Forum Topic
adamrparr
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 12:19 PM***Please read at your discretion, ***SPOILERS/Parts of story are revealed***
Fundamental Questions...
Okay, guys. First of all, I have not seen the film yet, and won't until it's released the US. Having said that, I've read nearly everything I've been able to find online, and I must say that it seems to me like the jury's still out on this one. Many are pleased with what they saw, many are not, and still others seem to be downright bewildered & confused. I've got a few straightforward questions & would like anyone & everyone who's seen the film to take a shot at answering them. And by the way, if you feel like the film just doesn't provide any sort of decent and clear-cut answer to the question, just say so. Please don't go overboard with a lot of wild conjecture & speculation. I'm not looking for theories here, I'm interested in well-defined resolution, and if the film doesn't provide it, I want to know that too. So here goes...
1. If I understand this correctly, the Engineers evidently created human life in their own image on Earth long ago by sacrificing one of themselves to supply the DNA. Then, we wander around the planet for tens of thousands of years, and wind up with the ability to explore space on our own. Ultimately, we seek out the Engineers on some distant planet, guided by some archaeological clues. Are those really meant to be a friendly invitation to visit our creators? Or a diabolical trap? What's the motivation behind the clues that the humans use to find the Engineers? Did the Engineers really mean for us to seek them out, and if so, why?
2. Initially, I was under the impression that the alien world on which most of the movie takes place is in fact the Engineers' home planet. After reading a couple of recent stories, however, it seems that one of the crew actually heads toward the Engineers' home planet at the END of the film. So what's going on here? Is it or is it not the Engineers' home world? If it is, where's that crew member going at the very end of the film? And if it's not, what exactly is it? Why are the Engineers there? Just some random planet on which they live? One among many? Seems very unclear.
3. Obviously there are quite a number of creatures, aliens, monsters, attackers, etc. throughout the film. And they come in all kinds of forms, shapes & sizes. From octopus-like giganto monsters to floor-bound cobra-thingees to even some strange, amorphous black goo. Are we to assume that the Engineers created all of this? Did they create all this life? Did they create the black goo? Do all of the various creatures simply begin as black goo?
4. If the Engineers created us, why exactly do they want us to come find them on some distant planet & kill us? Are we just toys to them? Are they just sort of pulling the heads off their action figures in the proverbial sandbox? What seems to be the motivation behind all the killing of humans? They created us just to have something to kill or destroy? Doesn't seem to make too much sense.
5. Does Weyland have some sort of prior or privileged knowledge of the Engineers & what they're all about? I guess he's kind of behind the entire plot, huh? Essentially he's just looking to get ahold of the Engineers' technology as a way of prolonging his own life, right? Or is he up to something else?
6. Why such a complex & convoluted series of events to come up with the cuddles creature? I mean, come on. Infect this guy's eye with black goo in the hopes that he'll screw his female crew mate, thereby impregnating her with some sort of horrific human-alien hybrid thingy to which she'll ultimately give birth? What the hell's going on with that? Seems awfully complicated. Any meaning behind any of it? Or just some silly horror movie stuff?
7. Why does the Engineer ship depart for Earth toward the end of the film? To wipe out humanity? If so, what exactly triggered that decision for them? What did we do to piss them off? Again, did they just create us to destroy us? Or are they angry that we found this particular planet and they don't want us screwing around anymore. Doesn't seem very well though out at all.
8. Who exactly kills David the android & why? Doesn't seem like he's much of a threat to anyone. Is he killed by an Engineer or some other out-of-control creature?
9. Why exactly are the Engineers killed? Is it just that their lab experiments have outgrown their petri dishes? The big nasty octopus thingy just wants to destroy whatever it finds in its path, humans & engineers alike? Kind of like a rabid, psychotic grizzly bear killing people & animals indiscriminately? Did the Engineers go too far & create a bunch of stuff that just got out of control?
10. So the Engineer whose chest gets busted open is killed by one of his own creations? He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Just unlucky? Or is there something else going on here?
11. The Prometheus ship collides with the Engineer ship at the end of the film, thereby preventing it from travelling to Earth & wiping out the whole of humanity. So is it, or is it not the derelict spacecraft w/ the space jockey that we see in "Alien"? If it's not the same ship, what the hell's the connection between the one that crashes at the end of "Prometheus" and the derelict craft in "Alien"? Just two very similar crashed vehicles, on two random alien worlds, piloted by Engineers w/ their chests busted open? Seems a little coincidental.
