PROMETHEUS pre-release discussion. - Page 2

I'm not worried about the rating.  It's not like Alien was a gorefest anyway.  If it gets a PG-13, it'll be because Rothman threatened someone at the MPAA.........not because he made Ridley pull back.

Is this even guaranteed to be a horror? I've been keeping away from spoilers but the bits that have filtered through to me make it sound like more of a general sci-fi kind of thing.

I just want to see a parasite burst through a chest IN 3D.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul C 

Is this even guaranteed to be a horror? I've been keeping away from spoilers but the bits that have filtered through to me make it sound like more of a general sci-fi kind of thing.

Hmmm...a $200 million horror movie seems incredibly unlikely from Fox.  It's probably more action/thriller/sci-fi.

To tell you the truth i am still not sure on what exactly this film is about.

Are we looking at another SUNSHINE here? (Becasue i am fine with that)

It's supposed to be an Alien prequel, even though for some bizarre reason they keep saying it just has the "DNA" of the Alien franchise, and that's at the end of the movie. I can see that to a point. Space Jockeys don't like that puny humans steal from them, unleash parasite that is the prototype of the Alien, and it sets things up for the other films.

At least I've been reading that it's a prototype. For all we know it's the same Alien, but I'd love to see what it started out as. We all know that it takes on the characteristics of it's host, did it always do that? Hmmmmmm.........

prehuman dna form

It basically sounds like we gank alien tech from the Space Jockeys and they are none too happy about it.  Even that is incredibly vague though..........................which makes me happy.  I don't want to walk into this one with a good idea of what I'm going to see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rene (Mr.Eko) 

At least I've been reading that it's a prototype. For all we know it's the same Alien, but I'd love to see what it started out as. We all know that it takes on the characteristics of it's host, did it always do that? Hmmmmmm.........

From the synopsis I've read it sounds like [POTENTIALLY HUGE SPOILER]

...because an Alien Queen Chestburster would be recognizable?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fafhrd 

 

From the synopsis I've read it sounds like [POTENTIALLY HUGE SPOILER]

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

the xenomorphs were originally the Space Jockeys' planet clearing mechanism, used to wipe a world clean before seeding life they want on it, but one of the human scientists tampers with it and the Jockeys lose control.

 

considering they take traits from their hosts, that makes sense.  Makes them a perfect weapon no matter the environment.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluelouboyle 

Do you we really need to see the history of the Space Jockey?

I see people say this a lot, but the way I see it, the space jockey is in literally one shot. Does it really matter? I'm surprised people seem more bothered about that being spoiled then they do about the xenomorphs themselve.

I would be bothered if it was anyone else but Ridley.  And you know what, if you don't Prometheus, or don't like how they represent the Space Jockey... just ignore its existence.  I do that with Alien 3 - AVP:R... so, it's nothing new in this camp.

So if the Aliens are indeed: 

Is HR Geiger already angry about the designs in the movie?  If he is, then it's an Alien sequel fo' sho.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rene (Mr.Eko) 

I just want to see a parasite burst through a chest IN 3D.

And it's blue, and Avatar music starts playing!  Circle of Liiiiiiife!

as far as the original idea in Alien, with hosts becoming eggs vs the queen.  I believe that both are valid, and can fit in the same world. 

You could either explain the Queen as a form of evolution, showing that the alien creature has evolved so that it can create it's own eggs as a means of survival in the case of limited hosts.  Or as a way to increase efficiency in that all people now will be used as carriers, instead of half.

Also, possibly the Alien, when no queen is present, can replicate the egg making process by turning hosts into eggs.  Kind of a fail safe for spreading. 

My only problem with the Alien turning hosts into eggs, is it seems wasteful.  Instead of just needing 1 person to make an alien, now you need 2. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickP 

as far as the original idea in Alien, with hosts becoming eggs vs the queen.  I believe that both are valid, and can fit in the same world. 

 

You could either explain the Queen as a form of evolution, showing that the alien creature has evolved so that it can create it's own eggs as a means of survival in the case of limited hosts.  Or as a way to increase efficiency in that all people now will be used as carriers, instead of half.

 

Also, possibly the Alien, when no queen is present, can replicate the egg making process by turning hosts into eggs.  Kind of a fail safe for spreading. 

 

My only problem with the Alien turning hosts into eggs, is it seems wasteful.  Instead of just needing 1 person to make an alien, now you need 2. 

Surely if the Aliens were bio-engineered to wipe out a planet's current life-forms, your final sentence would be a plus!!

(also, gotta add, the Aliens as insects-vibe really turned me off in Cameron's film [cool Queen aside...])
 

Yeah, I've seen that episode of the Simpsons.  I'm not sure that introducing xenos into the wild to clear a planet is the best idea.

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Originally Posted by neoolong 

Yeah, I've seen that episode of the Simpsons.  I'm not sure that introducing xenos into the wild to clear a planet is the best idea.

I think it was implied in the initial film that while the aliens are ABSOLUTELY deadly, they don't live THAT long.

