By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
The latest entry in the Alien franchise, Alien Romulus, has sparked outrage with its unexpected revival of a character from the 1979 original, utilizing digital technology to resurrect the late actor Ian Holm. Directed by Fede Álvarez and produced by Ridley Scott, the film revisits familiar elements from the original Alien, including eerie spaceships, a strong female protagonist, and terrifying alien creatures. However, it also pays homage in a less conventional way by reintroducing Holm’s character, Ash, through a digital recreation named Rook, despite Holm's passing four years ago. This combination of puppetry and digital effects has left some fans uneasy.
While some viewers found Rook's presence a thrilling surprise, others have expressed anger, labeling it as disrespectful and an aesthetic failure. Critics, like Sam Adams in Slate, compared the studio's actions to the exploitative practices of the villainous Weyland Yutani corporation in the Alien universe. Similarly, Chris Evangelista of SlashFilm harshly criticized the effect, calling it both distracting and unnecessary.
The use of deceased actors in films is not unprecedented. Gene Kelly, for example, appeared in a digitally enhanced Volkswagen advertisement years after his death, and other sci fi franchises, such as Star Wars, have incorporated similar techniques with characters like Princess Leia and Grand Moff Tarkin. In Ghostbusters Afterlife, even the ghost of Harold Ramis made an appearance.
Given that androids have always played a significant role in the Alien series Michael Fassbender's identical androids in Alien Covenant, for instance one might think fans would be more receptive to such technology. The title Alien Romulus even alludes to the twin founders of Rome, reinforcing the theme of doubling.
However, Álvarez’s decision to give Rook almost as much screen time as the film's main characters has drawn further criticism. His persistent presence in numerous close ups makes the artificiality of his face difficult to ignore, creating discomfort among viewers. The film attempts to justify this by acknowledging Holm’s estate in the credits, with Álvarez defending his choice by consulting Holm’s widow and emphasizing the blend of animatronics and CGI rather than relying solely on digital methods. Additionally, Daniel Betts was hired to impersonate Holm's voice.
Ultimately, while the film pays tribute to Holm’s legacy, the execution of Rook's character has sparked debate. Critics have questioned the decision to overuse this digital recreation, with Daily Telegraph reviewer Tim Robey remarking, "One thing I never thought I'd complain about in 2024 was a film having too much Ian Holm in it."
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