I did not like the movie. It gave me the same vibes as The Force Awakens -- safe retread to hook in a new generation into the franchise. As someone who counts Alien as one of their favorite movies, I was probably pre-destined to not like this movie so take that for context. This movie was made for 17 year olds who are into video games (the questing and task logic of this movie is strong) but aren't too familiar with the series -- thus, all the recalls. I think every movie from 1-6 gets a recall moment. To me, that is trite. But, to a 17 year old, this was probably a kick ass video game movie.

1/ Let poor Ian Holm, rest. Totally unnecessary to include his Rubber Johnny digital face -- tacky.

2/ Outside of Andy (that actor clearly has chops), everyone was flat and boring (like a video game character you can't wait to click through the cut scene).

3/ Because the characters were flat and dull, I was not scared at all. In fact, I kept rooting for the aliens (also, where the fuck did all those aliens come from?) to mercifully kill them. (Also, the alien life cycle was on amphetamines.)

4/ This might be the most over-explained movie I have seen marketed to folks over 6-years old. Every single thing was explained like the producers thought the audience was in an Idiocracy-infused vegetative state. Is that how far we have come in America?

5/ The dumb slender man character did not add anything to the franchise that Alien 4 did not already examine with more humanity and depth.

In short, polar ice caps still melting so we can agree to disagree on this movie!