Prometheus (2012)

[erixon20]

Originally Posted by Fiffy

It may have entered an "HBO window" (i.e. a time period where HBO has exlusive rights for electronic distribution). But as of right now it's still available for sale on iTunes.

This only affects new buyers. Everybody who has acquired it before gets to keep it in their locker of course.

It is on cinemax on monday and tuesday(different channels on the cinemax channels) so it might be locked out for a while.

[bundyblu]

Picked this up at BB today for $4.99 with a minty slip. Blind buy.

[MilkManX]

Originally Posted by bundyblu

Picked this up at BB today for $4.99 with a minty slip. Blind buy.

Nice deal. I love this movie. Yeah it has some weird plot holes and some serious WTH moments but its a beautiful and masterfully made film.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by bundyblu

Picked this up at BB today for $4.99 with a minty slip. Blind buy.

You missed out on the extensive set of extras then as they are in the other SKU.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by mahgin86

I don't know where I was when this came out in theaters.. Don't remember a trailer or anything playing. When the Blu-ray came out, I read all the hate, how it's plot holes and etc.
Didn't matter to me, I was all over it anyway. I've watched it numerous times in 3d (love that storm in 3d) and in 2d for the first time the other night. I think a big problem most people have going into it is they're expecting "another Alien movie." Where Alien/s were horror/action movies, respectively, I see Prometheus as more of a... drama, suspense, story telling movie. Being set in the Alien universe is merely a bonus in my opinion.

I don't know how you missed it. It had a huge advertising campaign, both online and in theatres.

Actually, I think being set in the Alien universe is the big problem with this film. I hate what it does to the Alien mythology. The Space Jockey stuff is all wrong. This would have been better as a stand-alone movie, having no ties to Alien.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by Mark Malmstrøm

i does has some plot holes and it can be a bit boring at times but when it's good it's good


and saying that it still miles ahead of other science fictions films that has come out in recent years


wouldn't mind a longer version, which more dialogue scenes


When hearing the commentary by Ridley i Wonder was he is so mad (there is a Whole lot of F-Words there)

some Sci-fi films in recent years:

Europa report (excellent sci-fi film)
Last Days on Mars
Moon (outstanding - one of the best I've seen in years)
Oblivion (May have some issues, but it had some great ideas and stunning visuals)
Sunshine (outstanding)
Super 8 (great performances and visuals with a true feel of nostalgia)
District 9
Dark City (still one of my all-time favorites, not exactly recent though - 1998)
TimeCrimes (wonderful little time-travel film from Spain)
Primer (low-budget time-travel stunner)
Solaris (remake) (not as good as the original but still wonderful)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (huge surprise - awesome film)

Other "not bad" sci-fi films in recent years:

The Island
Total Recall (yeah, nowhere near as good as the original, but still had it's moments, and amazing visuals)
Star Trek 1 + 2 (they both have some big issues, but still fun to watch)
Ender's Game (flawed, but still spectacular, especially if you aren't familiar with the book)
War of the Worlds (re-make) (nowhere near as good as the original, but still good)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (remake) (not nearly as bad as some say)

Compared to any of these, Prometheus is insultingly stupid. Prometheus wants to look like it has grand ideas, but Lindelof destroyed anything the original script might have had going in it's favor. Prometheus is a grand-looking film, but it's a mess.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by JimDiGriz

And as you say, how many comparable SF films of the last few years are better exactly?

See above.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by mar3o

TimeCrimes (wonderful little time-travel film from Italy)

The Spanish TimeCrimes was wonderful too ...

[bundyblu]

Originally Posted by HD Goofnut

You missed out on the extensive set of extras then as they are in the other SKU.

Is that the 3D version? I never watch extras so I just went with the cheapest.

[Early Memphis]

Originally Posted by bundyblu

Picked this up at BB today for $4.99 with a minty slip. Blind buy.

Yeah, but it's a good deal on the wrong version. Prometheus is possibly the "most extra needful" and "most extra endowed" BD in history. Much of the story lies in the extras, bummer, but there it is. Ine the words of the review : "the most comprehensive collection of extras I've encountered since the Alien Anthology, including two commentary tracks, thirty-seven minutes of deleted scenes, a three-and-a-half hour making-of documentary, and much more." Plus you get the 3D version if you ever go that route or visit someone who has.
...

