I have to disagree. I came to the same conclusions as those 'fan fictions' as you keep calling them while I was watching the film. Yes, some things aren't even slightly touched on such as why <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>the Engineers would create life only to then go and destroy it</span> but things such as <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>David's motivations and the reason the installation/pods exist</span> seem to be shown on screen without you being directly told them.
NeonSpyder"Das est NTLDR?"Join Date: 2003-07-03Member: 17913Members
<!--quoteo(post=1943994:date=Jun 16 2012, 08:56 PM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Jun 16 2012, 08:56 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1943994"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I wondered if I wanted to see this film. I have read four pages of spoilers by now. It strikes me that the answer is probably "no."<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Everytime I recall the film I get a little angry, like, why did they make that? Couldn't they see that it had problems and that it could have been better? It strikes me as a case of George Lucas syndrome... maybe nobody wanted to tell Ridley Scott to STFU and stop being terrible at making a movie.
<!--quoteo(post=1944046:date=Jun 17 2012, 01:34 AM:name=NeonSpyder)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (NeonSpyder @ Jun 17 2012, 01:34 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1944046"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->and stop being terrible at making a movie.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's what they said when he did Alien and Blade Runner. :P
NeonSpyder"Das est NTLDR?"Join Date: 2003-07-03Member: 17913Members
<!--quoteo(post=1944048:date=Jun 17 2012, 01:52 AM:name=Krull)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Krull @ Jun 17 2012, 01:52 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1944048"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That's what they said when he did Alien and Blade Runner. :P<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I didn't say Alien and Blade Runner were bad, quite the contrary. Although admittedly and in retrospect as awesome as Blade Runner was it also suffered a little bit from "WTF is going on here?" syndrome, even the director's cut didn't help that much. And I *love* Blade Runner and Alien. Those films of excellence from the past are not tarnished by this present failure.
I hate too much exposition and spoonfeeding. Inception is one of those. While I loved it, I wont be going back to it as much because of too much explanation going on. I wanted to be left in the dark a bit, like after Nolan's The Prestige or Memento. There were many things I didn't like in Prometheus, but it ended up leaving me in the same dark after watching it. It left behind so many undertones that still scratch me right where I itch. I'm happy the movie didn't give any absolution. And it kinda fits well into the Alien franchise in my opinion because its really humans that are the real monsters, chasing after destruction.
Prometheus didn't try and answer any questions about <i>The </i>Alien. It only posed some possibilities, and ultimately deepened the mystery. That's fine by me. We don't need to solve the riddle of the alien. The mystery makes it fun, and as long as it's kept that way, I'll be happy.
<!--quoteo(post=1944111:date=Jun 17 2012, 04:37 PM:name=Tykjen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tykjen @ Jun 17 2012, 04:37 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1944111"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I wanted to be left in the dark a bit, like after Nolan's The Prestige or Memento.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> The Prestige was about a magical act and involved Tesla, right (spoiler-free summary)? What wasn't explained in that one?
At the same time, not answering questions and going with the "LOL U WANNA BE SPOONFED" line to talk down to your audience is like the automatic ######bag default go-to excuse for ###### writing.
The only time it's reasonable to leave things unexplained or unanswered is when:
1) The item in question is a MacGuffin and requires no explanation to drive the plot (Pulp Fiction's briefcase).
2) You want to pose a quandary to the audience, usually something thought-provoking (Children of Men).
3) You want to cash in on a sequel (Lost).
You can't just leave ###### hanging out in the open and put on your black horn-rimmed hipster glasses and pretend that loose ends are synonymous with 'depth' or 'quality'.
Lost left things unexplained to get people to keep coming back. Except Lost didn't explain <b>anything</b> after it was canceled, and went with the 'herp derp we want you to think about it' bull######, when it was pretty clear the writers themselves had no idea what was going on.
Another example is Blade Runner. Was Deckard a replicant? Does the audience actually have anything to gain emotionally, mentally, by having to answer this question themselves? The answer is no. Not even the actors were clued into this motivation, which to me means that Ridley Scott and whoever wrote that mess of a movie never realized that their writing would lead the audience to ask that question, and thus by not answering it they went with the 'uhh... you're supposed to um... think about it? *Phew*'.
<!--quoteo(post=1944246:date=Jun 17 2012, 11:31 PM:name=Align)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Align @ Jun 17 2012, 11:31 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1944246"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->The Prestige was about a magical act and involved Tesla, right (spoiler-free summary)? What wasn't explained in that one?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I just didn't notice The Prestige within The Prestige right away ;) Its a film that peels off so many layers..
It's why every sequel/prequel to any good movie will always be terrible if you get your opinions from the internet.
