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[The Elite]

It was probably an emergency blast door in order to keep those things in.

The weird thing about that room is that it was laid out like a temple. The head was a place to worship and so was the image of a crucified xenomorph. It seriously leads me to believe that the actual building wasn't built by the Engineers but by the original inhabitants of LV-223. The ones depicted in the mural.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Why create us in the first place if you're simply going to destroy us when we develop interstellar travel?

I think there was something about us specifically that led to them wanting to "reset" Earth. Maybe it's our warlike nature or maybe it's something we did specifically, like crucifying space jockey Jesus 2000 years ago.

Because in creating us through the black goo that possesses a very particular DNA makeup, they set up a control. They won't be coming across something unexpected. There will be evolutionary differences, but still from the same genetic strand and something that they can deal with. It's all about eliminating any potential competition in the universe.

 

[Shouta]

I'm just throwing stuff out here, but....

Is it possible that the emergency situation we see in the holo-recording actually happened on Earth? Bad shit goes down, everyone gets murdered by mutants, the survivors attempt to escape and all but one survivor dies in the process before he makes it into stasis at the last second. That's essentially what happens in Alien. Then the surviving ship makes it to the homeworld and the remaining monsters aboard wipe out the planet's population (a variation on Alien 3).

That works too, actually. Bad shit happens on Earth with goo creating xenomorphs because of humans, they try to escape back to Lv-223 and the survivors put themselves in cryo for the trip. They get back and the ship lands in the docking bay undisturbed until the expedition comes.

Someone mentioned several Engineers running into the head-room with the jars, right? Maybe they were the ones that carved out the mural as a warning to what would happen if the goo contacts humans.

 

[Erigu]

Maybe it's our warlike nature or maybe it's something we did specifically, like crucifying space jockey Jesus 2000 years ago.

Apparently, Scott thinks the Roman Empire and the crucifixion were good enough reasons for those aliens to wipe us out.
And I think Scott should focus on directing.

 

[The Elite]

I don't think Ridley has the balls to make a sequel where he tells everyone Jesus was an alien we murdered, so we can probably set that theory on the back burner.

I just like saying it, out loud. No way he ever puts that on film though.

 

[billy beane]

Was there an incestual relationship implied between Weyland and Vickers? Or do I just have a really fucked up mind?

 

[ryutaro's mama]

Because in creating us through the black goo that possesses a very particular DNA makeup, they set up a control. They won't be coming across something unexpected. There will be evolutionary differences, but still from the same genetic strand and something that they can deal with. It's all about eliminating any potential competition in the universe.

To build on that theory, they made sure that the experiments (us) were smaller in stature and inferior in strength/intelligence.

 

[Femmeworth]

Ghaleon, I had a similar theory to you, but also quite different.

I think that the cave paintings were left so that when humanity had advanced far enough and sought out the Engineers, the Engineers could reset them to scratch. It's a method of controlling potential threats in the universe.

They reset them and once they become advanced enough for interstellar travel and thus a potential threat to the Engineers' dominance in the universe, they're pointed toward their destruction. At which point the Engineers would be awoken and sent to Earth to commence the bombing run of the black goo.

Oh dear, I'm having flashbacks to Mass Effect. The Engineers' plan makes as much sense as the Reapers'.

Was there an incestual relationship implied between Weyland and Vickers? Or do I just have a really fucked up mind?

I got the same impression.

 

[Erigu]

Was there an incestual relationship implied between Weyland and Vickers? Or do I just have a really fucked up mind?

I think it's just the script being terribly awkward...

 

[zoukka]

Was there an incestual relationship implied between Weyland and Vickers? Or do I just have a really fucked up mind?

I read it more as a very cold parent-child relationship really. Weyland is rich beyond imagination and only thinks of himself. Vickers couldn't wait for that mans' death.

 

[Mistouze]

I think a lot of the explanations actually present themselves once you start thinking about it. There are a few key questions I want answered. But those are the same questions Shaw wants answered at the end of the film.

