Prometheus Review Thread (Spoilers)

[Lemmy Lugosi]

Originally Posted by bluearth

Lengthy review, I did not like it.

[Show spoiler]Why even watch this movie? It doesnt ask any questions nor does it answer any questions, the action is light, the horror is light. None of the characters are likeable. A total mess of a film.

Unlike Alien and Aliens and even Alien 3 which had a very thick sense of dread and fear hanging over the entire film, Prometheus features a very safe spaceship that is barely intruded upon. Alien had a xenomorph on the loose that could pop up at any time. Aliens had xenomorphs everywhere and the threat of an imminent nuclear meltdown. There is no threat to the crew of Prometheus, they are safe and sound in the ship.

The creatures in the film were awful. The uninspired snake in the beginning? And the guy walks up to it and talks to it like it's a dog? I refuse to believe anybody is that stupid.

The squid thing inside shaw. It was more "eww" then scary. I was cringing more then feeling an actual sense of horror or fear in the film.

The climatic scene when they talk to the space jockey. How disappointing! This is suppose to be the zenith of the film, we are suppose to learn something new, this is what we waited for. Instead we get NOTHING. The engineer just kills everyone and tries to fly off. Stupid! Watch the whole move for that garbage. What a let down! Lazy script writing at it's finest. Instead of attempting to write a thought provoking scene between the engineer and Weyland lets just have him go ape and bust everything up. What a cop out!

Its obvious they dont want to give out any secrets on their paper thin plot so they can milk the audience dry for a sequel I positively will not be seeing.

And the guys who crash the ship into the alien craft? How many people do you need to screw in a light bulb? How many people do you need to ram something? Hopefully the answer is ONE.

So this movie was not scary, and it didnt answer or ask any questions worth a dime.

There were way too many characters, many of which were killed off in droves to make room for the main character.

The set pieces were terrible. Oooooh! Theres a big human head! Why is the head even there? What is the point of it? Why would they build a statue of a head there??? And somebody left some vases around it that are leaking out some crap the film doesnt explain because the answer is completely unsatisfying.

And how is the drawings in the caves "star maps" It looked like 5 dots to me. How you make sense of that to find a star system trillions of miles away makes no sense to me. Why would ancient people make such maps? Why did the engineers leave them a map to an abandoned military installation? Once again we dont get the answer because the answer is a joke and completely unsatisfying.

The whole movie is a joke and I dont get how anybody thinks this is great science fiction. This is a B movie with a huge special effects budget. Replace all the famous actors and actresses with SyFy channel stars and give it a SyFy channel budget and you have a made for TV SyFy channel movie. But no, Ridley Scott directed it! It must be science fiction gold!

2/5

Agreed 100%.

Originally Posted by SirMontyPython

You can't read sarcasm...it has to be heard

In space, no one can hear you have fun.

Originally Posted by mars396

It is amazing how well AvP had aged. What was once throw-away popcorn junk now sounds kinda good:


A scientific expedition to a remote location, funded by an ailing, near-death Mr. Wayland

[Show spoiler](who actually accompanies the scientists on their trip!).

There, they discover a mysterious pyramid, with evidence that Earth was indeed visited by “Ancient Astronauts”, who were worshiped as Gods by the Ancient Humans.

This pyramid has strange lifeforms that are “activated” by the presence of the scientists, who are then

[Show spoiler]killed off one after another by these new lifeforms. Upon his first encounter with an extra-terrestrial, Wayland is killed by the taller, stronger being.

The few remaining explorers realize they must stop the aliens before they get the chance to leave this remote location and kill the entire population of Earth.

[Show spoiler]The lone survivor of it all, is the “sensible” female scientist whom no one listened too when she suggested that they should leave.

There is a big, climactic fight

[Show spoiler]between the superstrong, super intelligent race that visited prehistoric humans and were worshipped as Gods and an alien creature that was born during this adventure. Both end up dead. The picture ends with a new type of xenomorph we haven’t seen before bursting from him, prepping us for the sequel.