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by chip75

The Spanish TimeCrimes was wonderful too ...

Oops - you're right. Fixed.

[HD Goofnut]

Originally Posted by bundyblu

Is that the 3D version? I never watch extras so I just went with the cheapest.

Yes, there is an additional BD-25 loaded with an extensive documentary and other extra features.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Moon (outstanding - one of the best I've seen in years)

Agreed.

Oblivion (May have some issues, but it had some great ideas and stunning visuals)

It's decent, but it does not have great ideas. It's basically Moon Lite.

Sunshine (outstanding)

Great beginning, ruined by a stupid plot twist. Very disappointing.

Super 8 (great performances and visuals with a true feel of nostalgia)

And it is a shallow ghost of a film compared to the movies it tips its hat too.

District 9

Brilliant on all levels.

Other "not bad" sci-fi films in recent years:

The Island
Total Recall (yeah, nowhere near as good as the original, but still had it's moments, and amazing visuals)
Star Trek 1 + 2 (they both have some big issues, but still fun to watch)
Ender's Game (flawed, but still spectacular, especially if you aren't familiar with the book)
War of the Worlds (re-make) (nowhere near as good as the original, but still good)
The Day the Earth Stood Still (remake) (not nearly as bad as some say)

Compared to any of these, Prometheus is insultingly stupid. Prometheus wants to look like it has grand ideas, but Lindelof destroyed anything the original script might have had going in it's favor. Prometheus is a grand-looking film, but it's a mess.

I cannot believe you just created the above list and then shot down Prometheus as "insultingly stupid." I haven't seen Ender's Game yet, but with the exception of of Star Trek '09, that is a mediocre to awful list of movies, every one of them as dumb or dumber than Prometheus.

[bundyblu]

Originally Posted by Early Memphis

Yeah, but it's a good deal on the wrong version. Prometheus is possibly the "most extra needful" and "most extra endowed" BD in history. Much of the story lies in the extras, bummer, but there it is. Ine the words of the review : "the most comprehensive collection of extras I've encountered since the Alien Anthology, including two commentary tracks, thirty-seven minutes of deleted scenes, a three-and-a-half hour making-of documentary, and much more." Plus you get the 3D version if you ever go that route or visit someone who has.
...

I never watch extras, so I'd rather just have the cheapest version.

[itsaboutHD]

Originally Posted by mar3o

Actually, I think being set in the Alien universe is the big problem with this film. I hate what it does to the Alien mythology. The Space Jockey stuff is all wrong. This would have been better as a stand-alone movie, having no ties to Alien.

Why do you think the space jockey is all wrong? It worked for me.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

I cannot believe you just created the above list and then shot down Prometheus as "insultingly stupid." I haven't seen Ender's Game yet, but with the exception of of Star Trek '09, that is a mediocre to awful list of movies, every one of them as dumb or dumber than Prometheus.

I listed those as "not bad" for a reason - they were ok - not bad, not great. But yeah, Prometheus is much dumber than any of those imo. Prometheus is filled with illogical motivations and ridiculous, unlikeable characters making foolish decisions. It was also a mess in editing thanks to many scenes getting cut that would have at least attempted to make the film make a little bit more sense.

[mar3o]

Originally Posted by itsaboutHD

Why do you think the space jockey is all wrong? It worked for me.

It went against everything I imagined my whole life as them being - some bizarre, strange Alien life form that has no resemblance to human life.

Instead, we were given what were essentially large humans with white skin. They were also nowhere near the scale of the original Space Jockey from Alien. There's lots of websites and blogs that go into detail regarding the inconsistencies between the original Space Jockey and whet we were given in Prometheus. Watch Alien again - the Space Jockey is huge - absolutely immense. His arm is as big as a man's entire body. And it's clear it was "merged" with the chair - like somehow part of it. Giger was always into the whole bio-mechanical thing - his artwork has always depicted the merging of man/woman and machine.

Instead, we are now supposed to believe that it wasn't bones we were seeing - it was an old decayed space suit. Yeah, right. There's no way you can look at the original Alien, and the original production art for the Space Jockey, and then tell me now that it was always supposed to be a big guy in a space suit. We were looking at bones in Alien, plain and simple. Not a suit.

