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P R O M E T H E U S |OT| Ridley Scott goes back to Building Better Worlds

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Start the scripting process on Prometheus 2 (or whatever the fuck they decide to call it) and hire Alex Garland. Whatever happens, they need to ditch Lindelof asap.
 
Saw it last night, really quite enjoyed it, but wasn't a classic by any stretch of the imagination. I think people are being overly critical of the film, and it's quite obvious there is the intention for more films.

7.5/10
 
THE-Pink-Dagger said:
Those who dont like it, wait for director's cut, should change your mind with 20 more minutes, extended scenes and original cut.
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We don't even know if there will be such a cut.
And there's only so much 20 minutes of extra footage can do anyway. The issues with the plot and script run deep.


Scullibundo said:
Whatever happens, they need to ditch Lindelof asap.
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Sure, but I wouldn't blame it all on him. Scott apparently had a lot to say about the overall plot, and if it was anything like the disheartening, nigh incoherent ramblings I've read in recent interviews, it would probably be a good idea to keep him away from the writing process altogether...
Wait, even better: don't make a fucking sequel. Spend all that money on something a bit more deserving.
 
NotTheGuyYouKill said:
Are you sure this exists? Didn't Scott say that one being released in theaters is his director's cut?
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He keeps changing his mind and it was confirmed in Collider interview with GUY Pearce and Charlize that the original cut is 2h27, this + many shots from trailers, tv spots, featurettes missing from the movie, one scene recut entirely.
 
Scullibundo said:
Start the scripting process on Prometheus 2 (or whatever the fuck they decide to call it) and hire Alex Garland. Whatever happens, they need to ditch Lindelof asap.
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What's the difference between Lindelof's script and the original guy's script (Straithin?)?

THE-Pink-Dagger said:
He keeps changing his mind and it was confirmed in Collider interview with GUY Pearce and Charlize that the original cut is 2h27, this + many shots from trailers, tv spots, featurettes missing from the movie, one scene recut entirely.
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I see... well, when it hits Blu-Ray, I'll grab the longest cut.
 
NotTheGuyYouKill said:
What's the difference between Lindelof's script and the original guy's script (Straithin?)?
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Supposedly, Spaihts' version was more of an Alien prequel, but aside from that...
I've been saying that a lot, but I'd really like to compare both drafts. Should be interesting. But I don't believe they've been made available (yet?).
 
TrumanBurbank said:
Have you seen Sunshine's 3rd act?
No thank you.
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Why, yes. Yes I have.

uqLdwl.jpg


And Dagger - we don't know that too much was cut from the film. That 27 minute cut sounds like it may have also been a rough cut before the movie was trimmed and tightened. All we know so far is that Charlize is missing one scene with Elba.
 
THE-Pink-Dagger said:
He keeps changing his mind and it was confirmed in Collider interview with GUY Pearce and Charlize that the original cut is 2h27, this + many shots from trailers, tv spots, featurettes missing from the movie, one scene recut entirely.
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I hope a longer cut gets released. If the scenes were character building, and/or event build/aftermath scenes, it can only help the film IMO.
 
Scullibundo said:
Why, yes. Yes I have.

uqLdwl.jpg


And Dagger - we don't know that too much was cut from the film. That 27 minute cut sounds like it may have also been a rough cut before the movie was trimmed and tightened. All we know so far is that Charlize is missing one scene with Elba.
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The Fifield scene was totally recut and took place a totally different time in the movie (check trailers, and one guy with sources confirmed it on Prometheusforum), there are a lot of missing shots, changed things from actual scenes, so extended scenes. It is there.
 
zoukka said:
Not really if they don't bring anything concrete new info on the table.
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Well I just don't think anything regarding "answers," however that's applied here, was in those 20+ cut minutes so the least I can hope for are scenes that make the movie more "whole" from a character and progression standpoint.
 
