Prometheus - Part 7

[CConn]

The questions you posed really aren't that complex. They're natural questions anyone could think up...if they actually cared about these people.

So, do you think up questions like that about characters in every movie?

Do you think Vin Diesel has motivations that complex in Fast Five?

I'm being dismissive because I saw a pretty movie wrapped in a package of cardboard characters doing stupid things in a narrative that was executed in a subpar fashion.

No, you're not coming off as dismissive. You're coming off as childish and angry considering you're not offering any actual information or reasoning beyond your (IMO) highly flawed and downright nonsensical opinion.

I'm not even responding to the rest of your post because all it is is infantile fanboy ranting of the worst kind.

 

[CapedCrusader14]

Stupid in what way?

It's pretty much a key highlight of the main parallel of the movie. It wasn't explicitly directed, but without it, I think the movie is soo much less interesting.

I thought it was unnecessary. I'm fine with it now and it makes sense in the long run.

 

[Liam_H]

I watch him but he is giving more and more reviews that I disagree with.
Last year he gave one of my favorite movies of the year 'Attack the block' an okay score 'no alcohol required' and gave Alien (Alien!) a 'no alcohol required' score as well.

I'm sorry but you do that and we definately don't see eye to eye on reviews and if we don't see eye to eye on reviews why should I watch you as I can't trust your opinion anymore.

My very favorite reviewer (Ebert) gave Prometheus 4 stars

True a lot of his reviews I don't agree with at times. However, I find him quite entertaining so I still stick with him.

 

[spider-neil]

I don't have a problem with ambiguity. I will admit, I didn't like 2001 (Ha Ha! don't flame me ) but my problems with the movie weren't the lack of answers my problem is the camera lingers on every scene far too long, my problem with 2001 is one of pacing not ambiguity.

And then you have Prometheus, which to me doesn't answer a single question it presents but I didn't mind that at all in fact I relish watching the movie over and over again to draw new conclusions. My problem with Prometheus is they shoehorn elements from Alien and frankly I think it is pandering to the Alien crowd. When the movie is it's own thing the movie shines but when it makes (at best) tenuous links to a 30 year old movie it feels forced and rushed.

I blame FOX for these sections, I don't blame Scott.

 

[spider-neil]

True a lot of his reviews I don't agree with at times. However, I find him quite entertaining so I still stick with him.

Which is the only reason why I watch him because he is entertaining.

My absolute favorite YouTube reviewer is called 'HalfAsianReviews'. He so insightful for someone so young and I've agreed with every single one of his reviews but he keeps disappearing off the net and he takes his videos with him.

 

[Call Me Darkman]

Question: How bad are the gross-out moments? I keep hearing/reading that most audiences were a bit disturbed/disgusted by some scenes.

 

[Liam_H]

Question: How bad are the gross-out moments? I keep hearing/reading that most audiences were a bit disturbed/disgusted by some scenes.

There is certainly one specific scene that fits that description. The rest aren't too bad. Do you want to be spoiled?

 

[Call Me Darkman]

Do you want to be spoiled?

I've already been spoiled, I'm afraid.

 

[Liam_H]

For that one scene its not so much the gore/content but the situation that people can relate to.

 

[superkong 500]

Does the engineer have a memorable "action" scene in the movie or just lumbers around. Would you say based on this film he could become an iconic sci-fi character like the xeno or predator for that matter ?

 

[Liam_H]

Does the engineer have a memorable "action" scene in the movie or just lumbers around. Would you say based on this film he could become an iconic sci-fi character like the xeno or predator for that matter ?

He is involved in some stuff but I would hardly call it memorable. Based on this movie no way in hell compared to those two. Buts its not really a fair comparison.

 

[TheFuture]

I blame FOX for these sections, I don't blame Scott.

Even if this was true, I wouldn't hold it against them. After all, the did green light an Alien prequel, and showed a lot of faith in supporting Scott's change of direction away from that original idea.

TBH, excluding the final scene, I don't think Scott forced any obvious links to Alien into the film. The only obvious scene was the Xenomorph mural, and I didn't mind that as it's one of two mysteries that the film presents that I am actually interested in theorising on.

 

[superkong 500]

He is involved in some stuff but I would hardly call it memorable. Based on this movie no way in hell compared to those two. Buts its not really a fair comparison.

ahhh the engineer is so awesome visually that inner biomech suit is beautiful, I think I'll still buy the neca figure it just looks too good...

 

[Lord]

I'm so conflicted. I love the look of it. I love Fassbender. I want to get the bluray so I can gawk at it and dig into behind-the-scenes stuff.

Since people are rabid about avoid spoilers, I'll just go ahead and issue a SPOILER WARNING.