[5UP4]

Originally Posted by bundyblu

I never watch extras, so I'd rather just have the cheapest version.

rarely watch extras myself, but the documentary alone is worth the extra money imo. i don't own a 3d tv, but purchased the 3d version just for the documentary. after watching it, it was totally worth it.

[itsaboutHD]

Originally Posted by mar3o

It went against everything I imagined my whole life as them being - some bizarre, strange Alien life form that has no resemblance to human life.

Instead, we were given what were essentially large humans with white skin. They were also nowhere near the scale of the original Space Jockey from Alien. There's lots of websites and blogs that go into detail regarding the inconsistencies between the original Space Jockey and whet we were given in Prometheus. Watch Alien again - the Space Jockey is huge - absolutely immense. And it's clear it was "merged" with the chair - like somehow part of it. Giger was always into the whole bio-mechanical thing - his artwork has always leaned towards the merging of man/woman and machine.

Instead, we are now supposed to believe that it wasn't bones we were seeing - it was an old decayed space suit. Yeah, right. There's no way you can look at the original Alien, and the original production art for the Space Jockey, and then tell me now that it was always supposed to be a big guy in a space suit. We were looking at bones in Alien, plain and simple. Not a suit.

I can't get into this discussion now because I'm supposed to be studying for a test, but I'll re-watch Alien (which I did shortly before and then again after I first saw Prometheus) and chime in with my opinion. My memory of that situation as an armchair observer (vs the pixel counters), the dimensions were reasonable. I like Prometheus on the whole. Sure it has issues, not the least of which are the casting, script, and a bunch else, however, the big picture storyline, I like. It makes reasonable sense to me, since I would have had a hard time with the alien creatures being space travelers. They were just vicious dudes with a shark like jaw structure that served as the "horror" guy that wouldn't stay down.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by mar3o

There's lots of websites and blogs that go into detail regarding the inconsistencies between the original Space Jockey and whet we were given in Prometheus.

And this type of thinking is exactly why we get dumbed-down, formula-driven, spoon-feedings from Hollywood in the first place. If you do not give the people exactly what they expect, they revolt and declare your art invalid.

Look, I have no problem with anyone not liking this film. It is indeed stupid at times. It's maddening because most of the problems could have been fixed with a simple script polish and Ridley paying a little more attention to the logic of certain parts.

It reaches for big ideas, but falls short due to sophomoric execution of those ideas. It is in a state of identity crisis, because it does not know if it wants to be an exploration of human origins, or a science fiction horror story. But I have respect for what Ridley was trying to do with it, even though it never fully congeals. At least it tried to separate itself from the pack, at least it tried to recycle old ideas in new ways, and at least it tried to stand for something more than entertainment. I applaud the effort if not the final outcome. It takes balls to make something other than what the people want and the studio's have calculated will turn a profit.

The JJ Star Trek films are dumb and loud. They don't stand for anything other than escapism. The Island fools you into believing it's about the abuses of science, but it too is just a dumb bit of entertainment. Total Recall is all about money (let's remake this so the old fans will pay to see it!). It stands for nothing. Spielberg's War of the Worlds was a complete misfire, and the Day the Earth Stood Still was crap. Sunshine is HIGHLY overrated. It's one of those movies people do not want to admit sucked because they are still in love with the things about it that are good. At least most of the Prometheus fans I know are not so blind as to not accept it's flaws.

Oblivion shows once again why it's director is a the visual master of the razor-sharp look a modern sci-fi film can have, but to really be successful, he needs co-writers to do most of the heavy lifting for him in the story department. Super 8 showcases why Abrams is still over-hyped (everything he does is a suped-up xerox of someone else's movie), and why he is finally getting to do what he was probably always meant to do: make a Star Wars movie (I really do think we are going to finally see his full potential in the arena it has always belonged in).

You may not like Prometheus, and I understand why people don't. But don't try to call it insultingly dumb and then list a bunch of films that are just as (if not more) insulting to the audience. Scott tried to give us something different and failed, but at least we weren't being spoon-fed another Hollywood script pulled out of the Movie Ideas that Always Make Money drawer.