Question about the Sacrificial Engineer.

In another thread someone suggested that this was *possibly* (?) the original introduction of DNA to earth, but I'd like to point out that the ground beside the falls is already covered with plant life. Presumably mosses and lichens. Sorry that this is slightly off-topic, but it's the closest topic I’ve seen for this that's not in the Spoiler section. I'll reiterate that Twiss specifically points out that his character is a particularly YOUNG Engineer.

I think they key here is TIME. That scene is supposed to take place hundreds of thousands of years ago... so maybe back then the Engineers were more human looking.

Also, more than likely he's probably without suit or bio-mechanics, as everything would break down into the soup. Having his suit on would probably throw some non-organic stuff into the mix and make it impure.

I've been pondering on this point too abiogenesis......for similar-ish reasons to your own. I also think this guy looks too 'human', although I have to admit that I've seen similar looking humans in 'that London', often gathered outside McDonalds (gotta stay close to the food source etc....lol!) With all due respect to our learned breathren on here (who also haven't seen the film yet...!), is there the slightest, remotest, teeniest possibility that this clip actually shows Fifield and NOT the 'sacrificial engineer' then? [i]Could[/i] this be sometime post infection (I think it happens at the same time as Milburn-it looks to me that they both might be getting attacked in that scene), when having been left for dead by the rest of the crew who are forced to flee in terror, he comes to and wanders out of the temple. Disorientated and in the process of becoming mad mohecan dude (MMD!)/Proto SJ (PSJ!), he comes across a different part of LV223 where there is a waterfall/river (or maybe he's TAKEN there for some reason...?) because it is [i]in the process[/i] of being terraformed by the Engineers (big saucer ship.) Of course, he could have simply followed the smell of the burgers and got lost-maybe the Engineers had built a McDonalds and he was instinctively attracted to the area. I reckon those clever Engineers would have their priorities right on something like this....First rule of terraforming-build a McDonalds! Forms terror in [i]me[/i], anyway....Global warming would probably speed up the process too as a handy by product....but I'm no expert in planetary ecological dynamics so I can't say for certain.... He later returns to the Prometheus to spoil everyone's day (stop them ramming the Pretzel?) and in another shot we see him further along the transformation process dodging flamethrowers and running away down a corridor....Perhaps he's off to the ships' galley for a burger, flamegrilled natch. But seriously (if we must), I know we had the account of the actor who played the 'Sacrificial Engineer', but is this in fact what we are looking at [i]here[/i]? For all we know it could be an 'outake' from Avatar 2 that JC forgot to wipe before Ridders hired the camera rigs to commence principal photography on 'The Big P'..... Or not. Probably not. OK, pretty unlikely then..... I'll get me coat......(lol!) (I like this game!)

^@ theegg, I agree... no need for a suit when you're about to meet your maker.

i've seen some clips where holoway looks abit like that. especially in the face.

It was already stated, that "sacrifical engineer" is naked in opening sequence, therefore he should look almost exactly like human, only bigger (they are around 3 meters tall). Physical appearance of engineers (without theirs suits) is similar to human from classical works like Michelangelo's David, or paintings of Wiliam Blake. Their skin is pale and semi-translucent, and veins and muscle are visible through it. There was quite detailed description in the french magazine translated several days ago.

Good point alphatechsungun, but was he eating a 'Happy Meal' (TM).....Ha! I think you could also be right there. Some have said it's Holloway that get's his 'Big Mac' (TM) flamegrilled by Vickers at the doorway to 'The Big P', but I tend to agree more with other posters who reckon it's another member of the crew, who's waving his arms because he's trying to say 'No, I DON'T want fries' but can't because he's got a Hammerpede logdged in his throat (or maybe a 'Chicken Deli Wrap' (TM) ) and Vickers misunderstands him and thinks he means 'I want fires with that'. After all, it wouldn't be the first time.... The fact is that NONE OF US KNOW FOR SURE (thank goodness!) and I reckon we've all been very expertly drip fed just enough to send us all scurrying off down all these joyful, crazy, speculative avenues, whilst keeping the real deal closely under wraps.....a 'Deli-Wrap' (TM) if you ask me! Can't WAIT to discover the truth, even the bits we will be expected to extrapolate for ourselves. It's gonna be [i]BIG[/i], baby.....!!!!!! (with a BIG BABY in it too....!) By the way, are we having a global Christening event of any kind (just thought I'd squeeze a bit of Religion in there as well....lol!) (With my humble apologies to all the Vicars and Maccy D enthusiasts out there...!)

