Prometheus Review Thread (Spoilers)

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Evanos

David's been treated like shit his entire life, even by his "father", Weyland. Which is why he's surprised by Shaw. She actually has some compassion for him, like he says in Covenant. "I'd never known such kindness. Certainly not from Mr Weyland, or any human."

His reason for creating the alien is pretty obvious to me. He's a rapey sexually repressed mad scientist AI, creating an organism that is essentially a violent perversion of human reproduction.. sounds about right. It ties back to the sexual undertones of the original film & Giger's works, and Ash's fascination with the creature.

Well, point taken but being a robot means he’d still have to be programmed that way. You can’t "develop" hatred towards humans unless it’s specifically programmed in. Maybe Weyland did that but it’s a reach. Sexually repressed? Again…,we’re talking an android here. Not a person. The motivations mentioned in your post are very real but only for a real person. Ash certainly was fascinated with the alien but his "job" was to procure it and get it back. To me it’s more legit that he was so enamored with it.

But, I hear ya. At least it’s some type of explanation.

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

The spores were very effective, I agree. In Covenant.

The Humanoid Engineer who was tasked with drinking the living tar slime, drank it and perished, his DNA clearly merging with the Tar's in the opening credits, and after he drank it, only then did his mothership fly away to confirm it was done.

So I agree, he must have served as a guinea pig experiment and had to sacrifice his life for their purpose. They are an experimental group, and it does seem they have some kind of worship goal happening, creating these Xenomorphs on different planets to spread destruction as part of their goals.

I love the little worm that crawls out of the guy's eyeball in the mirror. And the scene where Shaw has to remove her "baby". That was intense.

I still go back to why use these aliens to wipe out the "bad guys" or whomever? There are numerous more effective ways, one would think. Would have been nice to get some backstory on who the enemies of the body builders actually were. Probably have to be a whole different movie but it’d help the narrative and motivations. As it stands, they just want to dump black goo like everywhere. Why? Who wronged them? Who’s the enemy? What’s the fight about? Did standard warfare fail before? Imagine having a legit backstory as to why they are using goo for this? That to me would make it more interesting and tangible. Like a good reason to use goo versus basic weapons or invasions.

Yes, the surgical scene is crazy intense and well done. She’s a tad too "capable" afterwards but short of that, it’s a great scene.

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

The surgical scene in Prometheus is one of the best scenes in the Alien franchise. I vividly remember how I felt seeing that scene in theaters. Very intense and effective.

Intense and effective. Agreed.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Sexually repressed? Again…,we’re talking an android here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syyXdBg9BIc

[CreasyBear]

Nah, man. That rolled up magazine doesn't represent anything. Not at all.

[Flixster]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Nah, man. That rolled up magazine doesn't represent anything. Not at all.

Yes it does, it represents Ash fantasizing that his cock is the size of a rolled up magazine

[DR Herbert West]

It did look like a giant...

[Warm Gun]

Always wished he actually put the magazine in Weaver's mouth. Looks awkward.

[Flixster]

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

Always wished he actually put the magazine in Weaver's mouth. Looks awkward.

What are you talking about, he does put it in her mouth (the magazine that is)

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by Flixster

What are you talking about, he does put it in her mouth (the magazine that is)

Sort of, kind of, not really. You can see the edges of the pages on top of her teeth/lips.



Some of it goes in her mouth, but it doesn't look enough like sodomy.

[Flixster]

You know I think it's somewhat sacrilegious discussing one of the greatest movies ever committed to film in a thread that belongs to a very average movie, even if they were made by the same person. He clearly wasn't on the ball in 2012 as he was in 1979, that's for sure.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by Flixster

You know I think it's somewhat sacrilegious discussing one of the greatest movies ever committed to film in a thread that belongs to a very average movie, even if they were made by the same person. He clearly wasn't on the ball in 2012 as he was in 1979, that's for sure.

Feels like we've spent more time discussing...

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Well, point taken but being a robot means he’d still have to be programmed that way. You can’t "develop" hatred towards humans unless it’s specifically programmed in. Maybe Weyland did that but it’s a reach. Sexually repressed? Again…,we’re talking an android here. Not a person. The motivations mentioned in your post are very real but only for a real person. Ash certainly was fascinated with the alien but his "job" was to procure it and get it back. To me it’s more legit that he was so enamored with it.

[Show spoiler]
But, I hear ya. At least it’s some type of explanation.



I still go back to why use these aliens to wipe out the "bad guys" or whomever? There are numerous more effective ways, one would think. Would have been nice to get some backstory on who the enemies of the body builders actually were. Probably have to be a whole different movie but it’d help the narrative and motivations. As it stands, they just want to dump black goo like everywhere. Why? Who wronged them? Who’s the enemy? What’s the fight about? Did standard warfare fail before? Imagine having a legit backstory as to why they are using goo for this? That to me would make it more interesting and tangible. Like a good reason to use goo versus basic weapons or invasions.

