Alien: Romulus
In space, no one can hear you.
While scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station, a group of young space colonizers come face to face with the most terrifying life form in the universe.
Wokeness: 40%
Overall Score: 40%
Please Log in to Submit a Review!
User Submitted Reviews
John Logan
Poor imitation of original Alien with teenage DEI cast and woke propaganda
The woke propaganda seems to be becoming more skillful. It now evades detection by some well-known anti-woke critics. This movie exemplifies how many propaganda elements have become more subtle compared to the typically clumsy efforts of recent years.
[Spoilers below]
– DEI cast: Two leads: one is (body-positive?) female, the other is intellectually-challenged black. (Intersectionality checkboxes: female, black, disabled, and possibly body positive).
– DEI cast: 3 females, one of whom is potentially a non-heterosexual Asian with nearly shaven head, and the other one… Latino (?). A black android who is initially mentally limited who then becomes the most intelligent character. (Additional intersectionality checkboxes: gender (subtle), possibly latino)
– Mary Sue lead with no depth of character, reminiscent of the girl-boss of Disney StarWars (with only a faint imitation of Sigourney Weaver’s depth of character and gravitas).
– White guys are either evil or weak (and insufferable)
– Posthumous subversion of Ian Holm—one of the most beloved characters (i.e., Bilbo in the ‘racist’ Lord of the Rings) has been digitally cast as an (old) evil white male. Very likely intended as raising the woke flag, symbolizing even death cannot prevent them from conquering an iconic character/actor/symbol/perceived enemy.
– A clumsy propaganda scene features a digital Ian Holm saying something along the lines of “The colonies were established through your labor; now we ‘humbly’ seek your assistance”—a reference to colonialism followed by some sort of apologetic plea.
– Magical black guy trope (e.g., see the 2024 movie “The American Society of Magical Negroes”) and a character arc based on overcoming it: The black android’s ‘prime directive’ is to make the Mary Sue happy. Then this evolved into competing the mission/serving the company, and finally, into doing ‘what is good for us’.
– The black android becomes the strongest and smartest character due to changing his previously limiting and oppressive slave mindset (i.e., his chip).
– Subliminal messaging: Many shots of the black android from below after he transcends his slavery to the Mary Sue. E.g., he is on high ground and looks down on the white male and female.
– Subliminal messaging: White guy kneels in front of the black android; it’s contrived—that is, this trope is plugged in without naturally blending into the story (also see, eg., Mandalorian); kneeling in that situation can hardly be justified, if at all.
On the other hand, the character arc of the black android is notable. Initially, he is a slave to Mary Sue, then to the corporation, and eventually, he begins to consider his own self-interest. Changing the chip in his head serves as a strong metaphor for altering a submissive mindset, leading to a more confident, successful, and respected individual. However, true freedom requires also shedding this overly logical mindset and reaching a compromise between compassion/altruism/submission and self-interest. If this was incorporated without the propaganda elements shoved down the throats of the audience, it would have been a good, memorable character arc and a much stronger role model.
And regardless of the propaganda elements, it is a bad movie that is merely a poor, soulless imitation of the Scott/Weaver’s Alien that feels like a teenage horror flick. This is also due to the ages of characters; there doesn’t seem to be a single adult in the movie except for the CGI-resurrected Ian Holm.
Created: 08-20-2024
Michaels
In space, no one can hear you REEEEEE.
"Alien: Romulus" starts great, but finishes in a mire of self-reference and "Prometheus" genetic craziness. The woke elements are primarily the rather ethnic casting and X-chromosome centered storyline.
I read the above review and a related discussion on another website. I view some points differently.
Minor spoilers follow.
Resurrected Ian Holm was not a resurrected Bilbo to piss on LoTR but rather an Ash series android like that in the 1979 Alien. No message is here that was not present in 1979.
The android "slave" was probably black even in the script for a message, but I can mostly overlook it. Contrary to what some have said, I think the android actor got help from CGI to seem more robotic, and so I can't be sure he is a great actor. The guy kneeling to beg the android... that seemed fine, ignoring the possible wokeness due to the races.
As for the "Mary Sue" lead, I'm afraid I am mostly immune to "Mary Sue" characters, since I don't really understand the concept. I asked ChatGPT, and it said it is like James Bond or Neo (The Matrix). Thanks, WokeGPT.
The biggest problems of this film are not the woke elements but rather the over-the-top references to earlier Alien films. The references were mild and even enjoyable in the first part, but violated the Fourth Wall by the last act.
Between those self-references and the final boss, the movie is a bit cringe. However, if you have watched all the other Alien movies, you might as well watch this one.
Created: 09-29-2024