One of the biggest disappointments for me was the
creature effects. Even after countless rewatches i *still* squirm when watching Alien and Aliens. The facehuggers are the most disturbing creatures in film to me - moreso than the xenomorphs. The worm aliens attacking the two dumbass guys i can't remember the names of, however, was almost comical to me. The effects just looked plain silly, especially when it went down the guys throat. Ditto for the Engineer getting attacked by the giant facehugger-like alien towards the end. Why did they have to use CG?! Practical effects would have made them so much more horrific and menacing. The less said about the final xenomorph shot the better. Why Ridley?! WHY?!?!
 
Saw this last night and thought it was excellent, the set and costume design in particular were some of the best I've seen in ages. I'd like to say I'm surprised at some of the negativity, but I'm not
 
Right, so...

Puddles said:
Hey, I've been banned for awhile and couldn't take part in the discussions.

Now's as good a time as any to ask:

Are there any cool/scary creatures in Prometheus? Everything I've been reading is extremely disappointing, as it seems that the aliens aren't in it at all. Is there at least anything remotely scary? The weird cobra thing that they showed in the trailer looked weak as all fuck.

Go ahead and spoil me; I don't really care about being spoiled. Black bars are fine.
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???
 
Puddles said:
Right, so...



???
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You asked for spoilers...
There's a little slimy squid thing that pops out of shaw which looks gross, but not scary.
That fucker then grows up into a huge tentacled monster/giant face hugger which is mildly intimidating but again, not particularly scary.
That's pretty much it I think.
 
WJD said:
You asked for spoilers...
There's a little slimy squid thing that pops out of shaw which looks gross, but not scary.
That fucker then grows up into a huge tentacled monster/giant face hugger which is mildly intimidating but again, not particularly scary.
That's pretty much it I think.
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Also cobra worms that jump into mouths and look like they suck up your organs, Engineers that are basically proto humans (big muscular bald humans), there is the huge tentacled thing WJD mentioned and there's a 5 second reveal of a young xenomorph queen
 
WJD said:
You asked for spoilers...
There's a little slimy squid thing that pops out of shaw which looks gross, but not scary.
That fucker then grows up into a huge tentacled monster/giant face hugger which is mildly intimidating but again, not particularly scary.
That's pretty much it I think.
Click to expand...

Pretty much it? ...really?
 
WJD said:
You asked for spoilers...
There's a little slimy squid thing that pops out of shaw which looks gross, but not scary.
That fucker then grows up into a huge tentacled monster/giant face hugger which is mildly intimidating but again, not particularly scary.
That's pretty much it I think.
Click to expand...

daviyoung said:
Also cobra worms that jump into mouths and look like they suck up your organs, Engineers that are basically proto humans (big muscular bald humans), there is the huge tentacled thing WJD mentioned and there's a 5 second reveal of a young xenomorph queen
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Right, pretty much confirms Scott has lost it if that's the best he could come up with. Or maybe Lindelof is the one to blame. How that guy makes millions of dollars to write fiction is completely beyond me.
 
Puddles said:
Right, pretty much confirms Scott has lost it if that's the best he could come up with. Or maybe Lindelof is the one to blame. How that guy makes millions of dollars to write fiction is completely beyond me.
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You haven't even seen it, what a carnivale of stupid.
 
Puddles said:
Right, pretty much confirms Scott has lost it
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This is rubbish though, sorry. Prom has more diversity and gives them more screen time than Alien ever did. Scott has not lost it, he hasn't made a film like this in 30 years, and it's not like he's Malick who's content with pumping one out a decade, Scott has made a ton of movies in between and most of them have been disappointing. Once again, this is Scott's return to form.
 
daviyoung said:
This is rubbish though, sorry. Prom has more diversity and gives them more screen time than Alien ever did. Scott has not lost it, he hasn't made a film like this in 30 years, and it's not like he's Malick who's content with pumping one out a decade, Scott has made a ton of movies in between and most of them have been disappointing. Once again, this is Scott's return to form.
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That's encouraging.

The answers to my questions made it sound like the horror aspects of this film were weak as fuck. As long as there's some scary shit, I'll be cool with this movie.
 
