ALIEN: ROMULUS review / the dead actors debate

[@Gaskinmoo79]

I feel its fine if an actor dies with a scene or two left to film... help finish their last project. But what the did here was to much.

[@thebadgersapprentice]

They did that with Oliver Reed in gladiator and that was okay. I’m also fine with what they did with Paul Walker. But this kinda blows.

[@RealBLAlley]

I would argue that Tarkin needed to be in Rogue One, but Rook in no way needed to be the same model as Ash (as an aside, FU to Covenant for breaking the alphabetized Androids). I wasn't even bothered by the CG Peter Cushing the way many were, but Guy Henry was able to mimic Mr Cushing very well and resembles him enough that makeup would have sufficed. Romulus is better than the Prequel films, but it's nothing new (other than XenoVgay). I also agree the incubation cycle was much faster, but maybe we can attribute that to Rook's manipulation. The fan service often felt forced, and in a couple of instances undermined the original it's referencing. "Get away from her... ...you... ...bitch" is not only delivered awkwardly, but if the films are watched in chronological order it completely ruins Ripley's version. It doesn't even make sense in the Romulus story since they have no idea what gender the Xenos are. The queen laid eggs and was therefore... a queen, thus "bitch" was appropriate.

[@calliope4293]

Alien: Romulus poses a fascinating hypothetical question: how might human and artificial life respond to the ultimate predator in an isolated, hostile environment? The film offers a conceptual exploration of evolution and adaptation, not only in the xenomorphs but also in the humans and androids who must survive them. By introducing new stages in the alien lifecycle, it speculates on the broader ecological role of the species and how its parasitic evolution might adapt to different environments or hosts  . The character Andy, as a synthetic being, embodies a thought experiment in artificial intelligence designed for protection and companionship. His nuanced behavior raises intriguing questions about how an android programmed with emotional depth might navigate the ethical dilemmas and survival scenarios presented in the film. Could an android’s decisions under stress evolve into something resembling human intuition, or would its logic always prioritize calculated survival strategies? This hypothetical blurring of AI capabilities is a compelling addition to the franchise . The setting itself invites speculation on the psychological and physical effects of extreme isolation. Romulus revisits the concept of confined, industrial spaces, reflecting how future space travel might compound stress and fear in survival situations. What would prolonged exposure to such conditions do to decision-making, social dynamics, or even biological health? The film integrates these hypotheticals into its tension, making the experience as much about the mental landscape as the physical danger . Through its narrative and design, Alien: Romulus suggests a future where survival hinges not just on technology or physical endurance but on the capacity to adapt and redefine the boundaries of humanity and machine. It’s a thought-provoking addition to the series that encourages speculation on the interplay of biology, technology, and survival in an ever-expanding universe.

[@diy_mushroomguy]

You know what gets me? Is how do you explain how they didn't know ash was a synthetic if Romulus shows us he was potentially mass produced?

[@thebadgersapprentice]

Christ on several bikes, you have a point.

[@davidthompson9141]

I disagree entirely. Ian Holm's reanimation was one of the most eerie aspects of the movie and I thought was one of the best bits, especially with the role being another version of the same android model he played so well in the original. Getting a new actor to play a different android wouldnt have had the same impact.

[@kevinsayers5985]

I totally agree! I thought it was awesome and a super cool surprise and actually very lore friendly since he's just an Android with many more copies of him. On top of which they went and got permission from his family to keep it on the up and up and they were fine with it

[@rbarnett3200]

I’m sure Holms family did sign off on it. It required them to do nothing and I imagine they got a massive pay day for selling Ian’s legacy without his consent. But given there’s no law anywhere against using an actors image after they’ve died they could, in theory, make a new Elvis film with John Wayne in and any other dead actor you can think of. You could make a new Charlie Chaplin film with Charlie Chaplin in if you were so inclined. Given how bereft Hollywood seems to be these days with intellectual expression, mining old properties and lack of moral stature, it really wouldn’t surprise me.

[@michaelhancock1954]

I agree with you 100% dude. It looks so cartoon fake. I think it wrecked the movie as well.

[@pacershark452]

Sorry Buddy; The cats out of the bag now. I can't even TELL you what's coming next because i'm gettig ahead of it. but if you KNEW, you might tear your hair out. Or not........I suppose it depends....on.........Nevermind.

[@thebadgersapprentice]

Is it a dead cgi cat in a bag?

[@pacershark452]

@thebadgersapprentice 😆 Oh no my friend, that would be a mercy. Lets just say, Nostalgia is a BITCH.

[@MikeDingDong10]

Great analysis. I liked Alien Romulus but didn't agree with the Ian Holm deepfake

[@Xenomorph.fan24]

I really liked this film but that deepfake lam Holm is definitely one of the biggest problems of the film.

[@k3digichaos]

Ian did not look happy to be there

[@thebadgersapprentice]

He indeed did not.

[@MRJOEWHARTON]

i like it! it gives more depth to a movie when a past villain is back, vader Moff Tarkin ect people focus on realism instead of the return of a dreadful; character

[@EpicPour99]

Nah, it was cool. Sure the ashe was in the movie a little too long bit he's suppose to look fake

[@thewatchmanstudios6257]

That was a great piece of work. Your speaking voice is phenomenal.

[@tm5123]

I think it was a cool idea to have another massproduced cyberdyne systems android as a science officer. Its like having the same model monitor in two movies. Did they have some issues with the face rigging? Yes. But as long as the family etc who hold the legacy of Ian Holm are OK with it, shouldn't be any major ethics issues here. The film is full of retro callbacks anyway, so this suits is quite well.

[@thebadgersapprentice]

Cyberdyne? Now there’s a crossover!

[@tm5123]

@@thebadgersapprentice Lol, meant to write hyperdyne 😂

[@markusps3248]

Alien Star Trek crossover? i hope that was a joke 😅

[@cybernautclub]

If the man can earn after he's in the grave and provide for living relatives then more power to him and them. You don't hear people complaining about the 1000s of Elvis compilations since he died on the shitter. Why should actors be any different? Earn it up creepy robot.

[@richarddababer8493]

Haven`t seen this yet so can`t comment on that, but the return of Tarkin/Peter Cushing in Starwars was simply awful - ruined a reasonably good movie for me, been a Cushing fan for longer than there`s been Starwars 😁

[@thebadgersapprentice]

I always feel sorry for the guy who played Tarkin in that film. Not Cushing, the guy they cgi’d out - Guy Henry. I’ve seen the behind the scenes and every time I feel they should have just let that guy do it. (The guy called Guy- the Guy guy.)

[@richarddababer8493]

@@thebadgersapprentice 100% agree, I thought he had the look and mannerisms of Cushing`s Tarkin and the film would have lost nothing by having he do the actual acting. 😀