'Prometheus' and the 'Alien' films I've seen

by sd-7 4 Replies latest social entertainment

• 

  sd-7

  I just started getting interested in the 'Alien' series. I'm thinking it's giving me nightmares, except that no Aliens are trying to eat me or anything, it's just a general fear thing. Like last night I dreamed somebody broke into my home and I lifted my comfort eye mask to find a gun pointed right at my face. I'm thinking it must be residual fear from watching the movies. Or maybe it was that creepy guy in the green hoodie standing outside my door at 3 a.m. last weekend who didn't knock or do anything but stand there looking at the floor really creepy-like. We called the cops on him, but he left before they arrived and all passed without incident. I think he was just drunk (I could smell the alcohol through the door) and lost, but if he mistook our door for his, I suppose it could have been trouble. Just lucky we were awake at the time, I guess.

  Anyway, I was really eager to check out 'Prometheus' when I saw the previews. I started by watching 'Alien' and 'Aliens' beforehand. Definitely sci-fi/horror classics.

  'Prometheus' was, to me, a clone of 'Alien', only with better special effects. A guy I know didn't seem to get how it was related to the 'Alien' series, but it seemed very much like a prequel to me. I guess...the premise was [SPOILER ALERT] that these other humanlike beings were planning to use the Aliens to destroy humanity for reasons never explained (but maybe they will be in a sequel). And that's supposed to be what the Space Jockeys are all about (at least that's what I heard they were called). I figured that maybe not all of the ships were headed to Earth, maybe just this particular one, which of course was different from the one that's in 'Alien'. It's not like you'd need more than a few thousand of those creatures to get rid of mankind--just planting them in the right places would decimate all possible defenses. But given the volatile nature of the Aliens, it does seem like there'd be a high probability of something going horribly wrong while attempting to transport such creatures.

  I thought the most fascinating part of the film was Michael Fassbender as David, who asks the thought-provoking question of, what would humans do if they met their creator and found out that he created them simply because he could? It kind of chilled me to hear that, but it certainly could be a plausible reason why creation happened, if we were created and all. Just a use of power, like flexing a muscle, nothing more. That would actually make more sense than the idea that God made us out of love, considering his tendency to want to engage in near-extinction-level phenomena towards mankind when he gets pissed off enough. I mean, if we're talking about Bible God, is what I'm saying. There could, of course, be a God without it having to be Bible God. Could be Advice God.

  

  But certainly the c-section was the classic moment of 'Prometheus'. I think if we had one of those machines, my wife would be in much better shape. Apparently you can get up and run like hell right after a c-section, just jab yourself with some adrenaline or whatever...

  But I thought those researchers were exceedingly stupid--I mean, why the heck did they take their helmets off after they got down there? Granted, their helmets wouldn't have served any protection had they encountered Aliens, but just the possibility of biological contaminants on a microscopic level--one would think that some further research would have been warranted before just yanking off their helmets. And who didn't love that great finale with the ship falling towards them--oh! Let's run in a straight line away from it!!

  I don't know. I guess since I iced my Facebook page, there isn't a lot of talking about stuff like this I can do otherwise. Maybe I should bring it back. But then, it's better this way. Saves me from spending too much time on the computer.

  --sd-7
• 

  tec

  *couple spoilers below*

  I love the alien series. My dad took me to see Aliens when I was eleven (first year that i had met my dad). Scared the crap out of me, lol, and I spent the summer with my grandparents (as I often did), and slept with them too. Also used to sleep with the blankets up around my chin so no face-hugger could wrap its tail around my throat.

  I saw Alien a while later, and then the other two as they came out (but none were even close to the first two) Then of course the first Alien vs Predator movie was in the same universe, connections to Weyland and all.

  I also enjoyed Prometheus, as a prequel. I was not expecting the space jockeys to be humanoid at all. You did have to suspend logic and knowledge for a couple parts (such as teh c-section recovery, lol... and also the running in a straight line rather than running to the side to avoid being squished in the straight line route of the spaceship... also,lol. Plus what kind of biologist seeing alien life for the first time just sticks his hand out all well... dumb-like? But the rest was cool. A got a chuckle out of the fact that the movie also said that evolution of humanity was false)

  Sorry for the residual fear though, SD. I have Alien dreams now, and they are among my favorites.