(...and WHAT Simpson's episode was THAT??)

Bart The Mother.  It involves snake-eating gorillas.

First, Springfield is overrun by Lizards, who take out the pigeons. Then snakes are brought in to take out the lizards. Then gorillas are brought in to take out the snakes. The final part of the plan is for the Gorillas to freeze to death once winter comes.

sound plan to me.  Space Jockeys ain't got shit on the people of Springfield. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBananaGrabber 
Is HR Geiger already angry about the designs in the movie?  If he is, then it's an Alien sequel fo' sho.

I thought I read somewhere that Giger actually consulted on this one again in the early stages.  Or am I just crazy?

Ummmmmm....guys?......

Looks like those Weird Big Giant Head rumors from months ago are true.

Is it just me or does that face look a lot like Marlon Brando?

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickP 

as far as the original idea in Alien, with hosts becoming eggs vs the queen.  I believe that both are valid, and can fit in the same world. 

 

You could either explain the Queen as a form of evolution, showing that the alien creature has evolved so that it can create it's own eggs as a means of survival in the case of limited hosts.  Or as a way to increase efficiency in that all people now will be used as carriers, instead of half.

 

Also, possibly the Alien, when no queen is present, can replicate the egg making process by turning hosts into eggs.  Kind of a fail safe for spreading. 

 

My only problem with the Alien turning hosts into eggs, is it seems wasteful.  Instead of just needing 1 person to make an alien, now you need 2. 

Does that remain canon since they deleted that scene in Alien? (I should ask if it occurs anywhere else in the series that I'm missed for starters though).

That giant stone head is giving me Zardoz flashbacks.  Fassbender with ponytail and mustache sporting red briefs?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shan 

Does that remain canon since they deleted that scene in Alien? (I should ask if it occurs anywhere else in the series that I'm missed for starters though).

 

No, it's not canon.  It was deleted for a reason, it's just one of those "scenes" Alien purists pull out to rip on Cameron's film. 

EW has a couple of pics.  Holy shit this movie.  Most anticipated of 2012, that's for sure.

Writers at EW are just bad.  "We are going to have to wait to see if this film is related to Alien"...

Theron's quote, about people letting go that it's an Alien film, she is just saying, it's not about an Alien, or Aliens, hunting people in the dark, picking them off one by one.

Look at the pics, of course it's part of the series.

Well damn. 

If those giant stone heads fly, that finally lets the cat out of the bag: Prometheus is actually the long-awaited Space Harrier movie!

All kidding aside, those stills are really cool. Much more Giger-y than I expected to see at this stage, and that fog-laden field of what look like urns is a direct reference to the egg chamber in Alien. So yeah, at this stage the 'Alien universe or not?' thing is a non-debate. I think the real issue is, how the mainstream will react to it. It seems like Scott and co. are tackling a really interesting sideways swipe at the whole prequel idea, but I can see a lot of people just looking at those pictures and saying, "New Alien movie!" It's going to be really interesting how the mainstream reacts to this thing.

I never liked the "hosts become eggs" aspect of the deleted scene. Hosts gestating aliens? Sure, that's not unlike something that you see in nature. But hosts literally becoming alien eggs through the application of goo? This is something that's ALWAYS bugged me in cinematic and TV SF, from Doctor Who to District 9. Aliens aren't fucking vampires. Why does their DNA automatically get to override ours? Not to mention, as Morbo would say, "DNA DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY! GOOD NIGHT!"

If the xenomorphs were *specifically* engineered to eradicate native species, and humans in particular, that's a little better, but then I have a bit of an issue with explaining all this in the first place. If the aliens were specifically designed to infect humans, that takes away from the awe-inspiring creepiness and sense that humans have stumbled into something that they don't understand and shouldn't mess with.

Weren't there rumors about a giant head that acts as the Space Jockey's computer?

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Originally Posted by Chris Myers 

Weren't there rumors about a giant head that acts as the Space Jockey's computer?

Yeah, I remember that, but not specifics.

hologram head, I thought it was.  That's made out of stone. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Prankster 

I never liked the "hosts become eggs" aspect of the deleted scene. Hosts gestating aliens? Sure, that's not unlike something that you see in nature. But hosts literally becoming alien eggs through the application of goo? This is something that's ALWAYS bugged me in cinematic and TV SF, from Doctor Who to District 9. Aliens aren't fucking vampires. Why does their DNA automatically get to override ours? Not to mention, as Morbo would say, "DNA DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY! GOOD NIGHT!"

 

If the xenomorphs were *specifically* engineered to eradicate native species, and humans in particular, that's a little better, but then I have a bit of an issue with explaining all this in the first place. If the aliens were specifically designed to infect humans, that takes away from the awe-inspiring creepiness and sense that humans have stumbled into something that they don't understand and shouldn't mess with.

