PROMETHEUS Ridley Scott prequel

[Cracker Funk]

So, as the release moves closer, I'm learning more and more just how many people have no clue that this is a prequel to Alien. It came up in conversation twice today, with two different people. Both were clueless to the prequel aspect.

And then, in a third, and separate conversation, my coworkers and I were having a difficult time listing movies coming out this year that are not a sequel/prequel or remake. One person commented that Hollywood must be running out of original ideas. I replied that no, there is no shortage of original ideas, Hollywood is just smart enough to exploit a built-in audience.

And then it clicked -- wow, this is a really ballsy move (aka, stupid), for Fox to downplay the prequel aspect.

[TheLoganDaniels]

Originally Posted by Cracker Funk

And then it clicked -- wow, this is a really ballsy move (aka, stupid), for Fox to downplay the prequel aspect.

CF, I think that's because Alien 3&4 left a pretty bad taste in people's mouths. Plus, let's not forget how hated the Alien Vs. Predator movies are. The idea may be that it is better to make it a reboot prequel in the same vein as Planet of the Apes but with using a different name because too many now dislike the Alien franchise.

[richy]

Cracker, when you put it that way, I think it's probably a mistake. If Hollywood movies are, bottom line, about giving a film its best chance to make money, why the hell aren't they exploiting that angle? I don't know what they're doing in your necks of the woods, but I think I've only seen one, that's only one preview on TV in my humble little backwoods of a geographic sector, or whatever. Of the recent films I've actually gone to see in the theater, and that's pretty much all of the big ones lately, I have seen maybe one Prometheus trailer.

I think Ridley is averse to doing sequels and doesn't want to be associated with them. Not sure where I heard that. I think he might say as much in his director's commentary on the Alien DVD.

Anyway, I guess I'm in the minority when I say Alien IV rocks. I think it may be the best one after the first one. =D

[rayw]

I have mixed feelings about A. Resurrection /#4.
It seemed to have two films intertwined: The dead serious Ripley/Call/hybrid story + the comic book everyone else from the Betty & Auriga.
The earnestness of the former could barely hold its head above water of the bafoonish latter; Joss Whedon bearing his creative strong suit.
Meh.
The two didn't shuckNjive for me. Plaids and paisleys. Becht.

[Scoopicman]

ALIEN ERECTION is okay. More popcorn-ish. I like it better than 3. Richy, have you seen the extended cut of ALIENS, with Newt's dad getting the Facehugger on him? Such a difference that director's cut is.

[richy]

Originally Posted by Scoopicman

ALIEN ERECTION is okay. More popcorn-ish. I like it better than 3. Richy, have you seen the extended cut of ALIENS, with Newt's dad getting the Facehugger on him? Such a difference that director's cut is.

Oh yeah, definately. The extended version does add even more. I totally agree that Aliens is awesome. It"s a milestone in scifi cimema, no doubt about it. Maybe it's just because it got a little stale that allows me to consider Alien IV could be even better. Well, I love Whedon's work. That doesn't hurt. But I'm also a sucker for ensemble stories. Not that Aliens isn't an ensemble too. I'm just one of those few who really digs Alien Erect...er, Resurrection. I don't know...I think Ripley is cooler than ever...with her superhuman, alien enhanced-ness etc. I like the cyborg subplot with Winona Ryder; I think she looks great in the film and brings something to it. I like the romantic relationship between Elgyn and Hillard(?). Dan Hedaya is excellant as the general. Aliens should probably get the silver in the series before Resurrection, but I don't get why more people don't love Resurrection too.

Okay, I just bought my ticket. Tonight!

[Techno]

Originally Posted by Scoopicman

ALIEN ERECTION is okay.

WHAT? I never saw that one. Is it the porn version?

[rayw]

Originally Posted by Techno

WHAT? I never saw that one. Is it the porn version?

Poster: Spoiler: http://m0vie.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/alien14.jpg
Poster source: Spoiler: http://didgiwidgiphotography.blogspo....%20R.%20Giger

Who woulda thunk there was more to the 'alien' than just being a creepy scary monster?
('Yeah', I knew . Decades ago.)

[JoshL]

I understand, artistically, the "not a prequel" insistance. I've also had conversations with co-workers (who watch a lot of movies, but aren't film geeks like us). No one knew it had anything to do with Alien. This made one person (who was going to give it a pass until home release, saving money for all the other movies coming out this year) want to go see it, and another (who loves sci-fi but can't take horror) less interested in it. You don't need to call it Alien: Prometheus, but maybe letting people know there may be a connection isn't the worst thing in the world.

On the other hand, you put "Alien" in the title, and people then have preconceived notions of what the movie should or shouldn't be, which is never good for your movie.