[i]Their skin is pale and semi-translucent, and veins and muscle are visible through it. There was quite detailed description in the french magazine translated several days ago.[/i] S'funny.......I was thinking they actually resembled the Ferengi (a bit....) Get rid of the big ears, keep the domed bit on the top of the skull and the ridgy bit that goes round the sides (bit like my mother in law), stick 'im in a freezer compartment for a couple of hours, and voila! Don't mind me though....it's just a bit of fun. I'm sure I'm wrong anyway!!!! Riddly Scott has NEVER mentioned Gold Pressed Latinum once in anything I've ever seen or read. And I'm not a Trekkie (sorry, [i]Trekker[/i]), honest. But I DO like the SHAT!!! (But not TJ Hooker.) In fact, people often tell me, such is my devotion, that I am in fact FULL of shat....! So that's ok then. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!!!!! It's going to be akin to the second coming I reckon, especially for Shaw and Holloway (and maybe Vickers and David too...) after all that time in hypersleep....No wonder the poor bloke is holding his head in his hands in the 'bedroom' scene. He looks completely worn out!!! Well, at least that's my interpretation, but my Doctor changed my meds recently so that could explain it....lol! With my tongue (at least I hope it's my tongue, and not a Cobralien/Hammerpede.....) [i]firmly[/i] in cheek, of [i]course[/i].....and no disrespect intended or implied to anyone (except the Maccy D enthusiasts)-just havin' a giggle with it. I can't help it if I'm getting excited, now can I?! Just wait till June 1st if you think this fodder is, er... fodder.......unless Spartacus has nuked me from orbit by then for being a 'disruptive influence' that is....! (Hopefully not!) It's the only way to be sure though, after all...... Tee hee!

If it's a member of the crew I think it's probs Holloway, in the featurette you see his skin when he gets infected has the same blackish veins. Plus Marshall-Green said his character literally wants to stand beside God not just meet him, so maybe this is him getting his wish? On the other hand I think the biggest probability is it's just an engineer in the beginning of time scene. See what is significant is this scene has the potential to be at the beginning and the end of the film.

This isn't a spoiler.

I think the Engineers/Space Jockey are of very similar humanoid form without the suit (That 'man was created in God's image' , and one could easily imagine a bio-mechanical artifact could change it's users size, among other things) It was also said that the sacrificial Engineer is comparatively young. Also, I agree with the post about the sacrificial Engineer and not contaminating his biological form to create new life which may play into how the Star Beast came to be, or at least as a bio-mechanoid creature. Quote "Giger conceived the Alien as being vaguely human but a human in full armor, protected from all outside forces.... His design for the creature was heavily influenced by an aesthetic he had created and termed biomechanical, a fusion of the organic and the mechanic"

The reason the beginning dude looks different is that he isn't wearing any clothes. He is nekkid.

A very interesting and strong possibilities... Sacrificed Engineer was "naked"... And also his ship was dither from the Derelict Ship that we knew... Later, the Engineers that pictured was wears Biomechanical-Suit that they can manipulate and can controlled.. @ Star Beast of Cthulhu is right from the bottom... Biomechanism is created by Hans Ruedi (HR) Giger and it is a mixation of both Biologic and Mechanic (Bio-Mechanic).. And everything of the Alien Quadrilogy and Prometheus is gathered according from his artistical designs and artworks.. And also I noticed that the later Engineers was on the Derelict Ship are also covered their body with a Bio-Mechanoid armour that powered their body abilities... And their armour is much like the bodies of the Xenomorphs... But also this can be noticed that they are not just covered their bodies.. They preserved the nature of their choosed natural parts of their bodies from the biomechanoid armour (Faces, Hands and Foots are preserved their nature etc.) But if the Sacrificion Scene is happen on the same time that the film goes on, than we can talking about a huge Civil-War between the different factions of the Space Jockeys... But if the sacrificion scene was happens on the past, then we can talking about some kind of "side-effect" which of their minds are manipulated by the same Black Goo's goes on the time to time...

One aspect of the Sacrificial engineer's not mentioned...was the fact he was left handed.... This indicates to me that a Left Handed God/Engineer was the model for human development...the superior ..and preferred choice for evolution..

..In a ddition.. I noticed in the first orrey scene the Holographic Engineer picked up the flute with his left hand,,.and activated the console by sounding a few notes. He proceded to push console buttons left handed.. Probably just a co-incidence...