No I never felt that all the characters were dumb. Some of them yes, but that's given in a movie like this.
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No I never felt that all the characters were dumb. Some of them yes, but that's given in a movie like this.
Nappuccino
Member
It wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary, though he did manage to find a spectacular number of idiots with Ph.Ds I mean... the odds aren't in his favor to have that high a percentage of people lacking in common sense.
He probably found people who weren't currently working on projects and had 2 years of free time lined up; i.e. people who weren't wanted else where because they weren't wanted for various reasons.
(or you could say he moneyhatted them all and they dropped their current projects- I don't remember if this was ever addressed in the movie)
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
It's almost like we've come full circle on landed on the same side of the coin.
Nappuccino
Member
It's not like there is a whole lot to discuss here :lol
Some key idiotic moments and... an answer that doesn't exist to a question that hardly matters.
Alright, so regardless of their availability, they were likely money hatted. so that theory isn't very helpful lol
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Seriously some of the dumbest scientists ever.
Nappuccino
Member
It would be nice to have a scene where they talk about how great it is to work for Weyland because he is the Steve Job's of the future (obviously they wouldn't actually call him that). Even if you don't know what you're in for, you do it because he's that important/prominent in his field.
Seems like something like that should exist on the cutting room floor.
(God, I hope the DC actually has these logical scenes to be restored... else I will be greatly disappointed)
Just greedy Americans I guess :b
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
I will laugh my ass off if the deleted scenes only raise more questions. It would almost be fitting.
Nappuccino
Member
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
I still can't believe FOX passed on what we could have had with a Cameron/Scott Alien 5.
I think of those Engineers and worms and zombies ripping the Prometheus crew apart and then I think of..
I think of those Engineers and worms and zombies ripping the Prometheus crew apart and then I think of..
Speedymanic
Banned
He proved nothing wrong, he only partly addressed one point and even that he backed away claiming we were entering into semantics.
lol.
Nappuccino
Member
Just keep rewatching Aliens pls.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
I'm actually about to do my T2 rewatch. Crazy excited because I only do it once every year and a half or so because of how permanently the whole film is ingrained into my mind.
I've ruined it pretty much with too many viewings in my childhood. Maybe one day I'll watch it again.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
I know the film line for line. I destroyed my original VHS of the movie as a kid by watching it too much. It's the reason I have to wait nearly two years between rewatches. It's been a long time since I've been genuinely excited to watch it again.
Speedymanic
Banned
No-one has attempted to claim this.
Pretending that other movies didn't have similar issues due to halk baked characters and poor plot is a bit silly or pretending those issues weren't as bad/were isolated just makes that person look silly.
Nappuccino
Member
I'm really impressed you guys can watch it that many times. I loved T2 when I first saw it but I liked it less and less with each repeat viewing.
Ah well, that's what makes us individuals, I suppose.
Enjoy your semi-annual viewing
Ah well, that's what makes us individuals, I suppose.
Enjoy your semi-annual viewing
Yes this is why I don't watch Alien or T2 anymore. I'm past the treshold, where the action cannot carry me over the stale moments. Just rewatched Alien on bluray and it didn't hurt at all. Alien 3 was an abomination. Will probably skip Resurrection...
Nappuccino
Member
Somehow Alien still hasn't gotten old for me. I've probably seen it 15 times in the last 2 years. Probably more... but every shot is masterful and gripping that even the slow stuff still holds my interest. There's only a few small quibbles i've grown to have with the movie. ("I like griping" / The weird cut to Ash's head / The awkward way Kane sorta... pushes himself to fall in the egg pit). But I'm not surprised Alien 3 and Resurrection don't hold up. I watched Alien 3 for the first time last week and... it almost didn't hold up then. Everything beyond the first Hour was... not good.
Other movies I don't foresee ever getting old for me:
Die Hard
Blade Runner
Shaun of the Dead
Fight Club
Jaws
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
And I'd honestly add Drive if "Real Human Being" didn't have a terrible reprise at the end.
(I guess this is a little more off topic than it should be, isn't it...)
symphonask
Member
click for big:
This shot right here is emblematic of the movie's biggest problem for me, not the plot points or character motivations, but this.
It's a beautiful, evocative shot but it lasts for less than a second on the screen. Even the trailer lingers on it more - why was the movie so rushed? The forcing of the 2hr runtime really hurt the movie imo.
Roger Ebert called this a magnificent sci-fi film. I'd disagree. I think there is a magnificent sci-fi film in there wanting to come out. I just hope the DC or extended edition could give it to us.
This shot right here is emblematic of the movie's biggest problem for me, not the plot points or character motivations, but this.
It's a beautiful, evocative shot but it lasts for less than a second on the screen. Even the trailer lingers on it more - why was the movie so rushed? The forcing of the 2hr runtime really hurt the movie imo.
Roger Ebert called this a magnificent sci-fi film. I'd disagree. I think there is a magnificent sci-fi film in there wanting to come out. I just hope the DC or extended edition could give it to us.
Nappuccino
Member
It is surprising how stark the pacing differences are from Alien to Prometheus.
Salvor.Hardin
Banned
This is a Ridley Scott movie. When is a Ridley Scott film not significantly hacked to pieces? I imagine the Director's Cut to be what you were looking for.
Speedymanic
Banned
Sometimes for the better, just look at Alien. The DC didn't really add much to the overall movie, in fact I'd argue it made it worse in some respects.
