Alien CGI Overhaul: Fans Remain Underwhelmed Despite Improvements

Alien: Romulus, a critical and box office success, is already slated for a sequel. However, one aspect widely criticized was the CGI depiction of Ian Holm, who famously portrayed Ash in the original Alien. His posthumous appearance via CGI in Romulus was deemed distracting and unrealistic by many viewers, prompting a popular fan edit to remove the character entirely.

Director Fede Alvarez addressed the criticism, acknowledging time constraints in post-production hindered the CGI's quality. He stated to Empire magazine that the home release features improved visuals, achieved by shifting towards more practical puppetry and refining the CGI.

Alien Film Timeline

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Alvarez confirmed that additional resources were allocated to enhance the Holm CGI for the home release. While improvements were made, many fans still find the result distracting, with some questioning the necessity of Holm's inclusion altogether. Reddit discussions reveal mixed reactions, with comments ranging from "Better, but still awfully uncanny" to "Still such a needless and distracting part of the movie."

A comparison reveals the home release utilizes more practical effects, minimizing the intrusive CGI. However, some viewers remain unconvinced, expressing sentiments such as "Let's be real, it's still awful and garish to resurrect a dead man so needlessly."

Despite the controversy, Alien: Romulus's box office success ($350 million globally) has greenlit a sequel, with Alvarez potentially returning to direct.