Prometheus Review Thread (Spoilers)

[Offender_Mullet]

Originally Posted by SirMontyPython

Maybe the next couple of movies would reveal why? That's the kind of mystery I find curious after watching the movie....why? The why's, the how's, the huh's? Those are all thought provoking in my opinion, and I took it upon me as NOT a prequel to Alien, so I try not to connect anything from Alien to Prometheus.....but like I said before, I'm sure we'll get more answers from movies like Paradise and the 3rd movie....I'm patient like that....

I didn't take it as a prequel either. Scott has even said himself in later interviews that probably won't pop-up until the 3rd movie.

Anyway, that's the thing though......"Why?".....The engineer was either abandoned by his people, or he chose to stay on Earth by himself. Either:

1.) He made us out of spite and they're coming back to 'correct' his mistake.

or

2.) They told him to sacrifice himself to make a new species, but we turned out not the way they wanted us to. Thus, coming back to unleash hordes of slimy snake things on us.

There's so little time spent in the discovery of their species that it doesn't suck you in as it should have. We get a few hologram replays, David sees their plan in the cockpit and we wake one up who's not too happy. Then he has a temper tantrum. That's basically it.

This is what I like to call ReverseInceptionSyndrome. Instead of being confused on purpose by the director, the audience is left confused at a poorly made movie.

And don't take my knocking of it in a trolling way. I wouldn't be so disappointed by it if I wasn't interested in the first place. Scott has been hit-or-miss like Lemmy said so I'm not holding my breath for the sequel(s).

[STD]

Originally Posted by Offender_Mullet

1/5 stars from me. Even if it had zero ties to the Alien mythology it still would've been a mess. The first 20 min. (or whatever) were good, but after the snake creatures attack and a mutated character goes berserk....the movie turns into typical action/thriller shit.

Did a 12 year-old write the script? The thought provoking points you wanted to be interested in were treated so poorly. There's nothing to delve into. Everything is cut-and-dried. I think people were wanting to take more out of the film than what was actually represented and that's sad. Basically what I'm trying to say is: making a mountain out of a molehill. The plot was paper-thin guys.

This script is just as weak as Gladiator's (imo Scott's least-impressive film), but I can see how people got taken-in by the visual spectacle/scope of the movie....like how people thought Gladiator was a masterpiece. Call is Scott fanboyism or what not, I just didn't buy into this sci-fi trip at all. Disappointed.

"He's coming for you Dr. Shaw"

Well your opinion of Gladiator proves you are a out of the mainstrean fringe dweller. You are not to be taken seriously.

[beadelf]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

What's so weird to me are the actions of the characters.

Obviously, the Fifield character stands out. First off, he says he's just in it for the money. Then you discover he's a geologist - a geologist who's just in it for the money? Then he doesn't look at a single rock, not interested at all in this alien planet; then he freaks out and runs away. And despite being nothing but an absolute dick to him, he manages to make a friend, who runs away with him. Cue infamous "petting the penis snake" moment.
The result is that we give not a rat's ass when they're killed.

But just as baffling is Idris Elba's captain. A man of staggering nobility, going by his final actions; but also one who doesn't seem to give a toss about the two stranded men in the underground cavern with the life signs running around. Instead he decides to shag Charlize Theron (whose hands seem to be glued behind her back). Well there's a guy we can trust to get us home safely.

Of course, he turns out to be the one who figures out the WMD angle, based on no information whatsoever, and accepts his final fate with hardly a shrug. More laughable however are his two crewmembers who - given the choice of spending two years in a lifepod with Charlize - quite cheerily decide to go with him on the basis of even less information than he has.

And let's not forget that these people have successfully found the source of all humanity on a distant planet. Now maybe I'm a hippy but doesn't this warrant a little more excitement from everyone on board, even the cynics? But they behave as if they've just found a stash of silver cutlery with a metal detector. Noomi Rapace's boyfriend - and let's just say it; they were both crap - is driven to an alcoholic depression by the fact that the aliens aren't alive, for God's sake.

Now imagine if the recently launched Nasa Mars probe discovered a dead alien skeleton. Would the guys and gals of Mission Control see the picture and let out a moan of disappointment because it wasn't alive? No - they'd hardly be able to sleep for about a week. Because it would change everything. And they didn't even have to travel for years in hypersleep.

PROMETHEUS should be used as a teaching aid in film schools. If anybody wonders what bad character development is, here is the perfect example: characters you don't like doing stuff you don't believe.

And in case Lindelof has to carry the whole can, we can't let Ridley Scott off so easily. The film is badly directed, folks. Just look at how he botches the reveal of the Big Head by having foreground action taking place - Rapace and the alien head - at exactly the wrong point. No sense of grandeur or awe, or any sense of how incredible it all is.

