The case for Alien: Romulus

📽 AT THE MOVIES-

The Alien franchise has been under scrutiny since 1992, when the third installment’s extensive production, script, and directorial issues took a toll on its reception (and its box office haul). The franchise’s next positive rating came three movies and two decades later with Prometheus. Enter Alien: Romulus (watch trailer, runtime: 2:01) which — while still being disputed online — has garnered an 81% rating, making it the third-highest rated of all seven films.

The lowdown: Set between the first two films, another Weyland-Yutani crew investigates the wreckage of the USCSS Nostromo, the commercial ship once inhabited by the crew members from Alien, recovering the body of the Xenomorph evacuated by Ripley 20 years in their past.

Does the film have the legs to stand on its own? It depends on why you loved the Alien franchise to begin with. Lovers of gore and body horror will be glad to see the hallmarks of the films alive and happy, but those who looked to Alien for the plot might find Romulus’s to be a little thin. The nostalgia here is a double-edged sword — fans appreciated the callbacks and homages to the previous films, but those already disappointed called it cheap fan service.

But there’s no arguing that the film is both beautiful and thrilling. Director Fede Álvarez of Don’t Breathe, Evil Dead, and Calls does what he does best: Horrifies an audience mesmerized by the beauty of cinematography.

WHERE TO WATCH- You can catch a showing of ِAlien: Romulus at VOX Cinemas at City Center Almaza or Mall of Egypt, Citystars cinemas, Cairo Festival City cinemas, Cima Arkan, and Zawya Cinema.

📚 FROM THE BOOKSTORE-

Wandering Stars follows the descendants of Jude Star, a Cheyenne survivor of the 1864 Sand Creek massacre, right up to the present day. While this tale of resilience picks up after the intense ending of author Tommy Orange’s first novel, it can be read as a standalone piece.

It kicks off with a look at the American government’s brutal campaign against Native Americans, including the infamous slogan, “Kill the Indian, Save the Man.” This refers to the horrific boarding schools that indigenous youth were strongarmed into attending, aimed at stripping away Indigenous culture.

When the novel reaches the 21st century, the Red Feather family struggles with society’s refusal to see Native Americans as part of the present day. Lony, the youngest Red Feather, watches an Avengers movie and imagines what powers a Native American superhero might have — like flying because of feathers or being invisible because no one acknowledges their presence.

It also dives into the tricky relationship between race and identity through Sean Price, a high school student adopted by white parents. After getting his DNA test results, Sean finds out he has European, Native American, and African ancestry. Despite this, he feels he can’t fully claim any of these identities, particularly grappling with how society sees and treats him as a Black person.

It’s not a “good things happening to good people” type of story. The book takes you on a deeper journey into self-confidence, heritage, and what it means to belong — whilst blending in cultural insights and historical truths.

It is currently out of stock at Cherry Blossom Books, but you can find it on X.

🍴 HOT AND FRESH OUT OF THE KITCHEN-

Whether you’re looking to enjoy a delicious meal or unwind with friends over drinks, Villa Lucca, located in Palm Hills’ Golf Central, is the perfect combination between sophistication and comfort.

Villa Lucca’s menu caters to every palate. The spicy carne pizza caught our attention with its ambitious combination of flavors — Italian pizza dough topped with tangy tomato sauce, creamy fiori di latte cheese, savory beef bacon, salami, oriental sausage, a drizzle of olive oil, a hint of chili flakes, and finished with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Yes, it was as delicious as it sounds.

But, the dish that truly stole the show was the Orzo Chicken. The dish was cooked to perfection — the orzo, rich, creamy, and bursting with flavor, perfectly complemented the tender baked chicken balls.

A tempting array of freshly displayed desserts: We couldn’t resist the allure of a decadent finale to the dining experience. The rich, velvety chocolate of the chocolate fudge is the perfect sweet conclusion to a homey and satisfying meal.

💵 Per person: EGP 800.

🪑 Outdoor seating: Yes.

🍺 Alcohol: No.

🦽 Accessibility friendly: Yes.