My opinion has been steadily dropping since leaving the cinema.
After the 'you are meant to feel like the characters' excuse, I'm now thinking the whole thing is meta and by the end of the trilogy we will want to kill the father of the screenplays.
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My opinion has been steadily dropping since leaving the cinema.
After the 'you are meant to feel like the characters' excuse, I'm now thinking the whole thing is meta and by the end of the trilogy we will want to kill the father of the screenplays.
Sorry if I sounded accusatory. It's just disappointing that they bungled this movie so much, with the apparent hope that a sequel will fix it's problems or answer our questions.
This pre-designed franchise stuff is one of the worst trends in Hollywood. It's like, if you've got a great idea or story to tell, tell it; don't tease me with some proof-of-concept.
James Woods
Banned
I was always apprehensive about this film. Ridley Scott has never been a consistent filmmaker and people assuming this was going to be a classic were fools. I am a fan of Ridley's work and I can completely accept that he as made bad/mediocre films. Coupled with one of the Lost wunderkind and welp.
Except they used Ridleys old movies as examples too and those are held as classics in the genre today. Also this is one day from premiere, so I doubt Ridleys been reading forums the whole night before the interview.
How hard are people going to eat crow if some of these mysteries are left as such even with these assumed sequels. Goddamn they need to bring Ford in to narrate the movie for some audiences like they did with Blade Runner.
What's odd is that you're right, I'm extremely disappointed in the film. Yet there's something about it that just made me love it; the uncontrolled insanity of it, the ideas it had, it's visuals, David, some of the themes it explored... I don't know, it was great. But it was also very very flawed.
For someone who was convinced everything in the film was absolutely clear, nothing was debatable, and didn't even need a sequel as everything was answered, you sure have had to adjust position quickly after their comments.
If you were in the film, you would have definitely destroyed the ship and killed yourself to save Earth from magic black goo WMD with no doubt in your mind at all
I should have explained why it will be my most disappointing film.
It's because I expected so much considering the director and the fact that Alien is his baby.
I know he wanted it to be in the same universe but taken in a different direction but he should have kept the Alien premise out of it and just told a great story and what a bloody great story to tell and fuck it all up so badly.
It's because I expected so much considering the director and the fact that Alien is his baby.
I know he wanted it to be in the same universe but taken in a different direction but he should have kept the Alien premise out of it and just told a great story and what a bloody great story to tell and fuck it all up so badly.
For someone who was convinced everything in the film was absolutely clear, nothing was debatable, and didn't even need a sequel as everything was answered, you sure have had to adjust position quickly after their comments.
If you were in the film, you would have definitely destroyed the ship and killed yourself to save Earth from magic black goo WMD with no doubt in your mind at all
I have never changed my view of the goo as a bioweapon. I've stated from the very beginning that I think there are different variations of it shown in the movie.
I think it's a lack of both characteristics and a poorly written dialogue. The fact that some of the characters were jumping in and out of their character in the movie was noticeable. For example, the biologist when discovering the (decapitated body) he seemed out of character and was not intrigued by this new species considering he's a biologist shouldn't he be intrigued to examine it? Also was there much use for the engineer? considering all he did was use those spherical scanners to provide an image of the cave/ship structural frame, anyone could have done that? with the inconsistency of character I guess this is why there wasn't much dialogue between the crew? That is just my own personal view on it.
That bit was disgraceful, agreed. He shouldn't have treated a vicious looking alien organism like his favourite fucking dog.
I understand the criticisms, but I think it's odd that you could apply them to the first two films; Alien doesn't have much dialogue save plot expository such as this one, and Aliens has some very bad dialogue.
We should have had it confirmed she was his daughter in the first place, then we could have known she wants to take over the company or something. And like I said in my plot, Fifield should have been a viable threat that kills someone important.
Am I the only one who thought that from the moment I saw Vickers character getting introduced? And the scene where David read Weylands dreams and Vickers acted all emotional and out of character was the final confirmation surely.
Haha this is actually one scene in the movie I felt not working as intended. I was waiting for her to crawl under the ship or something.
AGiantSheep
Neo Member
Why did Vickers' escape pod crash? Did it malfunction or was there a reason? She didn't seem confused afterwards.