Even from an art design perspective, he's well off his game: The creature designs that Scott signed off on are dull, the alien ship sets look like someone's given them a good vacuum before filming started, even the fx are nothing special at all.

Sorry to bring it all up again but seeing it for a second time just re-activated all my anger and disappointment. Fool that I am, I will probably pick up the BD in the vain hope that I might discover the greater purpose in all this that will restore my faith in the man who made not one but two of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. But sadly I doubt it. Given Scott's insistence that Deckard is a replicant, it's beginning to dawn on me that this is a man who knows very little about story and thematics and should stand back from the screenwriting process.

all this is true! I found the film cringe worthy to watch, it was like asylum or the sci-fi channel managed to get a load of cash and make a film. I couldnt believe the stupidity of the characters, which i guess mainly comes down to poor writing. This really was an insult! Im confused how people are happy to ignore all these flaws....I mean its not like they are small! in my first viewing I just sat there thinking 'What the hell am I seeing here'.

[duggie walker]

Originally Posted by STD

Well your opinion of Gladiator proves you are a out of the mainstrean fringe dweller. You are not to be taken seriously.

Funny - most of the greatest minds in human history were "out of the mainstream fringe dwellers". You think there's some inherent intellectual superiority in following the mainstream?

GLADIATOR was massively over-rated. I'd say it was undeserving of an Oscar, except that only you mainstreaming middle-of-the-roaders think the Oscar is any real mark of greatness. I quite enjoy GLADIATOR but the plot and script are hokey to an extreme and there is some bad film-making in there. But not as bad as PROMETHEUS.

By the way - PROMETHEUS sequels? The further adventures of Noomi Rapace and a robot head on the planet of the bodybuilders? Ain't gonna happen. All these questions you've got? You won't get anY answers. Why? Because even Scott and Lindelof don't know.

[SirMontyPython]

Originally Posted by Lemmy Lugosi

I honestly hope that you're correct, and these next installments negate all the bad feelings from this first film.

But this is Ridley Scott we're talking about here; I have my doubts it'll turn out well. His track record is more "miss" than "hit" with me.

I take it for what it is, not what I expect....I'll judge a movie based solely on how I can identify with it....I do hope the next installments do help identify MORE with everyone than confuse them...I'm just glad it didn't confuse me....or I'm just a confused person!

[KarmaNL]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

What's so weird to me are the actions of the characters.

Obviously, the Fifield character stands out. First off, he says he's just in it for the money. Then you discover he's a geologist - a geologist who's just in it for the money? Then he doesn't look at a single rock, not interested at all in this alien planet; then he freaks out and runs away. And despite being nothing but an absolute dick to him, he manages to make a friend, who runs away with him. Cue infamous "petting the penis snake" moment.
The result is that we give not a rat's ass when they're killed.

But just as baffling is Idris Elba's captain. A man of staggering nobility, going by his final actions; but also one who doesn't seem to give a toss about the two stranded men in the underground cavern with the life signs running around. Instead he decides to shag Charlize Theron (whose hands seem to be glued behind her back). Well there's a guy we can trust to get us home safely.

Of course, he turns out to be the one who figures out the WMD angle, based on no information whatsoever, and accepts his final fate with hardly a shrug. More laughable however are his two crewmembers who - given the choice of spending two years in a lifepod with Charlize - quite cheerily decide to go with him on the basis of even less information than he has.

And let's not forget that these people have successfully found the source of all humanity on a distant planet. Now maybe I'm a hippy but doesn't this warrant a little more excitement from everyone on board, even the cynics? But they behave as if they've just found a stash of silver cutlery with a metal detector. Noomi Rapace's boyfriend - and let's just say it; they were both crap - is driven to an alcoholic depression by the fact that the aliens aren't alive, for God's sake.

Now imagine if the recently launched Nasa Mars probe discovered a dead alien skeleton. Would the guys and gals of Mission Control see the picture and let out a moan of disappointment because it wasn't alive? No - they'd hardly be able to sleep for about a week. Because it would change everything. And they didn't even have to travel for years in hypersleep.

PROMETHEUS should be used as a teaching aid in film schools. If anybody wonders what bad character development is, here is the perfect example: characters you don't like doing stuff you don't believe.

And in case Lindelof has to carry the whole can, we can't let Ridley Scott off so easily. The film is badly directed, folks. Just look at how he botches the reveal of the Big Head by having foreground action taking place - Rapace and the alien head - at exactly the wrong point. No sense of grandeur or awe, or any sense of how incredible it all is.