Well I've not read the whole thread since the movie is out but my theory is pretty different from what others see and I don't see much contradiction. There's enough stuff explained or hinted at to get you going but the gaps are wide enough to let each person put a bit of themselves into the theories.

Don't spoil one of the things I like about this movie please

 

[Gvaz]

But yeah, it's hard to really judge where he was going to head after being woken up. In fact, I think the log that was aiming for Earth may have been prior to their visit 2000 years ago but I really don't know. I'd have to look at the sequence again. All we know is that Earth is on the map but we don't know the timeline of the recording.

No it was really easy, when the space jockey got into his ship the star map opened up and there was a long slow pan where it showed a path to earth being made.

But I had a random thought: maybe the Engineers running into the room were running away from the last Engineer - the one that got decapitated. He was already infected.

No, they were all running away from something, except for the last guy who was taking a long time because he tripped and lagged behind, but right before he got decapitated, he fell down at the door as if he was struck from behind

 

[The Elite]

Because in creating us through the black goo that possesses a very particular DNA makeup, they set up a control. They won't be coming across something unexpected. There will be evolutionary differences, but still from the same genetic strand and something that they can deal with. It's all about eliminating any potential competition in the universe.

It's scary to just think of it as "one big experiment" that they decided to reset. I guess that's almost as scary to think that we're a random event of evolution.

I love the discussion this movie has sparked. I can't wait to see it again.

 

[Cartman86]

Was there an incestual relationship implied between Weyland and Vickers? Or do I just have a really fucked up mind?

Thought the same thing. Also thought the same thing with Snow White last week (no not spoilers). I also wondered if she was going to jump David's metal at one point.

 

[zoukka]

No, they were all running away from something, except for the last guy who was taking a long time because he tripped and lagged behind, but right before he got decapitated, he fell down at the door as if he was struck from behind

Struck by a smooth xenomorph.

 

[D.Lo]

They weren't created at this point. There was clearly a xenomorph on the door which contained the vases. I wish someone could get a picture of this. I feel like this was a very important part of the movie many people missed.

Well aware of this, but it hasn't stopped half the arguments in this thread and the other being about that being the first one or at least that this one is the one that laid the eggs on the ship on 426.

Uh...that crashed ship they find in Alien is on LV-426.

The ship in this movie is on LV-223.

Different ships, brah.

Wow thanks for that insight that everyone already knows and has nothing to do with what I said. It's part of my point, The crashed ship must have either been earlier OR from somewhere else. The fully formed perfectly preserved and laid out xeno eggs were not as a result of what was in this movie.

Or most likely, based on the other messes in this script it was sloppy writing.

 

[Fantomex]

Apparently, Scott thinks the Roman Empire and the crucifixion were good enough reasons for those aliens to wipe us out.
And I think Scott should focus on directing.

He got your $13 though right? Hehe.

 

[Endo Punk]

Why create us in the first place if you're simply going to destroy us when we develop interstellar travel?

I think there was something about us specifically that led to them wanting to "reset" Earth. Maybe it's our warlike nature or maybe it's something we did specifically, like crucifying space jockey Jesus 2000 years ago.

Well these Engineers clearly ain't benevolent Gods so within their race some may feel that humans are dangerous and waste of space.

 

[Commodore]

So Beastie Boys - Sabotage came on on the ride home from seeing it and all I could think about was Stringer Bell crashing into the alien ship, wrecking shit, crashing, and rolling onto the zillionaire's daughter he banged.

 

[Gvaz]

Well aware of this, but it hasn't stopped half the arguments in this thread and the other being about that being the first one or at least that this one is the one that laid the eggs on the ship on 426.

How could they miss that, there was like 30 seconds of a slow walk up to the mural and paused on it for a bit and then the guy was like "this place is a tomb"

 

[TUROK]

Prometheus is not a prequel and Ridley Scott told us time and time again to not try to tie it in directly with Alien. That was not his intent. The Xenomorph at the end of Prometheus wasn't even the same type that was in Alien.

