest and apply to each new generation or era, why not other classic forms?

    • @GraniteM
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      102 months ago

      The Bond franchise is an interesting one because they’ve essentially been remaking the exact same movie since Doctor No, and although there are definitely ups and downs, on balance it’s still a good franchise! Virtually no continuity. Only occasional meta nods. In essence, every single Bond movie consists of…

      • Bond goes to exotic location

      • Bond engages in romantic shenanigans with one or more partners

      • Bond faces a threat ranging from personal to world-ending

      • Bond is menaced by a villain with some personal quirk

      • Bond engages in a popular extreme sport

      • Bond deals with a number of nameless goons plus at least one ascended chief goon, probably named, with their own particular quirk

      • Bond foils the plans of the bad guy and has an epilogue with a romantic partner

      Change some variables, rearrange the furniture a little, but this is basically every single James Bond movie for the last sixty two years, and we still love them! It makes me think that originality is overrated.

      • @TubularTittyFrog
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        52 months ago

        a fresh coat of paint on an old house is a good thing.

        trying to remodel the damn thing to fit whatever is trendy here and now, ruins the whole house.

      • maegul (he/they)M
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        32 months ago

        and we still love them! It makes me think that originality is overrated.

        Yea, kinda what I’m saying too. People like repetition and familiarity just as they like surprise and shock.

    • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝OPM
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      92 months ago

      But, to just throw an idea out there … covers of and homages to songs are normal and sometimes awesome in music, and fundamental in live music.

      So maybe the same isn’t so bad in film, especially if they’re not done badly, as it seems to be here.

      The film does a lot of things I liked but those call-outs are often so clunky it spoiled what could have been one of the great Alien films (it’s still better than most).

      • @[email protected]
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        72 months ago

        Are we reading the same article? The text was bashing anything that has a scary alien in a rust bucket spaceship killing ppl. The callbacks are corny sure but not the point. To say no one should make a film that puts a xeno in a space ship and have it hunt down ppl anymore because they did that 50 years ago is insane.

        • @MotoAsh
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          12 months ago

          No, it wasn’t bashing anything that has a scary alien in a rust bucket spaceship… It merely says, “we already have that movie and it’s great”. It literally praises the original…

          • @[email protected]
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            12 months ago

            It’s not a bad film, but it’s also a direct copy of a much better film that already exists. That film is called Alien, and it came out in 1979. It had Sigourney Weaver in it. It hasn’t vanished. If you have a Disney+ subscription or a torrent client, you can watch it tonight. Why have we made it again? What’s the point? Why have we spent the past 45 years – which is longer than I’ve been alive – making seven different versions of the same film? What on Earth is going on?

            The article is literally saying we should not be making alien movies if there’s already a good one. It’s saying they should have never even attempted to make Romulus because alien exists. If that not bashing it idk what is.

    • Kushan
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      32 months ago

      I’m with you on the covers analogy, but I feel the best covers take the source material and do something different with it to set it apart.

      I haven’t seen aliens Romulus yet myself, but it sounds like the ‘cover’ here doesn’t really stand out or do anything different to the original.

      • maegul (he/they)M
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        12 months ago

        Don’t disagree. Sometimes though a relatively straight cover of something people like but in a more modern style can work well too. Bond films are maybe an example of that.

      • @[email protected]
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        12 months ago

        Its a mixed bag. They do some cool and original things with the premise. There are also a lot of “point at screen because you remember this” moments. Overall its definitely one of the stronger entries in the franchise and definitely does enough new to justify its existence.

  • @[email protected]
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    332 months ago

    I haven’t watched the new film yet, but saying that 7 remakes of the first movie have been made is total bullshit.

    • @Telodzrum
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      Yeah … Alien is one of the greatest movies of all time and Aliens is a rare sequel which is almost as good as the original and it does it while switching primary genres from the first. 3 is weaker but is carried by set design and incredible acting.

      Honestly, all of the Alien movies that don’t have “Predator” in the title are at worst above average films.

    • @vxx
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      -12 months ago

      Anyway, Alien: Romulus is the seventh film about these particular monsters.

      That’s not the same.

      • @chiliedogg
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        112 months ago

        Why have we spent the past 45 years – which is longer than I’ve been alive – making seven different versions of the same film?