Even from an art design perspective, he's well off his game: The creature designs that Scott signed off on are dull, the alien ship sets look like someone's given them a good vacuum before filming started, even the fx are nothing special at all.

Sorry to bring it all up again but seeing it for a second time just re-activated all my anger and disappointment. Fool that I am, I will probably pick up the BD in the vain hope that I might discover the greater purpose in all this that will restore my faith in the man who made not one but two of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. But sadly I doubt it. Given Scott's insistence that Deckard is a replicant, it's beginning to dawn on me that this is a man who knows very little about story and thematics and should stand back from the screenwriting process.

Agree 100%.

Holloway as a character made absolutely no sense whatsoever. First off, he is invited to go on a multibillion dollar space expedition, then they find an alien installation, then they find a cargo hold with a huge human head sculpture and weird vases, and on top of that they find a dead alien.

[Show spoiler]Then he gets sick and sort of commits suicide in an instant.

Yes I can see why you wouldn't be impressed and rather go off in a drunken stupor. Why did he even come along in the first place.

[SirMontyPython]

Originally Posted by KarmaNL

Agree 100%.

Holloway as a character made absolutely no sense whatsoever. First off, he is invited to go on a multibillion dollar space expedition, then they find an alien installation, then they find a cargo hold with a huge human head sculpture and weird vases, and on top of that they find a dead alien.

[Show spoiler]Then he gets sick and sort of commits suicide in an instant.

Yes I can see why you wouldn't be impressed and rather go off in a drunken stupor. Why did he even come along in the first place.

Didn't you recall the moment where they all had an identifying moment like who they are? The only one I question to even be going is Charlize Theron's character....

[beadelf]

Originally Posted by SirMontyPython

Didn't you recall the moment where they all had an identifying moment like who they are? The only one I question to even be going is Charlize Theron's character....

i questioned the lot of them....paper thin characters. one of the few films where i wanted everyone to die. Shame the worst character made it out alive.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by beadelf

i questioned the lot of them....paper thin characters. one of the few films where i wanted everyone to die. Shame the worst character made it out alive.

There's nothing wrong with paper thin characters in certain stories. Just look at how one-dimentional Snake Plisskin or Han Solo is, yet they're both loved. Hell, most of the characters in both Alien and Blade Runner are just shallow as those two.

Sometimes all you need are archetypes with a singular motivation. The problem with Prometheus is the story promises greater depth by trying to develop some of the characters, which makes some of their actions even more befuddling.

Nobody questions Brett going to look for the cat because all we know about him is that he is a follower and afraid to stand up to authority without his friend's loud mouth--and that's all we ever really need to know about him.

But Ridley, Lindoff, and this scrip tries for more, and ultimately fumbles the ball. They shouldn't have tried to develop anyone except Shaw and Vickers, and character motivations should have been given another look when the scrip was being polished.

[Monkey_Boy]

Originally Posted by KarmaNL

Agree 100%.

Holloway as a character made absolutely no sense whatsoever. First off, he is invited to go on a multibillion dollar space expedition, then they find an alien installation, then they find a cargo hold with a huge human head sculpture and weird vases, and on top of that they find a dead alien.

[Show spoiler]Then he gets sick and sort of commits suicide in an instant.

Yes I can see why you wouldn't be impressed and rather go off in a drunken stupor. Why did he even come along in the first place.

In response to your spoiler:

[Show spoiler]I do believe he let Charlize kill him because he knew there was something wrong with him and he didn't wanna infect the ship. It was a sacrifice more than a suicide. (Seein' as "sacrifice" was a pretty big theme in this movie, it shouldn't be that hard to understand.)

He and the crew were disappointed because they went in search of answers, and were only left with questions. (Sound familiar? ) Makes sense to me. I'm not typing that the movie was perfect, just that some things did indeed make sense... (if I may use a quote from another Sci-Fi franchise) from a certain point of view.

The analogy of the NASA Mars probe that duggie walker brought up doesn't quite fit in this scenario. When sending a probe to Mars, NASA wasn't actually expecting to talk with alien lifeforms. So while finding dead aliens woulda been a welcome surprise for NASA, the Prometheus crew had an entirely different set of expectations; they'd already known there was something/someone out there, and were therefore disappointed to find they were too late. Also, the crew member(s) there for the money reminded me of Parker and Brett, and I believe that was their purpose. Is it really so hard to swallow that a geologist would be "in it for the money"? I mean, I'm fairly certain that he was getting paid a whole lot more for this expedition than he would for anything here on Earth. Another thing is I don't see the problem with the Captain goin' after a little nookie while 2 of his (grown-ass) crew are lost in a cave with zero signs of life.

