Prometheus is a prequel..please dont argue otherwise

This discussion is getting complex now... Frantz, one could argue that because the film is set before Alien and in the same universe that it "sets the stage" for Alien. Thus we are back to square 1.

Whether its a prequel or not, it takes place somewhere on the timeline of the alien franchise, by speculation the forward part of the timeline. Therefore in my book thats all that is needed to make it a prequel, if it takes place in the same universe with the same species and roughly the same movie elements we saw in the first one. Then its a prequel in my book, it doesnt have to have every single aspect of the first one to be a prequel.

If we take a look at a dictionary, we find this: "a literary, dramatic, or filmic work that prefigures a later work, as by [b]portraying the same characters at a younger age."[/b] If we also look in other franchises - such as Star Trek, for example - you'll see installments (in this case, spin-offs) of the series utilizing different characters or times. These are not sequels, nor prequels, though they can still touch on the origins or conclusions of elements from other series. Relevant, here, is the Space Jockey, or Alien. Though they are creatures, they are - in the literary sense - not characters,

@ manndroid - I don't think that helps any lol.

yes of course is subjective ...for me set the "stage" is -a derelict to explore on LV426 ( why and how ) -an xenomorph life form ( what they are ) -a space jockey dead on a chair ( how and why ) if we see that things happen in Prometheus then i will call it a prequel ...if not then is a movie set in the same universe .

Prequel or not, we all can agree that this movie obviously takes place in the same universe with a company from the first movie and it all takes place before the original.

Well, it seemed to me that there we two major sides of the argument. One is insisting that because it reveals information as to the possible origin of a species or event in a later film, it is a prequel. By definition, this does not fit the requirements of the term. That's like saying every book an author writes within the same literary universe is, therefore, a prequel or sequel - despite the word insisting on the need for a [b]direct,[/b] flowing sequence, in this case connected by characters. A good example are Robert E. Howard's Conan short stories - also known as serials. Though they [i]do[/i] utilize the same, central character, none of the stories directly preclude or succeed an event in any of them. One can read one without the need of reading another. None of us has seen Prometheus yet, thus, none of us can say whether it stands on its own, without the necessity - or at least, the suggestion - of seeing any film in the Alien series. The driving motivation there, of course, is the progression of the character Ripley. Characters always connect a work.

@ Manndroid - its a good job you didn't mention the final fantasy games. Whoops.

@ Snorkelbottom - Simply because something is marketed as as a sequel, doesn't mean its creators did their homework to make sure what they were doing actually [i]was one.[/i] Along the way, putting a number after something that sold well means more money. Also, the designers and publishers of Final Fantasy are japanese, so I don't believe they were keen on scrutinizing the English dictionary - or western literary practices - before creating their software. ;)

Actually, now that I think more about Final Fantasy, the more it seems less like a sequel naming mechanism, and more of an 'installment' or 'volume' nomenclature. "This is the 11th Final Fantasy game. This is the 12th one." Etc.

Ah... But they have the same enemies, magics etc. Yet each own is unrelated in terms of story, despite this, which is contradictory.

Prequel or not, I really hope we don´t see any Xenomorphs in Prometheus. Like Scott told MTV "The alien in a sense, as a shape, is worn out". It would be such a step back in terms of innovation - like a singer performing his earlier tracks to satisfy the audience, even though they mean nothing to him anymore. Gigers Alien design was truly groundbreaking and genius, but this movie is going in a different direction.

I think the best, BEST example are the Indiana Jones Films. Do you consider them sequels/prequels? Because they are serials. The plot of one does not feed into the next, despite utilizing the same character(s). This is where the 'seq' in sequel comes from; sequence. Time itself is a sequence of events. Thus, sequel implies [i]direct[/i], or dependent, sequence - you need to see the next movie to know how the plot established in the first is concluded. You could see a single Indy film, and it works on its own. This goes along with my Conan story analogy. "But Manndroid," you say, "Prometheus' events explain the initial circumstances in Alien!" - and yes, you might be correct, but the sequence of events has been broken because of one, key connective tissue - main characters. As for Final Fantasy - like I said, it's a like a volume convention. Things in the same world or style will have common things, such as - in this case - magic, enemies, naming conventions, etc. However, it's a different world, with different characters, and a different story. You could say that every Final Fantasy after the first game is a spin-off, ad nauseum.

I need to sit down.

Have some coffee. Take mine. I've had [i]way[/i] too much.

I think we all have.

How about we call it a pre-off, or spin-quel.

From the modern oracle called Wikipedia: "Like sequels, prequels may or may not concern the same plot as the work from which they are derived. Often, they explain the background which led to the events in the original, but sometimes the connections are not as explicit". According to this, Prometheus could qualify as a prequel, right?

Wikipedia, lol, you sir are banned for your blasphemy. Ergh, Wikipedia, I feel sick now.

Lindelof said "If there were a sequel to Prometheus, it would not be Alien." so prometheus should not be alien prequel ( even if i think it will be )