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

ZetaReticuli

MemberOvomorphApril 13, 20122426 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........

dallas!dallas!
Group: Member
Rank: Ovomorph
View Profile

April 14, 2012

It's okay, Craigamore. Just can't help myself, sometimes. But seriously, I have said it before (and tongue nowhere near cheek), if Scott does something with Prometheus that is more Tarkovsky's Solaris or 2001 I would maybe have to form some kind of religion worshiping the guy.

craigamore
Group: Member
Rank: Ovomorph
View Profile

April 14, 2012

well don't go that far.....

Ripley Clone 8
Group: Member
Rank: Ovomorph
View Profile

April 14, 2012

ALIEN- 117 minutes= 1 hour 57 minutes ALIENS- 137 minutes= 2 hours 17 minutes ALIEN 3- 114 minutes= 1 hour 54 minutes ALIEN RESURRECTION- 109 minutes= 1 hour 49 minutes PROMETHEUS- 119 minutes= 2 hours 0 minutes To me I think the run time is just fine to be honest. I mean look at all the other Alien films run time. They all hover around 2 hours and they turned out to be flipping fantastic. All 4 of them. I'm sure Ridley Scott will deliver in just around 2 hours as he did in ALIEN. I don't really believe the runtime is an issue at all. Now if the film was 1 hour and 30 minutes oh boy would we have problems then. But yeah be thankful its 2 hours. It could be a whole lot worse and 2 hours is what it should be. If the first ALIEN film was 2 hours than why can't Prometheus.

http://i.imgur.com/vbAPQY6.gif

Jim100a100
Group: Member
Rank: Ovomorph
View Profile

April 14, 2012

Scott has been saying it himself. He's a BUSINESSMAN, first and foremost. I love the guy and the entertainment he's been providing for 35 yrs, but I don't think he would be saying that prior to ALIEN. I *think* he would be saying I want to scare the sh*t out of my audience and tell the best story, and stand behind that through hell and high water. I'm just disgusted with this PG-13 mentality and how it's infected our genius directors. Kubrick wouldn't stand for it, would he? Does Scorsese?

Lord Ennio
Group: Member
Rank: Ovomorph
View Profile

April 14, 2012

Well, what's done is done. Ridley Scott has created a theatrical version right at 2 hours. I think it's going to be great. As we all know now, there's going to be 17 minutes of added footage on the Blu-Ray release, so the pessimists here need to relax. The only way Ridley could have got his way on this film is if he did as George Lucas did on the Star Wars prequels: he financed the films out of his very own pocket. Also, we don't know what sort of ride we're in for; so let's just have faith and remain positive. Ripley Clone 8, I'm in total agreement with about if the film was 90 minutes long, that would be suspect. Because as we all know, unless a film is a comedy of some kind, then 90 minutes just doesn't cut it otherwise in other genres.

dallas!dallas!
Group: Member
Rank: Ovomorph
View Profile

April 15, 2012

@ craigamore Scottology could be bigger than L Ron Hubbard! No offense to you scientologists out there. I know how touchy you can be.

Guest
Group: Member
Rank: Ovomorph
View Profile

April 15, 2012

That's my only gripe about this great film, tell a lie 2 gripes... the way Hollywood, is trying to homogenize every single film to a one size fits all, cosy, family affair, safe bullshit mentality, and the other is the fact i've been looking up this film from the onset of it's announcement and hanging on to every word spoken about it and priming myself with the belief i'm being told the truth for a spectacular EPIC. Now history of films and the understanding i have of the term is now in question. DAVID LEAN FILMS.... Dr zhivago-226 min ......... Bridge on the river kwai-161 min Lawrence of arabia 216 min A passage to india- 164 min As they are using david lean as an example of epic film making to give a flavour of the influence of scope i think its fair to say we can be forgiven for feeling a little short changed in prometheus's 119 min runtime.