But the movie shares an undeniable link with Alien. The Space Jockeys, the chestbursting, the Xenomorph mural, and the Xenomorph at the end.

We can't just ignore that.

So Beastie Boys - Sabotage came on on the ride home from seeing it and all I could think about was Stringer Bell crashing into the alien ship, wrecking shit, crashing, and rolling onto the zillionaire's daughter he banged.

That's because String rolls deep.

 

[Cartman86]

Well aware of this, but it hasn't stopped half the arguments in this thread and the other being about that being the first one or at least that this one is the one that laid the eggs on the ship on 426.

Wow thanks for that insight that everyone already knows and has nothing to do with what I said. It's part of my point, The crashed ship must have either been earlier OR from somewhere else. The fully formed perfectly preserved and laid out xeno eggs were not as a result of what was in this movie.

Or most likely, based on the other messes in this script it was sloppy writing.

I don't know. I think a lot of the things that don't make sense have answers. I'm sure there's a whole series of convoluted reasons for things that exist in Lindelof's mind. I just don't know if i'm interesting in making up shit to piece together a puzzle that could have multiple answers to questions that are plot related. Even worse was that none of the "big" questions were interesting to anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of religion, science, or philosophy.

 

[The Elite]

But the movie shares an undeniable link with Alien. The Space Jockeys, the chestbursting, the Xenomorph mural, and the Xenomorph at the end.

We can't just ignore that.

Of course not. But calling this a prequel is incorrect IMO. It's not a movie that is meant to specifically setup events in Alien.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

Well aware of this, but it hasn't stopped half the arguments in this thread and the other being about that being the first one or at least that this one is the one that laid the eggs on the ship on 426.

Wow thanks for that insight that everyone already knows and has nothing to do with what I said. It's part of my point, The crashed ship must have either been earlier OR from somewhere else. The fully formed perfectly preserved and laid out xeno eggs were not as a result of what was in this movie.

Or most likely, based on the other messes in this script it was sloppy writing.

Separate experiments on other planets, how do they work?

Sorry you can't imagine a scenario where independent research is happening on another world.

Besides, the xenomorph that appears at the close of this movie ISN'T the same Giger alien anyway...

 

[GhaleonEB]

Ghaleon, I had a similar theory to you, but also quite different.

I think that the cave paintings were left so that when humanity had advanced far enough and sought out the Engineers, the Engineers could reset them to scratch. It's a method of controlling potential threats in the universe.

They reset them and once they become advanced enough for interstellar travel and thus a potential threat to the Engineers' dominance in the universe, they're pointed toward their destruction. At which point the Engineers would be awoken and sent to Earth to commence the bombing run of the black goo.

This is where I get to link to this post of mine from last month.

My total speculation on the plot, based on the US and international trailers (haven't seen anything since they hit, including the 3+ minute one). I don't want to know if I'm on the right track or not, but just to put it out there:

Spoiler

The "invitation" was left behind on earth by a race of bio-mechanical beings who absorb other races and technologies. They left the markings on various inhabited planets, and when/if species on the planet gained sufficient intelligence and technological advancement to follow the invitation, the race would send a ship back to "bomb" the planet with parasitic organisms and take them over. That way they continue to expand, while also eliminating potential competitive threats in the galaxy, remaining the dominant life form.

Prometheus walks right into it, and the alien ship taking off is a bomber heading back to Earth to take it over. That's what the eggs on the ship in Alien were to be used for, but they backfired on that particular pilot.

I have no idea. I don't want to know until I walk into the theater.

Although I like my revised theory better. The Engineer went ballistic because humans had evolved enough to find the outpost - and he wanted to do the bombing run before they got that far.

 

[zoukka]

Of course not. But calling this a prequel is incorrect IMO. It's not a movie that is meant to specifically setup events in Alien.