  Peace,

  tammy
• 

  Satanus

  There is some really good stuff and some stupid stuff inthat movie. I still enjoyed it a lot, though.

  The idea that aliens created humans is not viable, as a coherent chain of evolution from an earlier hominid is pretty well proven by the evidence. Although, there is the possibility that a virus could have infected that hominid, giving rise to an evolutionary jump to human. I suppose, that is a point where this idea could come in. But, it's unlikely, in my amateur opinion, because whatever force was at work in all of the other hundreds of thousands of evolutionary jumps would be sufficient to also doe the hominid to human jump.

  S
• 

  Theocratic Sedition

  I was very disappointed in Prometheus, went opening night after being excited about it for the year or so prior when I found out Scott was going to go back to the series. I'll say the special effects, the scenery, etc., were amazing and topped anything I've ever seen including that of Avatar, Star Wars, etc.. It had a certain retro look about it and from what I hear was directly influenced by an older sci-fi film that I can't recall at the moment.

  The character developement was bad to the point it was criminal in nature. I haven't purchased the DVD with the extras because a Prometheus forum had a link that showed all the extra clips in one AVI file. The extra footage does make the characters' decisions slightly more understandable, although not entirely. The thing I loved about Alien, was you felt like ALL of the crew members were competent and experienced. With Prometheus you get the feeling that everyone on the ship is a retard, with the sole exception of course being, David. Oh and Vickers too, until the end when the disease known as mental retardation affected her too.

  The other thing I hated was how they forced a superheroine in Shaw. I'll be honest with you, when it comes to heroines I'm usually not impressed, but Ripley's character in the first film made you believe you could follow her anywhere and survive. Even with the sequel which I thought made her a little over the top, she still comes off to me as believable. The writers in Prometheus tried way too hard to see Shaw as the next Ripley. Even to the point that the contrast between her and Vickers was unnecessary.

  Check this out, WARNING SPOILERS

  Vickers- cold, calculating, highly intelligent, takes after her daddy Weyland, has an agenda, possibly an android, wakes up from hypersleep and is sweating while doing pushups(very hot btw)

  Shaw- hopelessly idealistic, naive, physically weak even more so after giving herself a C-section and being high on futuristic painkillers. She's basically a Jehovah's Witness.

  Which one of these two women would you put your money on to survive had you not already been aware that Noomi Rapace signed on for at least two films? Exactly!! Yet Vickers is the one running out of steam, struggling to survive and without enough fuggin common sense to know you shouldn't run away in the direct path of a rolling ship. Meanwhile Shaw was running, jumping, climbing, rolled away from the ship, fought off one of the engineers, etc... That entire segment of the film was a GTFOH moment on steroids.

  Then you had the two retards Fifield and the other one's who's name isn't worth remembering. Just massive stupidity on levels of teenagers who got killed throughout the Friday the 13th series. We're talking people so stupid they deserved to die.

  The only thing I'll say to be fair, is that the film was ambitious but unfortunately a little over 2 hours is the most the studio will greenlight for theaters. One last thing that irritated me was the whole impregnation and C-section. It was obviously a blatant attempt to provide the audience with something on par with the chestburster scene in Alien. Scott tried way too hard.
• 

  tec

  I've noticed it to be a trend, Miz... that a lot of movies really don't get you involved or attached to a big cast. You can tell that the characters are mostly just filler. Because you're also right, that I just didn't care who lived and who died. Except for the boyfriend (Noomi's boyfriend) I actually liked him, and had attachment to him, and then he died. He was the only one though.

  Joss Whedon is amazing at getting everyone in a big cast enough time (quality,not quantity) so the watchers can connect. He is amazing at character development, in very quick and to the point ways.

  Peace,

  tammy