PROMETHEUS UNMARKED SPOILER THREAD!

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David translated?

hOmTL.jpg
 
Oh god. I shouldn't read this thread. It's confusing everything.
 
Possibly. Weyland said they were. Vickers contradicted that in private later.

Still pretty stupid. You travel across the Universe. It takes you two years to get to this planet which according their research is Earth like and has life. Or had life. You see dome structures. You know someone made them. You don't know if they are alive, dead, friendly, or hostile. You walk in with a team other scientists.

You don't think carrying weapons just in case would be smart?

I think I was annoyed that they even mentioned it. Take out that line from the movie and maybe I don't even notice it much.

And again what the geologist and biologist do to get lost and then remain lost to their eventual deaths are extremely stupid actions. They went from elite scientists brought on a mission to generic sacrificial lambs.

And also my earlier point, did anyone else feel like the crew didn't seem to appreciate the enormity of the discover? I compared it the Jurassic Park because that movie really sells the first time discovering/seeing dinosaurs. You see it through the characters reactions, the music, and the way its introduced to the audience. I feel like Prometheus only nailed the audience part. I was in awe. But the characters really didn't see to be. The score was lacking.

Might be minor for others, but I just felt throughout the movie the crew acted really un-human like.
 
And also my earlier point, did anyone else feel like the crew didn't seem to appreciate the enormity of the discover? I compared it the Jurassic Park because that movie really sells the first time discovering/seeing dinosaurs. You see it through the characters reactions, the music, and the way its introduced to the audience. I feel like Prometheus only nailed the audience part. I was in awe. But the characters really didn't see to be. The score was lacking.

Might be minor for others, but I just felt throughout the movie the crew acted really un-human like.

Yes, I felt the same way. Was amplified by the biologist getting freaked out and bailing when presented with the decapitated Engineer when that should have been the pinnacle of his life's work. And then later it became stupid when he suddenly became interested in alien life again when presented with the mutant worm to the point of irrationality given the thing was pretty much obviously acting like a riled cobra.

Similarly, it felt like the reaction of Holloway was all wrong i.e. "Hmmm I going to ignore the enormously significant discoveries of a series of intelligent alien complexes, examples of culture, language and technology, and the discovery and partial recovery of an alien body, because we don't seem to have found anything alive in the 60 minutes we have been here, so I'm going to sulk because it appears I have wasted my time".
 
Yes, I felt the same way. Was amplified by the biologist getting freaked out and bailing when presented with the decapitated Engineer when that should have been the pinnacle of his life's work. And then later it became stupid when he suddenly became interested in alien life again when presented with the mutant worm to the point of irrationality given the thing was pretty much obviously acting like a riled cobra.

Similarly, it felt like the reaction of Holloway was all wrong i.e. "Hmmm I going to ignore the enormously significant discoveries of a series of intelligent alien complexes, examples of culture, language and technology, and the discovery and partial recovery of an alien body, because we don't seem to have found anything alive in the 60 minutes we have been here, so I'm going to sulk because it appears I have wasted my time".

I'm convinced that Ridley & Co. have never met an actual researcher in their lives. Or any professional for that matter. The characters in this movie were almost puerile in demonstration of occupations of science.
 
Still pretty damn stupid to have such a machine be configured for men only...

There were only like 15 of them ever made and were ridiculously expensive. It's not unreasonable for them to have to be programmed a certain way.
 
Yes, I felt the same way. Was amplified by the biologist getting freaked out and bailing when presented with the decapitated Engineer when that should have been the pinnacle of his life's work. And then later it became stupid when he suddenly became interested in alien life again when presented with the mutant worm to the point of irrationality given the thing was pretty much obviously acting like a riled cobra.

Similarly, it felt like the reaction of Holloway was all wrong i.e. "Hmmm I going to ignore the enormously significant discoveries of a series of intelligent alien complexes, examples of culture, language and technology, and the discovery and partial recovery of an alien body, because we don't seem to have found anything alive in the 60 minutes we have been here, so I'm going to sulk because it appears I have wasted my time".

