Prometheus - Part 9

[Schlosser85]

I think Noomie has been slightly underrated as Shaw. The role and her performance is not destined to become as iconic as Sigourney's turn as Ripley, but what could? I think it would have been a mistake to try to recapture all of that magic. I find Shaw to be likeable and resourceful, and to be quite a good "barometer of atmosphere", which is important for actors in these sorts of movies.

I thought she was very good.

[Pink Ranger]

Originally Posted by regwec

The third line down looks like something the Klan might insinuate to warn against cross-racial marriage.

Or, an ingenious way of increasing the global squid population.

[slimshady247]

Originally Posted by DarthSkywalker

Because the movie was badly written.

That is your explanation? Ugh...

[DarthSkywalker]

Originally Posted by slimshady247

That is your explanation? Ugh...

You act like it is my fault the film has leaps in logic. That isn't my fault. It is the writer's.

Originally Posted by regwec

With the best will in the world, I can't identify anything in Janek or Vickers that made them any more rounded as characters than "I'm not here to make friends, pal" Fifield. Vickers, I suppose, is afforded some ambiguity by the evident intent to leave the question of her human/robotic nature in question, but she is still presented as an off-the-peg corporate *****.

I think Noomie has been slightly underrated as Shaw. The role and her performance is not destined to become as iconic as Sigourney's turn as Ripley, but what could? I think it would have been a mistake to try to recapture all of that magic. I find Shaw to be likeable and resourceful, and to be quite a good "barometer of atmosphere", which is important for actors in these sorts of movies.

I do hope, however, that Ridley and co feel they have given the Christian hypothesis enough of an airing in this film, and that they will set it aside for the next. It's not that I object to it being addressed, but it seems to drag what should be a conceptual sci-fi film into murky waters.

I don't know, there is something about Noomie acting in English that just doesn't work for me. She doesn't seem able to portrayal emotions through her voice properly. She comes off more annoying then anything. It is like the exact opposite of Marion Cotillard.

Add to the fact that her character is a bit of a crybaby, it doesn't go down well.

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by slimshady247

That is your explanation? Ugh...

Well, it's true.

[chamber-music]

Originally Posted by DoomsdayApex

Then what else could the murals mean? I doubt it's a warning, and I doubt The Space Jockeys would give humanity the quadrants to a planetary system where 'weapons of mass destruction' are created just for the hell of it. The Engineers told these ancient civilizations of that instellation for a reason.

Perhaps the Engineers made a trap

Have humans come visit the planet get infected and like a trojan virus take it back to earth to wipe out the rest of humanity.

It all makes sense now! Captain Janek is Admiral Ackbar

Spoiler!!! Click to Read!:

Joking

[RamseyBoy]

I liked this film, but was disappointed.

It leaves too much stuff open ended and ambiguous, which i guess is common of Damon Lindelof's work. Also it feels as though Scott and Lindelof focused too much on the themes and subtexts of the film, which were interesting, but dropped the ball on the fundamentals. Plot contrivances like the two guys getting lost, and their complete change in attitudes when confronted by the penis snake (that's what i call it).

In the build up to this film i thought it would have less characters, 10 maximum. More intimate. But there was about 20, most of which were nothing but fodder.

The acting from the three leads was great though. Fassbender should get some award recognition for this, if not it would be just as much a crime as his snub for Shame last year.

Visually it was typical Ridley Scott. Fantastic. A lot of attention paid to the details and a fully immersive world.

Overall i'd give this film an 8/10.

[regwec]

Originally Posted by RamseyBoy

Plot contrivances like the two guys getting lost,

I don't know that it was that contrived, really. They lost their nerve and turned the wrong way, then came the storm. I am a defender of the storm because it was such an effective way of lending some believability to this alien planet. Freak weather is something I always associate with alien atmospheres, probably because I find the thought of Jupiter's Great Red Spot (a massive storm bigger than Earth that has been raging for centuries) really haunting.

