It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
avatar
AndrewC: Second, we know that the Engineer who died on that ship made a mistake, but was clearly headed for some system where they intended to deploy the aliens...the aliens were definitely biological weapons as opposed to a naturally evolved species.
It's been a while (too long, I think) since I saw Alien, but where did the whole theory that the Xenomorphs were biological weapons come from? Was it speculation from one of the crew on the Nostromo in the first film? I always knew it was one of the explanations about why they were on the Space Jockey's ship/LV426 in the first place but I don't rightly remember where it came from.
I enjoyed it. But as a movie it has so many plot holes, irrational character behaviors and unexplained questions that it really does make the movie suffer.


Spoilers below so don't view if you havent seen it

example 1. both the biologist and that mohawk guy get freaked out about going into egg room, they then leave and get lost. Later however there's a possible intruder so they go back to the egg room go inside it and sleep there.

example 2. the biologist pets the white cobra with a vagina for a face. I mean hes the biologist and hes trying to pet alien creatures hes never encountered before.

example 3. After removing the squid for her stomach, shaw then doesnt think to tell anyone were it is and nobody asks what happened to the laien that she just cutt out.

example 4. after removing alien from stomach, the entire crew act around her as if nothing happened.

example 5. both the crew members shaw attacked with a metal object to escape being taken to cryo join her 2 hours later when they take wayland to see the engineer.

example 6. the squid baby grew to a huge 1 ton creature in 10 hours with no food or anything.

example 7.after crashing his ship the engineer, instead of just searching out one of the other ships goes searching for the only remaining female crew member.

example 8. both the guys that get left behind and stranded the mohawk and biologist. The ship had a full scan of the interior they were tracked and miced up constantly with their ship and nobody bothered to attempt to give them directions?

and as for the questions...
Pretty much everything that is not a plot hole is an unaddressed issue in this movie. Why did the Engineers show a star-map to their weapon facility instead of their home planet? Why were the Engineers running away from a threat to go inside the cargo room instead of another non-dead-end option? What happened to the other alien ships? Did the threat attack all the alien ships at the same time to make it impossible for one of them to escape? Why was there still one living Engineer inside the spaceship? Wouldn’t the threat kill him too? The alien spaceships have been underground for more than 2000 years; did no one back home want to see what happened? Why did Janek not care at all about the 2 scientists trapped inside the alien cave? What is the purpose of those random pixelated flashbacks of the Engineer crew running? Why was everyone so relaxed about finding out the biggest revelation of human history? And why, oh why was there a goddamn flute to activate the alien ship?
I find it funny that people think the biologist trying to pet the cobra plot hole. Think for a moment how Steve Irwin died. You can be skilled with animals and still be a total ass what comes to behaving around them.

But there's genuine faults in the plot, like the aftermath of the c-section. Prometheus is visually amazing movie, but the some parts of the movie do hinder it to be absolutely brilliant. Better than Avatar thought.
but its not like steve irwin didnt know a hell of alot about snakes
avatar
AndrewC: The only real question I have that I couldn't intuit an answer for is what happened in the opening scene. It almost looks like that Engineer was exiled, or left behind, and decided to commit suicide. Not sure why that would be worth the scene, though, so I think there's another reason it was there.
I think it's generally accepted that the opening scene was earth, the idea being that he drank the goop which subsequently stripped him down to cells for him to then keep dividing and thus created life on earth.
esentially those alien ships were not the engineers but a seperate alien race and to prevent them for getting the engineers dna they use the black goo to disintigrate it. or osemthing along thosel ines accidentaly creating life on earth in process. read it ofrom a supposedly leaked script explaining everything.
Post edited June 18, 2012 by deathshroud
avatar
AndrewC: Second, we know that the Engineer who died on that ship made a mistake, but was clearly headed for some system where they intended to deploy the aliens...the aliens were definitely biological weapons as opposed to a naturally evolved species.
avatar
rampancy: It's been a while (too long, I think) since I saw Alien, but where did the whole theory that the Xenomorphs were biological weapons come from? Was it speculation from one of the crew on the Nostromo in the first film? I always knew it was one of the explanations about why they were on the Space Jockey's ship/LV426 in the first place but I don't rightly remember where it came from.
It was hinted a couple of times during the second movie, though I might be wrong as I haven't seen them in a while. They also explicitly mention it in Prometheus as a theory though, and it ties in with the old ones pretty nicely.

avatar
AndrewC: The only real question I have that I couldn't intuit an answer for is what happened in the opening scene. It almost looks like that Engineer was exiled, or left behind, and decided to commit suicide. Not sure why that would be worth the scene, though, so I think there's another reason it was there.
avatar
cheesetruncheon: I think it's generally accepted that the opening scene was earth, the idea being that he drank the goop which subsequently stripped him down to cells for him to then keep dividing and thus created life on earth.
Yes, but part of me thinks it's a bit too easy; the whole scene felt a bit too ritualistic, though I can see it as a sacrifice (that theme seems to be recurring all over the movie) in order to give life.
I think this thread needs a spoiler alert.
avatar
AndrewC: Yes, but part of me thinks it's a bit too easy; the whole scene felt a bit too ritualistic, though I can see it as a sacrifice (that theme seems to be recurring all over the movie) in order to give life.
It's really no wonder it's so portrayed as religions in general tackle the subject of creating life and life itself is considered sacred.