If you look at the film industry as a whole, it's changed quite a bit in the last decade to fifteen years, evolved if you will, into a serial format. Movies have taken from TV the serial nature of the TV show and applied it to a format where deadlines are less structured. This allows writers/directors/producers to tell a story in parts. That is the reason that the number of sequels and prequels have risen. It takes a "proven" setting that audiences have shown an interest in and expands upon it. (Not to say that originality is a bad thing, quite the contrary in fact, but I digress) If done correctly, I like this approach. It allows for "plot holes" (read unanswered questions) to be answered in a later "serial format film".
I feel that Prometheus is one of these types of movies. It gave me a sense of being faithful to the Alien universe (minor nitpicking aside) and explained (not completely) unanswered questions from the other films in the franchise. I left the movie with a broader understanding of the history of the Alien universe, particularly the Weyland Corporation and its interest in the Xenomorphs. It also piqued my interest into the relationship of the Space Jockeys and their relationship to the Predators even though this film had nothing to do with them.
I could really give two ****s about any of the characters except for Elizabeth and David, they were intended to be disposable and forgettable, like the red shirts from Star Trek, only important for their role in transporting the aforementioned characters into an interesting situation.
That said, I liked it, and I look forward to the next one.
puzlThe Old FirmJoin Date: 2003-02-26Member: 14029Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
edited June 2012
<!--quoteo(post=1945010:date=Jun 19 2012, 10:49 PM:name=Caboose)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Caboose @ Jun 19 2012, 10:49 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945010"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It's why every sequel/prequel to any good movie will always be terrible if you get your opinions from the internet.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Dark Knight and Rise of Planet of the Apes are two sequels that, in recent memory, received very favourable reviews on the internet and in general.
I mean, maybe it's just that sequels to successful movies, in general, are rubbish. Studios have to invest immense amounts of money on a big budget movie so script writers play it safe and try to 'check all the boxes' and target specific demographics.
For example, with Prometheus had Damon Lindelof parachuted in to 'improve' the script. I'd be very interested to see what the original was like. Also, the delays on World War Z are for a script rewrite and Lindelof is again the man that is coming to the rescue there too.
<!--quoteo(post=0:date=:name=Temphage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Temphage)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Lost left things unexplained to get people to keep coming back. Except Lost didn't explain anything after it was canceled, and went with the 'herp derp we want you to think about it' bull######, when it was pretty clear the writers themselves had no idea what was going on.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, it was terrible.. and lindelof was at the heart of it again. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekhov's_gun" target="_blank">Checkov's Gun</a> is something he needs to familiarise himself with.
NeonSpyder"Das est NTLDR?"Join Date: 2003-07-03Member: 17913Members
<!--quoteo(post=1945111:date=Jun 20 2012, 01:12 AM:name=Krull)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Krull @ Jun 20 2012, 01:12 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945111"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Since when is <i>Rise of the Planet of the Apes</i> a sequel? It's a reboot. :P
And considering that basically every other ape planet than the very first were bad we had ONE good ape movie after dozens of bad ones.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Technically Prometheus is a reboot/prequel so.... yeah.
<!--quoteo(post=1945128:date=Jun 20 2012, 10:23 AM:name=Krull)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Krull @ Jun 20 2012, 10:23 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945128"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Prometheus is a Prequel, no Reboot.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Nope. Neither. Didn't anyone catch the marketing for this movie? If it was a prequel it would be taking place on LV-426. But this was more of a Lore film within the same universe, with small tie ins.
<!--quoteo(post=1945322:date=Jun 20 2012, 08:42 PM:name=Tykjen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tykjen @ Jun 20 2012, 08:42 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945322"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Nope. Neither. Didn't anyone catch the marketing for this movie? If it was a prequel it would be taking place on LV-426. But this was more of a Lore film within the same universe, with small tie ins.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> In theory the title of prequel still fits somewhat.
<!--quoteo(post=1945597:date=Jun 21 2012, 03:57 PM:name=Temphage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Temphage @ Jun 21 2012, 03:57 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945597"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->In theory the title of prequel still fits somewhat.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Fits for them who thought they would be watching an Alien franchise movie I guess..
Thing that gets me with Prometheus is that if someone else but Ridley Scott had made it nobody would have cared so much..
Prometheus entertainment (a partner with FOX) are the creators of the series Ancient Aliens. And it was a CEO of FOX that came up with the Prometheus title for the movie. :conspiracy:
I cant wait for Ancient Aliens to present Prometheus as fact!
<!--quoteo(post=1945719:date=Jun 21 2012, 10:48 PM:name=Temphage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Temphage @ Jun 21 2012, 10:48 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945719"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I thought that was a History Channel show.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It is. And the show is produced by Prometheus Entertainment.