I thought she was going to be an android considering how easily she threw David against the wall.
storafötter
Member
I just watched the film and boy was I more disappointed that I would be expecting. The dialogue and the characters was terrible. At first I thought it was a bit odd that the group decided to keep their helmets off most of the time despite the risk of being infected by anything. However I gave it the benefit of doubt as things could get better. I really did enjoy the build up towards the "outbreak", but when the outbreak started the plot just started falling apart.
I like how despite Elizabeth kicking the medical team like a madman before they are able to examine her properly she rushes to that machine without any disturbance to go through the "operation". The scene in itself was nice, but what made little sense was what happened afterwards and the motivations. Okay so apparently nobody seemed to care about where she had been running off to after beating the medical crew, and she happens to stumble upon mr Weyland and David again. She is surprised to see him still alive and wants to get away from the planet. However Mr.Weyland questions her new found doubts, and magically convinces her to join him to greet this alive Alien after going through an extreme form of abortion and losing her lover a few hours earlier. Then we get the wonderful dialogue between her and the captain before she leaves to meet the friendly alien with Mr.Weyland. The captain seems to not care about seeking this one chance on meeting this alien, because he is simply just a captain. I simply couldn't believe the bad dialogue, especially considering that she herself was having doubts a bit earlier. Then that same captain who was made fun of for not caring (as he is only a captain) decides to play the hero for the day and takes Elizabeth's without doubt to sacrifice his life for the sake of humanity. Then we have the wonderful ending with that she will kick some alien butt by returning to their planet, which makes perfectly sense.
That being said, there is a lot of other things to criticize but those scenes in particular bothered me the most. However the film was still enjoyable (although predictable) to watch if you ignore the bland characters (exception was the Android) and terrible dialogue. My favourite scenes were the introduction to David, and the "abortion". I think they did a good job at conveying the androids robotic nature and morbid scientific curiosity. Even if I dont agree with how they carried off the plot it was fine, because it was the dialogue and characters that ruined the story. I know that the older films had as bad characters, but at least they did not try as hard to desperately prove that two people were in love and that one of them believed in God. Stereotypical characters are best left at the minimum if you are bad at writing believable and strong characters.
I like how despite Elizabeth kicking the medical team like a madman before they are able to examine her properly she rushes to that machine without any disturbance to go through the "operation". The scene in itself was nice, but what made little sense was what happened afterwards and the motivations. Okay so apparently nobody seemed to care about where she had been running off to after beating the medical crew, and she happens to stumble upon mr Weyland and David again. She is surprised to see him still alive and wants to get away from the planet. However Mr.Weyland questions her new found doubts, and magically convinces her to join him to greet this alive Alien after going through an extreme form of abortion and losing her lover a few hours earlier. Then we get the wonderful dialogue between her and the captain before she leaves to meet the friendly alien with Mr.Weyland. The captain seems to not care about seeking this one chance on meeting this alien, because he is simply just a captain. I simply couldn't believe the bad dialogue, especially considering that she herself was having doubts a bit earlier. Then that same captain who was made fun of for not caring (as he is only a captain) decides to play the hero for the day and takes Elizabeth's without doubt to sacrifice his life for the sake of humanity. Then we have the wonderful ending with that she will kick some alien butt by returning to their planet, which makes perfectly sense.
That being said, there is a lot of other things to criticize but those scenes in particular bothered me the most. However the film was still enjoyable (although predictable) to watch if you ignore the bland characters (exception was the Android) and terrible dialogue. My favourite scenes were the introduction to David, and the "abortion". I think they did a good job at conveying the androids robotic nature and morbid scientific curiosity. Even if I dont agree with how they carried off the plot it was fine, because it was the dialogue and characters that ruined the story. I know that the older films had as bad characters, but at least they did not try as hard to desperately prove that two people were in love and that one of them believed in God. Stereotypical characters are best left at the minimum if you are bad at writing believable and strong characters.
They were very low and I don't think it was even meant for anything else than to float in space and land.
Surely the androids were made so that they wouldn't break humans accidentally if they bumped into them. Also "as humanlike as possible".
THE-Pink-Dagger
Member
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/06...theus-loose-ends-repeat-viewings-and-sequels/
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/06/03/the-rest-of-our-prometheus-conversation-with-damon-lindelof/
Great interview. Lindelof talks about the not explaining everything as a double-edged sword and asked Ridley if he was sure that he's wanted since Lindelof had been hammered on Lost for this, and Ridley said he would rather have people pissed off and trying to find theories than spell it out because according to Lindelof: Scott likes to piss people off.