But man what a narrative failure. All the much ballyhooed talk of science vs. faith was nothing but window dressing. It never amounts to anything. Most of the characters are literal nobodies or plot robots ie one minute two scientists just want to get the hell away from whatever life form might be out there, the next they're trying to make friends with a terrifying penis-vagina-snake (what did that thing do anyway? I'm not sure where it fit into the life cycle or if was a part of it at all). Characters figure things out seemingly at random. Sacrifices are made that have no dramatic weight because we know next to nothing about these characters. One death is played as a deserved comeuppance, but I didn't think that person was all that bad. Easily half a dozen of these characters could have been cut. Why not hire an actual old guy instead of making Guy Pearce look like a frog? What the hell was that black stuff? It seems to do whatever the plot demands depending on the scene. I'm all for leaving things to the imagination, but this is just plain old lazy screenwriting.

It sure was purdy though.

Meh!

That's exactly why the last scene was important

Spoiler

it showed that it was the same DNA that created the Alien, a creature that adapts to its host and therefore may have different behaviors and aspects.

 

[Eggyman]

I gave this film an 8/10 an hour or so after I saw it. The more I think about it, the less I like it. 6/10

 

[moviedoors]

There aren't even that many characters in the movie to begin with. I mean, look at it this way--this is a major expedition and you're going to need a lot of people on this ship to proper handle the mission. That's just how the story is set up. If you're ok with that part, you're definitely going to need to be okay with handling the dynamics of what makes an ensemble movie.

Dude, the credits literally list Mercenary 1, Mercenary 2, Mercenary 3, Mercenary 4. That accounts for 4 of the 17 whom I'm couldn't point out in a line up.

A big chunk of that crew was nothing but cannon fodder.

 

[Eggyman]

A big chunk of that crew was nothing but cannon fodder.

As it should be. I'm not a big fan of the film, but with things like this it's best to be honest and not pretend things are something they're not. I'd rather have fodder in plain sight rather than developing characters that don't matter. There's nothing wrong with fodder in a film like this.

 

[moviedoors]

That's exactly why the last scene was important

Spoiler

it showed that it was the same DNA that created the Alien, a creature that adapts to its host and therefore may have different behaviors and aspects.

Nope, still doesn't fit for me in a dramatically satisfying way. I think it's just liquid plot device. Just pour and get through your next major set piece!

 

[Lord]

I think that it's really unfair to blame 20th Century Fox, we all know past errors of them that caused a film to become a disaster, but since the last year that they have been giving the directors and their film more liberty, they trusted in Ridley Scott to make this film, those that want this film to fail in the box-office obviously want Fox not to trust directors again and to go back to their Alien 3 and X-3 days.

 

[moviedoors]

As it should be. I'm not a big fan of the film, but with things like this it's best to be honest and not pretend things are something they're not. I'd rather have fodder in plain sight rather than developing characters that don't matter. There's nothing wrong with fodder in a film like this.

Alien worked just fine without red shirts, this could have too. A few of the set pieces would've worked better with people we know, who have a narrative function. I think you could've cut or merged many of these characters.

 

[Eggyman]

I think that it's really unfair to blame 20th Century Fox, we all know past errors of them that caused a film to become a disaster, but since the last year that they have been giving the directors and their film more liberty, they trusted in Ridley Scott to make this film, those that want this film to fail in the box-office obviously want Fox not to trust directors again and to go back to their Alien 3 and X-3 days.

Yeah, I do agree to an extent. I gave this film and 8 when I first saw it and came back earlier to update my score to a 6. In no way, during the time my feelings cooled, have I blamed Fox for it. It isn't that kind of problem. It's just not a great film. Its problem is indecision. It wanted to do two things and did neither. It flailed, but was pretty while it did it.

 

[Eggyman]

Alien worked just fine without red shirts, this could have too. A few of the set pieces would've worked better with people we know, who have a narrative function. I think you could've cut or merged many of these characters.

Yeah. Alien. This is a long way from being Alien. Other films work well with fodder. There's a point either way. Characters in the foreground could've had better development, but that doesn't mean you can't have some fodder. I'm not saying all the characters. But I don't think the film's problem is fodder. There's more wrong than that.

 

[moviedoors]

Yeah. Alien. This is a long way from being Alien. Other films work well with fodder. There's a point either way. Characters in the foreground could've had better development, but that doesn't mean you can't have some fodder. I'm not saying all the characters. But I don't think the film's problem is fodder. There's more wrong than that.

I agree there's plenty more wrong, but the fodder was still a problem. This isn't Friday the 13th either.

 

[Eggyman]

I agree there's plenty more wrong, but the fodder was still a problem. This isn't Friday the 13th either.

If the characters in the foreground were better developed, the fodder would be accepted more. They shouldn't all feel like fodder. But they do. Probably due to lack of development, but I'd say some of it is because of the very nature of the film.

 

[moviedoors]

If the characters in the foreground were better developed, the fodder would be accepted more. They shouldn't all feel like fodder. But they do. Probably due to lack of development, but I'd say some of it is because of the very nature of the film.

I'm just going to blame the weak script.