Prometheus

[erratic]

I liked it. Apart from the already-mentioned fantastic visuals, I thought that the script (as opposed to the story) was the weakest part. The story was fantastic - interesting concept, nicely different from Alien and Aliens (let's just pretend the other Alien "films" don't exist) - but the script made characters do entirely senseless things in some key moments.

But the movie makes much more sense when you realize all the mythological and religious allusions and subtexts going on underneath the script. This guy (lotsa spoilers in that link) does a good job of outlining the ones past the obvious Prometheus the lifegiver/Prometheus the disembowelled and the Jesus stuff.

 

[bigboy9239]

Recurring themes....interesting stuff.....

 

[Apollo1]

Props, erratic. That post made me look at the film in a much deeper way.

Blessings

 

[erratic]

Spoilerama:

If you notice, the opening shots are note-for-note references to the opening and ending of 2001: A Space Odyssey. The establishing shot is of a perfectly-centred planet in space - just a crescent, mostly in shadow. I was waiting to hear notes from Also Sprach Zarathustra at that point. The camera then, aimed straight down, starts passing over barren, almost-abstract rocky landscapes. One after another, after another. I'm pretty sure that was Ridley Scott telling people to be looking well under the surface, that the sequence where the Engineer who sacrifices himself right after the opening shots is meant to set up the main themes of the film, while pointing out directly that evolution would be one of them - both through the DNA sequences (pardon the pun) and the direct referencing of 2001.

 

[D_Bubba_Butter]

Alright, who's seen it? What do you think?

Blessings

If you're Apollo, surely it's a bit of a busman's holiday?

 

[wofg]

SPOILER ALERT!!!


There has been some speculation and theories going around that Meredith Vickers might be an ANDROID. Her cold demeanor, aggressiveness towards David, and her strange relationship to Peter Weyland is what gets people talking. So why does Vickers have an automated surgery table in the first place, and why is it only programmed for male patients? I thought it was strange that the writers added that in... they must have written that for a reason.

What do ya'll think?

 

[RawDog]

Spoiler to follow:

The operating table was for her father, Weyland.

Also, she can't be an android, she lacked the smarts to turn left.

 

[D_Skippy_Skidmarx]

I just enjoyed the story and glad they didn't spend the entire time crawling through dark corridors waiting for the monster to jump out.

 

[jojolongdong]

Alright, who's seen it? What do you think?

I went with a mixture of expectation and excitement, and tried to temper them on the day.

" A L I E N " is in my opinion the best Science Fiction / Horror / Thriller - I've ever seen.
" P R O M E T H E U S " had an almost impossible task. (prequel attempts to equal or better and falls short)

My main criticism is the human characters are not warm or likeable, and I found myself wishing the terrible things that might be coming their way - would hurry up, because my imagination was beginning to run ahead of the film.

Michael Fassbender's portrayal of the android (a copy of Ian Holm's ' A S H ' character even down to losing his head) was the most believable and interesting character - ironically, with the possible exception of the replacement ' R I P L E Y ' character.

There were too many lost opportunities to crank-up the tension, and bring a really scary (dare I mention - Hitchcock) feeling to the scene when the 2 guys lose their way and get left behind.

However;

I did like the special effects, especially the devices to map the inside of the dome, the spacecraft(s) and their interiors, and the exteriors especially the approaching dust storm (which did have a creepy co-incidence or not ? feel about it)

The best thing about this film without doubt though is the E N G I N E E R ' S I found them fascinating, and would like to see it again just to see all of those scenes again.

 

[b.c.]

Although the film stands upon its own, contrary to some comments above, there are several definite links (visual and in script references) to the Alien storyline, most of which the producers of the movie seemed intent to only hint at until toward the end of the film.

The gradual revelations, however, were ruined (for us) by an entire back row of geeks who seemed hell bent on speculating on whether the movie occurs before the first Alien movie or afterward. (I hate endless babble by know-it-alls before the start of a film.)

Seeing as how the "secret" is long since out by now anyway, admitting to the connection can no longer be consider a spoiler. However I'll leave it up to those who haven't seen it to follow whatever clues are put there for the viewer.

Does it seem a sequel is in the offering? Most definitely. (And yes, we saw Battleship too, and it was quite entertaining, more so than Prometheus, imo).

 

[Apollo1]

So, I've been thinking about David and the whole Vickers as an adroid thing. I think what makes parts of their personalities so interesting is that they are both outsiders, but with their own agendas. David was made to be a certain way, but I think that he starts developing human traits that he was not intended to possess originally. You see him develop resentment, pride, etc. through the course of the film.

Vickers, on the other hand, is on a ship with scientists. She's the lone representative of the company, so she has to stand apart from everyone aboard. She remains cold and standoffish (which is how we would anticipate David's behavior to be) in order to protect her motives. What do you fine folks think?

Blessings

 

[Apollo1]

By the way, I just stumbled across this and thought you lovely folks would get a kick out of it. Enjoy!

Blessings

 

[Satsfakshun]

SPOILER ALERT!!!

So why does Vickers have an automated surgery table in the first place, and why is it only programmed for male patients?
What do ya'll think?

It was meant for Weyland in case there were any complications from the 'engineers' restoring his body.

I just watched it again and can't stop. Although I viewed Alien as a masterpiece from the first time I saw it - and still consider it the best... I think Prometheus can be up there as well. One thing to keep in mind is that none of the engineers shown in the film is the one from Alien. That is a separate storyline involving the same race of engineers. In that sense, it's not a true prequel. Just my two cents worth.

BTW, Fassbender, Idris Elba and Logan Marshall-Green are total sex machines. When Fassbender kneels to get a close look at the 'seeding mechanism' in the big hall you get a fantastic flash of an impressive tube in his space suit. I guess making humans comfortable with cyborgs also included impressive equipment below the belt.

 

[855790]

Pretty awesome.