This checks out with what Russell Crowe was saying in the interview. He doesn't name Scott, but he was saying there were forces pushing for inserting smexy time. He rightly had things to say about that, "So you’re saying at the same time he had this relationship with his wife, he was fucking this other girl? What are you talking about? It’s crazy.”

For Alien: Covenant and Prometheus I strongly recommend the Ninth Circle and Chaos edition fan edits respectively, it makes both movies far more coherent and enjoyable.

Prometheus, with the Chaos Edition fanedit, in particular becomes a completely different experience with characters behaving much more rationaly and viewers getting more insight into their personality and motivations.

It is strange that Scott did seem to have filmed more coherent versions of both films (most of the content is from deleted/alt scenes), but then decided to go with whatever we got for the theatrical versions.

I actually enjoyed the theatrical versions as well, but I love sci-fi/horror and I will watch almost any movie that combines these genres. That being said, many parts of the theatrical version of Prometheus were comically stupid, almost like an unintentional parody.

Alien: Covenant also had a lot of stupid moments.

I think you misread the post you're replying to

Exodus: Gods and Kings IMO had a b-movie vibe, but as if a b-movie was made with a large budget, A list actors and overly self indulgent tone.

While I agree with you that The Matrix really hit the Zeitgeist, I wouldn't call it a bad or even mediocre movie. It's a solid sci-fi cyberpunk action movie.

I personally wish they explored the early part a bit more where Neo is wondering about reality. The action is great, but a contrast with broader discussions behind the meaning of The Matrix would only make the action even more intense. The part about "Neo (The One)" and Trinity's and Morpheus' relationship to the prophecy was really weak though. I thought it sucked even as a late pre-teen.