Ridley Scott's Prometheus

[trackercowe]

^ David was also the name of the android in A.I. Artificial Intelligence. I wonder if the inspiration comes from 2001, or somewhere else to begin with.

[troutman]

[under construction - my thoughts after discussing movie with Aeneas]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus

Prometheus (Greek: Προμηθεύς) is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence, and as a champion of mankind.[1]

In the Western classical tradition, Prometheus became a figure who represented human striving, particularly the quest for scientific knowledge, and the risk of overreaching or unintended consequences.

Clearly, the name of the vessel is significant, and provides clues to the themes in the movies (creation, intelligence, science, overreaching).

I think "David" has many things in common with HAL 900 in 2001 (did you know HAL are the letters before IBM in the alphabet?). Like HAL, David raises questions about what it means to be intelligent. Can a computer/robot have a soul? I don't think HAL is a true villian, and neither is David, They are both bound to the prime directive of the mission - in David's case that is seeking a path to immortality for Peter Weyland (David is immortal, unlike his creators). It is odd that he calls Vickers "mom". Peter Weyland looks very much like the elderly David Bowman in 2001.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_9000

Chariots Of The Gods is a ridiculous book from 1968 that theorized ancient human cultures were visited and influenced by alien astronauts. Shaw and Holloway theorize cultures around the world were visited by aliens, and that a common calling-card (Invitation) was left at many sites. It seems visitations happened from 35,000 years ago (Scotland) to as recent as 1000 years ago (Mayans). I thought I heard them say the destination was in another galaxy, but that does not make sense - how could they identify the right solar system from that distance (or travel there in 2 years)? I would think that the discoveries of Shaw and Holloway would be a huge international event, so it is odd to me that the mission would be under-taken by a private enterprise (with a secret agenda). We have seen calling-cards/invitations before in 2001 (Monoliths) and Contact (the radio signals).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chariots_of_the_gods

I think it is relevant that Prometheus (the vessel) reaches the planet on Christmas Day. Shaw and David depart on New Years Day.

Raise your hands if you were hoping Shaw and Vickers were going to live in the life boat for 2 years, in Sapphic paradise.

When David examined the goo between his fingers, it certainly looked like the dripping maw of the Alien monsters to come in the original movies.

[Burninator]

I really hope there is a directors cut for this movie. I was very disappointed by it. Plot holes are one thing, but there was so many illogical things in this movie that I couldn't get my head around how it made it onto the screen in it's current form. There was almost no character development either.

[icecube]

I really enjoyed the movie but it could have and should have been so much better. I wish they could start by changing the scene where the dumbass scientist goes to pet the alien creature.

Teenagers in Friday the 13th movies don't act that ####ing stupid.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by icecube

I really enjoyed the movie but it could have and should have been so much better. I wish they could start by changing the scene where the dumbass scientist goes to pet the alien creature.

Teenagers in Friday the 13th movies don't act that ####ing stupid.

Well the other dude was freaking out and telling him not to. He was a biologist and for the first time witnessing a new species may have gave him a huge erection. Bottom line was that the script called for both to perish so they got it done quick and moved on. Really it's not like there's anything really logical about Dallas going into the ducts with a flame thrower in the original alien. If I trap a lion in a cage I prefer to lock it rather than follow it inside with weapon in hopes killing it in a dark, claustrophobic duct.

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Well the other dude was freaking out and telling him not to. He was a biologist and for the first time witnessing a new species may have gave him a huge erection. Bottom line was that the script called for both to perish so they got it done quick and moved on. Really it's not like there's anything really logical about Dallas going into the ducts with a flame thrower in the original alien. If I trap a lion in a cage I prefer to lock it rather than follow it inside with weapon in hopes killing it in a dark, claustrophobic duct.

You mean second time seeing an alien species. The first time seeing one he got scared, left and somehow got lost with the guy who was making a 3D map of the structure.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Burninator

You mean second time seeing an alien species. The first time seeing one he got scared, left and somehow got lost with the guy who was making a 3D map of the structure.

What was the first? The headless engineer? I don't recall the the species coming out in front of the group. Also I only recall the 3D map being available in Promethius.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

What was the first? The headless engineer? I don't recall the the species coming out in front of the group. Also I only recall the 3D map being available in Promethius.

ya, and he had radio contact with the captain. regardless of that, any geologist that gets lost in a cave should probably just quit

[J pold]

Every time I read people saying this movie was more than terrible I really wonder if I saw the same film. Maybe the movie-reel screwed up when I saw it, honestly I just don’t see how anyone could think this was anything more than very poor.

/end condescending d-bag rant.