Yep. People just want to see connections and reason everywhere they look. Hard to accept that not everything happening in Prometheus carries some direct effect to the later movies.

 

[Spotless Mind]

Why create us in the first place if you're simply going to destroy us when we develop interstellar travel?

Maybe they created us as hosts for the xenomorphs? I'm not sure if that would make much sense, though.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Ridley saying it isn't an Alien film is bullshit on his part. It's an alien film and that is it's biggest problem. It shouldn't have been.

You've got the space crew awaking out of cryosleep, amiguously threatening android on board, crew checking out the alien landscape and one of them becoming infected, bringing the parasite back on board the ship, it coming out of protagonist's fucking chest, the same kind of derelict spacecraft that we see in alien, then the protagonist leaving the site of danger for spacer while delivering another version of Sigourney's sign-off. Oh and then a fucking Xeno pops out.

It's not just completely paced like alien, it follows the exact same fucking beats and then births the same goddamn monster. It's more of an Alien movie than Alien 3.

 

[Canuck76]

Very interesting movie. My one friend absolutely hated it and was all over questioning stuff. I myself liked it quite a bit.

However i feel like things were purposely unanswered as to try to make it more interpretive and thus "classic" aka 2001. Would have loved to at least hear an engineer speak. Didn't like the whole "IT'S ALIENS GUYS" ending but i really liked the actual ending of her searching the universe for answers.

I'm going to need time to really digest this thing.

 

[TUROK]

Separate experiments on other planets, how do they work?

Sorry you can imagine a scenario where independent research is happening on another world.

Besides, the xenomorph that appears at the close of this movie ISN'T the same Giger alien anyway...

You know what I'd love to hear from Prometheus 2? That the alien at the end of the movie has absolutely nothing to do with Xenomorphs. That way the Alien movies aren't tarnished. That'd be nice.

 

[The Elite]

Maybe they created us as hosts for the xenomorphs? I'm not sure if that would make much sense, though.

That seems to be the popular theory. I'm not committed to that though.

Ridley saying it isn't an Alien film is bullshit on his part. It's an alien film and that is it's biggest problem. It shouldn't have been.

You've got the space crew awaking out of cryosleep, amiguously threatening android on board, crew checking out the alien landscape and one of them becoming infected, bringing the parasite back on board the ship, it coming out of protagonist's fucking chest, the same kind of derelict spacecraft that we see in alien, then the protagonist leaving the site of danger for spacer while delivering another version of Sigourney's sign-off. Oh and then a fucking Xeno pops out.

It's not just completely paced like alien, it follows the exact same fucking beats and then births the same goddamn monster. It's more of an Alien movie than Alien 3.

It's an Alien film, it just isn't a prequel to the film Alien. The visual references to Alien are all over this film and it matches the tone of the original as well. Especially during the first half of the film.

 

[Shouta]

No it was really easy, when the space jockey got into his ship the star map opened up and there was a long slow pan where it showed a path to earth being made.

I didn't catch that myself. I'll have to look closely when I get a chance to see it again, maybe on bluray hah.

 

[Chatin]

What was the significance of Shaw and David taking the Engineer spacecraft at the end? David had a good look at the space map, and the plot could have just as easily had him pilot an nondestroyed Prometheus, or Vickers craft. If there was no intention for a second movie, I'd suspect that this Engineer craft might be the same found in Alien, but obviously there is more to Shaw and David's story, yet untold. Are we to suspect that the other craft is identical? Or that the other craft did not already have eggs laid inside?

 

[D.Lo]

How could they miss that, there was like 30 seconds of a slow walk up to the mural and paused on it for a bit and then the guy was like "this place is a tomb"

I think it's rationalized that it's a 'Xeno type'. And that the new ones are a result of the squid baby.

Honestly I think even the movie it trying to imply that the xenos in Alien came from the one at the end, but this contradicts Alien without another convoluted explanation.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

This is where I get to link to this post of mine from last month.


