119 minutes - no profundity or slow burn build-up then?

ZetaReticuli

MemberOvomorphApril 13, 20122427 Views47 Replies

Not one to moan, but I'm having a hard time wondering how they'll squeeze everything in here in such a short time-span. Don't anybody say that 'it's ok, we'll have the extended version on DVD and blu-ray', because that is a cop-out and everybody's pandering to that easy option now. I want, quite rightly, to experience the 'full version' in the cinema - where it's meant to be seen. Anyone agree? But more importantly, how are they going to have an audience/character intro and rapport, plot and plan of action briefing, journey and it's complexities, planet exploration, identifying/encountering the enemy, climax in 119 minutes? I've seen a lot of pacifist comments on how Alien is only 117 minutes, but the setting from the very start there was in the eeriness of space and the tension began immediately. So comparison to Alien runtime for me doesn't cut it with me, sorry. I don't like this 'trim it, chop it and make it tight' thing these days at all. I know 'it's business' but it's also ART. They used to make LONG good films -'Lawrence of Arabia', 'Ben Hur' and I'd have thought coming from a director who's acknowledged these in 'Gladiator', this film would've really run the course to explain everything in absolute detail. Just like those gorgeousIy detailed designs of the exteriors, locations and the ship I really thought this was going to be a slow-burner rising into all out terror and chaos. How the f***k are they going to cram it all in without it seeming rushed? I mean how???? I'm mystified, honestly. I smell studio shite again........

Prom_queen
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April 13, 2012

That's what I'm screamin, Zeta, all the way.

craigamore
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April 13, 2012

It's not 119 minutes...it's 1 hour and 59 minutes......calm yourself friend.....I'm not sure where the 119 nonsense started but it isn't correct....the long cut is 17 minutes longer than that...so we call all relax a little....check it out...[url=http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/nailbiter111/news/?a=57805]PROMETHEUS Running Time Revealed & New Image of Charlize Theron[/url]

weylandshark
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April 13, 2012

Craigmore: 119 min - 1 hr 59 min. Keep up ok.

craigamore
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April 13, 2012

Little sleepy, just realized that.....sorry for my momentary lapse......anyway, what's the freak out for? that's 2 hours there....have a little faith people

goodkat
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April 13, 2012

I've seen mindblowing movies that are less than 30 minutes long.

weylandshark
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April 13, 2012

I think 2 hrs. should be good enough to get a fine story going. I mean there's already talk of James Cameron doing the sequel. That said, I don't think a 'bladder busting' 3 hr. movie would do the story much good.

ReeceMacoy
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April 13, 2012

we dont know how much longer the cut is going to be, its not 17 minutes. in that interview Ridley was talking about trimming 17 minutes from a another movie he once did. he did not want mention the title of the movie. the way he talking about dvd bonuses & extras etc. he definitely alluded to there being an alternate version or longer version of prometheus on dvd or bluray. but as of right now we dont what scenes or how much longer it will be.

craigamore
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April 13, 2012

"They used to make LONG good films -'Lawrence of Arabia', 'Ben Hur' and I'd have thought coming from a director who's acknowledged these in 'Gladiator', this film would've really run the course to explain everything in absolute detail." Aren't you making the assumption that it's not possible for them to do this....perhaps the story dictates that pace and the resultant time....we don't know.......I simply do not understand the panic arising from that number...you want to panic?.....Do so when the studio locks Ridley out and cuts it to 90 min....then you might have a reason....

ZetaReticuli
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April 13, 2012

Thanks weylandshark. Craigamore, I know you and most here mean well, but this is and will still be niggling me no matter what anybody says. Take 'Clash of the Titans' remake - rush, rush, rush, rush.. even the Medusa - which was a beautifully designed cgi albeit with a dolly face was 'rushed'. She 'rushed' everywhere giving me the impression that this sequence had to be 'done and dusted' asap - honestly! Why do film studios want this 'rushed product' like pizza - out fast fast fast? Why??? I loathe this 'get it out there while it's smokin' hot' mentality. Trailers before a film is even finished - for Chrissake. It's killing the art of film..

artyoh
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April 13, 2012

On the bright side, in spite of that $6.50 half-gallon drink you've been slurping, you might not feel like your bladder is about to explode by the time the credits roll. But yeah, what craigamore said.

