Prometheus

[Wug@10mfH]

I rather liked it as well. It's not a prequel to Alien! But it exists in the same universe and we get to see some explanations of things seen in "Alien". It is it's own movie and does NOT lead up to the beginning of Alien. People with criticisms of it in that regard perhaps don't realize that? I have heard people complain that the facts didn't line up right to match the beginning of Alien. That is because the events of this movie don't lead up to the beginning of Alien!

Anyway, it looks great, I enjoyed the acting, the story made me think and I'd watch another!

[MisterPL]

Did anyone else feel like it was a remake of Alien?

Personally it didn't meet my expectations, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I wish I could have seen it without all the hype, not knowing it had any connection to Alien beyond the director. I thought it was a solid sci-fi movie with plenty of graphic suspense elements to keep the drama flowing. The VFX were excellent and the 3D rocked. (I only see movies in 3D if they were SHOT in 3D like this was.)

Apparently NECA is offering 6" scale figures (to be shown at SDCC) but you know me; I'd prefer a couple boxed sets of Minimates, but only if they break out the 2.5" body for the "space jockey."

[Lobsterman]

Did anyone else feel like it was a remake of Alien?

Yes. Or, rather, I felt like it was trying to hew as closely to the concept, pacing, and suspense of Alien to give adequate fan service, but without getting so close that it was accused of being such.

I liked it okay, but felt like it was a bit self-conscious in this respect. It was as if they knew, no matter how much they said "it's not a prequel" that it was a prequel and would be regarded so. And, they had the weight of that sci-fi horror classic looming over them, so they had to pull out all the stops to try and blow people's mind with all the super scary scariness!

I wish they had kept the "alien threat" a little simpler instead of trying to wedge in every outer space horror trope in the book: Aaaah alien worms in your eyeball!!! Aaaahh alien bodysnatcher zombie!!!! Aaaaah alien parasite impregnation!!!! Aaaaah alien snake thing that gets in your suit and tries to crawl in your butt!!! Aaaaaahh alien proto-facehugger Cthulu Japanese tentacle porn rapey thing!!!!

Edited June 11, 2012 by Lobsterman

[UK Collector]

Also enjoyed the movie. Great visuals, great creature design, good concept and decent acting. Fassbender stole the movie IMO. He was great.

Warned my girlfriend off of seeing this, I don't think she'd sleep for a week. Some of the things in this film were just freaky.

Ady, I'd also be interested in your "rant" if you'd be happy to send it to me?

[AdyCarter]

Here we go,Apologies for spelling/structure its cribbed from a few emails.

I liked it, don't get me wrong it was a cool film however:

Aside from the curveball that its not the planet from Alien so there are clearly other ships dotted around and more story to tell. Sadly its not the same planet, it lingers on LV223 on the screens a few times when alien was LV426. Plus if it *was* the same planet it now has a crashed ship, some temple things, some more ships and Shaws escape pod sat on it and Weyland Yutani know where it is, no need to divert the Nostromo. (Yes I get there *are* more films to come, but still... a lot of people are convinced it WAS the planet from Alien.. way to make it confusing)

The Aliens clearly already existed so this wasn't the birth of them as they were on the Mural in the "Head" room.

If something killed and burst out of most of the engineers and put the corpses in a nice pile, where did it go?

If the Engineers decided 2000 years ago to wipe us out due to Jesus (according to interviews with Ridley) and before that liked us and gave us cave paintings as an invite, why the fudge do the paintings invite us to their secret lair where they make WMDs? Also if they set off 2000 years ago to kill us then got waylayed/wiped out why did the one surviving Engineer decide to just pop in and out of statis rather than doing it, as it was clearly shown he could.

Does it really take 3 people to kill themselves to crash one small ship into a huge one right nearby?

I felt some of the scenes seemed out of order too... like that special med pod in Weylands daughters room that was DUN DUN only for MEN! So clearly meant to hint at something, except we already knew he was on the ship....

It was cool and all, just needs an hour longer Directors Cut imo.

