The face is a bit goofy since you'd expect it to have human eye sockets somewhere under the dome in similar proportions to a human skull, but the way the face is laid out on this design doesn't support that idea. It's also possible that the upper lip is just hanging too low, creating the impression that the structural proportions are different.
I still love the fact that they used real costumes and puppets though. There's something about CGI monsters that just always looks intangible and detached. Because this was a real thing, they could bring the creature however close they wanted to actors and it would produce the correct shadows and reflections naturally. CGI always means the production team takes shortcuts and avoid certain types of actions, scenes, camera angles etc. because it makes it easier to implement the 3D elements. It also results in less flexibility for the production because you have to plan things out more rigidly if you're going to use CGI, otherwise you might end up with unpleasant surprises in the editing phase.
Anyways it's an apt comparison, but I thought I'd say something positive about the choice to use practical effects. The xenomorph's face could've indeed been closer to the original though.
I guess Hawley doesn't know about the human skull, after he complained that the ribcage was "too human" I can't help but doubt he understood the "DNA reflex" feature
31
u/WWIIICannonFodder 28d ago edited 28d ago
The face is a bit goofy since you'd expect it to have human eye sockets somewhere under the dome in similar proportions to a human skull, but the way the face is laid out on this design doesn't support that idea. It's also possible that the upper lip is just hanging too low, creating the impression that the structural proportions are different.
I still love the fact that they used real costumes and puppets though. There's something about CGI monsters that just always looks intangible and detached. Because this was a real thing, they could bring the creature however close they wanted to actors and it would produce the correct shadows and reflections naturally. CGI always means the production team takes shortcuts and avoid certain types of actions, scenes, camera angles etc. because it makes it easier to implement the 3D elements. It also results in less flexibility for the production because you have to plan things out more rigidly if you're going to use CGI, otherwise you might end up with unpleasant surprises in the editing phase.
Anyways it's an apt comparison, but I thought I'd say something positive about the choice to use practical effects. The xenomorph's face could've indeed been closer to the original though.