God this is so true. Even when they got there they should have scanned and observed the planet for weeks, send down radio signals, instead they said, we only have 6 hours, lets go in straight away before it gets dark. WTF
 
There were only like 15 of them ever made and were ridiculously expensive. It's not unreasonable for them to have to be programmed a certain way.

I don't see how anybody could substantiate anything about that deus ex machina medpod.

The real questions are:

Why was it open access?
Why was it in the shape of a pod instead of an operating table?
Why didn’t it induce anesthesia prior to a surgical operation?
Why did it use a laser to cut her open instead of a precision Liston-type blade? Sure, lasers look cool but they inhibit healing due to burning necessary cells.
Why didn’t Ridley & Co. talk to medical professions when devising this dumb shit?

From a medical viewpoint, that machine was pretty fucking dumb.
 
I watched it for a third time. The first half is easily as enjoyable as Alien. The 2nd half is hit and miss but man the film looks so good :D

Fifield getting lost was pretty funny, I guess that whole pyramid structure is like a maze. I really don't know what the point of the proto xeno was at the end, Shaw has left so what is there for him to do? I really cant see such an alien pilot a ship.
 
Still pretty stupid. You travel across the Universe. It takes you two years to get to this planet which according their research is Earth like and has life. Or had life. You see dome structures. You know someone made them. You don't know if they are alive, dead, friendly, or hostile. You walk in with a team other scientists.

You don't think carrying weapons just in case would be smart?

I think I was annoyed that they even mentioned it. Take out that line from the movie and maybe I don't even notice it much.

And again what the geologist and biologist do to get lost and then remain lost to their eventual deaths are extremely stupid actions. They went from elite scientists brought on a mission to generic sacrificial lambs.

And also my earlier point, did anyone else feel like the crew didn't seem to appreciate the enormity of the discover? I compared it the Jurassic Park because that movie really sells the first time discovering/seeing dinosaurs. You see it through the characters reactions, the music, and the way its introduced to the audience. I feel like Prometheus only nailed the audience part. I was in awe. But the characters really didn't see to be. The score was lacking.

Might be minor for others, but I just felt throughout the movie the crew acted really un-human like.

You don't even need to look at a masterpiece like JP to see discovery done done better. Just look at Stargate. Almost the same beginning, but did a much better job making it about how cool the discovery was. Everyone keeps praising the first half, but it really was poorly done.
 
I'm kind of awestruck with the number of people who've told me that they watched this movie, didn't like it, and it was solely due to the characters. I mean, people who aren't film buffs, or even really seem to criticize movies at all have all told me that, it's kind of weird.

Like I said, I personally thought it was okay, I really loved the visuals, but I just wanted to bring that up because two other friends were telling me that yesterday.
 
I'm kind of awestruck with the number of people who've told me that they watched this movie, didn't like it, and it was solely due to the characters. I mean, people who aren't film buffs, or even really seem to criticize movies at all have all told me that, it's kind of weird.

Like I said, I personally thought it was okay, I really loved the visuals, but I just wanted to bring that up because two other friends were telling me that yesterday.

You don't need a PHD to know Lindelof is a hack.

One of the first things I though after leaving the cinema was that I wished I watched it in a language I didn't know without sub titles, the visual splendor can't overcome that writing.
 
I'm kind of awestruck with the number of people who've told me that they watched this movie, didn't like it, and it was solely due to the characters. I mean, people who aren't film buffs, or even really seem to criticize movies at all have all told me that, it's kind of weird.

Like I said, I personally thought it was okay, I really loved the visuals, but I just wanted to bring that up because two other friends were telling me that yesterday.

I am usually not one of those people. I fought forever against the whole mindset that Inception was bad because the characters were supposedly paper thin. That may be but they were just surrounding or supporting characters for the heist and main story line which was Leo's obsession. And they stuck to their purpose. One built dreams. The other mimics people. And so on and so on.