ZetaReticuli
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April 13, 2012

Panic!!?? I for one don't panic like some here craigamore ok? I'm just sounding off a (I think fairly) valid point of discussion here. I'm just a little dismayed. It's my view that's all and I'm entitled to it.

craigamore
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April 13, 2012

I get the frustration....but when it comes to runtime...I'm just saying that I always wait until I see how a story flows before I judge whether the runtime hinders or helps a picture....take a look at the extended cuts of the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy for example....granted, this is my opinion, but when you watch those cuts of the film there is a distinct difference..with 'The Fellowship of the Ring', I believe the additions help and add to the flow and pacing of the film...while the same cannot be said about 'The Two Towers' and 'The Return of the King'...in those cases, the additions complicate, diffuse and damage the film's pacing...particularly in 'The Two Towers'.....what I'm getting at is, until we have the opportunity to take in the flow of the story behind 'Prometheus' and until we know just how much was left on the cutting room flor, there's no reason to freak...just yet...

ZetaReticuli
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April 13, 2012

The answer is easy - it's called - wait for it............. .........an INTERMISSION...................................... Now run along and have a pee and popcorn and a text. But be back soon.

craigamore
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April 13, 2012

I meant panic in a general sense ZetaReticuli...sorry for any offense taken....I'm just asking for tempered expectations at both ends of the spectrum...we know nothing and as excited as we are, there's almost nothing to go on to really expect anything with any reliability, as good as it looks or short, depending on which way you lean.....

alteredstate.
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April 13, 2012

For what its worth you have my sympathy zeta, and my agreement on this one. Granted i think the film will be good but i was sold on the epic / comparison and spin from various media sources of the lawrence of arabia, / David lean, type film . But apparently epic doesn't fit the definition today of detail and length its just scale in terms of sweeping vistas, and large constructs, against little people that merits the term epic. We are talking about the huge questions of man and Earths development from our Beginnings, and the prospect of evolution, aided by aliens and such so we should be able to wrap that up in a couple of hours lol. Seven little indians in the old dark house this is not. We are entitled to be pessimistic given the nature of this film franchise's history, and the studios insistence of cuts.

Shane
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April 13, 2012

And lets look at how many movies are made now that are way over 2 hours and could easily be edited to 90-120 minutes and be better films for the trim. Just because a movie is long, does not mean it is epic or good. Like said earlier, I've had my mind blown by short films before. Blade Runner was 116-119 minutes long, are you going to say it was horrible or are you one of the people that dislike blade runner? Wait to see it to pass judgement. But I am kinda unique in this. I hate everything after alien and i HATE the extended universe stuff so my emotional investment is super low. I am going in to watch a good scifi flick directed by a man with 2 films in the top 15 scifi films of all time. He's never made a bad scifi movie. Nor has be ever made a stupid scifi movie. That is enough for me.

alteredstate.
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April 13, 2012

ep·ic [ep-ik] Show IPA adjective Also, ep·i·cal. 1. noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style: Homer's Iliad is an epic poem. 2. resembling or suggesting such poetry: an epic novel on the founding of the country. 3. heroic; majestic; impressively great: the epic events of the war. 4. of unusually great size or extent: a crime wave of epic proportions. Clearly we have different understandings of the term.

Prom_queen
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April 13, 2012

I don't think it's about equating long with good (talking about movies here, guys, get it out of the gutter). It's about those profound ideas we've been hearing about from RS et al and how all that will be covered in that amount of time.

artyoh
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April 13, 2012

I'm with you on intermissions, Zeta. They were a great idea which apparently became just too darned expensive.....*cough* bullshit! *cough*

Neurion
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April 13, 2012

Hey Gents, I’m kind of divided on the whole 119 minute running time thing. On one hand, I would like to see a no- nonsense, fast paced, suspense thriller…that get’s right into it. On the other hand, I’ve been waiting for this film since I was twelve (32 years), and maybe…just maybe, I don’t want it to just blow by in mere 2 hours. Now, for this picture…Ridley did say, “It’s epic.” I don’t know about you folks…but when I hear Scott say the word epic…I expect EPIC! …in scale, concepts…and yes, RUNNING TIME. However, I think a lot of you guys are right…it all comes down to the story and pacing. If there is to be an additional longer cut…eventually, I doubt that we’ll ever be able to enjoy it in the cinema. Unless PROMETHEUS is a much bigger success than I think it will be. ~N