In an ideal world I'd have liked the film to be broadly similar up to the part where they rammed the ship. I'd much rather everyone was on the ship, they rammed it, they all died and the Engineer ship was massively damaged but left the atmosphere and continued towards earth while falling apart... then for one of the goo worm things to infect the Engineer, leading to him having a chestbustery thing kill him and slope off to fill the ship with eggs while his ship drifted and eventually crashed on the planet from Alien. Therefore perfectly setting up Alien, Rather than the blatent sequal setup we got of a woman and an Android head going on an adventure.

[UK Collector]

All very good points, I'd have preferred that ending too to be honest.

Common sense did seem to go out of the window at a lot of points in the movie.

If I could figure out how to do "spoilers" I'd put in my 2p too, but don't want to ruin the film for those that haven't seen it yet.

[AdyCarter]

All very good points, I'd have preferred that ending too to be honest.

Common sense did seem to go out of the window at a lot of points in the movie.

If I could figure out how to do "spoilers" I'd put in my 2p too, but don't want to ruin the film for those that haven't seen it yet.

Its

[spoiler]Soylent Green is People[/spoiler]

[Shanester]

OK, here is how we open. A woman and an android go on an adventure...

[MisterPL]

Which sounds like a Blade Runner remake. :tongue:

[Wug@10mfH]

Cool pics from NECA's blog of the figures. Spoilers if you haven't seen the movie!

http://necaonline.com/34497/blog/press-releases/prometheus-has-landed/#ixzz1xFVqKsKF

[Lobsterman]

OK, here is how we open. A woman and an android go on an adventure...

I keep imagining that as one of those 1970s Saturday morning cartoons.

[Shanester]

Which sounds like a Blade Runner remake. :tongue:

Wow, it sure does. Good catch.

[gambitron]

I loved the movie! Especially David, what a great performance. Great visuals, story really made me think, and had the classic Alien feel to it that I so love!

[Kostisfire]

I went to see it yesterday but as soon as I sat on my chair the phone rang and I had to leave(my grandpa) was having an eye surgery so I and my dad left. I'm thinking of going again with a friend of mine but I am wondering if it is scary. The cinema was empty yesterday(when mib3 and avengers were plaing it was full) and it kinda creeped me out. In other words if you were 15 would you see it?

[Lurch77]

Finally got around to seeing this last night, it was good. 3D was excellent. But too many open questions just left hanging out there. I do get the feeling that a ton of stuff got left on cutting room floor, hopefully a director's cut will be made.

This sorta helps with a few of the questions ..

copied from post here

To give some historical/mythological background that may shed some light, Ridley stated the SJ culture was based on Persian Myths. This would be Sumerian/Akkadian/Hindu. Ill just use Sumerian since its the oldest. This is all taken from the Atra Hasis.

Creators - "G"ods- Annunaki - Dragon Humanoids (Naga, Dragon Kings,)

Helpers - "g"ods - Igigi - Engineers. (Android like living beings....BIOmechanical humanoid. Key features- Pale skin and large black eyes. Also known as watchers, Grigori, and Archons) (in many summerian texts they are actually referred to as "Pilots". Pretty much the Annunaki Air Force.)

When the Annunaki began terraforming the earth, they had the Igigi do the work for them. After a few thousand years the Igigi revolted and went on strike. The Annunaki then decided to create humans to do the work for them.

They sacrificed one of the rebel Igigi named Geshtu to use his blood and dna to make human beings, by mixing it with elements native to the earth.

Even though the humans were created and did the work, 1/3 of the Igigi still werent satisfied and sought revenge for Geshtu, so they rebelled again against the Annunaki Lords and began breeding/mixing with the human females creating Nephelim. This is what sparked the Prime Lord Enlil to flood the earth. Some humans were saved by Enki, the Lord responsible for the sacrifice of Geshtu and the creation of humans. Enlil and the rest of the annunaki decide to return home and let the humans develop on their own. Enki and his family stay behind. The Igigi are forced to leave earth as well. The remaining rebel Igigi are imprisoned on a planet on the way back to the homeworld and it is said as punishment and as a mark they are altered into a demonic appearance, no longer retaining the Angelic appearance.