12. And speaking of ships & Engineers, what the hell's the point of having to suit up in that silly space jockey costume? Isn't that just a little contrived? Humans don't have to wear full-fledged space suits complete with sealed helmets & all the rest of it aboard ships, so why would the Engineers have to do this? Again, it just seems like needless, thoughtless complication.
13. In your honest opinion, do you see a direct sequel to this film being made? Does it end with a real cliff-hanger, or is it just sort of ambiguous and open-ended like Blade Runner?
Sorry to be so long-winded, but I really want to try to make sense out of some of this. Thanks in advance for your help & responses.
- Adam
**Edited by Svanya
14 Replies
adamrparr
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 7:03 PMMan, I'm REALLY lowering my expectations about this film. It's pretty clear from all the feedback so far that there are MANY viewers who are coming out of this film completely bewildered.
In my opinion, here's the one REALLY bad sign about the quality of the writing in this film:
Many are engaging in just as much speculation, conjecture & hypothesizing AFTER they've seen the film, as compared to what they did BEFORE they'd seen the film. It's almost as though many folks are trying to justify or rationalize, instead of just admitting that the film is simply a steaming pile of refuse.
aquaviva
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 12:50 PMI have just seen the movie.. and i still need answers to all of you questions.. awsome put togheter post from one who have not seen the movee MY GOD.... You get NO ANSWERS in the movie, that is why i myself is here now on this forum..
Maybe we the humans are testsubjekt for the Engineers new biowepon?" i dont no, i am a little tickt off about the movie :-( sigh sigh
aquaviva
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 12:56 PMi must say.... i think we will se a greatly extended version on blue ray, with like 15min or more of extra. Seems cut up and after lotr money makeing machine of sending out first the movie dvd then EXTENDED version.. Well yaa
Hinperton
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 1:36 PMI also have yet to see the movie, but from what I've read it seems like everything is unexplained and there are no clear motives. Are there supposed to be subtle undertones and vague symbolism throughout the movie that we're supposed to piece together in order to have some understanding? If so, i'm bummed
KingPredator
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 1:54 PMI just watched prometheus in the cinema like an hour ago
And well the conclusion,,,, well here we go..
Im left with exactly all the quistions that you just asked..
I consider myself a true alien franchise fan with everything close to it, meaning avp, predators and all the omnibus novels and comics from dark horse..
And to be honest, with all that in the back of my mind this movie is kinda disapointing.. It leaves so many new quistions unanswered, and have some parts that really could have been deeper and better explained for the audience.. Basiclly im left with all the same quistions that Adam meantions above!
And the level of horrer in this movie is nothing like the 4 original alien movies.. More like avp, sadly.
We basiclly dont get any information about the engineers story or their motivation for hating the human race so much, or what they where doing in that compound on a remote planet that we thought was what?? Why do we think they created us, is something I ask myself again and again.. There is 2 scenes in the beginning of the movie, with no great explanations and then all over sudden we see prometheus on its way to find mans creators.. I mean damn ridley you could have done a little more to convince the audience that they could have created us.. Since mans creation is a sore subject to many.. But weyland industries are willing to spend 1billion on this trip based on some cavepaintings.. hmm.. And why could'nt we see some more of weyland industries, like why the company was even motivated to be involed in this trip.. And not just because an old man thought that maybe they will find mans creators, and he might be given a longer life, you dont even find out why he thinks like that.. come on..
The creatures and monsters in prometheus reminded me alot about last years prequel to "The thing". Not to mention the alien seen in the last scene of the movie, I dont really know how to explain it, but im not buying the fact, that its is suppose to be the first alien, or how the alien race was created.. The alien monster deserves a much deeper story than what you will see in the movie.. Im sticking to the storyline in the novels and comics and still hope we one day get to see an Alien homeworld, maybe in a future installment of avp... With all that said, the movie is left very open and it definetly needs a sequel or 2 if it is suppose to be considered a prequel to the original Alien movies.. or if it is suppose to have any bigger meaning in general..
I really feel bad about writing all this negative stuff about Prometheus, I really really looked forward for this movie to come out,.. But as a true Alien franchise fan, I have to admit that coming out of the theater I was left with the same irritating feeling I got when I saw Avp2:Requiem.. Any true alien fan will know what im talking about,, not a good a feeling.. I just expected a much more deep, darker and more adventureres story than this..
