influxtwo

I wanted to like this but from the get-go the writing and execution was weak even for a toyline.

The pacing and thrills lack in excitement, and the plot buffers with characters who don't really have any involved interest or connection to dinosaurs, other than the goal of a few, all of which made for a further disconnection from a good experience.

The scene's failure to convey any classy kind of comedy or thrilling longevity of action or chemistry felt rather diluted and surface-level.

The characters we do have, basically spend their time barking at eachother and surviving through abled plot-armor.

The previous films had a more dense threat of dinosaur disasters. Here, we have a fleeting glimpse and nothing further. The film takes a while and barely introduces the dinosaurs.

The plot felt written for a TV movie, just shallow all around. Gone is the charm and magic or detail-heavy set pieces. Scream, stand still, repeat. Run.

I expected more but these days it seems like anyone thinks they can write a script or screenplay and that everyone will care for it.

This film lacked interesting characters who have a deep connection to dinosaurs to make their story more than a quick escape, and lacked a relevant amount of dinosaur mayhem.

I read the first Jurassic Park book so I expect a bit more than a group of scifi channel characters simply always driving away in the end. No dinosaur battle or anything, just a failed dinosaur hunt you saw in passing.

You learn to expect more, and that's coming from someone who loves this franchise. This one didn't have interesting characters and there were too many characters just barking at eachother not even interested in dinosaurs to make a connection to the plot other than survival and choosing the people in the end.

Glad I didn't pay to see this one.

The tribute is there without repeating the same exact formula. The cast all mostly understand their roles, and the writers understood the assignment.

The film is just long enough to breathe, developed enough to expand the brand, and the pacing & film length does not feel overstressed.

The trivia nods are understood & expanded on, the formula is mixed up, and the story continues rather than repeats a cloned carbon copy.

The comedy is mostly on brand, and the gross-out moments are just as impactful as the sincere & heartfelt moments; and about as common.

I enjoyed how the film managed to ground itself in it's own universe, peddle more of the same trickery, but also bring a lot of heart. Some characters you were made not to like while others were an honorable mention.

The cameos brought some extra life, the dialogue was fresh and woke as to be expected on brand, and the realism of the atmosphere achieved a certain level of believability to anchor the comedy, fantasy & horror elements.

The set designs were lovingly crafted, & prosthetic makeups well-used, & plenty seen. The world-building is quite larger here than previously seen, and the aesthetic is on point.

The film is a close call to perfection, patience in waiting for practical effects to become relevant again rather than toying with CGI was definitely the right call to keep the film totally consistent as a sequel.

Those who appreciated & loved the details of part 1 will enjoy this reunion. It certainly establishes itself as a worthy sequel with a close-knit connection to the classic.

Packs the punch of the allure. Where Alien 3 failed us, Alien: Romulus, plugs the leak in the airlock by wedging itself between the first & second film, bridging a new timeline between the classics.

The film starts with the gorgeous vacuum of space, distilled in silence, a motif vividly told inbetween shots of blinking retro-futuristic monitors in a spaceship interior with a throwback set design.

The characters are introduced as if we already know them. Bumbling through a familiar dystopian world where desires are eclipsed by the unforgiving agony of society.

The main protagonist, Rain Carradine (Spaeny) has a calm, serene, and balanced nature that makes her a decent addition to the franchise to step in to it's new shoes.

Other than the artificial characters- there are some non-human characters,- the remaining cast doesn't have much dialogue, simply then assessing the narrative of the impending hardships.

While that was refreshing on one hand, it felt undercooked at times on another. Some characters don't have much character development and some feel saved for later, for gimmicky plot revelations.

Again, still not a bad thing if you know what to look for in an Alien movie, some things are just served too simple, and I wondered watching if that is the case here.

With that said, the ending has a great pulse to it. There are sequences that make this one stand out, and it lies in the capabilities of today's filmmaking. The effects, models, and sets are a saving grace.

My one complaint is that there were not a lot of Xenomorphs featured. Many perished on screen, but it was not quite the amount of Xenomorphs I personally wanted to see. Had there been a bit more focus on the Xenomorphs, I feel it would have helped helm this sequel.

Instead what we got was the now famous ending, which, due to the set design, music, effects, and a stunning performance by Spaeny, made this a fun tension-filled venture that benefits from the air-tight sound system & darkness of a theater experience. I enjoyed the end sequence because it took Prometheus lore and sequenced it in to the Alien hybrid kind of mythology. What results is more trick-or-treat candy for those like myself who largely enjoyed Alien: Resurrection, and most of the other sequels that threw some punches out of left field.

What i like is that Retro-Futurism is mainstream in an Alien film again finally. The atmosphere was on par with a Jurassic Park movie, they intentionally went for the rubbery prosthetic jiggly-look that I could appreciate in a modern film.

I enjoyed the mayhem I just wish it served a bit more. The writing could have used some better direction, the calamity of it all made it a suspenseful watch. But the plot holes were a little too glaring. It's definitely a "just hold on for the ride and don't question anything too much" kind of watching experience. All in all a leap in the right direction, that proves the Alien formula still lives in visceral terror.