Prometheus *PLOT SPOILERS* discussion

This thread is completely filled with untagged spoilers. You've been warned if you haven't seen it. The unspoiled Prometheus thread can be found here.

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Wow. I avoided all previews and info on Ridley Scott's latest release Prometheus (the prequel to some of my childhood favorite movies Alien & Aliens), so I had no idea what it was about. Now that I've seen it, I can say the direction they took the story was completely unexpected. I still haven't read any reviews so I don't know how it is being received.

Despite the nods given to various classic plot elements of the earlier films (basketball playing from A4, an android which is from all the movies, small drop ship landing filled with a team from A2, "gut wrenching" terror scene from A1, ship filled with pods from A1 & A2, etc.), Prometheus is a movie that definitely stands on its own. While A3 was criticized in part for being a remake of A1, and A4 for being too much like A2 (I didn't like either of those films), I doubt fans of the series make those claims here.

What struck me most about this rather slow paced, barely-actiony movie is how it turns out to be not an origin story about the aliens but an origin story about the human race. Not only does it try to be a bit more cerebral than most science-fiction films, but more spiritual as well. Sure, anyone who has seen 2001 will right away see its influence on the overall narrative, but the film makers clearly took the concept in its own direction.

There were quite a few philosophical / religious / social issues and questions that were implied or directly brought up in this movie, including: Christianity vs. science. A brief intelligent design debate. The origins of man. The existence of God and an afterlife. Comments on the existence of souls (in humans) as well as the lack thereof (in androids). The lack of ability for non-sentiment beings like an android to desire anything, including "life". The quest for immortality. What to do with unborn life when it is known to be evil.

Interesting stuff that is a notch beyond the typical monsters-hunting-humans movie. As a result, I can see how it wouldn't have mass appeal. To be honest, I'm still not sure how I would rate the film other than to say I liked it enough to be glad I saw it at least once. I can appreciate the effort that went into making an a-typical summer popcorn flick.

It is a bit surprising that thought-provoking angles aren't explored more often in sci-fi movies. The golden age of sci-fi storytelling (roughly 1940s - 1960s) often delved into topics brought up in Prometheus, including stuff written by Asimov, Clark, and Bradbury (R.I.P.!). For instance, check out two excellent examples here and also here. If this movie gets a sequel, no doubt it'll go even deeper in addressing a lot of its ideas, particularly since the main character (living) and android (non-living) are still looking for the fundamental origins of life at the end.

Strictly viewed as a movie, Prometheus had a few plot issues and it takes a lot of time to say what it wants to say. But overall it kept my interest and still has me thinking over a couple of concepts it brought up. For that reason I'd give it a thumbs up; it is worth checking out.
Edited by joeblow - 6/8/12 at 7:48pm

I think that dichotomy exists because the filmmakers did a great job of coming up with an intriguing story that wasn't rooted in generic sci-fi pew pew pew action while delivering it with some highly suspect character actions and plot decisions.

Sometimes strange stuff happens in this movie and it makes you go, "hmmmm". That's generally a good thing. Other times strange stuff happens and it makes you go, "HUH?!?!" That's generally a bad thing.

One of the biggest HUH?!?! moments for me was when the two Jr. scientists want to leave the main group inside of the alien ship and go back to the home ship because they are creeped out and scared by the ancient stuff being discovered. Ironically, the team ends up getting back to the home ship first because the scientists get lost somehow. OK, I'm fine with that.

So they discover a weird pod room with alien serpent creatures swimming around. Despite all of the recorded death scenes they saw earlier that scared them to head back to base, are they scared of these alien snakes? Naaah.

In fact, one of the scientists treats 'em like a cuddly poodle despite the fact they have no fur, no eyes and its face opens up to attack. That made no sense whatsoever! Needless to say, they both were attacked in that scene.

There were way too many HUH?!?!? moments for a movie that wants to be taken as seriously as this one obviously does. The people in this flick make way too many non-sensical decisions.

So this whole prequel series is likely just an excuse for him to criticize religion/Christianity in the grand finale? If true, boooor-ing. I was hoping for an original sci-fi outcome that wasn't so rooted in modern day ideological fights. What a waste.

Whether it is bashing or advocating, either way I say boooor-ing. The Alien franchise shouldn't primarily be used to prop up ideology one way or the other. If this is what he is doing (taking the long way to simply say he hates religion/Christianity) I'd rather he use another vehicle for it.

One problem is that it no longer becomes a story that organically unfolds itself for us to get lost in, but instead simply becomes just Scott's punch line to a three-picture-long joke that he is telling.

People pre-disposed to one side or the other will love it/hate it, but ultimately it is a shallow approach to sci-fi film making that does little for the imagination. Thumbs down.

Pro tip... spoiler tags aren't needed in this thread when discussing the movie.