In Prometheus I understand the reason for having different scientists from different backgrounds, but none of them act like their role. Its not that they ruined the experience, its just that they were extremely dumb and purely put there to be killed. Even the captain's co-pilots. Their whole purpose was to die at the end and to increase the impact of the sacrifice by making it 3 humans rather than 1.

I was also thinking about how Ripley acted when she found out that there was an alternative agenda Ash was pursuing and how everyone (the remaining crew) turned on him to try to stop him. In Prometheus we have an almost similar scenario but instead everyone including Shaw seemingly looks over it and joins Weyland again for another expedition. I just feel like a lot was cut in between those scenes. So much happens with so little real reaction or response.

Still these were minor quips I guess. As I left the theater I liked the movie a lot more than I do now. And a part of that is because now reading up on everyone else's theories and opinions based on the other Alien movies, a lot of things don't make sense. And as a standalone film its far better than it is as a prequel to Alien.
 
Oh and on the visuals, since I feel like I might be comings across too negative.

This was one of the best looking and shot movies I have ever seen. I mean it. Everything from the ship design, the suits, the set design inside the Alien structure, the color scheme was perfect.

That opening sequence was absorbing to the point I was on the edge of my seat immediately. It just felt so epic. The visuals throughout were amazing.
 
I watched this movie yesterday in IMAX 3D. Leave it to Ridley Scott to completely blow away any preconceptions I had about 3D being a worthless piece of technology. This had to be one of the more sumptuous movies I've ever seen.

As far as the movie itself is concerned, the first half of the movie definitely has the same DNA as Alien: long space trip, crew lands on an alien planet, crew explores weird alien artifacts, weird alien creatures appear but we do not understand how they function, slowly we realize that they are dangerous and predatory (although the audience knew this all along), the android ends up being a bad guy and wants to kill humans.

The difference is that while Alien kept the second half simple (Ripley's survival instincts kick in and all she is interested in is getting the hell out of dodge), Prometheus' second half is relatively complex and does not really answer any questions (why did the Engineers develop this weapon? Why did they create humans? Why are they trying to kill humans? Why are the aliens in this movie so different than the aliens in Alien?).

I'm not necessarily saying that I want answers to all those questions, since this allows people to discuss the movie and think about how it ties into the Alien movies, but it does not end on a satisfying note as does Alien.
 
I think we all need a reminder that just because we dissect a movie and maybe complain about parts it doesn't mean we're trying to make someone else hate the movie when they actually liked it. We're here to discuss it, we just lack the ability to spill beer on each other as we get excited over a scene.

In sci-fi I think its important that you get the day to day details right so I can embrace the more far fetched or fantastical ideas. When you mess up easy things it makes it harder for me to stay immersed.

You can't come to a movie threat and expect it to contain only your opinion.

"I can't believe all the idiot hate here!"
"You liked this crap movie?!"

Every movie gets torn apart afterwards (well except Avengers - that was perfect). I love hearing other peoples thoughts on the Engineers or what the grand plan was. Hell I hope they make a sequel-prequel-Prometheus 2.
 
I watched this movie yesterday in IMAX 3D. Leave it to Ridley Scott to completely blow away any preconceptions I had about 3D being a worthless piece of technology. This had to be one of the more sumptuous movies I've ever seen.

My big regret here. I didn't choose 3D cause I wanted to see the detail and then of course I hear its the best 3D to date. I'll be in the corner flogging myself.
 
I watched this movie yesterday in IMAX 3D. Leave it to Ridley Scott to completely blow away any preconceptions I had about 3D being a worthless piece of technology. This had to be one of the more sumptuous movies I've ever seen.

As far as the movie itself is concerned, the first half of the movie definitely has the same DNA as Alien: long space trip, crew lands on an alien planet, crew explores weird alien artifacts, weird alien creatures appear but we do not understand how they function, slowly we realize that they are dangerous and predatory (although the audience knew this all along), the android ends up being a bad guy and wants to kill humans.