Can't right now though, need to sleep.
Nappuccino
Member
Well, Ridley has stated that the theatrical cut of Alien is his true Director's Cut. And in that case, he's definitely right to claim that one.
I think the Final Cut of Blade Runner is not quite as good as the Director's Cut (which isn't a director's cut, oddly) since it removes key elements of ambiguity.
Here's hoping that this DC is more Kingdom of Heaven and less Blade Runner/Alien.
symphonask
Member
What Nappuccino said. But also - we know this movie had about a half hour cut from it. That's enough to make scenes longer and add other stuff back in, ala KoH DC.
The Alien DC was about the same length as the theatrical if I recall, so we can't really compare it to Prometheus which has significant scenes hacked. i.e. the opening, the engineer conversation with David.
Then again, Lindelof's characters tend to come off as douches overall, even when they're not meant to be...
Characters don't have to be likeable, sure, but it sure seemed like the movie wanted the audience to feel something, there (slowmo, then fade to white), and that simply wasn't earned (another common issue with Lindelof scripts).
...
*massages temples*
Yeah, there was an armed goon with them. Finally.
symphonask
Member
But Gladiator theatrical didn't feel rushed, unlike Prometheus.
Prometheus needs the extra time, badly. Just like KoH did.
Nappuccino
Member
Then what was the actual consequence of taking the helmets off? Sure it doesn't seem bright but maybe he knew something we didn't. I know I couldn't read his visor's readout.
Outside of the initial "wtf are you doing," taking his helmet off never comes back to bite him or the rest of the crew.
It was stupid whether or not there were consequences.
Actually, we know something he apparently didn't: there were other lifeforms, in there (the worms, for one thing). So germs and the like were indeed a possibility (something Shaw actually acknowledges later on; great job shooting yourself in the foot, movie), and their scanners weren't ultra-advanced future machinery that could instantly analyze the entire area and spot all microorganisms.
Nappuccino
Member
I'm not trying to argue that it isn't stupid. But people do stupid things all the time and pay no consequences for them. So it's sort of a "whatever" thing for me.
Nappuccino
Member
I don't think micro biology was his particular field of study.
And them being "great scientists" has already been called into question for various reasons due to the basis of the plot. (i.e. the hurried nature Weyland had in selecting the scientists)
Well, I'm not a scientist, and I could tell it was stupid as hell. I'm not exactly the only one either.
I wouldn't expect Weyland to hire idiots.
(And yet...)
Nappuccino
Member
Congratulations, you know what not to do in case you ever end up on an alien planet.
Yep all sci-fi movies should have the characters looking like this from beginning to end.
Yep, smart movies are so boring. Thank Space Jesus for Prometheus!Yep all sci-fi movies should have the characters looking like this from beginning to end.
Nappuccino
Member
Movies like Prometheus more or less rely on there being dumb people to make things go wrong.
Is it possible to do this with smart characters? Yes- but it sets up a completely different tone for the movie (i.e. Sunshine having a character screw up the math by a seemingly insignificant amount and pretty much fucking over everything).
Both types of movies are valid, but they also send across completely different signals and have completely different purposes.
tomakasatnav
Member
Yep all sci-fi movies should have the characters looking like this from beginning to end.
Maybe they can design a suit where you can see the actor.
Nappuccino
Member
Maybe they can design a suit where you can see the actor.
Sure as shit didn't save the biologist.
And with that, I totally agree. My comment was about the likable argument, not about the movie.
The only character that was fully realized was David. Especially that dialog regarding the reasons for creation, you can't help but think that he is feeling something. He was unlikable (even evil, at times), but incredibly interesting.
It's a shame, because the movie had great potencial. The father/daughter relationship could have been much better explored (and those 2 great actor better used), and the Noomi Rapace character had its moments.
Escape Goat
Member
Having your actors wear a helmet the whole movie is not what any actor or director wants. Its the same reason Spider Man has his mask off all the time. An actor's most powerful tool is their eyes and facial expressions. A look can tell much more than any dialogue can at times.
jonnyp
Member
You don't need to be a great scientist, you don't have to have any sort of degree, to know that it's a completely moronic thing to do.
Same thing with the biologist and the snake-looking creature later on.
Nappuccino
Member
Right, but I'm rather sure that the biologist thought his suit would do a better job protecting him than it did.
SquiddyCracker
Banned
It annoyed me as well because they were freaking the fuck out and trying to get away when confronted with humanoid dead bodies, but when a cobra-like worm is making a bunch of noises and pretty much acting aggressively he thought it would be a good idea to play with it?
I'd rather the snake had attacked them outright, though the whole scene after the attack was pretty good in terms of horror.
The guy was Steve Irwin reborn. Just without the snake handling skills...
chicko1983
Member
Would many scientists agree to go on a 10 year trip without being told what they were going to be doing / seeing / experimenting on?
Not many decent ones would, especially if it was just for "another terraforming mission" (which seems to be quite common the way the pilots / engineers talk about it).
I doubt these "scientists" represent the best earth has to offer, merely just people who were looking for a bit of adventure and some cash.
Not many decent ones would, especially if it was just for "another terraforming mission" (which seems to be quite common the way the pilots / engineers talk about it).
I doubt these "scientists" represent the best earth has to offer, merely just people who were looking for a bit of adventure and some cash.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
I believe it was a five year trip (2.5 years each way).
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