So all you naysayers can keep saying this is a lame excuse, yada yada, but this is a conscious choice, and no damage control. As Lindelof says, some will dig this mystery, others will hate it.
Can"t pleas everyone, just have to deal with it.
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/06/03/the-rest-of-our-prometheus-conversation-with-damon-lindelof/
Great interview. Lindelof talks about the not explaining everything as a double-edged sword and asked Ridley if he was sure that he's wanted since Lindelof had been hammered on Lost for this, and Ridley said he would rather have people pissed off and trying to find theories than spell it out because according to Lindelof: Scott likes to piss people off.
So all you naysayers can keep saying this is a lame excuse, yada yada, but this is a conscious choice, and no damage control. As Lindelof says, some will dig this mystery, others will hate it.
Can"t pleas everyone, just have to deal with it.
I believe Aliens 1 & 2 still bind the characters together more in personality than what was shown in Prometheus.
True.
THE-Pink-Dagger
Member
Fifield, not a viable threat?! He may not kill anyone important (by the way, according to someone who worked on the movie, this scene took place during the Weyland visit to the Engineer, you can see it in the trailers, mercs shooting, and,Weyland in the background, it has been recut) but he's still super human, he fucks em all up brutally.
So that really was the idea, huh?Damon Lindelof said:
Holy shit. So fucking dumb.
Yes, I've spent enough time over in the Lost topic to know that some people just love shitty storytelling... I think I'll keep disagreeing with them.
Sure.Damon Lindelof said:
What will be really damning is if we get the sequel and these issues still stay hanging loose.
Edit: Am I the only one who loved Janek? He was manly, quirky, compassionate and heroic. Whereas I wanted Vickers to die, say, by being crushed by a giant ship when she was too dumb to run left or right, I was rather sad to see Janek die. He must have been ruing his decision to sacrifice himself alongside those two dweebs.
Edit: Am I the only one who loved Janek? He was manly, quirky, compassionate and heroic. Whereas I wanted Vickers to die, say, by being crushed by a giant ship when she was too dumb to run left or right, I was rather sad to see Janek die. He must have been ruing his decision to sacrifice himself alongside those two dweebs.
He gets killed after 5 seconds killing a bunch of faceless people. Not a viable threat for me, should have killed someone worthwhile.
The Fifield scene could have been cut and nobody would have known the difference. Well, at least we don't have to answer "Where did Fifield's body go?", though now I have this image of him walking all the way up to the ship and organising himself in the most ridiculous position possible.
I loved Janek, very cool character. Idris Elba has such natural charisma, he and Fassbender were a delight to watch. I love that you can tell Fassbender is the type to study acting just as David studied O'Toole, it's a proper craft to him. Elba is naturally very charismatic.
The scene where the ship is crashing towards the ground, and the two remaining characters run away... It's EXACTLY like a cartoon, where someone is running along a tree falling, rather than just sidestep, and it is just as stupid. It is LITERALLY SHOWN than they can just move 2 meters over and avoid the whole shit, like Shawn does. Holy fuck, how stupid.
-Plasma Reus-
Service guarantees member status
Absolutely agree here. Of all the human characters, he seemed the most human and realistic.
Film has a lot of flaws. I keep seeing it as being equal to Aliens in a lot of ways. Here's hoping they learn from the lessons and give us an ALIEN prequel with the prometheus sequel that's in the works.
Does Shaw? Far as I remember, she inconveniently falls over (like someone fleeing the killer in a slasher flick) and is saved by a particularly jutty rock.
I don't think these questions have been asked yet, I only quickly scanned the thread.
Is Vickers an android? She was the first to wake up and went right into doing press ups, where as everyone else needed to wait for their bodies to adjust. Also 'father'.
What were the holograms all about? It seemed like the Engineers wanted to show that they died and that they were planning on going to Earth, but why? And who set that up?
I love not knowing everything about a film, I get that it's not the best way of telling a story, but it's great way of getting you interested enough to create your own story.
Is Vickers an android? She was the first to wake up and went right into doing press ups, where as everyone else needed to wait for their bodies to adjust. Also 'father'.
What were the holograms all about? It seemed like the Engineers wanted to show that they died and that they were planning on going to Earth, but why? And who set that up?