Originally Posted by RamseyBoy

and their complete change in attitudes when confronted by the penis snake (that's what i call it).

Can't argue with that, really. Fifield was still a bit cautious, but less so. His character was generally a mess. His "I don't need to be your pal, pal" patter was inexplicable, really. I really liked his "you people don't give a **** about rocks!" line, though.

[RamseyBoy]

I didn't mind the storm itself. It's just that it was Fifield who had the "pups" and was leading the team. How could he get lost?

I did like Fifield though. Not brilliantly written, but Sean Harris gave him a cool personality.

[DACrowe]

Originally Posted by regwec

With the best will in the world, I can't identify anything in Janek or Vickers that made them any more rounded as characters than "I'm not here to make friends, pal" Fifield. Vickers, I suppose, is afforded some ambiguity by the evident intent to leave the question of her human/robotic nature in question, but she is still presented as an off-the-peg corporate *****.

I think Noomie has been slightly underrated as Shaw. The role and her performance is not destined to become as iconic as Sigourney's turn as Ripley, but what could? I think it would have been a mistake to try to recapture all of that magic. I find Shaw to be likeable and resourceful, and to be quite a good "barometer of atmosphere", which is important for actors in these sorts of movies.

I do hope, however, that Ridley and co feel they have given the Christian hypothesis enough of an airing in this film, and that they will set it aside for the next. It's not that I object to it being addressed, but it seems to drag what should be a conceptual sci-fi film into murky waters.

Noomi was great as Shaw. It's not an iconic role like Ripley, but it wasn't trying to be. Strangely, I do think Noomi has delivered an iconic performance worthy of being next to Ripley in the Swedish The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I think she's amazing in that and I'd like to see her do an American movie that allows her to bring such raw energy.

But anyway, the scene where she takes the aline out of her and the entire ending from the ships crashing to her barely surviving the engineer and crying in the ground is great and shows how much stronger Shaw has become. Just my opinion.

[RamseyBoy]

Also another thing i disliked was Weyland's reveal. It just kinda seemed like a non event. I know there was a hint at it earlier in the film with David mysteriously talking to either himself or someone off screen, but i don't know, it just seemed like that moment should have had more of an impact.

[regwec]

David did talk to Weyland remotely ("he says you need to try harder"). But I agree, much of the impact of his reappearance fell flat, largely because he had only a few moments between the high tension of Shaw's caesarean and the Engineer awakening. I hope this is another element that the director's cut may improve.

[RamseyBoy]

So there is going to be a famous Ridley Scott Directors Cut? Interesting. I always get Scott's Directors Cuts.

Enough being negative though, i'll say something positive now!

I absolutely adore the scene with David and Charlie talking at the pool table. Magnificent acting and the writing there was very good.

[marvelman2006]

Originally Posted by regwec

David did talk to Weyland remotely ("he says you need to try harder"). But I agree, much of the impact of his reappearance fell flat, largely because he had only a few moments between the high tension of Shaw's caesarean and the Engineer awakening. I hope this is another element that the director's cut may improve.

I thought that too for a second, like by having weyland there all the sudden really brought the energy and pace of the movie to a screeching halt. IF they had kept the energy where it was from the c-section and simply have vickers in weylands spot then it would have been alot better. like have vickers secret plan be her obssesing with loosing weyland and wanting answers about life and how to stay alive forever.

[RamseyBoy]

That could have made sense with the character of Vickers too. Her seeking immortality, taking over her dads corporation and living forever.

[Blackman]

Originally Posted by marvelman2006

I thought that too for a second, like by having weyland there all the sudden really brought the energy and pace of the movie to a screeching halt. IF they had kept the energy where it was from the c-section and simply have vickers in weylands spot then it would have been alot better. like have vickers secret plan be her obssesing with loosing weyland and wanting answers about life and how to stay alive forever.

That wouldve been great.

[DarthSkywalker]

Originally Posted by regwec

David did talk to Weyland remotely ("he says you need to try harder"). But I agree, much of the impact of his reappearance fell flat, largely because he had only a few moments between the high tension of Shaw's caesarean and the Engineer awakening. I hope this is another element that the director's cut may improve.