Hey WAITAMINUTE ! ! ! ! ! !

Yeah, but only one of the two films actually has some friggin' GIGER-ESQUE aliens as the featured critters, and not some short guy in a bicycle helmet and Squidward's disabled cousin.

[InCali]

It doesn't bother me one way or the other whether people liked it or not. I liked it and will buy it on 3D blu ray first day. I thought the 3D filming was almost as good as I've seen and was visually spectacular. With regard to the writing, I can't really judge it just yet for sure. While there are cases where it's clear that there was a superior script, it doesn't always work that way.

What some people see a plot "holes" may or may not be such. I'm very sure there will be a sequel. If I'm right, a lot of what people call "bad writing" may really not be (or may be) bad after all. I want to see whether the sequel (or two) hang together. I honestly think it's too early to judge. If you didn't like it, great, don't pay any more money to see it and don't buy the DVD/blu ray. If you did like and and want to go see it again, that's great.

I don't think it's helpful to say "this movie is crap" or "this is a great movie". "I didn't" or "did like the movie because....." seems a much more sensible approach. If you say "this movie is crap and the writing is horrible", why shouldn't I just say "you have your head stuck so far up your @$$, it's coming out of the back of your neck". Neither is a "fact". It's just an opinion. Why not express it as such?

[Rambaldi47]

I'd like to read the original script, the one before they brought in Lindelof. I read an interview where Lindelof was talking about

[Show spoiler]the med-pod scene, he said it was from the original script, and he changed it from being a facehugger to the squid baby.

I think it would be cool to see how the story evolved. Even though it didn't give out all the answers that people were expecting, I'm surprised at how negative so many people are being towards the movie. After reading all the speculation, I am dying to see it a second time so I can look for different things that I missed before.

[Nikka488]

Originally Posted by Rambaldi47

I'd like to read the original script, the one before they brought in Lindelof. I read an interview where Lindelof was talking about

[Show spoiler]the med-pod scene, he said it was from the original script, and he changed it from being a facehugger to the squid baby.

I think it would be cool to see how the story evolved. Even though it didn't give out all the answers that people were expecting, I'm surprised at how negative so many people are being towards the movie. After reading all the speculation, I am dying to see it a second time so I can look for different things that I missed before.

Me too. I'd love to see what the unrevised script had in it. Even give me a novelization...

& I caught a lot more the second time I saw it.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by InCali

It doesn't bother me one way or the other whether people liked it or not. I liked it and will buy it on 3D blu ray first day.

Same here.

Every single movie ever made is gonna have it's haters, and every single thread is going to have a small percentage of those haters continuously hating on it. Why that is, I don't know. I have yet to visit a single Pearl Harbor thread anywhere on the internet, basically because I think that movie was trash, but some people have to keep trolling threads about movies they hated, lashing out over and over like spoiled children. Why ANYONE would keep wasting their time on a thread about a movie they hate is beyond me, but it's nothing new.

"All of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again.".

[Gaius Marius]

Originally Posted by ObiWanShinobi

You nailed it....Maximus was actually an engineer that they forced into fighting after they murdered his family and this upset the engineers quite a bit and had them wanting to destroy human kind. And people thought it was Jesus he was talking about...PSH!

I was wondering when people were going to realize that ALL Ridley Scott movies take place in the same universe.





j/k

So, Deckard was not a replicant, he was an Engineer! NOW it makes sense!

[georgec]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Same here.

Every single movie ever made is gonna have it's haters, and every single thread is going to have a small percentage of those haters continuously hating on it. Why that is, I don't know. I have yet to visit a single Pearl Harbor thread anywhere on the internet, basically because I think that movie was trash, but some people have to keep trolling threads about movies they hated, lashing out over and over like spoiled children. Why ANYONE would keep wasting their time on a thread about a movie they hate is beyond me, but it's nothing new.