[d_phaneuf]

I liked it, but in the days since I saw it the plot holes have started to bug me more and more

[Fire]

7/10

Great special effects, but the story is lacking.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by J pold

Every time I read people saying this movie was more than terrible I really wonder if I saw the same film. Maybe the movie-reel screwed up when I saw it, honestly I just don’t see how anyone could think this was anything more than very poor.

/end condescending d-bag rant.

Didn't you once post you only like 2-3 movies a year, and those you do enjoy you watch them into the ground?

Not to pull a Cecil here and be a dick but.. who cares then?

[3 Justin 3]

Originally Posted by J pold

Every time I read people saying this movie was more than terrible I really wonder if I saw the same film. Maybe the movie-reel screwed up when I saw it, honestly I just don’t see how anyone could think this was anything more than very poor.

/end condescending d-bag rant.

I thought it was better than what you think (I thought it was enjoyable), but I can't see how some people are giving this 8/10 when the story, characters, etc are so weak and the plot holes are just endless.

Damon Lindelof cannot write a story to save his life. He has no clue what story structure and continuity is.

Scott did well with what he had, unfortunately he had a POS script to work with.

[Wormius]

How about this - for those who loved "Alien" and Aliens, but hated "Prometheus", try to explain why you loved one but not the other.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

I thought it was better than what you think (I thought it was enjoyable), but I can't see how some people are giving this 8/10 when the story, characters, etc are so weak and the plot holes are just endless.

Give me a few examples of "plot holes". I'm not sure what people mean by that. Something unexplained is not a plot hole. I think there is a lot of intentional ambiguity in the movie. I disagree that the story and characters are weak. That the characters alternate between selfish (inhumane) and selfless (humane) behavior is one of the themes in the movie.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by J pold

Every time I read people saying this movie was more than terrible I really wonder if I saw the same film. Maybe the movie-reel screwed up when I saw it, honestly I just don’t see how anyone could think this was anything more than very poor.

/end condescending d-bag rant.

I really hope that one day we're all as smart as you. The world would then be a much better place. A utopia where the only gods were finance, investment banking and Jordan Leopold.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by troutman

Give me a few examples of "plot holes". I'm not sure what people mean by that. Something unexplained is not a plot hole. I think there is a lot of intentional ambiguity in the movie. I disagree that the story and characters are weak. That the characters alternate between selfish (inhumane) and selfless (humane) behavior is one of the themes in the movie.

I think that this generation requires instant gratification. Unanswered questions to them are 'plot holes' because they prefer their hands held throughout the movie. It's not like it's a 90 minute movie where half of it was left on the cutting room floor but it's a two houre movie. It's the 3rd highest rated summer movie according to Rotten Tomatoes but from some posters you would think it's going to be front and center for a Razzie award. That's not the case as it has been shown the majority of critics and moviegoers liked the movie but there is this loud very vocal minority that demands that entertainment alone is not good enough of a reason to like a movie. They demand answers.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They demand answers.

Which is a shame. Because sometimes the questions are more important than the answers.

[Jason14h]

I think that this generation requires instant gratification. Unanswered questions to them are 'plot holes' because they prefer their hands held throughout the movie. It's not like it's a 90 minute movie where half of it was left on the cutting room floor but it's a two houre movie. It's the 3rd highest rated summer movie according to Rotten Tomatoes but from some posters you would think it's going to be front and center for a Razzie award.

Whether they were 'plot holes' or lazy writing or bad editing, there were so many nonsensical sequences in this movie it made it next to impossible to actually "think" about a deeper meaning.

This write up basically sums up every annoying part in the movie that I hated, not to mention the alien surgery, all of a sudden no one cares about it confusion, or the fact that Weyland is hiding on an exploration he funded. He could do whatever the fata he wanted, why is he hiding! He doesn't want to kill the aliens, weaponize, etc. He actually basically has the same mission as the scientists. (Albeit to save himself)

http://www.filmschoolrejects.com/fea...akes-rfure.php


When a movie is this badly put together for some it makes it impossible to look any deeper. That is why I think people either love or hate this movie. You can polish a turn all you want, but in the end it is still a turd!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

This write up basically sums up every annoying part in the movie that I hated, not to mention the alien surgery, all of a sudden no one cares about it confusion, or the fact that Weyland is hiding on an exploration he funded. He could do whatever the fata he wanted, why is he hiding! He doesn't want to kill the aliens, weaponize, etc. He actually basically has the same mission as the scientists. (Albeit to save himself)

I think I know why Weyland was hiding. The purpose of the mission was his own selfish quest for immortality, perhaps something the rest of the crew (the scientists) would not be thrilled about if it was disclosed. There may be better explanations.

Vickers may have had a different motivation - obtaining advanced technology.