Although I like my revised theory better. The Engineer went ballistic because humans had evolved enough to find the outpost - and he wanted to do the bombing run before they got that far.

Yeah I've had the same theory since the first details about the project. The missing link was the prologue of this film changing it somewhat.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

You know what I'd love to hear from Prometheus 2? That the alien at the end of the movie has absolutely nothing to do with Xenomorphs. That way the Alien movies aren't tarnished. That'd be nice.

Alien3 and Resurrection took care of that ages ago.

 

[The Elite]

What was the significance of Shaw and David taking the Engineer spacecraft at the end? David had a good look at the space map, and the plot could have just as easily had him pilot an nondestroyed Prometheus, or Vickers craft. If there was no intention for a second movie, I'd suspect that this Engineer craft might be the same found in Alien, but obviously there is more to Shaw and David's story, yet untold. Are we to suspect that the other craft is identical? Or that the other craft did not already have eggs laid inside?

Vickers craft was damaged when it was jettisoned from Prometheus. Prometheus itself was destroyed. An Engineer ship was the only option.

 

[The Elite]

You know what I'd love to hear from Prometheus 2? That the alien at the end of the movie has absolutely nothing to do with Xenomorphs. That way the Alien movies aren't tarnished. That'd be nice.

One of the few things I would cut from Prometheus is that last shot. I don't think the film needed it at all.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

Yeah I've had the same theory since the first details about the project. The missing link was the prologue of this film changing it somewhat.

Me three!

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=38699571&postcount=1438

 

[zoukka]

Ridley saying it isn't an Alien film is bullshit on his part. It's an alien film and that is it's biggest problem. It shouldn't have been.

You've got the space crew awaking out of cryosleep, amiguously threatening android on board, crew checking out the alien landscape and one of them becoming infected, bringing the parasite back on board the ship, it coming out of protagonist's fucking chest, the same kind of derelict spacecraft that we see in alien, then the protagonist leaving the site of danger for spacer while delivering another version of Sigourney's sign-off. Oh and then a fucking Xeno pops out.

It's not just completely paced like alien, it follows the exact same fucking beats and then births the same goddamn monster. It's more of an Alien movie than Alien 3.

Yeah the structure had direct homages to Alien down to some very suggesting shots. But a structure of a movie does not make it a prequel. I'm 100% sure Ridley knows it's in the same universe as Alien, but people need to stop with this prequel shit. I'm sure Ridley knows the audience and critics want to tie everything in Prometheus to Alien and Aliens so that's why he did some "damage control" early on with those statements.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

I don't think the aliens in the catacomb were quite phallic enough. They should have been much more sexually charged.

 

[Cartman86]

Vickers craft was damaged when it was jettisoned from Prometheus. Prometheus itself was destroyed. An Engineer ship was the only option.

I think he's asking why the writers decided to have her pilot an Engineer ship instead of writing it so she could pilot Prometheus, or Vicker's thing. Is there some intent that the writers have in getting her in that ship? Connecting it to Alien, or maybe so she can stealth into the homeworld in a sequel? I'm sure there could be many simple reasons. Like the writers wanted to get rid of a bunch of the crew through sacrifice or something, and blowing up a ship is cool.

 

[zoukka]

I don't think the aliens in the catacomb were quite phallic enough. They should have been much more sexually charged.

The cockworms? They were basically penis with a vagina attached to them.

 

[Cartman86]

I don't think the aliens in the catacomb were quite phallic enough. They should have been much more sexually charged.

You mean the worm/snake thing? That almost seemed more vaginal than phallic.

 

[SCULLIBUNDO]

Yeah the structure had direct homages to Alien down to some very suggesting shots. But a structure of a movie does not make it a prequel. I'm 100% sure Ridley knows it's in the same universe as Alien, but people need to stop with this prequel shit. I'm sure Ridley knows the audience and critics want to tie everything in Prometheus to Alien and Aliens so that's why he did some "damage control" early on with those statements.

