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Alien or Aliens? That age-old debate. While subsequent entries in the extended Alien franchise are commonly reassessed and evaluated (including, recently from me, Scott’s last voyage into space with Covenant), no one can earnestly argue that anything the franchise has done since can match the remarkable one-two punch of the first two. I think they’re equals, both masterpieces. Endeavoring to accomplish different things, I don’t think it’s fair to critically argue one is objectively better than the other—it’s merely preferential.
There’s the macho gusto of James Cameron’s action-epic and the claustrophobic, psychoanalytic terror of Scott’s original. As pioneers of the genre, it naturally follows that subsequent entries would welcome either Scott’s or Cameron’s seal of approval. That seemed to be the case with Fede Álvarez’s Alien: Romulus.
In a March interview with Hannah Gearan of ScreenRant, Álvarez remarked, “James Cameron is also someone I’ve met through the years, and when he learned that I was doing it, we started chatting about it. So, I also had that conversation with him at the script level. He’s now seen the movie and loved it.” Álvarez, expanding on how both Scott and Cameron were involved in the project, seemed to be signaling to fans something along the lines of “Hey, don’t worry.”
It’s common practice in marketing these days, for better or worse. While it’s not quite as slimy as plastering influencer reactions all over week-of-release marketing materials, the same sentiment is conspicuous in a lot of contemporary releases. The trailer for this year’s Late Night with the Devil, for instance, blurbs both Stephen King and Kevin Smith alongside the standard industry critic pull quotes.
There’s nothing innately wrong with it, per se, and if anything, it’s an enviable chance to signal to your audience that some of the best creative voices around have endorsed your project. Yet, at the same time, it can create unrealistic, and often unclear expectations. Remember, back in March, it seemed clear that James Cameron himself loved Alien: Romulus.
Yet, according to a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, James Cameron’s reaction seems a little more muted. Asked about the comments Fede Álvarez shared back in March, Cameron had this to say:
“I saw a rough cut six months ago, so I’m sure it’s changed a lot. And I viewed it once. I gave some notes to [Álvarez]. He and I aren’t close pals. I mean, I wish him the best with it, but I think it’s been overstated that I had some big creative input to that film. I think Ridley [Scott] did because Ridley was an actual producer on the film. So I’m just putting it in perspective.”
Cameron might well have loved Romulus, but his tepid response is a far cry from the exuberant adoration he allegedly shared previously. What do you think? Have you had a chance to check out Alien: Romulus yet? Where does it rank compared to the rest of the franchise? Maybe more importantly, how much do celebrity endorsements matter to you? Let me know over on Twitter @Chadiscollins.
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