The difference is that while Alien kept the second half simple (Ripley's survival instincts kick in and all she is interested in is getting the hell out of dodge), Prometheus' second half is relatively complex and does not really answer any questions (why did the Engineers develop this weapon? Why did they create humans? Why are they trying to kill humans? Why are the aliens in this movie so different than the aliens in Alien?).

I'm not necessarily saying that I want answers to all those questions, since this allows people to discuss the movie and think about how it ties into the Alien movies, but it does not end on a satisfying note as does Alien.

I think you nailed it. Its one thing to spawn discussion and thought over cool ideas but the movie provides zero answers to the many many many questions and ideas it presents. And its not because they didn't have time. The whole premise of the trip was to find out why and if they created humans.

And we leave the movie not knowing anything about that answer and instead have more questions lumped on.
 
Pretty sure it sprayed a local anesthetic on the area to be cut.

Haha!

Right and Ridley & Co. are counting on the audience to be either be suspending their disbelief or too naive to know how complications occur when a patient isn't induced. We're not talking about minimally invasive surgery here, dudes.

That machine is conveniently magical and can do anything that Ridley & Co. want it to.
 
Haha!

Right and Ridley & Co. are counting on the audience to be either be suspending their disbelief or too naive to know how complications occur when a patient isn't induced. We're not talking about minimally invasive surgery here, dudes.

That machine is conveniently magical and can do anything that Ridley & Co. want it to.

Its the future, these guys have the technology for space travel, I can have suspension of disbelief about a do-it-all medical machine with super-anesthesia, specially when is introduced as just one among merely dozens made by a multi-trillion dollar corporation.

I mean, is that really your problem with the movie? because if so you probably don't enjoy much sci-fi movies to begin with.
 
Haha!

Right and Ridley & Co. are counting on the audience to be either be suspending their disbelief or too naive to know how complications occur when a patient isn't induced. We're not talking about minimally invasive surgery here, dudes.

That machine is conveniently magical and can do anything that Ridley & Co. want it to.

It's scifiction

It's scifiction

It's scifiction


N

It's for an emergency procedure anyhow.

Btw why wasnt there a doctor on the team. *ahem*
 
Btw people saying they walked out confused... I really wasnt. I walked out really happy with the movie and I loved that we got this movie. I really enjoyed it and even after I read about the plot holes, I still really like it when I watched it the 2nd time.


BLURAY STAT!!!!
 
Its one thing to spawn discussion and thought over cool ideas but the movie provides zero answers to the many many many questions and ideas it presents. And its not because they didn't have time.

The problem with the film is not that answers aren't provided. In fact, I'd say that one of the few strengths of the film is that there are no answers.

The problem is that revelations and the questions that spawn from them carry absolutely no weight whatsoever. It's fine to not answer the questions, it's NOT fine for the questions to have no substantive impact.
 
My big regret here. I didn't choose 3D cause I wanted to see the detail and then of course I hear its the best 3D to date. I'll be in the corner flogging myself.

I saw it in 3D and 2D. The 3D was great but I actually preferred the movie in 2D.
 
I think you nailed it. Its one thing to spawn discussion and thought over cool ideas but the movie provides zero answers to the many many many questions and ideas it presents. And its not because they didn't have time. The whole premise of the trip was to find out why and if they created humans.

And we leave the movie not knowing anything about that answer and instead have more questions lumped on.

I think it suffers from summer blockbuster-itis. It's not going to try and be controversial. I wished they did provide the hard answers but the studio probably wanted the movie to be accessible to all. Any answer to life they would have stated in the movie would have met real life resistance despite being a work of fiction.
 
I wonder if David was meant to serve as doctor. I got that impression.

He could probably have done it all being android and can probably learn anything; although communications seemed to be his focus in the movie. He did learn how to activate and fly the ship.

Shaw and ugly looking broad seemed medical/biological. But no clearly spelt out medical personnel. My impression of shaw at the start was archeologist??
 