"All of this has happened before, and all of it will happen again.".

I didn't hate Prometheus. I enjoyed it but recognize the numerous flaws it has. I think it's fair game to discuss those flaws.

[BLUEGRASS]

I don't know if this has been posted yet (I looked through the last few pages and didn't see anything)

Dr. Anil Biltoo of the SOAS Language Centre in London (who served as the linguist teacher on Ridley Scott's Prometheus) has revealed what David said to the Engineer at the end of the movie.

The line that David speaks to the Engineer [which is from a longer sequence that didn't make the final edit] is as follows:

"ida hmanəm aɪ kja namṛtuh zdℇ:taha … ghʷɪvah-pjorn-ɪttham sas da:tṛ kredah"

A serviceable translation into English is:

[Show spoiler]"This man is here because he does not want to die. He believes you can give him more life."

[ObiWanShinobi]

There are indeed some issues with Prometheus but some of the things people are complaining about are EXPLAINED in the film, maybe not in great depth but enough to get the jist of it. I understand some of these things could be missed with one viewing because when I saw it a second time there were several "oh okay" moments that I didnt get upon my first viewing.

The removal of the helmet on an alien planet IS a bit of a stretch

The reason why the vases started sweating/melting?...they mentioned in the movie that they changed the temperature of the room when they opened the door which obviously is the reason for the reaction because David sprayed some sort of freezing spray on the one vase he took with him.

Why didnt Vickers and Shaw zig zag when the ship was rolling towards them? Did everyone miss the school bus sized (and various other sizes) debris that was falling and exploding all around them? When the camera was zoomed back it appeared to me there was no safe bet during that situation but the ship, at the time, was actually shielding them from the debris and perhaps the plan was to go sideways at the last second after the majority of the debris had already fallen but instead they tripped and Shaw improvised while Vickers couldnt move in time. I think people are reading too much into that one.

Why is there a giant head in the room with the vases? Why not? Its obviously a religious symbol and god knows humans put religious symbols in strange places but does that particular aspect really make any difference? Is that really worth dissecting or complaining about? Maybe so but given these are creatures from another universe...I'll keep an open mind.

The star map just being 5 dots so HOW did they figure it to be a starmap? Well...on the drawings its obvious the dots are in the sky/in space/or above us because people are reaching up towards them and to the average person it may seem like "5 dots" but to someone who knows what they are talking about and studies such things it might look like...a system of stars or planets. Humans have been studying the stars for centuries if not alot longer so its not a brainbuster.

As for Bluearch complaining that it was silly that it TOOK 3 people to fly and crash the ship. It didnt take all them to do it...the others, either through a form of friendship or comraderie DECIDED to stay with their captain and complete the task. It may seem silly to you but its not unheard of for people to "go down with the ship" in some form or fashion. What other choice did they really have anyway? Be stuck on the planet with pretty much no chance of rescue or go ahead and be done with it.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by georgec

I didn't hate Prometheus. I enjoyed it but recognize the numerous flaws it has. I think it's fair game to discuss those flaws.

Yes, but to what end? I'm fine with the flaws being discussed, but not the crybabies saying the same s**t over and over and over.

I just don't see a point to that, and wonder how emotionally frail and immature those individuals are. I don't hang out on Justin Beiber forums. I don't hang out on the Tree of Life thread. I don't visit any reality TV forums. Basically, I don't waste time with things I don't care for.

I say that folks should say their piece and move on, unless they have something insiteful and constructive to add to the conversation. But whining about the same things over and over, or agreeing with every other like-minded perserverating idiot is a waste of time.

Oh well. I guess my time is precious to me; that must not be true for everyone.

[ObiWanShinobi]

Originally Posted by BouCoupDinkyDau

Yes, but to what end? I'm fine with the flaws being discussed, but not the crybabies saying the same s**t over and over and over.