I just see the Alien, as Ash put it, a perfect organism.  Take into account it's ability to use it's host DNA, it allows for it to take aspects of the host that are best suited for living in it's new environment.  I have no doubt that the Alien will be a BIG part of the film, it just won't be the big bad, that will be the space jockeys.  Every alien we saw, had the human DNA element already in it.  It will be neat to see what they looked like BEFORE that was infused in their genetics.  

the motivations behind the Space Jockeys is what I want to know.  Maybe a Lovecraftian style, ancient alien species that are highly advanced and are basically farmers of the universe.  They travel, create life, and destroy it.  Maybe humans were created by them, and now, after learning about how far we advanced (maybe from the crew of this ship), they see us as a threat to their dominance and decide to destroy our species.  Maybe the xenomorphs are this fail safe device they use to exterminate life... can't wait... can't wait... can't wait.  Screw the Hobbit, Avengers, Spiderman and Batman... THIS IS THE FILM OF 2012... 

looking at those EW pics, the one where they are walking by those cylinders... assuming the Space Jockeys created the xenomorph, maybe those are prototype eggs?  Considering the Alien's mechanic look, could the beast have started, more mechanical?
 

I don't understand why Fox doesn't just release a PG-13 version and an R rated version at the same time in theaters.  They'd probably make even more money.  They'd probably have to have some kind of ritual sacrifice of babies at the MPAA in order to do this though.  I can't stand that organization.

MPAA doesn't allow it. 

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Originally Posted by NickP 

MPAA doesn't allow it. 

Well seeing as how the studios are in bed with and practically own the MPAA, I don't see the problem (watch the doc, "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" to see what I mean).  Spielberg got them to make a new rating in 80s.

No, I agree, release two versions, let the audience decide what they want to see. 

I champion anything that gives the consumer a choice. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambler 

Well seeing as how the studios are in bed with and practically own the MPAA, I don't see the problem (watch the doc, "This Film Is Not Yet Rated" to see what I mean).  Spielberg got them to make a new rating in 80s.

Which is why we'll probably end up with a film that is officially rated PG-13........................but is actually an R-rated movie.

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.D. Bob Plissken 

Which is why we'll probably end up with a film that is officially rated PG-13........................but is actually an R-rated movie.

 

Yeah, I don't understand why anybody cares about the MPAA anymore.  Back in the 80's and 90's, their reactionary zeal caused films to be hacked to pieces (with the excised footage apparently then thrown out and lost to the ages lol) and horror especially became so pathetically watered down.  But in this age of CSI showing in-depth autopsies on prime time network television and even PG rated comedies getting "unrated" editions on DVD and Blu, it's not such a concern.  I remember being blown away when I saw True Grit in theaters that it was PG-13.  Bridges shooting that dude in the face, splattering his brains on the wall behind him after he chopped off his cohorts fingers and stabbed him in the chest?  There wasn't anything that graphic in Friday the 13th parts 6, 7 and 8 lol.   

That having been said, I would prefer the film be rated R, since I am an adult and am more interested in my sci-fi tackling unpleasant and more complex adult themes a la District 9. 

What is an "R" rating nowadays.  Gore doesn't matter, I mean, look at what we get on AMC with Breaking Bad and the Walking Dead.

R is, to me, more then two "fucks" and more then one "titie" shot.  Let Ridley make the film of his vision, and if it's R, keep it, and if it's PG-13, keep it.  You could even argue, that films like Snakes on a Plane, and Aliens vs Predator: R, which added scenes to get that R rating, were just as bad as films cut down to reach a PG-13. Whole truth is, what film, that was cut from an R to PG-13, was arguably better when released "uncut" on DVD?  I find that anytime a studio even attempts to change the rating, we usually have a stinker on our hands.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickP 

MPAA doesn't allow it. 

Didn't they do this with 'Saturday Night Fever' back in the day?

I CERTAINLY remember 2 versions, but maybe that was through the BBFC.

Edit...In fact didn't they do this as recently as THIS YEAR with 'The King's Speech'??

"Profanity

You can only have one version out at a time. Miramax pulled the R-rated King's Speech from theatres, then re-released the PG-13 version the next weekend.

And for the record, Spielberg didn't get them to "create" the PG-13. The public reaction to Temple of Doom and Gremlins (both, by the way, are still rated PG) led the MPAA to create the rating. Spielberg suggested the idea after both films were criticized for their violence. The first PG-13 film was actually Red Dawn.

The rumor I read about the giant head is that it's the pilot of the ship. I want to see that. I want to see a giant head piloting the ship of the space jockey.

You just know if you try to stay spoiler-free, some time in March you'll be in a store and walk up on a NECA Space Jockey vs. Alien 2-pack.

There's no way a big budget sci-fi movie like this slips by without some kind of merchandising.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkatthemoon 

You just know if you try to stay spoiler-free, some time in March you'll be in a store and walk up on a NECA Space Jockey vs. Alien 2-pack.

 

There's no way a big budget sci-fi movie like this slips by without some kind of merchandising.

Fassbender & Idris Elba action figures on a "Big Head" playset. Make it happen, Jesus!