Morte on 15/10/2012 at 15:15
Quote Posted by Dia
In regards to Shaw removing the alien from her abdomen, I have to admit that I prefer the version that made it to the screen rather than the version described in the original draft. I don't feel that the screen version of that scene was a consequence free detour, however. At least, not consequence free to the Engineer. There was (imo) a certain poetic justice that the human escaped being an incubator for the alien, while the Engineer, whose race designed the thing, became the victim while trying to kill the human.
I like the original conception better, because of the lengthier reconstruction is more plausible, I like the idea of seeing the thing feed and grow outside from Shaw's point of view as she's fading in and out of conciousness, and that it would be a threat to be dealt with/avoided as she emerges from the pod, instead of a thing everybody ignores despite being an ALIEN BEING JUST TORN FROM HER WOMB. Because apparently it's frickin' critical to go see the bald space dude immidiately.
Quote Posted by Thirith
Can't say I agree with this. You could still have had the same plot elements, but they would've been more earned if the characters had behaved more professionally. If anything, the terror would've been that much more effective. I'm a big fan of well executed character flaws, but I hate character stupidity that's motivated by the plot. It's lazy writing.
Yeah, look at Alien, for instance. You don't see that kind of plot induced stupidity that leads people to try and pet obviously scary cock worms/vagina cobras there, and people don't ignore gory pregnancies.
Peanuckle on 21/10/2012 at 05:54
Just finished watching it.
The action was good, the monster (proto-human?) designs were awesome, it really looked like it was a serious threat, even before it wrecked everyone's day.
I did feel that the crew had taken an overdose of idiot pills, though. Totally agree with the professionalism criticism.
I also wasn't impressed by the surgery scene. The woman just had her abdominal muscles severed and her uterus cut open. WHERE WAS ALL THE BLOOD? I mean, that is a major, major operation. You don't just get stapled back together and go running with a bit of pain. You're hospitalized for a long time. A 10-second shot of the computer saying "administering amazing cure-all X" and some needle action probably would've cut it, since we're already assuming such an automated device exists.
And what an oversight for it to only be programmed for males. I understand that Weyland probably put it in there specifically for him, but come on. That's just ridiculous.
I would have liked to have seen a more violent fight between the proto-human and the facehugger though. Some throwing around, stomping, biting, etc. Not just a tug of war.
In short, good idea, good design, poor plot, mediocre execution. Good for one watch.
Angel Dust on 27/10/2012 at 09:31
It was terrible.
And I don't think it looked good either.
Thirith on 27/10/2012 at 10:45
Did you think it looked outright bad? Was it that the design didn't do anything for you?
Angel Dust on 27/10/2012 at 10:52
I found most of the design, particularly the Engineers and various aliens, to be pretty unimaginative. It also didn't help that most of the 2nd half of the film took place in those black Giger-esque corridors that have long since stopped being interesting to look at. Sure the film was shot competently and you could see all that money up on the screen but I wasn't wowed by any of it.
Vivian on 27/10/2012 at 11:01
As more time passes since I saw it, I'm getting more inclined to agree with you. It did suck.
froghawk on 27/10/2012 at 16:23
Yep.
gunsmoke on 1/11/2012 at 06:24
Quote Posted by Nicker
I can't imagine that anyone reading this far in this thread has not seen the movie yet but just in case...
I am. I appreciate the spoiler tags, fellas. I hit a random page (this one), saw Alien nerdery and was hooked. I love the lore of the Alien movies and cannot wait to check this out when it hits RedBox or OnDemand.
Morte on 13/11/2012 at 08:34
(
http://www.prometheusforum.net/Alien-Engineers.pdf)
So one of Jon Spaihts' drafts has made it into the wild. And well, I like it a lot better. It's a straight up prequel, there's a lot less of people talking about the Big Questions, Holloway is older actually manages to be a credible scientist that acts like he's made the biggest find of all time instead a petulant child who didn't get everything he wanted for Christmas. David is a straight-up antagonist, which makes the ending a lot stronger.
It's still got problems; there's way too many characters, and it's a bit of a carnival of bio-engineered horrors killing them off in the second half, but instead of fixing the problems, Prometheus just added a whole bunch of new ones.
Vivian on 13/11/2012 at 08:45
Yeah, I just read that. Like you say, too many aliens doing not that much, but for the first half at least waaaay better. The setup is much, much better thought out, character motivation seems plausible, the whole star map in a cave thing is developed enough that it seems like it might even be worth sending a ship across the galaxy for, the ship and crew itself seem like they actually know what they are doing, etc etc. I mean, it needs work. There is a lot of stupid in the last third. But it is a lot better than the actual film.