Originally Posted by richy

Anyway, I guess I'm in the minority when I say Alien IV rocks. I think it may be the best one after the first one. =D

You are in the minority, but not alone. 3 could have been good, but dropped the ball (I think I've rewatched that the least in the series). Aliens is great of course...but it's mostly a great war movie. I don't care for those, so I'm not as crazy about it as most people. 4, however, is a great, complex and diverse film. It takes the concept of Alien and does something different with it. It's a discussion of free will and identity, wrapped up in a sci-fi action film that happens to be really funny. It's the sort of movie I like to watch over and over.

Interestingly enough, both Jenuet and Whedon hate the film, mostly because it's too much of the other. They have very different styles, despite doing similar things (serious stories with lots of quirky humor). I think the film sits well between them, and as a fan of both of their styles, it's better for it. I do get why people don't like it. And, hell, the humor in a lot of Whedon's work seems at odds with the story for a lot of people, unless it's in a genre they're already comfortable with (Avengers, for example).

Anyway, enough babble. I love Resurrection. I get why most others don't. And as a bonus, you can see the beginnings of the ideas that turn into Firefly!

[Cracker Funk]

Alien 4 is great! It's kinda B-movie-ish in it's execution, but I agree that there's much more there than people give it credit for. Nice analysis, Josh.

Anyway, today is the day! Woohoo!!!

[Flicker Pictures]

Always amazes me how many scribes were involved with all the iterations of Alien 3

http://www.simplyscripts.com/genre/sci-fi-scripts.html



Can't wait to see Prometheus!!! I stopped watching trailers a while ago and am avoiding reading any reviews.

[Anim8]

Just saw the midnight opening..... Good stuff....

[Cracker Funk]

I loved it! Absolutely loved it! Couldn't peel my eyes away for anything, not for one second! I was SO tempted to give it my official "A+", but the ending is just a little too quick and tidy.

Don't expect an "Alien" movie. I finally understand and agree with the studio's decision not to actively promote it as a prequel (although it absolutely is). Different tone. Different themes. Not as much of a thriller, much more of a thinker. I was floored (and for what it's worth, so were all of my nerdy friends).

(the following "spoiler" is actually detailed in the trailer, but wrapping spoilers just to be safe)

Oh, and from the beginning, my one gripe Spoiler: (many months before seeing the movie) was with the entire concept of a master-race planting seeds for modern humanity in the distant-past Earth. That concept gets continually revisited in popular fiction, novels comics and movies. And it's just kind of offensive to the greatness of human ingenuity. It insinuates that our brilliant ancestors couldn't have done it on their own, without alien intervention, and I hate that.

Yeah, well Ridley Scott went and took a familiar premise that flies in the face of modern science, and instead turned it into a brilliant allegory for the kinds of questions that humankind will likely always ask. The aspect of the film that I was expecting to be forced to tolerate is what I ended up loving the most. They even had the courtesy to throw in a single line that I honestly feel had to be aimed at the science geeks, in which they playfully admit that the Darwinian model of evolution is pretty damn solid, and this movie is just tossing it to the wind. Fuck it, they make up for it with symbolism!

Can't wait to see it again.

[Zensteve]

Originally Posted by Cracker Funk

Lots of Prometheus love

Will be going to see this when it lands at 2nd run, but had a question about your FB comments

I've heard some people complain that this movie removes the mystery behind the origin of the face-huggers.

Best I recall, it's the mystery of the dead space-jockeys at the start of Alien that's been bandied about. Not the origin of the actual face-huggers et al.

Unless these are now somewhat intertwined?

Also... is this a genuine 3D experience? Ain't seen nuthin' aside from Tron II worth the viewing.

[Cracker Funk]

Originally Posted by Zensteve

Will be going to see this when it lands at 2nd run, but had a question about your FB comments



Best I recall, it's the mystery of the dead space-jockeys at the start of Alien that's been bandied about. Not the origin of the actual face-huggers et al.

Unless these are now somewhat intertwined?

Also... is this a genuine 3D experience? Ain't seen nuthin' aside from Tron II worth the viewing.

Well, I must admit that I watched the trailer about 500 times. I don't know how many viewings it took for me to make the connection, but it's definitely all in the trailer.

But there's also a lot of stuff that's NOT in the trailer! And even some stuff that the trailer makes look like one thing, and turns out to be another.

Also, it's not much of a spoiler if you watch the first third of "Alien". There's very strong evidence of a connection between the face-huggers and the space-jockey. "Prometheus" takes the mystery of the connection, and gives it a context.

I didn't see it in 3D. Was it even shot in 3D? I dunno. All I know is that me and my friends were all at the end of our paychecks, so we gladly saved a few bucks on 2D.