Yes, the surgical scene is crazy intense and well done. She’s a tad too "capable" afterwards but short of that, it’s a great scene.

Intense and effective. Agreed.

Ridley Scott was telling the story from the point of view of the Human, Elizabeth Shaw in this film, where she was trying to discover more about these alien humanoids. Then in the sequel, Ridley switches the point of view mostly to David, the main villain, making Covenant very much from his indifferent/evil perspective.

Unfortunately, Scott leaves out the story of the Engineers, leaving much to the imagination. Their intent of evil is clear, but I agree, it could've been cool to see more about why they're focusing so much on creating new parasitic life forms with the black tar they discovered.

The planet holds the tar in vials, but clearly something went wrong and they were all infected after the Engineers built their spaceship Tomb with the Alien decorations on the wall. They tried running out to escape, but the one guy got his head sliced off in the doorway.

Then when they finally reawakened the one in deep sleep, he wakes up, sees the humans, and tries destroying them, no questions asked. The fact the ship was programmed for earth, reveals their intent without them saying a word. Destroy mankind.

Why though? Why destroy mankind? Probably the same reason they destroyed all life on the planets they infect with the black living slime. Because they can and it's probably entertaining for them, which is sad. Reminds me of some groups on earth, destroying others for their own, selfish reasoning.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Ridley Scott was telling the story from the point of view of the Human, Elizabeth Shaw in this film, where she was trying to discover more about these alien humanoids. Then in the sequel, Ridley switches the point of view mostly to David, the main villain, making Covenant very much from his indifferent/evil perspective.

Unfortunately, Scott leaves out the story of the Engineers, leaving much to the imagination. Their intent of evil is clear, but I agree, it could've been cool to see more about why they're focusing so much on creating new parasitic life forms with the black tar they discovered.

The planet holds the tar in vials, but clearly something went wrong and they were all infected after the Engineers built their spaceship Tomb with the Alien decorations on the wall. They tried running out to escape, but the one guy got his head sliced off in the doorway.

Then when they finally reawakened the one in deep sleep, he wakes up, sees the humans, and tries destroying them, no questions asked. The fact the ship was programmed for earth, reveals their intent without them saying a word. Destroy mankind.

Why though? Why destroy mankind? Probably the same reason they destroyed all life on the planets they infect with the black living slime. Because they can and it's probably entertaining for them, which is sad. Reminds me of some groups on earth, destroying others for their own, selfish reasoning.

There are implications in Prometheus that the decision to wipe out humanity happened about 2,000 years before, placing it at about the time of Christ. The idea I always had was that their initial creation, man, did not turn out as they expected. Disappointed, they intended to wipe us out, so they used a new weapon.

However, this deadly weapon they also could not control (it's a theme), and it ended up attacking them.

The idea being that creation isn't something to control but unleash. The Engineers were overconfident in their ability to mold the universe around them.

[Evanos]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Well, point taken but being a robot means he’d still have to be programmed that way. You can’t "develop" hatred towards humans unless it’s specifically programmed in. Maybe Weyland did that but it’s a reach. Sexually repressed? Again…,we’re talking an android here. Not a person. The motivations mentioned in your post are very real but only for a real person. Ash certainly was fascinated with the alien but his "job" was to procure it and get it back. To me it’s more legit that he was so enamored with it.

David is pretty much a human, that's the point. He even makes mistakes without realizing it. He's so convinced he's superior to human beings, yet he's just as flawed. That's also the reason they made Walter, a less emotional, more stable model.

[bobbyh64]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

I still go back to why use these aliens to wipe out the "bad guys" or whomever? There are numerous more effective ways, one would think. Would have been nice to get some backstory on who the enemies of the body builders actually were. Probably have to be a whole different movie but it’d help the narrative and motivations. As it stands, they just want to dump black goo like everywhere. Why? Who wronged them? Who’s the enemy? What’s the fight about? Did standard warfare fail before? Imagine having a legit backstory as to why they are using goo for this? That to me would make it more interesting and tangible. Like a good reason to use goo versus basic weapons or invasions.

The space jockey and eggs in Alien were a mystery too. It wasn’t really explained what the space jockey was doing on that planet and why he had the eggs on his ship. They could’ve made the movie without the space jockey and just have the Xenomorphs be native to that planet, but I like the inclusion of the space jockey. It adds an extra layer of creepiness and makes the movie seem more grand in scale.

It would’ve been nice if Prometheus gave more answers about the Engineers’ intentions. It might’ve been better if there was only one Alien prequel and have it end where it smoothly ties in to Alien. It’s too bad Alien: Covenant barely expanded on the Engineers. That was a missed opportunity in favor of Xenomorph carnage induced by a psychopathic android.