Puddles said:
Right, pretty much confirms Scott has lost it if that's the best he could come up with. Or maybe Lindelof is the one to blame. How that guy makes millions of dollars to write fiction is completely beyond me.
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You're judging a director's ability on how scary the monsters are?
 
Solo said:
That Ebert likes a movie written by satan himself, Damon Lindelof.
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You know what. I'm glad I didn't know the writer of Lost was on board, because I hate Lost. The knowledge would've probably given me some preconceptions about the movie.

WJD said:
You're judging a director's ability on how scary the monsters are?
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Nah, more like the word of a stranger about the scariness of those monsters in relation to his ability to direct.
 
Puddles said:
That's encouraging.

The answers to my questions made it sound like the horror aspects of this film were weak as fuck. As long as there's some scary shit, I'll be cool with this movie.
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Unfortunately, i found the movie tension-less and not at all horrifying. This post covers my thoughts on the creatures:

Spotless Mind said:
One of the biggest disappointments for me was the
creature effects. Even after countless rewatches i *still* squirm when watching Alien and Aliens. The facehuggers are the most disturbing creatures in film to me - moreso than the xenomorphs. The worm aliens attacking the two dumbass guys i can't remember the names of, however, was almost comical to me. The effects just looked plain silly, especially when it went down the guys throat. Ditto for the Engineer getting attacked by the giant facehugger-like alien towards the end. Why did they have to use CG?! Practical effects would have made them so much more horrific and menacing. The less said about the final xenomorph shot the better. Why Ridley?! WHY?!?!
Click to expand...
 
Peronally, I squirmed A TON during Prometheus and believe me I watch a lot of horror movies. The tension is there on multiple scenes. There have been people walking out of the theatre during the most talked about one.
 
Loved this. The ending outcome surprised me even though I had been spoilered by all possible trailers and tv-spots beforehand.
 
Scariest thing for me was most definitely
the caesarean scene.
Mother of god I haven't squirmed like that in a cinema seat since 127 Hours.
 
WJD said:
Scariest thing for me was most definitely
the caesarean scene.
Mother of god I haven't squirmed like that in a cinema seat since 127 Hours.
Click to expand...

You're not the first one who has made that comparison. My gf almost fainted on both occasions :D
 
zoukka said:
Peronally, I squirmed A TON during Prometheus and believe me I watch a lot of horror movies. The tension is there on multiple scenes. There have been people walking out of the theatre during the most talked about one.
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I found all the big horror scenes completely over the top and kind of comical. It was the type of stuff i expected Ridley to nail, but he just didn't for me. :/
 
zoukka said:
You haven't even seen it, what a carnivale of stupid.
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Lots of that going on. I don't know what I'll think about the movie but holy shit, at least I'm waiting to actually watch it. Gotdamn.

and EDIT: JESUS CHRIST, I know this is run of the mill but I haven't watched a movie in 3D in a while and holy shiiittttt I'm about to pay almost $30 in total... FUCK
 
Mafro said:
Saw this last night and thought it was excellent, the set and costume design in particular were some of the best I've seen in ages. I'd like to say I'm surprised at some of the negativity, but I'm not
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Well, you haven't touched on the plot, dialogues, characters...


Solo said:
That Ebert likes a movie written by satan himself, Damon Lindelof.
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Never mind Lindelof (who I don't think ought to shoulder the entire blame): it's just a stupid movie.
 
Finally get to check this out tomorrow. The middling reception has certainly tempered my expectations, which isn't always a bad thing.
 
Purchased my tickets for tomorrow night. Can't wait!!


Solo said:
Finally get to check this out tomorrow. The middling reception has certainly tempered my expectations, which isn't always a bad thing.
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This recently happened for me with John Carter. Ended up really liking the film after reading a lot of mixed reactions.
 
This post by Captain Dallas on CHUD touches upon some of the problems with Prometheus:

I've just got back from seeing Prometheus and the thing I realised straight off the bat discussing the film with the guys who came along with me is its hard not to sound like an Alien fan with severe butt hurt that this film wasn't Alien.

Now I am a big Alien fan (no shit) but I am also a fan of SF in general and I have to say that from that point of view alone, Prometheus is a total rambling mess. A beautifully shot mess, but a mess none the less.

