Prometheus (2012)

[Dead By Shaun]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

My copy plays perfectly...until the film ends and instead of going to the menu, my player becomes unresponsive. Is that a defect as well?

I recall you mentioning this earlier in the thread, so last night, when I watched this film yet once again , I let the credits run out. No problems for me on my end. The menu screen popped up after the end credits finished rolling.

Just for the record, I own the 3D version, which I purchased at Best Buy, and I'm playing it on an 80gb PS3. I've only watched the 2D version, however, as I don't currently own a 3D TV. I've now watched this at home a total of 4 times, plus all the special features, and thankfully have no issues to report.

[frogmort]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

It's just very compelling and thought provoking, and its superbly designed and filmed. The sets, the FX, the camera work...they're all top notch. And the story works for the most part and leaves you wanting more, which we now know we're gonna get!

It really is compelling and thought provoking. I've even had dreams about it, and find myself thinking about it while at work. This is by far the best blind-buy I've ever made. Of the three times I've watched it, every time I feel like I'm picking up on more subtle implications of what's really going on, and what's to come in the sequel. I'll admit there are a few minor things that seem a bit off kilter, but they don't get in the way of my fascination with or enjoyment of this movie at all. I just checked and it appears that Paradise should be released in 2014 or 2015. I can't wait!

[Ulisez]

Originally Posted by CoopFilm

My copy plays perfectly...until the film ends and instead of going to the menu, my player becomes unresponsive. Is that a defect as well?

Coop, you're not the only one. It also happens to my copy of the film. It runs the entire film, then once its done, the player freezes up.

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by Roy Batty

I would add:

- Why the notion of some alien race having visited us in the distant past would lead anyone to believe that they CREATED us?

That seemed to be the premise. The story was a retelling of Prometheus, in which a titan stole fire from the Gods and used it to give life to humans.

- Why the notion of that same alien race supposedly being our creators would lead anyone to believe that they may have some mysterious way to give a human being ETERNAL OR AT LEAST PROLONGUED LIFE?

Because the concept is that if these beings have the power to give life, they must understand how to also heal illness or use gene therapy.

- Why should Shaw feel any less "alone" if she were to find her supposed creators, the Engineers, alive?

Part of human consciousness is to be aware of one's mortality, place and solitude. In modern times, that place and solitude means being alone in the vast universe as a series of evolving biomolecules. The search for meaning is to put that human condition in a different context, and that's what Shaw needed to do in terms of her faith.

- On the other hand, why should Holloway feel any more "alone" if he were to find his supposed creators, the Engineers, dead?

Because that would eliminate the opportunity to build a dialogue or relationship with the engineers, and to discover more about the reason behind human origin.

- Why should Weyland and David think that experimenting with the "black goo" should yield any information on obtaining eternal life? We the spectators have witnessed the sacrificial suicide-by-unknown-substance of an Engineer at the opening of the film, but neither Weyland nor David have any information linking the black goo to any kind of bio-engineering at the genesis of life on Earth. They just found it there, it could be anything.

Clearly David had nothing to lose for obvious reasons, and Weyland was at death's door and was grasping at any chance to prolongue his life. He was desparate.

- Why an experiment as limited as infecting Holloway with that black goo, with no other "test group", should lead to any useful information on the same matter?

David knew Shaw would also be infected, through Holloway. So it was quite the "experiment". Remember this was before David had found the living engineer (if I remember correctly), so they were grasping at straws to some extent.

- Why any human being, placed on an alien world, millions of light-years away from Earth, and faced with the apparent prospect of making contact for the very first time with some kind of extraterrestrial life-form, as yet completely unknown, would burst into HOWLING upon entering that life-form's dark, ominous and dreadful abode, that could be filled with who knows what kind of dangerous predators lurking in the shadows?

The scientists (who lacked faith) were cast as little more than idiots in the film, which I frankly found refreshing as most sci fi pretends scientists as geniuses. Very few are geniuses.

- Why would any human being, placed on that unknown planet, decide to take his helmet off, only because their sensors read the air as "breathable"? There is quite a BIG difference between chemically breathable and harmless. It could be crammed with bacteria and viruses so unknown to humans, so different and separate from human limited knowledge, that no man-made sensor device would even detect them and identify them as living beings.

Again, the scientists (with the exception of Shaw) were portrayed as morons. There is a reason for this--blind faith in empiricism leads nowhere.

- Why would any person with some measure of scientific profile/training feel like taking off his helmet and not only exposing himself to that possible virus and bacteria, but also CONTAMINATING a completely unknown bio-system with the myriad of human microorganisms that thrive on our skin and in our breath? Not very scientific behavior. With that, they could be KILLING the very same alien beings they came looking for.