Enki and his crew are probably the ones leaving the maps for humans to find, along with the ones helping humans advance throughout time.

The sacrfice engineer is Geshtu

The lone engineer is most likely Marduk or a servant/worshipper of Marduk.

The xeno is Mushussu, a creature Marduk fashioned and used as his pet.

The "Engineers" we see are trying to destroy Earth are of the Igigi rebels who view earth as their own. They have always despised humans because the Annunaki saw us as more in their likeness than them. ITs possible that the Igigi have long since destroyed or taken over the annunaki and the homeworld, and Earth was like going to claim the prize or spoils.

They mustve used to the Xeno's to win this war and through its perfection it has began to destroy and infect the Igigi who manufacture and transport it, creating more Mushussu.

the xeno in Alien is most likely an older pilot igigi birthed Mushussu egg crossed with human or a future Annunaki birthed one which would explain the size difference in hosts.

It is mentioned in several lesser stories that Marduk created the Mushussu out of using the essence of the Gods' (Annunaki) he killed as a symbol of his conquering and being able to control them... ie the mural.

[youbastards]

I saw it on Wednesday, knowing most of the key plot points prior to viewing, and I enjoyed it. Yep, it feels like this could easily have been a 3 hour flick, hopefully we will eventually get an extended cut. Scott has confirmed that there is over 20 minutes of deleted scenes that will be on the DVD/Blu release.

As far as interpreting a lot of subtext, this post is the closest thing I have found that thoroughly explains it all to me in a way that I actually enjoy and whole-heartedly approve.

Also, something for you Dr. Who fans to mull over (from the link above).

"As a closing point, let me draw your attention to a very different strand of symbolism that runs through Prometheus: the British science fiction show Doctor Who. In the 1970s episode 'The Daemons', an ancient mound is opened up, leading to an encounter with a gigantic being who proves to be an alien responsible for having guided mankind's development, and who now views mankind as a failed experiment that must be destroyed. The Engineers are seen tootling on flutes, in exactly the same way that the second Doctor does. The Third Doctor had an companion whose name was Liz Shaw, the same name as the protagonist of Prometheus. As with anything else in the film, it could all be coincidental; but knowing Ridley Scott, it doesn't seem very likely."

And for shits & giggles, check out Red Letter Media's comments.

[Jatta Pake]

Saw it today for American Father's Day. I agree whole heartedly with Ady's rant.

No one has mentioned this yet but the Star Trek homage music drove me nuts. It really detracted from the movie and I rarely notice mood music in movies. But this was too much. I was waiting for the Star Wars Imperial song to come on next.

[TM2 Dinobot]

I'm not here to discuss this, but I found this review interesting, and it brought up heavily the Blade Runner aspect.

[highassroller]

Awesome movie, effects, suspense and actually scary vs just a crazy bug hunt. Not being a Star Trek Fan, the music was not something I noticed at all. I was too captivated by the acting, questions in the story, and twists to really notice the music.

SPOILER!! My main concerns with a plot hole was:

Why would the scientists that ran back to the ship in fear, run back to the area that scared them enough in the first place to run away? Then overcoming their fears, played with a strange new alien life form? Stay away from the dead body room if you are that scared. And after attacked, how come only one of them came back alive as a monster/zombie?

Some fans complained:

Why would the Engineers fly to earth just to leave maps and markings that lead only to death? Why not leave the canisters on earth 1,000s of years ago and kill us all off then?

However this did not bother me cause this was at the Question at the heart of the story that leads to the sequel. Why would our creators hate us so much suddenly and want to destroy us? It might be a recent change in heart, or a fraction of engineers that were trying to stop a larger plan? It's a question that could easily introduce a sequel.[/code]

Edited June 18, 2012 by highassroller

[MrClean]

So here's the only thing that really bugged me (aside from the unending questions about what everything meant)

After David got his head ripped out, it was tossed to the side and left lying there next to his body. Then after the Engineer's ship is rammed, damaged, crashed and ROLLED over the ground… David's head was in the exact same spot next to his body when the girl went to fetch him. Maybe he held on with a Gene Simmons-like tongue...