This video explains how the original script of Prometheus, which was called Alien: Engineers, was more focused and gave answers about the Engineers and that it would’ve tied directly to the beginning of Alien:

THE PROMETHEUS ENDING YOU NEVER SAW - ALIEN: ENGINEERS - YouTube

[unberechenbar]

It was interesting how different the engineers look in Prometheus and Covenant. In Prometheus they looked imposing and stoic while Covenant kind of humanized them by making them show emotion. I think there are a lot of possibilities going forward with the engineers and I really hope this is not the last we have seen of them.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by CreasyBear

Nah, man. That rolled up magazine doesn't represent anything. Not at all.

You guys. Bunch of horn dogs. And, if that represents your wanger then you need to have yours looked at.

Originally Posted by Flixster

Yes it does, it represents Ash fantasizing that his cock is the size of a rolled up magazine

We sure about that? I guess…..you guys……

Originally Posted by Warm Gun

Sort of, kind of, not really. You can see the edges of the pages on top of her teeth/lips.



Some of it goes in her mouth, but it doesn't look enough like sodomy.

It never gets into her mouth and the objective appeared to be aimed at choking her, not forcing a blow job. You guys…..

Originally Posted by Zivouhr

Ridley Scott was telling the story from the point of view of the Human, Elizabeth Shaw in this film, where she was trying to discover more about these alien humanoids. Then in the sequel, Ridley switches the point of view mostly to David, the main villain, making Covenant very much from his indifferent/evil perspective.

Unfortunately, Scott leaves out the story of the Engineers, leaving much to the imagination. Their intent of evil is clear, but I agree, it could've been cool to see more about why they're focusing so much on creating new parasitic life forms with the black tar they discovered.

The planet holds the tar in vials, but clearly something went wrong and they were all infected after the Engineers built their spaceship Tomb with the Alien decorations on the wall. They tried running out to escape, but the one guy got his head sliced off in the doorway.

Then when they finally reawakened the one in deep sleep, he wakes up, sees the humans, and tries destroying them, no questions asked. The fact the ship was programmed for earth, reveals their intent without them saying a word. Destroy mankind.

Why though? Why destroy mankind? Probably the same reason they destroyed all life on the planets they infect with the black living slime. Because they can and it's probably entertaining for them, which is sad. Reminds me of some groups on earth, destroying others for their own, selfish reasoning.

So, the motivation really wasn’t. It appeared to be like "screw these people, planets, everyone". That’s weak. Motivations are a key part of story telling and character building. I can get on board with selfish reasons but let’s reveal some of them.

The more I think about it, the more I feel this movie would have been better just skipping any and all ties to the original two films at all. Just do a full study of the body builder guys. It’s fine to have Weyland and David in there and all that but dump any Alien related stuff. Use that screen time to further develop what the objectives were of the body builders and goo. We just don’t find out much. Even Shaw tries to unravel and ask why they tried to kill us and comes up empty.

Originally Posted by bobbyh64

The space jockey and eggs in Alien were a mystery too. It wasn’t really explained what the space jockey was doing on that planet and why he had the eggs on his ship. They could’ve made the movie without the space jockey and just have the Xenomorphs be native to that planet, but I like the inclusion of the space jockey. It adds an extra layer of creepiness and makes the movie seem more grand in scale.

It would’ve been nice if Prometheus gave more answers about the Engineers’ intentions. It might’ve been better if there was only one Alien prequel and have it end where it smoothly ties in to Alien. It’s too bad Alien: Covenant barely expanded on the Engineers. That was a missed opportunity in favor of Xenomorph carnage induced by a psychopathic android.

This video explains how the original script of Prometheus, which was called Alien: Engineers, was more focused and gave answers about the Engineers and that it would’ve tied directly to the beginning of Alien:

THE PROMETHEUS ENDING YOU NEVER SAW - ALIEN: ENGINEERS - YouTube

Yes, they could have skipped the space jockey altogether along with any relation to the the first two films. As you said, we get no data on what the baby builders were up to. Zero. Just an interesting opening scene that goes no further. Yes, engineers intentions. What were they? Why have eggs on the ship? Was he going to Earth? And….we wouldn’t have seen that coming nor looked into it?

One prequel would have been fine and just make it entirely about the engineers and their adventures. Covenant expanded on nothing. It just gave us Friday the 13th level characters and zero answers. Now what the hell they gonna do? See? Better to have left the franchise alone after all.

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

It never gets into her mouth and the objective appeared to be aimed at choking her, not forcing a blow job. You guys…..

The film is full of rape.

[dvining]

Originally Posted by DR Herbert West

The film is full of rape.

It extends the motif.

[Warm Gun]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

It never gets into her mouth and the objective appeared to be aimed at choking her, not forcing a blow job. You guys…..

Ridley Scott in the cast and crew commentary: "I figured robots had to have, if they're really sophisticated, had to occasionally have the urge. So I said to Ash, 'How do you feel about sexual drive?' He said, 'Great.' So I said, rather than just beating her up, isn't it more interesting that he actually has always wanted to, and here is his opportunity, but he doesn't have that part. And therefore it's a magazine."

[DR Herbert West]

Originally Posted by dvining

It extends the motif.

Did anybody else notice that the alien's head looks like a big...