There is so much wrong or simply mishandled with this film its hard to point at exactly where it all goes wrong. From a story perspective it seems to be unable to work out if its a 2001 wide eyed epic dawn of man, big concepts, SF or if its monster of the week SyFy shlock b-movie.

One of the major issues for me, is that the films concepts and opening half hour should be inspiring wonder from all concerned on board the Prometheus, yet most of the time the crew act like potentially finding the origin of the species and "Darwin in a can" is no big thing and its this lack of engagement with the situation that drains the life out of the film almost immediately. Most of the crew themselves are so lightly sketched they're barely there. We're told that the Prometheus has a crew of 17 yet we only meet five major characters, a couple of barely speaking parts and the rest are Ridleys Red Shirts, there purely to be bumped off in one of the few action moments, all of which undermines the films tension from the get go.

Fassbender acquits himself well and dominates every scene he's in, yet despite this, the script and the plotting throws his motivations and actions back and forth. Is he an Ash like malevolent android or a Bishop style innocent child? Its hard to say as the character flip flops between the two poles so often it gets hard to care. Noomi Rapace is the character we're supposed to be rooting for, but as with all the other characters she just seems to blunder from one scene to another with little motivation.

The scenes where....

Vickers sets fire to Logan Marshal Green's character, Sean Harris' character comes back from the dead, Davids betrayal of Shaw and her subsequent C-section from hell with a proto-facehugger being extracted....

...should all have had major consequences for crew dynamics and character interaction but these scenes are blown off and ignored within seconds and never raised again as if Scott and Lindelof just wanted to get past the bothersome story and script stuff and just kick off the Gods & Monsters action.

And when that action happens its pretty lacklustre, there is a couple of shocks but nothing astounding or even that frightening. The lack of scares isn't a major deal breaker if you at least cared about the characters involved, but beyond a brief moment of enjoyment from the growing friendship between Rafe Spall and Sean Harris' botanist and geologist, there's nothing to latch on to. Idris Elba is fine enough, but his main role in this is to squint at screens and Charlize Theron's corporate ice queen seems like a character that will "do a Ripley" starting all officious and thawing by the final scenes but that never happens.

The creatures (not the Jockeys) are so uninspired that I started to suspect that this wasn't so much a film set in the Alien universe as a knock off of Alien that sprung up on straight to VHS after its release like Titan Find or to a lesser extent Xtro, where you could imagine writers saying "Oh yeah and then the monster goes in his MOUTH!" or "And then the monster FUCKS HIS FACE MAN!" and then trying to write a plot around those one or two scenes. And where the creature in Alien had a very clear and queasily plausible life cycle, the wriggly critters from Prometheus, just feel like accidents or cruddy monsters from an Asylum flick, looking and acting like they do just because well everyone hates tentacles don't they?

And as for....
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to hide)

The finale proto Alien - It felt like wanky fan service, poorly executed, lacking Gigers design flourishes in fact it looked like an Alien designed by Gary Larson. And in the final analysis, that scene was stupid and insulting, especially after all the bollocks about its not a prequel from Scott and Lindelof

And what's worse, if you think back on everything in the film what Scott and Lindelof are saying is that the Alien is basically a hyper evolved earth worm.

In fairness the film has some big ideas in the first half but they're never explored in a satisfying way and by mid way through the film you get the sinking feeling it was added for no real reason than to just get the Prometheus to LV-226 so the monsters can start running about. By the end of the film I felt like I had been duped with the promise of something epic only to get something utterly underwhelming.

So as a SF fan I was deflated by the movie in so many ways. As an Alien fan, I just... well... I was pretty speechless by the end credits (see last spoiler as to why) and while Prometheus doesn't diminish Alien it certainly seemed to be trying extremely hard to explain everything yet making a pigs ear job of the whole thing.

I really need to think over the film again, to nail down more specifics about why I disliked this movie as much as I did but for the moment I'll have to just say that its not because its not Alien, its just because its not an interesting or engaging film
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