[youbastards]

I chalk that up to some type of artificial gravity/accelerometer tech that the Engineers have that we don't...

[Turtle]

I saw it this weekend and really loved it. One of the best sci-fi movies I've seen in a long, long time. I thought it was a great companion piece to Alien, and I really look forward to seeing where it goes next.

Spoilery thoughts:

I've got a couple of nitpicks:

1. "I'm a scientist, therefore I know all science" only works for Dana Scully, Vulcans, and robots/androids. I didn't like how Shaw was not only an archaeologist, but possibly also a biologist, a serologist, and an MD.

2. Cultural technology caps. It bothered me that these guys had some pretty spiffy looking technology (interactive holograms on the basketball court) when such technology did not appear to exist at later times. There was no need for that specific technology, and it conflicted with the previously established human world. That said, it can be justified and makes complete sense if this is Weyland technology that he did not share and that essentially died with him. But if I were seeing interactive holograms for the first time, I'd have a much bigger reaction than anyway in the crowd did.

3. The opening scene. I loved it, but for some reason, I really did not like SEEING the spaceship. I would have preferred to only see its shadow and then the cloud swirls as the Engineer looked up to see it leave. That scene to me was more about establishing an ominous presence, and actually seeing the ship took me out of that.

4. The Engineers are a perfect DNA match for humans? Really? Do you know any eight foot tall hairless men with pale blue skin? No? Me neither. Look at how similar human and chimpanzee DNA is and look at how vast the differences. Hell, look how similar DNA between two humans is and look at how vast the difference. If we had identical DNA, it wouldn't be because we were descended from them, it would be because we WERE them. Not similar. The same. It may have been more complex, but the movie didn't shy away from dealing with other complex issues. The least it could have done would be to add the additional 30-120 seconds required to properly explain the DNA thing. Or just say that our DNA is incredibly close, incredibly similar, more than coincidental.

Awesome movie, effects, suspense and actually scary vs just a crazy bug hunt. Not being a Star Trek Fan, the music was not something I noticed at all. I was too captivated by the acting, questions in the story, and twists to really notice the music.

SPOILER!! My main concerns with a plot hole was:

Why would the scientists that ran back to the ship in fear, run back to the area that scared them enough in the first place to run away? Then overcoming their fears, played with a strange new alien life form? Stay away from the dead body room if you are that scared. And after attacked, how come only one of them came back alive as a monster/zombie?

Just my take, but I think they were trying to find an area that provided some perceived protection from the elements and the pile of dead bodies. Big mistake. One came back as alien monster and the other didn't because they were infected in different ways. Milburn is attacked by the cobra-hugger which goes down his throat and kills him. Fifield is infected by the black goo. Two different causes. The black goo seems to transform people differently, suggesting the goo is itself a force of both creation and destruction. Fifield resisted and so he transforms into a destructive force. The Engineer at the beginning embraced, so he is transformed into a creative force. Holloway was somewhere in the middle, so his transformation involved both even if the creation aspect ended up being cthulhu's vagina. Either way, both goo-infected, transforming humans were cleansed by fire, Prometheus' gift to man. That I thought was more significant than either's reaction to the goo. Absolutely no idea why Milburn would have decided to get cuddly with the cobra-hugger.

Some fans complained:

Why would the Engineers fly to earth just to leave maps and markings that lead only to death? Why not leave the canisters on earth 1,000s of years ago and kill us all off then?

However this did not bother me cause this was at the Question at the heart of the story that leads to the sequel. Why would our creators hate us so much suddenly and want to destroy us? It might be a recent change in heart, or a fraction of engineers that were trying to stop a larger plan? It's a question that could easily introduce a sequel.[/code]

I initially wondered the same things. Ultimately, I kind of figured the map didn't lead to the homeworld, but rather a contact point. I mean, if the whole thing is questionable to begin with, you don't necessarily want to reveal all your cards, so you set up a more neutral, safe contact point. When the decision is made to destroy humanity that same contact point remains a viable staging ground for the obliteration/infection/infestation.