[Show spoiler]How was he to know there were vagina snakes slithering around that could break your arm, bukkake your newfound buddy and deepthroat the hell outta you?

It woulda been the last thing I coulda thought of!

[Foggy]

In your case Monkey Boy, although, yes, he didn't know the penis snake would deep throat him, it still isn't a good idea to go towards a hostile alien creature and try to pet it.

[KarmaNL]

It would have made more sense if they just got attacked out of nowhere, instead of the obligatory "Uh oh I think I know what's going to happen next" scene.

They see dead aliens, they run. They see unknown species, they try to pet it.

[SirMontyPython]

Originally Posted by beadelf

i questioned the lot of them....paper thin characters. one of the few films where i wanted everyone to die. Shame the worst character made it out alive.

The worst character came out alive? We're talking about David right?

[Member-115369]

That was my main issue with the movie. Outside of David and Shaw, the characters were terrible. No character development, they do stupid things, motivations for actions aren't explained well. Maybe a director's cut could help some of that I suppose. I'd give it another go via Netflix if they put out a director's cut. But I left the theater with no desire to see that cut again. Sequel would be something I'd just Netflix too unless there's a director's cut that changes my opinion.

[SirMontyPython]

Originally Posted by dmaul1114

That was my main issue with the movie. Outside of David and Shaw, the characters were terrible. No character development, they do stupid things, motivations for actions aren't explained well. Maybe a director's cut could help some of that I suppose. I'd give it another go via Netflix if they put out a director's cut. But I left the theater with no desire to see that cut again. Sequel would be something I'd just Netflix too unless there's a director's cut that changes my opinion.

Screw Netflix, day 1 purchase for me!!

[Monkey_Boy]

Originally Posted by KarmaNL

They see dead aliens, they run. They see unknown species, they try to pet it.

Isn't this a staple of horror movies? You always have that really stupid guy who wants to get a closer look when everybody else would rather run. (I seem to remember the other guy telling "Curious George" to get back.) Kane did this in "Alien". He just stuck his face right into an egg to see what was in there. Me? I'da been outta there as soon as I saw movement!

[SirMontyPython]

Originally Posted by Monkey_Boy

Isn't this a staple of horror movies? You always have that really stupid guy who wants to get a closer look when everybody else would rather run. (I seem to remember the other guy telling "Curious George" to get back.) Kane did this in "Alien". He just stuck his face right into an egg to see what was in there. Me? I'da been outta there as soon as I saw movement!

You and me both! "What is that??" "Uhhh....I don't wanna know...it could kill me! RUN AWAY!!"

[duggie walker]

Originally Posted by Monkey_Boy

In response to your spoiler:

[Show spoiler]I do believe he let Charlize kill him because he knew there was something wrong with him and he didn't wanna infect the ship. It was a sacrifice more than a suicide. (Seein' as "sacrifice" was a pretty big theme in this movie, it shouldn't be that hard to understand.)

He and the crew were disappointed because they went in search of answers, and were only left with questions. (Sound familiar? ) Makes sense to me. I'm not typing that the movie was perfect, just that some things did indeed make sense... (if I may use a quote from another Sci-Fi franchise) from a certain point of view.

The analogy of the NASA Mars probe that duggie walker brought up doesn't quite fit in this scenario. When sending a probe to Mars, NASA wasn't actually expecting to talk with alien lifeforms. So while finding dead aliens woulda been a welcome surprise for NASA, the Prometheus crew had an entirely different set of expectations; they'd already known there was something/someone out there, and were therefore disappointed to find they were too late. Also, the crew member(s) there for the money reminded me of Parker and Brett, and I believe that was their purpose. Is it really so hard to swallow that a geologist would be "in it for the money"? I mean, I'm fairly certain that he was getting paid a whole lot more for this expedition than he would for anything here on Earth. Another thing is I don't see the problem with the Captain goin' after a little nookie while 2 of his (grown-ass) crew are lost in a cave with zero signs of life.

[Show spoiler]How was he to know there were vagina snakes slithering around that could break your arm, bukkake your newfound buddy and deepthroat the hell outta you?

It woulda been the last thing I coulda thought of!

Please don't pull the one about a confused audience somehow cleverly mirroring the confusion of the crew. It's the oldest piece of rationalisation in the book; often used to explain terrible action sequences too - "oh but you would be confused if you were in a car chase!" Give me a break. You can depict boredom without boring the audience, or depression without depressing them.

I've never argued that they should have explained everything. I'm cool with them not necessarily explaining why the Engineers wanted to kill us. But one central question is enough to be walking out with, not a whole bundle - and most of them simply about character motivations.

