Reviews

A little background here. I don't go to the cinema often (a couple of times a year) but I am a huge fan of Alien (& Aliens for that matter).

Now, compared to either of the originals this is dreadful. It has none of the characterisation to relate to, fairly poor acting, a very disjointed plot, a generally poor storyline and none of the edge of your seat feel.

I'll expand a little (with spoilers):

• the Prometheus is based years before Alien yet their ship and the general feel of space travel is so clean and sharp compared to the original. Blame squarely on Ridley Scott here.

• Charlize Theron's character could be cut from the movie as she serves no purpose. I fact Guy Pearce is pretty pointless too - a glimmer of an idea here but brushed over too quickly to expand.

• I've seen Fassbender praised for his performance but compared to Holm or Henrikson he is dreadfully wooden (was that perhaps a nod to him being an earlier model???)

• a lot of things happen for no reason in this movie (and I don't mean things that are intentionally unexplained). For example, there is no logic (or explanation) for any of Theron's actions, there is no apparent logic to Fassbender "poisioning" the other scientist, Idris Elba and his crew sacrifice themselves but there is no real build up in their characters, the biologist has zero interest in the jockey body they discover!

• there is ZERO tension or excitement which made the originals amazing. The BIG reveal that the jockeys created/are human is pretty early doors and glossed over thereafter - in fact there is nothing thereafter other than the lame Weyland angle.

One of the other reviews suggested that there must be a lot of story left on the cutting room floor and I think this must be true as you can't write a mess like this without filling in the gaps. Maybe one day we'll see it but I don't think it will save the film.

I just does not have that X factor of the originals. In summary, worse that Alien Resurrection (but better than the abortion that was Alien v Predator).

Perhaps I shouldn't compare it to Alien. But even putting this to one side I think this is a poor movie. The lack of an exciting or thought provoking angle is missing and that can't be resurrected.

Disappointing doesn't cover my opinion.

...and in this case that is a good thing.

If nothing else this film will hold your interest as it is shot in such a different and interesting way. The scenes all move quickly and you are never left to get bored.

When you actually analyse the story, well there isn't much there. Normally this would annoy me but not at all in this movie as you don't have time.

Each scene has loads going on, blink and you miss it type styling. Added to that are some fantastic one-liners throughout.

Excellent movie. If it doesn't hold your interest you may be clinically dead or at least too dumb to keep up.

OK, I'm not claiming its good but it is serious fun. It is basically a mix of the Mad Max films in Scotland but also throw in some scenes from 28 Days Later, Resident Evil, LOTR and Braveheart.

If you can imagine that then you'll have a pretty good idea what to expect - no, I didn't think you could.

It does just massively rip off all the above but as I said, I'm not claiming its good, just a lot of fun.

Added bonus is the great music choices which just add to the fun - "Good Tning" by FYC when the main lunatic introduces himself to the crowd and "Two Tribes" by Frankie Goes To Hollywood for the big car chase.

Not gonna win an Oscar but a hell of a ride.