Again, see above. The scientists were behaving like idiots--this was not your imagination and not a mistake of the script--and there was a narrative reason for this.

- And why would anyone on his sane mind feel like petting a COMPLETELY UNKNOWN ALIEN FORM that looks like a DANGEROUS SNAKE?

You're asking essentially the same question over and over, so they have the same answer. The scientists are cast as little better than imbeciles who lack a moral compass with the exception of Shaw, who never lost her faith.

But of course, one of the biggest, most baffling and already mentioned blunders in the movie has to be Shaw entering Weyland's room ALMOST NUDE AND COVERED IN BLOOD, WITH A STREAK OF SURGICAL STAPLES ON HER ABDOMEN, only to have David and some other guy coming to her to wrap her with A ROBE but without being alarmed by her appearance or asking her WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO HER, and then resume their ongoing conversation without a care!!

Uh...wasn't it obvious what happened to her? David himself had accurately assessed Shaw's condition when she faught her way into the surgery unit. Given that David had the AI to learn every language in existence, I think he could figure out what she was up to, and informed the other members of the crew.

[movie]

I posted in this thread a few days ago stating how much my wife and I were stunned at the incredible visuals, but that we could less for the story. A few days later (today) and I have this serious itch to want to watch it again, so I guess I do care about the story. Maybe it's like a fine wine that takes a little time to fully appreciate

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by movie

I posted in this thread a few days ago stating how much my wife and I were stunned at the incredible visuals, but that we could less for the story. A few days later (today) and I have this serious itch to want to watch it again, so I guess I do care about the story. Maybe it's like a fine wine that takes a little time to fully appreciate

It does stand up to repeat viewing very well...but I may have enjoyed the first viewing the best. Now I try to dissect it too much and it takes some of the fun out of it.

[movie]

Originally Posted by Gremal

It does stand up to repeat viewing very well...but I may have enjoyed the first viewing the best. Now I try to dissect it too much and it takes some of the fun out of it.

It's going to be interesting how I feel about it after a second watch, but I know it's still going to be a keeper in my collection just for the visuals alone.

[Roy Batty]

Gremal, you realize none of your explanations is providing a real answer to my questions, are you?

All you are essentially saying is: just because. It was like that because the writers found it fit.

I am well aware of the premise and themes of the movie, and I understand what part those events play in the contrived narrative of the movie, more concerned with puerile simbology than with building and telling a good story. But that does not mean that they make any sense from a logical point of view. They just happen because they are convenient.

And last but no least, "blind faith in empiricism" does not lead "nowhere", mainly because it's neither "blind" nor "faith", but about the rational and methodological observation and analysis of facts, which leads to science, and science in turn leads to the closest thing to true knowledge that we humans have.

[Monolithium]

Originally Posted by srinivas1015

What would you like to change in Prometheus?

A throwaway line from Millburn or Fifield about how they got lost.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Again, the scientists (with the exception of Shaw) were portrayed as morons. There is a reason for this--blind faith in empiricism leads nowhere.

Huh?

You are aware that the only reason you have electricity, or the computer you are posting with, or your car, or your blu-ray collection, or the fact that we can launch vehicles into space, or fight bacteria, or shampoo our hair is because of empiricism, right?

What exactly is "blind" about methodical reasoning based on actual collected data?

[videohead]

*************************here it is*****************************

[Show spoiler]the mural on the wall is a pic of the deacon and or xenomorph POPPING OUT OF A TROLOBITE!!!!!!!! Look at it carefully

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by movie

I posted in this thread a few days ago stating how much my wife and I were stunned at the incredible visuals, but that we could less for the story. A few days later (today) and I have this serious itch to want to watch it again, so I guess I do care about the story. Maybe it's like a fine wine that takes a little time to fully appreciate

I watched it for the second time last night. My opinions remain mostly unchanged. Its a flawed film with some neat concepts and terrific visuals. Even throwing the logic issues aside, the film is lacking something. Other than the robot David, there aren't any interesting characters at all. They could have done more with Vickers but instead wasted her. I tried to get into Shaws character but it just doesn't work. No one gets all that developed. Only David has any kind of arc, if you can even call it that. Halloway is an obnoxious boob and easy to hate. Most of the rest of the crew were throw-aways as well.

Lots of unanswered questions too which I hope are cleared up in the next film. Here's what I need to know:

[Show spoiler]I still don't get how Shaw and Halloway assume that these engineers created us just because of some wall murals. It's quite an ambitious guess. But, that's cool. Even matching DNA doesn't mean they made us. It could mean we descend from them, but it doesn't imply creation at all.