A lot of my thoughts about the movie have been covered in earlier posts, especially in that link provided by YB, but I wanted to add that:

I think it was hypocrisy that killed the Engineers. They are apparently all about selflessness and self-sacrifice. But instead of behaving with that spirit in mind, they begin an attempt to destroy a creation, almost as though their pride demands it. As truly selfless beings, they should have no interest in doing so, even if the humans killed their man Jesus. That even makes it seem more like an act of vengeance, something that at its very heart is selfish. Then we see the Engineers running from their own creation? Selfish. Then we see that one Engineer has preserved himself, just as Weyland has done. Finally we see the Engineer resist with all of his power the attack from the monster, a process I think he would have known would lead to a rebirth. So we see a kind of decline from self-sacrifice to self-preservation and selfishness.

I really want to go see it again to watch for more details.

[Punisher]

Those are some great explanations Turtle, cleared a few things up for me. One thing I am still wondering about is,

Was it implied in the movie that Jesus was an engineer, and that the killing of him was what triggered them to decide to eliminate the humans?

Edited June 18, 2012 by Punisher

[Turtle]

Those are some great explanations Turtle, cleared a few things up for me. One thing I am still wondering about is,

Was it implied in the movie that Jesus was an engineer, and that the killing of him was what triggered them to decide to eliminate the humans?

Well, it was hinted at in the movie. The Engineers' plan changed to one of destruction about 2000 years ago. Ridley Scott in an interview confirmed that Jesus was supposed to be an emissary of the Engineers and his death was the last straw:

Movies.com: You throw religion and spirituality into the equation for Prometheus, though, and it almost acts as a hand grenade. We had heard it was scripted that the Engineers were targeting our planet for destruction because we had crucified one of their representatives, and that Jesus Christ might have been an alien. Was that ever considered?

Ridley Scott: We definitely did, and then we thought it was a little too on the nose. But if you look at it as an “our children are misbehaving down there” scenario, there are moments where it looks like we’ve gone out of control, running around with armor and skirts, which of course would be the Roman Empire. And they were given a long run. A thousand years before their disintegration actually started to happen. And you can say, “Lets’ send down one more of our emissaries to see if he can stop it. Guess what? They crucified him.

http://www.movies.com/movie-news/ridley-scott-prometheus-interview/8232

[Jatta Pake]

Some plot problems I haven't seen addressed yet so feel free to explain to me:

The Engineers manufactured black goo on a desolate planet. They had several secret ships stashed on the planet and the first ship discovered was set to go to Earth. But instead of going to Earth 2000 years ago, the crew is overcome and killed by their goo. Got it. Questions: Why was one Engineer alive left in stasis? The goo monsters that killed everyone else couldn't find him? We saw the goo monster at the end transform an Engineer into a new monster. I guess goo monsters can't open doors?

What happened to the crews of the other ships? Did they all die on ship one? Why would they even be on ship one? Is there black goo canisters on the other ships? If not, why are the extra unpiloted ships even there?

What kind of spacefaring civilization has a military installation stocked with WMDs go dark without an investigation? It'd be like the U.S. losing contact with a base in Turkey that has stockpiled Smallpox weapons and no one goes to check it out. Seriously? These Engineers have human DNA but no common sense? One could reason that these Enineers just happen to be the very last of their kind but, really? Their final act is to invest in WMDs to kill off humans? It'd be like the Romans deciding as Rome fell that they needed to kill off all domesticated dogs as a final act.

Shitty cave art? You can build ships that travel the stars with 4D holographic equipment all operated by musical instruments, but you can't do basic illustrations and rely on finger painting? Instead of leaving massive granite messages on Earth, you put pefectly carved human heads in ships and on desolate planets?