<!--quoteo(post=1891665:date=Dec 25 2011, 08:32 PM:name=Death_by_bullets)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Death_by_bullets @ Dec 25 2011, 08:32 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1891665"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->The trailer is out for Prometheus. For those who aren't familiar with the movie, it isn't quite clear yet but supposedly this is a prequel to 'Alien'. Based on the Trailer, I would say that is an accurate statement. Does anyone have any further information on the movie?
HD Trailer link below. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo(post=1945839:date=Jun 22 2012, 01:32 PM:name=puzl)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (puzl @ Jun 22 2012, 01:32 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945839"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Dude, you are expecting science in your science-fiction. You are *obviously* doing it wrong!
Just shut up and enjoy the soap opera in space.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Indeed. Its a movie for fks sake, what is it with stupid humans and their constant need to call out reality flaws in science fiction? Its like those that called the Dream machine a plot hole in Inception because it never was explained to them how it worked.
I will admit the movie had serious writing flaws and stupid moments, but it had Ridley's vision and that sure as hell overshadowed everything. Alien has a lot of stupid humans too..would Kane really put his head over the egg to begin with as he inspected the Derelict?
<!--quoteo(post=1945781:date=Jun 22 2012, 03:16 AM:name=Synthet1c)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Synthet1c @ Jun 22 2012, 03:16 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945781"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->LOOOOOOOL!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Good job double-posting and then quoting the entire god damn image. Is this your first time on the internet? <!--quoteo(post=1945847:date=Jun 22 2012, 01:58 PM:name=Tykjen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tykjen @ Jun 22 2012, 01:58 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945847"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Indeed. Its a movie for fks sake, what is it with stupid humans and their constant need to call out reality flaws in science fiction? Its like those that called the Dream machine a plot hole in Inception because it never was explained to them how it worked.
I will admit the movie had serious writing flaws and stupid moments, but it had Ridley's vision and that sure as hell overshadowed everything. Alien has a lot of stupid humans too..would Kane really put his head over the egg to begin with as he inspected the Derelict?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Because we are not:
<!--quoteo(post=1945864:date=Jun 22 2012, 09:44 AM:name=lolfighter)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (lolfighter @ Jun 22 2012, 09:44 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945864"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Gnnrgh... NO! No, we are not monkeys! We're relatives of monkeys! Goddammit!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Monkey = primate in the vernacular, keep nitpicking.
Comments
Everytime I recall the film I get a little angry, like, why did they make that? Couldn't they see that it had problems and that it could have been better? It strikes me as a case of George Lucas syndrome... maybe nobody wanted to tell Ridley Scott to STFU and stop being terrible at making a movie.
=\
That's what they said when he did Alien and Blade Runner. :P
I didn't say Alien and Blade Runner were bad, quite the contrary. Although admittedly and in retrospect as awesome as Blade Runner was it also suffered a little bit from "WTF is going on here?" syndrome, even the director's cut didn't help that much. And I *love* Blade Runner and Alien. Those films of excellence from the past are not tarnished by this present failure.
Prometheus didn't try and answer any questions about <i>The </i>Alien. It only posed some possibilities, and ultimately deepened the mystery. That's fine by me. We don't need to solve the riddle of the alien. The mystery makes it fun, and as long as it's kept that way, I'll be happy.
The Prestige was about a magical act and involved Tesla, right (spoiler-free summary)? What wasn't explained in that one?
The only time it's reasonable to leave things unexplained or unanswered is when:
1) The item in question is a MacGuffin and requires no explanation to drive the plot (Pulp Fiction's briefcase).
2) You want to pose a quandary to the audience, usually something thought-provoking (Children of Men).
3) You want to cash in on a sequel (Lost).
You can't just leave ###### hanging out in the open and put on your black horn-rimmed hipster glasses and pretend that loose ends are synonymous with 'depth' or 'quality'.
Lost left things unexplained to get people to keep coming back. Except Lost didn't explain <b>anything</b> after it was canceled, and went with the 'herp derp we want you to think about it' bull######, when it was pretty clear the writers themselves had no idea what was going on.
Another example is Blade Runner. Was Deckard a replicant? Does the audience actually have anything to gain emotionally, mentally, by having to answer this question themselves? The answer is no. Not even the actors were clued into this motivation, which to me means that Ridley Scott and whoever wrote that mess of a movie never realized that their writing would lead the audience to ask that question, and thus by not answering it they went with the 'uhh... you're supposed to um... think about it? *Phew*'.
I just didn't notice The Prestige within The Prestige right away ;)
Its a film that peels off so many layers..
It's why every sequel/prequel to any good movie will always be terrible if you get your opinions from the internet.