Another thing that I don't get is the murals found in every culture on Earth, judging by those they returned multiple times and influenced the development of man.
Kind of a long term project just to destroy it everything.
avatar
deathshroud: example 6. the squid baby grew to a huge 1 ton creature in 10 hours with no food or anything.
This happens in all the Alien movies, though, and it never made sense and was always a plot hole. So that one can be forgiven, at least. But the rest of the list is pretty spot-on, and summarizes a lot of my issues with the movie. It was good for a summer blockbuster, and the 3d effects were purdy, but I don't think it was particularly memorable.
avatar
AndrewC: Yes, but part of me thinks it's a bit too easy; the whole scene felt a bit too ritualistic, though I can see it as a sacrifice (that theme seems to be recurring all over the movie) in order to give life.
avatar
DodoGeo: It's really no wonder it's so portrayed as religions in general tackle the subject of creating life and life itself is considered sacred.

Another thing that I don't get is the murals found in every culture on Earth, judging by those they returned multiple times and influenced the development of man.
Kind of a long term project just to destroy it everything.
I think there might be different "factions" of aliens, some which want to keep us alive (think Prometheus the god) vs others who want us dead (the gods which punished Prometheus for giving mankind fire); those who considered the experiment (us) successful kept visiting in order to keep track of things, the others were waiting for the perfect moment to destroy us.

Another reason might be David; as in, the ships in Prometheus weren't really destined for Earth, it's just David that set the course during that hologram. Also we don't know what David told the Engineer when he woke up: just imagine waking from a long sleep, being still groggy, seeing your "kids" at your doorsteps and not only are they intelligent and evolved, but also cruel (yelling and hitting at the girl) and trying to take over your place (creating life of their own in the form of David) - I for one wouldn't want such a kid as a heritage.

This last part also ties somewhat nicely to when David says "we all want to see our parents dead": the founder of the trip (sorry, have a problem remembering names in general) wanted the secret to the eternal/extremely long life of the engineers while always punishing David for being immortal and not having a soul. For all we know David could've told the Engineer "look, they made me immortal and spit on me yet they want to be immortal themselves, what would this mean for you?"
avatar
bevinator: the 3d effects were purdy, but I don't think it was particularly memorable.
That's one of the things I love and where the movie really shines for me; being actually filmed in 3D instead of being done in post-production meant that the 3D effects felt natural and nothing over the top which usually makes my head hurt like mad and unable to actually focus on the movie.

Watched it in Imax 3D and it was wonderful because the 3D effect wasn't in your face at all times, just where 3D would make sense (like people in different planes in a shot).
Post edited June 18, 2012 by AndrewC
avatar
AndrewC: ...
This is mostly why I like the movie, it leaves something to think about.

Lately the art of subtlety is lost in current Hollywood and I'm getting really tired of movies trying too hard explaining everything long and in detail to the audience because they are too stupid to figure anything out for themselves.
avatar
deathshroud: And why, oh why was there a goddamn flute to activate the alien ship?
Not all keys have teeth and fit into tumblers in holes....?
avatar
AndrewC: Yes, but part of me thinks it's a bit too easy; the whole scene felt a bit too ritualistic, though I can see it as a sacrifice (that theme seems to be recurring all over the movie) in order to give life.
avatar
DodoGeo: It's really no wonder it's so portrayed as religions in general tackle the subject of creating life and life itself is considered sacred.

Another thing that I don't get is the murals found in every culture on Earth, judging by those they returned multiple times and influenced the development of man.
Kind of a long term project just to destroy it everything.
You're assuming the alien race was all in synch, what if they were like us, with one side experimenting with their vast science while a more conservative bunch screamed nonstop that they were playing with "god's" work? Perhaps the scientists or whatever lost power (or were killed of) and the remainder fell into militant ignorance.
avatar
DodoGeo: It's pretty good, but not perfect.
avatar
jefequeso: Doesn't that basically sum up his entire film career?
Add in a "meh" category, and you are golden.

\wow's:

Kindom of Heaven
Alien
Bladerunner
Blackhawk Down

Meh's:
Robin Hood
Body of Lies
Amercan Gangster
Hannibal

Huh?'s:
GI Jane
Legend
Thelma and Louise

and so on.
avatar
TCMU2009: Have you ever seen District 9? If you're looking for an intelligent, big budget sci fi movie, that's the best one in...well maybe this decade :D
District 9, The Man From Earth, Primer, and Moon.
Post edited June 18, 2012 by anjohl