I love not knowing everything about a film, I get that it's not the best way of telling a story, but it's great way of getting you interested enough to create your own story.
storafötter
Member
In regards to why David contaminated Charlie, I feel like David also had a personal grudge. Everytime they talked Charlie mocked David for being a robot. Even if the biggest motivation was curiousity, the dialogues between the two of them kept being offensive.
I agree that the goo/worm/baby thing is confusing. Also is the effects of the contamination that it grants you super strength or just blows up your body. I was not so fond of the use of the engineers. Thar starting scene was pretty silly by that waterfall.
Would be best to keep them still dead than alive among all those other mysterious threats unexplained.
Thats a good point. I was uncertain throughout the film.
I agree that the goo/worm/baby thing is confusing. Also is the effects of the contamination that it grants you super strength or just blows up your body. I was not so fond of the use of the engineers. Thar starting scene was pretty silly by that waterfall.
Would be best to keep them still dead than alive among all those other mysterious threats unexplained.
Thats a good point. I was uncertain throughout the film.
Janek straight up asks Vickers, "Are you a robot?" If she were an android, she wouldn't need to go into cryo at all, and she probably wouldn't be programmed to be a massive, hardfaced arsehole.
Edit: And why would an android do press-ups? No, I think she's literally Weyland's offspring.
Edit: And why would an android do press-ups? No, I think she's literally Weyland's offspring.
Do you remember David's reason for wearing the suit? And wasn't Ash sleeping in Alien? But I guess that was so no one found out...
Either way I guess it doesn't change the plot at all.
I don't believe she's an android, looked like she was doing press-ups to get heat into her body?
I think the biggest revelation in this thread so far is that UK people call push-ups "press-ups"
I call them push ups. I've just said press ups in my head and it sounds weird, but I'm sure I've heard it used, I'm having a brain fart
Yep. Space Jockeys are called Engineers, they're humanoid creatures. The elephantine mask is a sort of pilot helmet that comes out the back of the chair.
Thank you.
I didn't like that.
It went from being an unsettling, unfathomable alien in, well, Alien, to a big human in a suit (literally) in this.
I just think it's a lot less interesting. The other creature designs were good, I was just disappointed to see the Space Jockey design made into a suit and not a real creature.
Moggelicious
Banned
Vickers and shaw should have survived for the sequel, could be some good dynamics there!
jonnyp
Member
I wanted to see more of a buildup to the actual journey and to set up the story and whole movie more. I would've liked to have seen the Weyland TED talk in the movie. It seems they took it for granted that everyone going to see the movie had seen all the viral videos beforehand.
I also think the movie rushes too much at the end. Too much happens too fast. The plot could have been fleshed out a lot more.
The Shaw surgery on herself is just stupid, I don't understand how they could include that, there's no way she could physically stand, walk or run seconds after cutting through muscles in her abdomen. I also always thought it was ridiculous how fast the alien infection grew inside the hosts in the Alien movies, and it's the same here.
I don't understand why Fifield came back as a zombie, waiting outside the Prometheus with his limbs all garbled up like that and then being able to stand
Why didn't Vickers run to the side before she was crushed?
The plot is rushed and some things really badly executed, but I still liked the movie a lot. It was a fun watch but could've been so much better.
I also think the movie rushes too much at the end. Too much happens too fast. The plot could have been fleshed out a lot more.
The Shaw surgery on herself is just stupid, I don't understand how they could include that, there's no way she could physically stand, walk or run seconds after cutting through muscles in her abdomen. I also always thought it was ridiculous how fast the alien infection grew inside the hosts in the Alien movies, and it's the same here.
I don't understand why Fifield came back as a zombie, waiting outside the Prometheus with his limbs all garbled up like that and then being able to stand
Why didn't Vickers run to the side before she was crushed?
The plot is rushed and some things really badly executed, but I still liked the movie a lot. It was a fun watch but could've been so much better.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
That was some fuckawful aging makeup.
jonnyp
Member
Haha agreed.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
That was some Watchmen-quality old age makeup.
Such a bonkers decision.
But hey, at least he did the TED viral which isn't in the film!
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Oh and for those that don't know - that opening scene (aka my favourite scene) with David walking around the ship with the basketball etc while all the others were asleep is an idea of Cameron's that he had for Bishop. Loved the tone of it. Mind you, it went a little beyond the machinations of another machine (ie: the android) and into some watered-down A.I-inspired stuff in Prometheus.
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