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?

  • maegul (he/they)@lemmy.mlM
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    42
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    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?

    • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.ukOPM
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      13
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      2 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).

      • echutaaa@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        6
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        2 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@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          4
          ·
          2 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…

          • echutaaa@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            2 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.

    • GraniteM@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      2 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@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        2 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.

    • Kushan@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 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)@lemmy.mlM
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        2 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.

  • vzq@lemmy.blahaj.zone
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    40
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 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.

    • sarcasticsunrise@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      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@kbin.earth
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 months ago

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

  • HeartyOfGlass@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    20
    ·
    edit-2
    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.

      • eldoom@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        2 months ago

        Yes! The whole time I was watching Raised by Wolves I was waiting for some kind of Prometheus tie in! It felt imminent.

    • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      2 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@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        4
        ·
        edit-2
        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.

    • averyminya@beehaw.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 months ago

      Hollywood has retold so many stories they’re running out of things to come up with. Hence all the reboots and remakes :(

  • dohpaz42@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    edit-2
    2 months ago

    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… 🙄

    • OpenStars@discuss.online
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      8
      ·
      2 months ago

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

        • OpenStars@discuss.online
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          2 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@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            2 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.

  • bulwark@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    2 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.

    • sarcasticsunrise@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 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

    • SlapnutsGT@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      2 months ago

      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@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        2 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…

  • Professorozone@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    2 months ago

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

    • sarcasticsunrise@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      2 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

    • QuantumSparkles@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      2 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.

  • ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    edit-2
    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@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 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?

      • ShinkanTrain@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        2 months ago

        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.

  • DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    2 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.

    • vxx@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      2 months ago

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

      That’s not the same.

      • DrSteveBrule@mander.xyz
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        2 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?

      • chiliedogg@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        2 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?

  • Nakoichi [they/them]@hexbear.net
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    2 months ago

    Counterpoint: please make another actually good work in the universe.

    I have my fingers crossed for the HBO (I think) series set to release next year.

    • beefbot@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      ·
      2 months ago

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

  • sarcasticsunrise@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    13
    arrow-down
    5
    ·
    2 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 🤟