        • @vxx
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          72 months ago

          uhm… my bad

      • @[email protected]
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        62 months ago

        Why have we spent the past 45 years – which is longer than I’ve been alive – making seven different versions of the same film?

  • @[email protected]
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    2 months ago

    “Covenant” and “Prometheus” would’ve been killer movies to kick off a new IP.

    I might be the old man shouting at clouds, but I’ve been turned off to all franchise “reboots”. Just sick of rehashes and revisits and the cute little “winks” these movies do to the previous installments. Have an original thought, damn.

    • @TrickDacy
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      102 months ago

      The interesting thing is that I almost always hate remakes and reboots, but I love the Alien series. I think Covenant and a couple others were bad but generally they’re all still worth watching for me. I really enjoyed Romulus and I loved Prometheus. I do not get all the hate that movie got.

      • @TubularTittyFrog
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        2 months ago

        Because it was bad movie. Bad characters, nonsensical plot, and did nothing creative or interesting with the mythos. Sure, it was shiny and had need effects, but it was forgettable and empty otherwise. Just another big budget Hollywood movie.

        People were looking for something memorable and epic and that expanded the mythos… Promethus was none of those.

    • sarcasticsunrise
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      2 months ago

      Exactly! Romulus is not without its faults, but damnit if it isn’t a worthy follow-up to the first two films.

    • warm
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      32 months ago

      They should make alien movies but not Alien movies. Try something new, leave Alien alone, they fuck it up everytime!

  • @[email protected]
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    2 months ago

    This article would maybe have a point if they hadn’t finally released a good Alien movie for the first time in like 30 or 40 years.

    • @MotoAsh
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      32 months ago

      I mean, the fact it took them SEVERAL DECADES to finally make a good repeat kinda’… actively reinforces the point of the article…

      How many interesting new ideas could we have gotten instead without Hollywood morons chasing that virtually unattainable goal for several decades?

      • @[email protected]
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        It’s not like they were pushing Alien hard for several decades. There’s more superhero shit in 2 or 3 years than Aliens in 50.

        • @MotoAsh
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          12 months ago

          Well that’s what happens when Disney buys something these days. It’s either The Vault or oversaturation.

  • @dohpaz42
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    What’s the point?

    Um, same point as any franchise or reboot or remake: money. It’s easy too. Story is already there in one form or another; just add a few modern tweaks. You get the nostalgia kick from the original fans, and you get a boost from the younger fans who have heard all of the hyper from the OG fans. People have short term memories, so they get to rinse and repeat every few years.

    Edit: for example… 🙄

    • @[email protected]
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      82 months ago

      Hey, I have an idea, let’s make another Spiderman/Batman/nope not going to continue this even as a joke…

        • @[email protected]
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          12 months ago

          Maybe if a radioactive spider bit a photographer… and then he grew up to become Batman!? (Bc he likes bats, what’s to question about that?)

          And then a rich billionaire son loses his parents, becomes a ninja… and buys a costume to become Spiderman?! (again, he’s rich, he can buy whatever costume he wants!)

          • @MotoAsh
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            22 months ago

            and not a cool spider man outfit, but some weird fursuit spider suit that immediately makes everyone feel awkward to be around.

            Use the tweaks as springboards to make it truly different. Make the audience empathise where they weren’t expecting, feel something different.

    • beefbot
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      82 months ago

      Also capitalism: We’re threatening a lawsuit for even saying that because we can, and you can’t afford the legal fees

  • @bulwark
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    142 months ago

    Haven’t seen it yet, but if it’s got xenomorphs I’m in. I like all the Alien movies, even the “bad” ones like 3 and 4. I even liked the original aliens vs predators.

    • @SlapnutsGT
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      Everyone here is cynical and hates on everything. Coming from a huge alien/aliens fan (like these are my #1 jam) it was an amazing movie. Best one since aliens imo. I think alien is better but this one had amazing pacing in comparison, as soon as shit hits the fan it’s intense until the credits roll.

      Go see it. If you liked 4 (my god even I hated that one lol) go see it dude, guarantee you will love it.

      • @MotoAsh
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        -22 months ago

        No one. I repeat: NO ONE is hating on this movie for its own merits. No one is even under that illusion except you weirdos taking offense at people not liking the same things you do.