I think it suffers from summer blockbuster-itis. It's not going to try and be controversial. I wished they did provide the hard answers but the studio probably wanted the movie to be accessible to all. Any answer to life they would have stated in the movie would have met real life resistance despite being a work of fiction.

But the fact that it is rated R and not accessible to all already limits its audience base. I don't think it suffers for, blockbuster-itis as you described. It's just flawed. Maybe the people working on it were too close to seethe flaws; and that includes RS
 
There were only like 15 of them ever made and were ridiculously expensive. It's not unreasonable for them to have to be programmed a certain way.
It's healthier to think of a script as something someone wrote rather than as a representation of a real world.

So the issue with the "it's only configured for men" line is not that it's a 100% inconceivable or impossible proposition, but that it's sound stupid and more importantly, it has serves no fucking purpose.
It should have said - "this machine does not support c-sect", which would actually make perfect sense and wouldn't make you wonder (once again) if everyone is stupid is that universe.
I mean, the point of that scene is to have an alien caesarean, not to provide commentary on the state of medical equipment in the 21st century, it just need to not sound stupid.
And the script failed at that.

p.s.
No, I don't think this particular line is a huge deal, but man, it's emblematic of the film's problems.
 
The humans were horrible to David throughtout the film. Even Shaw at the end when he gave her the 'heads up'. Oh you wouldn't understand David YOU'RE JUST A STUPID DUMB ROBOT. The robot showed more tenderness than any of the humans

It's healthier to think of a script as something someone wrote rather than as a representation of a real world.

So the issue with the "it's only configured for men" line is not that it's a 100% inconceivable or impossible proposition, but that it's sound stupid and more importantly, it has serves no fucking purpose.

The point was to tip off the audience that the life raft and its machinery weren't designed with Vickers in mind
 
It's healthier to think of a script as something someone wrote rather than as a representation of a real world.

So the issue with the "it's only configured for men" line is not that it's a 100% inconceivable or impossible proposition, but that it's sound stupid and more importantly, it has serves no fucking purpose.
It should have said - "this machine does not support c-sect", which would actually make perfect sense and wouldn't make you wonder (once again) if everyone is stupid is that universe.
I mean, the point of that scene is to have an alien caesarean, not to provide commentary on the state of medical equipment in the 21st century, it just need to not sound stupid.
And the script failed at that.

p.s.
No, I don't think this particular line is a huge deal, but man, it's emblematic of the film's problems.

Iawtp for the most parts

But yeah.

Such a minor thing about the movie. Nitpicking it to death at this point.
 
Iawtp for the most parts

But yeah.

Such a minor thing about the movie. Nitpicking it to death at this point.
The big issues of the film were discussed to death -
  • It's not scary.
  • The motivations and reactions of everyone and everything don't make sense (including the aliens).
  • The script is filled with convenient plot devices and just feel super lazy.
  • It want to talk about big themes of the meaning of life, god etc. but at the end of the day, it amounts to nothing on that front (well, if you think about the movie metaphorically it gets to the "so bad it's good territory", so there's that).

That minor point merely a small and insignificant example to how poor the writing is.
In and by itself it's meaningless, and a movie can most assuredly be a masterpiece while having such small problems.

Edit: and in any case, I was more commenting on that approach to movie criticism - again, everything can be explained, that's not a sign of a good screenplay.

It served to foreshadow that Weyland was onboard the ship.
And that could have not been achieved in a way that wouldn't make large parts of the audience go "whaaa?"
Also, why does that point need foreshadowing?
 
Btw why wasnt there a doctor on the team. *ahem*

Well not a doctor I would have trusted. They were all bagging and tagging her ass for cryo. She had to escape and take care of it herself or she would have been floating in a test tube eventually.

BTW my favorite scene looking back was when the two lost guys got attacked by the slither hugger. The guy has his arm constricted and it just kept getting worse by the second. I thought that they did that scene very well.
 
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