I just don't see a point to that, and wonder how emotionally frail and immature those individuals are. I don't hang out on Justin Beiber forums. I don't hang out on the Tree of Life thread. I don't visit any reality TV forums. Basically, I don't waste time with things I don't care for.

I say that folks should say their piece and move on, unless they have something insiteful and constructive to add to the conversation. But whining about the same things over and over, or agreeing with every other like-minded perserverating idiot is a waste of time.

Oh well. I guess my time is precious to me; that must not be true for everyone.

Agreed. I've gone to many a thread and expressed my opinions of films. If I had a positive experience then I'll come back to further discuss it with others but if I disliked it, I will voice my opinion and then move on.

If someone voices a negative opinion and feels the need to keep coming back to repeat themselves then thats...well...thats trolling, right?

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by ObiWanShinobi

Agreed. I've gone to many a thread and expressed my opinions of films. If I had a positive experience then I'll come back to further discuss it with others but if I disliked it, I will voice my opinion and then move on.

If someone voices a negative opinion and feels the need to keep coming back to repeat themselves then thats...well...thats trolling, right?

not really, trolling baiting someone, pushing them into a fight, posting inflammatory statements in order to derail the conversation. Debating is a separate entity and should be treated as such. I've noticed a disturbing trend that only positive things about a subject should be expressed more than once, both in real life and here on the forums. that's a dangerous mentality to get into.

[ObiWanShinobi]

Originally Posted by wormraper

not really, trolling baiting someone, pushing them into a fight, posting inflammatory statements in order to derail the conversation. Debating is a separate entity and should be treated as such. I've noticed a disturbing trend that only positive things about a subject should be expressed more than once, both in real life and here on the forums. that's a dangerous mentality to get into.

Yeah but repeating oneself excessively in a negative way can easily be taken as a "troll tactic" especially if its constant and no-one is responding to you directly in a conversational/debating manner. If someone inquires about WHY you thought negatively about Prometheus then by all means...talk away, but if youre coming in to be negative for the sake of being negative, and people do this, then it IS trolling IMO and its not that hard to spot.

Straight up though, some of the things people are complaining about with Prometheus aren't an issue with poor writing...but poor attention spans and people not taking into account that this is a MOVIE...science "fiction". Hearing these nit-picks over and over and people saying "I agree 100%" about it when others are proving them wrong gets old. Its like people have nit-picks that have explanations but when the explanation gets revealed no-one is listening

[Bruisermoore]

Originally Posted by wormraper

not really, trolling baiting someone, pushing them into a fight, posting inflammatory statements in order to derail the conversation. Debating is a separate entity and should be treated as such. I've noticed a disturbing trend that only positive things about a subject should be expressed more than once, both in real life and here on the forums. that's a dangerous mentality to get into.

Just look at the last few pages of this thread. Your definition of trolling is exactly what you and a few others were doing. You (and others) completely derailed this thread into a Prometheus bash-fest that was pointless and unnecessary unless you were just looking to get a rise out of people (which you did as evident by the pages of back-and-forth), hence, you were/are trolling.

[wormraper]

Originally Posted by Bruisermoore

Just look at the last few pages of this thread. Your definition of trolling is exactly what you and a few others were doing. You (and others) completely derailed this thread into a Prometheus bash-fest that was pointless and unnecessary unless you were just looking to get a rise out of people (which you did as evident by the pages of back-and-forth), hence, you were/are trolling.

this thread is about Prometheus. anything on that subject is fair game. not off topic in the least. I didn't bait ANYONE, I commented on another person's post and responded to people responding to that. Again, it comes down to people not liking to hear a negative side. If you want to not hear this type of stuff create a thread that specifically is titled "The official prometheus lovers thread - NO NEGATIVE OPINIONS ALLOWED". Then people with a dissenting point of view are definitely trolling. until then......