Regarding your response to my point - they did NOT know they were going to find aliens. The whole trillion dollar enterprise was launched on the basis of cave paintings. I'll say that again - cave paintings. Not an artefact, not a skeleton, not a photograph or a transmission - a cave painting.

In England, on a hillside, there's an ancient chalk outline of an 80 foot man with a 40 foot dick. No matter how many times I saw that, I'd still be pretty damned surprised to meet the guy!

I take the point that horror movies - if that's what PROMETHEUS is - have people doing stupid things. But they tend to be horny American teenagers, not the world's top-ranking scientists. And to suggest that this bunch - on a pristine, top of line spaceship on the most monumental space mission of mankind's history - would be as jaded as Parker and Brett, who worked in the engine room on a mining ship, is a bit of a stretch.

[raygendreau]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

Please don't pull the one about a confused audience somehow cleverly mirroring the confusion of the crew. It's the oldest piece of rationalisation in the book; often used to explain terrible action sequences too - "oh but you would be confused if you were in a car chase!" Give me a break. You can depict boredom without boring the audience, or depression without depressing them.

I've never argued that they should have explained everything. I'm cool with them not necessarily explaining why the Engineers wanted to kill us. But one central question is enough to be walking out with, not a whole bundle - and most of them simply about character motivations.

Regarding your response to my point - they did NOT know they were going to find aliens. The whole trillion dollar enterprise was launched on the basis of cave paintings. I'll say that again - cave paintings. Not an artefact, not a skeleton, not a photograph or a transmission - a cave painting.

In England, on a hillside, there's an ancient chalk outline of an 80 foot man with a 40 foot dick. No matter how many times I saw that, I'd still be pretty damned surprised to meet the guy!

I take the point that horror movies - if that's what PROMETHEUS is - have people doing stupid things. But they tend to be horny American teenagers, not the world's top-ranking scientists. And to suggest that this bunch - on a pristine, top of line spaceship on the most monumental space mission of mankind's history - would be as jaded as Parker and Brett, who worked in the engine room on a mining ship, is a bit of a stretch.

Where did you get the idea that they were a group of top-ranking scientists? Shaw was viewed as a crackpot, that no one thought was credible. Weyland, near death, was grasping at straws to find a way to prolong his life... to achieve immortality. The trip was cloaked in secrecy. The scientists were nothing more than window dressing. They didn't know each other until they met after being awakened from hypersleep. No one, other than Vickers and David even knew that Weyland was aboard. This was hardly a monumental mission. It was all about Weyland achieving immortality.

[Monkey_Boy]

Originally Posted by duggie walker

Please don't pull the one about a confused audience somehow cleverly mirroring the confusion of the crew. It's the oldest piece of rationalisation in the book; often used to explain terrible action sequences too - "oh but you would be confused if you were in a car chase!" Give me a break. You can depict boredom without boring the audience, or depression without depressing them.

I actually wasn't "pulling" anything. It was a joke, which is why I put a little winky face in the parenthesis with the "Sound familiar?". I think you took that a tad too literally. I was only addressing the character's actions as I understood them. That's all. Personally, I was never confused. I was just along for the ride! Okay. I was a tad confused because at first I read it was a prequel. Then I read that it wasn't a prequel. Then I saw something that actually seemed to be a prequel, that is until the ending made that impossible. Other than that though, nope, not confused at all!

Regarding your response to my point - they did NOT know they were going to find aliens. The whole trillion dollar enterprise was launched on the basis of cave paintings. I'll say that again - cave paintings. Not an artefact, not a skeleton, not a photograph or a transmission - a cave painting.

I've only seen it once, and that was close to opening day. So forgive me if my memory is a tad bit fuzzy on the details. The disappointment of the crew led me to believe that they had indeed expected more than what they had found. Didn't Holloway express to the synthetic that he wanted to ask them "Why"? If they weren't expecting to find living beings, why was he disappointed that he couldn't do this? Unless that is one of the questions that don't have answers...

I take the point that horror movies - if that's what PROMETHEUS is - have people doing stupid things. But they tend to be horny American teenagers, not the world's top-ranking scientists. And to suggest that this bunch - on a pristine, top of line spaceship on the most monumental space mission of mankind's history - would be as jaded as Parker and Brett, who worked in the engine room on a mining ship, is a bit of a stretch.

I didn't say they were jaded, just that money can be a fantastic motivator. It's why Quint risked his life to catch a shark that was waaaaay to big for his boat. It's why Dr. Grant went to an island inhabited by dinosaurs. It's why a group of people decided to stay the night in a haunted house. And it's why a geologist would leave the planet.