It's not a direct prequel in that it leaves room for more story before Alien, but then so did Phantom Menace. Now I know that name might make you think I hate Prometheus, so let me say again that I like Prometheus, but it is absolutely, 100% a prequel and an Alien movie, no matter what bullshit Scott and Lindelof try to spin. I wish it wasn't an Alien movie, because the Alien baggage dragged the film down. But it is.

 

[TUROK]

What was the significance of Shaw and David taking the Engineer spacecraft at the end? David had a good look at the space map, and the plot could have just as easily had him pilot an nondestroyed Prometheus, or Vickers craft. If there was no intention for a second movie, I'd suspect that this Engineer craft might be the same found in Alien, but obviously there is more to Shaw and David's story, yet untold. Are we to suspect that the other craft is identical? Or that the other craft did not already have eggs laid inside?

What do you mean a nondestroyed Prometheus? There was only one Prometheus on LV-223, and that thing was blown to smithereens.

Vickers' craft was a lifeboat, not something designed for space travel.

Ridley Scott already said that the craft on LV-426 is a different one that crashed due to its cargo killing everyone aboard. I wish I still had the link where he says this. Maybe someone else has it. I'm pretty sure it's somewhere in this or another thread.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Why create us in the first place if you're simply going to destroy us when we develop interstellar travel?

I think there was something about us specifically that led to them wanting to "reset" Earth. Maybe it's our warlike nature or maybe it's something we did specifically, like crucifying space jockey Jesus 2000 years ago.

Sculli covered this, but by making sure a life-sustaining planet was populated with beings of a specific set of capabilities which they could control through DNA design, they ensured they would be relatively inert compared to the Engineers. A tame threat to be quickly reset when the time came. And thus they keep all life-sustaining planets at bay and remain the dominant form of life in the galaxy.

To build on that theory, they made sure that the experiments (us) were smaller in stature and inferior in strength/intelligence.

I hadn't thought of this at all. Astute.

 

[zoukka]

I think he's asking why the writers decided to have her pilot an Engineer ship instead of writing it so she could pilot Prometheus, or Vicker's thing. Is there some intent that the writers have in getting her in that ship? Connecting it to Alien, or maybe so she can stealth into the homeworld in a sequel? I'm sure there could be many simple reasons. Like the writers wanted to get rid of a bunch of the crew through sacrifice or something, and blowing up a ship is cool.

It's almost a tradition in Alien films. The human main ship gets destroyed so the only recordings about xenomorphs is in the protagonists head or in a damaged android.

 

[ryutaro's mama]

I think he's asking why the writers decided to have her pilot an Engineer ship instead of writing it so she could pilot Prometheus, or Vicker's thing. Is there some intent that the writers have in getting her in that ship? Connecting it to Alien, or maybe so she can stealth into the homeworld in a sequel? I'm sure there could be many simple reasons. Like the writers wanted to get rid of a bunch of the crew through sacrifice or something, and blowing up a ship is cool.

Or a ship named 'Prometheus' smashing into it's creator, in an attempt to kill its maker, was symbolic.

 

[zoukka]

It's not a direct prequel in that it leaves room for more story before Alien, but then so did Phantom Menace. Now I know that name might make you think I hate Prometheus, so let me say again that I like Prometheus, but it is absolutely, 100% a prequel and an Alien movie, no matter what bullshit Scott and Lindelof try to spin. I wish it wasn't an Alien movie, because the Alien baggage dragged the film down. But it is.

A prequel in a way that it happens before the other Alien movies and is set in the same universe.
A prequel it is not in a way, that everything happening in it sets up the previous movies. This is what people want and are angry for not getting.

Or a ship named 'Prometheus' smashing into it's creator, in an attempt to kill its maker, was symbolic.

IT WAS SO OBVIOUS I JUST NEVER MENTIONED IT TO YOUUUUU