I have my reasons for disliking Prometheus and I state them quite plainly. Nowhere do I come in and say "prometheus sucks and the only people who like it are little girly men who live with their mothers!!!" or something like that (now THAT is baiting).

as for why I don't "move on". very simply. Prometheus is now in the Alien canon. I'm an Alien fan which means I take the good with the bad (I'm a horribly ocd completionist... I LOATHE SW Episode 1 but I will always watch it in order from eps 1 - 6 when I watch the series because it IS canon as much as I hate it). It is forever entwined into the Alien saga. Thus as a fan of the SERIES and Universe It's is now something I will watch whenever I or my buddies get a inkling to watch us some Alien goodness. l

I'm not trying to be rude, I'm not trying to hurt anyones feelings, but bluntly, It's my opinion and I have just as much right to express it as anyone else here

[Thunderhead]

Originally Posted by ObiWanShinobi

Yeah but repeating oneself excessively in a negative way can easily be taken as a "troll tactic" especially if its constant and no-one is responding to you directly in a conversational/debating manner. If someone inquires about WHY you thought negatively about Prometheus then by all means...talk away, but if youre coming in to be negative for the sake of being negative, and people do this, then it IS trolling IMO and its not that hard to spot.

Straight up though, some of the things people are complaining about with Prometheus aren't an issue with poor writing...but poor attention spans and people not taking into account that this is a MOVIE...science "fiction". Hearing these nit-picks over and over and people saying "I agree 100%" about it when others are proving them wrong gets old. Its like people have nit-picks that have explanations but when the explanation gets revealed no-one is listening

These are the same people who keep sick "reality shows" and Jerry Springer type shows on the airwaves.
They bash & complain & troll to get a rise out of fans. Why.....? Cause they just love to watch and cause arguing, screaming & fighting.
Sadly, they can't recognize "Prometheus" as a very good sci-fi film. IMO.

[Aragorn the Elfstone]

Originally Posted by Thunderhead

These are the same people who keep sick "reality shows" and Jerry Springer type shows on the airwaves.
They bash & complain & troll to get a rise out of fans. Why.....? Cause they just love to watch and cause arguing, screaming & fighting.
Sadly, they can't recognize "Prometheus" as a very good sci-fi film. IMO.

Well, they're free to hold any opinion of the film they want. The problem comes when it's just them repeating how badly the movie sucks over and over again without adding any thing else to the conversation.

[greg_achen]

Originally Posted by raygendreau

Must see CineFex scans:http://www.prometheus-movie.com/news/246

Click the first image to enlarge, then hit n to page forward.

My prediction: Prometheus will be nominated for and win the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.

And that's one win that will be well deserved. The blending of practical and visual effects was practically seamless. Ridley definitely knows how to use CGI effectively as a tool to enhance (rather than creating a CGI cartoon featuring live actors). Some of the other big budget films I've seen this year including Men in Black 3, Battleship, and Snow White and the Huntsman had astronomical budgets and the whole time I was watching those films I was wondering why. With Prometheus, almost every shot looked perfect. I am not holding my breath for Prometheus to win for best cinematography or to even get nominated, but that too would be well deserved.

[bluRazor]

[Show spoiler]Liked the movie for the most part, just couldn't get my head around why all these ancient human civilizations had the star cluster map thing, when the only thing it lead to was an isolated military base made to house biological weapons that were ment to eradicate us after they changed their minds about creating us. Why and how would that be common information among different early civilizations?

[greg_achen]

Originally Posted by blu/razor

[Show spoiler]Liked the movie for the most part, just couldn't get my head around why all these ancient human civilizations had the star cluster map thing, when the only thing it lead to was an isolated military base made to house biological weapons that were ment to eradicate us after they changed their minds about creating us. Why and how would that be common information among different early civilizations?

My guess is that they are on the wrong planet.

[Show spoiler] The star map didn't give them a specific planet to go to, but rather a general area. They assumed, based off their calculations, that the planet most likely capable of sustaining life was LV-223. If the star map was an invitation, I think it would be safe to assume they landed on the wrong planet and the Engineers didn't intend for them to stumble on what appears to be one of their military bases.