And, there isn't anything particularly deep going on here. It's very straightforward. The engineers are using this planet to create some biological weapons and the experiment goes wrong and the weapons turn on them. There was a little corporate influence here at some level but ultimately it's a science/genetics project that doesn't work out to well.

1) Was the alien designed specifically the way it was for a reason? Why make them require a host to be born? Why do they have acid for blood? What enemy were they going to use the alien against?

2) Who or what created the engineers? What prompted them to decide to even make the bio weapons? Who are they fighting against?

3) Are the xenomorphs the final stage of this bio weapon? It appears at the end of the film that we see a large, prototype of the face hugger in action. Or, are the xenomorphs just one of many possible incarnations of this alien/bio weapon?

4) Were we created by the engineers because we happen to be very good hosts for these aliens?

Overall, I'm at least interested enough to see the next film. The second viewing didn't reveal a bunch more since there isn't really more to reveal. I did enjoy it enough though, flaws and issues in all, enough to stick it out.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

[Show spoiler]I watched it for the second time last night. My opinions remain mostly unchanged. Its a flawed film with some neat concepts and terrific visuals. Even throwing the logic issues aside, the film is lacking something. Other than the robot David, there aren't any interesting characters at all. They could have done more with Vickers but instead wasted her. I tried to get into Shaws character but it just doesn't work. No one gets all that developed. Only David has any kind of arc, if you can even call it that. Halloway is an obnoxious boob and him dying is fine with me. Most of the rest of the crew were throw-aways as well.

I still don't get how Shaw and Halloway assume that these engineers created us just because of some wall murals. It's quite an ambitious guess. But, that's cool. Even matching DNA doesn't mean they made us. It could mean we descend from them, but it doesn't imply creation at all.

And, there isn't anything particularly deep going on here. It's very straightforward. The engineers are using this planet to create some biological weapons and the experiment goes wrong and the weapons turn on them. There was a little corporate influence here at some level but ultimately it's a science/genetics project that doesn't work out to well. Lots of unanswered questions too which I hope are cleared up in the next film. Here's what I need to know:

1) Was the alien designed specifically the way it was for a reason? Why make them require a host to be born? Why do they have acid for blood? What enemy were they going to use the alien against?

2) Who or what created the engineers? What prompted them to decide to even make the bio weapons? Who are they fighting against?

3) Are the xenomorphs the final stage of this bio weapon? It appears at the end of the film that we see a large, prototype of the face hugger in action. Or, are the xenomorphs just one of many possible incarnations of this alien/bio weapon?

4) Were we created by the engineers because we happen to be very good hosts for these aliens?

Overall, I'm at least interested enough to see the next film. The second viewing didn't reveal a bunch more since there isn't really more to reveal. I did enjoy it enough though, flaws and issues in all, enough to stick it out.

For the third time in this thread: USE SPOILER TAGS

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

[/SPOILER]

For the third time in this thread: USE SPOILER TAGS

Sorry - but isnt this thread for those that have seen it? Id think users oghtta know that!

But, OK.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Sorry - but isnt this thread for those that have seen it? Id think users oghtta know that!

But, OK.

If that was the case SPOILER tags would not even exist.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

If that was the case SPOILER tags would not even exist.

Done.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by s2mikey

Done.

Much obliged. Ever since someone here spoiled a film for me a couple years ago I try to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

Much obliged. Ever since someone here spoiled a film for me a couple years ago I try to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else.

All good - IMO, it might make sense to actually have two threads for popular films like this. One for those that have seen it, one for those who have not. Just a thought. Even with spoiler tags, you'd be wise to avoid these threads if you dont want extra info about a film.

[TitusTroy]

spoiler tags should not exist forever...there should be a limit...a spoiler is for before the movie comes out and for a limited time while it is playing in theaters...so is revealing plot details from a 10 year old movie considered a spoiler?...Prometheus came out in June...it stands to reason that most people that are interested in seeing it have by now

[R0CK0X]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

I just wish that Alan Dean Foster would do a movie novel of it

ADF shout-out. NICE. If he had done a novelization, it would've been interesting to see which version of the script he would've had to work off of.

Originally Posted by s2mikey

I watched it for the second time last night. My opinions remain mostly unchanged. Its a flawed film with some neat concepts and terrific visuals. Even throwing the logic issues aside, the film is lacking something. Other than the robot David, there aren't any interesting characters at all.

I'm with you. I really want to appreciate this flick, but great visuals and interesting ideas can only carry a movie so far. The characters, dialogue and convenient logic really drag it down for me. It's cool that other folks can overlook that stuff, but I'm just not able to. It's a shame, coz I hoped subsequent viewings would help me change my mind, but they didn't.

I will say, however, that the score is better than I first thought. I wouldn't call it outstanding, but it's still good.