        If you like anything the color blue, OFC you won’t agree with those saying, “yea but I like a little more color in my life.” Ya’ll are genuinely sad, not even respecting others’ opinions enough to understand where they’re even coming from…

    • sarcasticsunrise
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      32 months ago

      You’re gonna have a blast then. I can already tell you’re gonna have a blast when it comes to all the facehuggers

  • @TrickDacy
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    132 months ago

    Couldn’t disagree more. I loved this movie. I could critique aspects of it, but it was fucking stellar overall.

    • @[email protected]
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      32 months ago

      You’re missing the point. They’re not saying it’s a bad movie, just that it’s an unnecessary remake.

      • @TrickDacy
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        152 months ago

        If a movie is good, I’m not sure how I follow that it is "unnecessary ". Nothing is necessary, outside of base needs.

        • @[email protected]
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          22 months ago

          Because it’s not better than the original and it costs millions of dollars to make. It’d be better to spend that time and resources on something that’s actually new.

          • @TrickDacy
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            62 months ago

            So every movie needs to be better than the movie before it? If I were to talk about movies that were a waste of money, I wouldn’t be focused on the decent ones. Like 95% of movies made are total schlock.

            • @[email protected]
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              22 months ago

              Not at all. I’m just saying that if it’s a remake, there should be a reason for making it other than just money, ideally.

              • @soul
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                12 months ago

                For which there clearly has been. Some people made the various sequels because they had a story to tell, some because there is an audience that wants more from the IP, some because they wanted a chance to take part in such a project, some because they saw them as an opportunity to share their particular craft.

                Movie making is a massive group effort. I can assure you that there is not a single movie where the sole reason it gets made is for money. In fact, most of them go into the project thinking it’ll be a losing prospect from an accounting point of view.

                • @[email protected]
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                  02 months ago

                  I can assure you that there is not a single movie where the sole reason it gets made is for money.

                  And that’s my cue to leave. Thanks for the laugh.

          • @wildcardology
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            32 months ago

            If the actors, crew and other businesses benefitted from making the film that’s ok with me. Let them spend their money. Though I’m sorry if you feel cheated when you pay to see the movie.

  • @Professorozone
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    122 months ago

    I’m so surprised at how much people liked this movie. I thought it sucked out loud. Alien and Aliens FTW!

    • sarcasticsunrise
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      72 months ago

      This movie was overall damn good, brother those first two are such a high bar that is impossible to clear let’s be real

      • @Professorozone
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        22 months ago

        I don’t like it when there is not an internal consistency. In the first movie they established how long a face hugger is attached to someone before an alien hatches. This was ridiculously fast. And it grew from the size of a large baby to an 8 foot tall monster in less than 17 minutes. At one point they said that the blood neutralizes shortly after the creatures death. Will not in this movie.

        It just felt to me like they essentially told the same story over again, in but not as well.

        But I’m glad you liked it.

        • sarcasticsunrise
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          12 months ago

          Now that I’m significantly less drunk and combative than last night (YEESH), I can react a littl better. I actually agree! 100 percent, I thought the inconsistencies involving the severely expedited gestation period and rapid growth was a bit of an ask from the audience. The callbacks got to the point where I was starting to wince over their abundance. Not the perfect Alien movie, (the first two already exist) but I thought it was fine and feel that it course corrected the trajectory of the franchise. People are actually excited for Alien movies again, that’s wild to me

          • @Professorozone
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            12 months ago

            I can agree to that. As bad as I think it was (heightened expectations) it was miles better than the absolute garbage fire that was alien 3+.

    • @[email protected]
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      52 months ago

      Alien and Aliens FTW but also I loved this movie! I love all three. First is the best one, but this is the first sequel that actually felt like a direct sequel in tone and style and worthy follow up to the original. Aliens is an amazing movie and I love it, but it is a totally different feel from the original.

      • @Professorozone
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        -42 months ago

        That’s a very nice opinion. Too bad it’s wrong.

  • sarcasticsunrise
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    112 months ago

    No. Keep making them because Alien: Romulus was fuckin rad. It didn’t reinvent the wheel, I got kind of annoyed with the callbacks towards the middle/end part of the movie, but I want to see it again, if not in the theater I’ll rent it on streaming. It’s the 3rd best Alien movie imo, that’s high praise for such a robust franchise. Anyway, the writer of this article is an industry hack, Furiosa is great too. I’m out 🤟

    • @TrickDacy
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      32 months ago

      I’m with you. I can’t wait to see Romulus again.