If you look at the film industry as a whole, it's changed quite a bit in the last decade to fifteen years, evolved if you will, into a serial format. Movies have taken from TV the serial nature of the TV show and applied it to a format where deadlines are less structured. This allows writers/directors/producers to tell a story in parts. That is the reason that the number of sequels and prequels have risen. It takes a "proven" setting that audiences have shown an interest in and expands upon it. (Not to say that originality is a bad thing, quite the contrary in fact, but I digress) If done correctly, I like this approach. It allows for "plot holes" (read unanswered questions) to be answered in a later "serial format film".
I feel that Prometheus is one of these types of movies. It gave me a sense of being faithful to the Alien universe (minor nitpicking aside) and explained (not completely) unanswered questions from the other films in the franchise. I left the movie with a broader understanding of the history of the Alien universe, particularly the Weyland Corporation and its interest in the Xenomorphs. It also piqued my interest into the relationship of the Space Jockeys and their relationship to the Predators even though this film had nothing to do with them.
I could really give two ****s about any of the characters except for Elizabeth and David, they were intended to be disposable and forgettable, like the red shirts from Star Trek, only important for their role in transporting the aforementioned characters into an interesting situation.
That said, I liked it, and I look forward to the next one.
The Dark Knight and Rise of Planet of the Apes are two sequels that, in recent memory, received very favourable reviews on the internet and in general.
I mean, maybe it's just that sequels to successful movies, in general, are rubbish. Studios have to invest immense amounts of money on a big budget movie so script writers play it safe and try to 'check all the boxes' and target specific demographics.
For example, with Prometheus had Damon Lindelof parachuted in to 'improve' the script. I'd be very interested to see what the original was like. Also, the delays on World War Z are for a script rewrite and Lindelof is again the man that is coming to the rescue there too.
<!--quoteo(post=0:date=:name=Temphage)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Temphage)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Lost left things unexplained to get people to keep coming back. Except Lost didn't explain anything after it was canceled, and went with the 'herp derp we want you to think about it' bull######, when it was pretty clear the writers themselves had no idea what was going on.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, it was terrible.. and lindelof was at the heart of it again.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chekhov's_gun" target="_blank">Checkov's Gun</a> is something he needs to familiarise himself with.
And considering that basically every other ape planet than the very first were bad we had ONE good ape movie after dozens of bad ones.
And considering that basically every other ape planet than the very first were bad we had ONE good ape movie after dozens of bad ones.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Technically Prometheus is a reboot/prequel so.... yeah.
Nope. Neither. Didn't anyone catch the marketing for this movie? If it was a prequel it would be taking place on LV-426. But this was more of a Lore film within the same universe, with small tie ins.
In theory the title of prequel still fits somewhat.
Fits for them who thought they would be watching an Alien franchise movie I guess..
Thing that gets me with Prometheus is that if someone else but Ridley Scott had made it nobody would have cared so much..
Prometheus entertainment (a partner with FOX) are the creators of the series Ancient Aliens. And it was a CEO of FOX that came up with the Prometheus title for the movie.
:conspiracy:
I cant wait for Ancient Aliens to present Prometheus as fact!
It is. And the show is produced by Prometheus Entertainment.
HD Trailer link below.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sftuxbvGwiU</a><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Prequel
Epic movie!
LOOOOOOOL!
Just shut up and enjoy the soap opera in space.
Just shut up and enjoy the soap opera in space.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Indeed. Its a movie for fks sake, what is it with stupid humans and their constant need to call out reality flaws in science fiction? Its like those that called the Dream machine a plot hole in Inception because it never was explained to them how it worked.
I will admit the movie had serious writing flaws and stupid moments, but it had Ridley's vision and that sure as hell overshadowed everything. Alien has a lot of stupid humans too..would Kane really put his head over the egg to begin with as he inspected the Derelict?
Good job double-posting and then quoting the entire god damn image. Is this your first time on the internet?
<!--quoteo(post=1945847:date=Jun 22 2012, 01:58 PM:name=Tykjen)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tykjen @ Jun 22 2012, 01:58 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1945847"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Indeed. Its a movie for fks sake, what is it with stupid humans and their constant need to call out reality flaws in science fiction? Its like those that called the Dream machine a plot hole in Inception because it never was explained to them how it worked.
I will admit the movie had serious writing flaws and stupid moments, but it had Ridley's vision and that sure as hell overshadowed everything. Alien has a lot of stupid humans too..would Kane really put his head over the egg to begin with as he inspected the Derelict?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Because we are not:
<center><object width="450" height="356"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rokr2i-BQHk"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rokr2i-BQHk" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="450" height="356"></embed></object></center>
It's the difference between appreciating Firefly because it had no sound in space, and ###### that it was boring because there was no sound in space.
<img src="http://i.imgur.com/s4pet.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />
Monkey = primate in the vernacular, keep nitpicking.