How exactly did that work? Considering the state of everyone else after the awoke from the sleep.

[DarthSkywalker]

Originally Posted by marvelman2006

I thought that too for a second, like by having weyland there all the sudden really brought the energy and pace of the movie to a screeching halt. IF they had kept the energy where it was from the c-section and simply have vickers in weylands spot then it would have been alot better. like have vickers secret plan be her obssesing with loosing weyland and wanting answers about life and how to stay alive forever.

Weyland's presence made sense. It was how he was used that was the problem imo.

[marvelman2006]

Originally Posted by DarthSkywalker

Weyland's presence made sense. It was how he was used that was the problem imo.

I dunno it all just felt shorhorned in there and if they had just left it at his hologram during the briefing it would have been fine. I like the vickers idea alot more and gives her character a chance to shine in the villian role and give shaw someone to go against besides just david and the engineer or have the engineer be friendly until vickers tries to control him through force then he gets ticked and we go into his rampage in the movie. It would have been interesting to see a powerful rich woman who seems tough but in the end we see shes just a scared person afraid of death and the unknown and it makes sense since she never leaves the ship and merely sends out other people til the time is right.

[Valaquen]

I didn't like how events like burning Holloway didn't have any real effect in the film. There were no repercussions for Vickers, and I don't mean that nobody gave her an official slap on the wrist - the atmosphere onboard between crewmembers doesn't change (as thinly drawn as most of them are), there are no interactions between Shaw and Vickers afterwards, no hint of antagonism from anyone towards her (Janek seems level-headed - but no hint of an objection from him afterwards), no sense of "she means business" from anyone." Cut the burning out, put in a line saying that Holloway just died off-screen, and you wouldn't know that this apparently dramatic character showdown even happened.

[DarthSkywalker]

Originally Posted by marvelman2006

I dunno it all just felt shorhorned in there and if they had just left it at his hologram during the briefing it would have been fine. I like the vickers idea alot more and gives her character a chance to shine in the villian role and give shaw someone to go against besides just david and the engineer or have the engineer be friendly until vickers tries to control him through force then he gets ticked and we go into his rampage in the movie. It would have been interesting to see a powerful rich woman who seems tough but in the end we see shes just a scared person afraid of death and the unknown and it makes sense since she never leaves the ship and merely sends out other people til the time is right.

Well that is because the writing is bad. Still, the idea of Weyland is a sound one and works better then Vickers. Weyland's age emphasizes man's mortality. That he is fighting for life with his last breath, and his eventual acceptance, is something that haunts us all.

[regwec]

Yes, though the scene did make it clear that Holloway's death was more an act of suicide than it was an act of homicide by Vickers.

[DarthSkywalker]

Originally Posted by regwec

Yes, though the scene did make it clear that Holloway's death was more an act of suicide than it was an act of homicide by Vickers.

Euthanasia.

[Blackman]

Originally Posted by Valaquen

I didn't like how events like burning Holloway didn't have any real effect in the film. There were no repercussions for Vickers, and I don't mean that nobody gave her an official slap on the wrist - the atmosphere onboard between crewmembers doesn't change

Yes.

That was a REALLY big problem I had with the film. A major character that we were with gets killed off and it's not mentioned by anyone except a few throwaway lines from David and Shaw I think.

As you said no one ever called out Vickers. Isn't the very next scene Shaw waking up?

[RamseyBoy]

I agree. Like i said, the fundamentals, the pacing, the characterisation and plot points are really iffy with this film.

It has interesting subtexts and poses questions that makes the viewer think, but the fundamentals need to be rock solid.

Look at Blade Runner. Just as a noir detective thriller with interesting characters it's solid. Then comes all these extra layers. With Prometheus it's like the base of the movie is poorly written, when concerning plot points and cardboard cut out characters.

The screenplay clearly needed another polish.