Im not gonna go into details about what you will see in the movie, ill wait until it hit theaters in states.. Then well see if anyone agrees, or if im the only one who thinks alien deserves a way better prequel story than this..
Hope I havent spoiled it too much for anyone
adamrparr
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 3:02 PMWow, thanks very much for the feedback so far. Keep it coming. I'm getting a much better feel for the film, and at the very least I know to keep leave all my expectations at the door.
It goes without saying that I'm still really looking forward to seeing the film. I never really expected it to be the end-all-be-all, but i [b][i]did[/i][/b] expect it to answer [i]a few[/i] more questions than it seems to answer, based upon viewers' feedback so far.
It's gonna be a great summer popcorn flick, and will certainly make for a great blu-ray come Christmas time...
Frantz
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 3:04 PM1.that answer is not solved ...either they wanter to destroy us if we reached their level OR they were upset by something
2. Its clearly an outpost of some sort ...but that is all we know :S
3. i think the black goo is their main tool ...black goo + everything organic = funny things ...all the rest is for speculations :p
4.well its the same of question 1
5. No really from the movie it seems he dont have all that knowledge of them ..he want to obtain a last gift to give to humanity and himself , the victory over death
6. No i think the pregnancy of Shaw is of total surprise to David ...not that hes too worried about :p
7. this is like question 1 and 4 :p
8.is the engineer that kill him ...he go in total rage ...we dont know if this rage cause also to fly to destroy earth OR was something decided already
9. the last one you said ...they did lost control of the situation..probably
10. is killed by getting impregnated by the squid .... is part of the climax of the movie
11. there is nothing that can make us think that is the same ship
12. no well is a suit that connect them to the ship ..probably sustain their life for long space voyage ..i dont fint nothing strange in that
13. its not a cliffhanger and to be honest will be not easy to make a sequel with that ending ...
Mikes
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 3:37 PMThe engineer is not mad or anything like, they consider humans as a weak speice. they tried to create a super weapon like a xeno, but it turned out not good enough.
Perhaps they are angry at humans becuse engineer+black goo= humans and nothing more. Meaning weacker then the engineer them selfs when its supposed to be stronger.
I think they are headed to earth becuse they want to use black goo+humans to create xenos or squied monsters)
spacyfreak
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 3:44 PMoh oh... sounds little bit disapointing, my dear friends!
Tomorrow i will see the whole drama (or better said - the "harmeless" parts of it as its rated 12y..shit!!!)
Well - dont forget, its just a movie!
But i am really happy to have been there, when it CAME.
Have been here every day the last month... very exciting ...
Watching it tomorrow - and then when the lights go on - the "normal life" goes on, folks.
Thats the rap.
Dont know if this movie will be a "cult-/masterpiece" like Alien or BladeRunner at their times - but maybe that where "other" times at the 80s, many things and stories in cinema universes happend the last 30years, it gets harder and harder to create "new" stuff with "new worlds, new ideas, new pictures", there is nothing new under the sun!
adamrparr
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 4:33 PMGadzooks! Once again, I really appreciate everyone's feedback, and it seems as though I'm not the only one with these questions swirling around in the ol' grey matter, as it were.
Who else has seen it? Chime in with your thoughts & answers on some of these! I'd really appreciate it!
abiogenesis
MemberOvomorphMay-31-2012 7:20 PM2. The Prometheus crew might have believed that LV-233 was the Engineers' homeworld just because they didn't have much info to go on. But a species as successful and technologically advanced as the Engineers would have colonized many other worlds. Perhaps they've been living in such far-flung places for so long that the concept of "home world" has even lost some of its meaning. (Do fifth-generation Americans still think of England/Ireland/France/Africa/wherever as "home"?)
4. Here is my hypothesis, which differs from what I've read elsewhere: Personally, I think that at least some of the Engineers might be secretly motivated by benevolence. Not benevolence to us, but to life in general. I think that all their years of experimenting and playing god, and with it their destroying of entire worlds (including, possibly, their own), might have led some Engineers to question what they do. Perhaps they see humans, with our advancing tech and all that comes with it (weapons of war, overpopulation, destruction of the planet and global warming) as a threat to the rest of the galaxy, not unlike the Engineers at one point of time. I wouldn't say that this is what motivates ALL the Engineers ALL the time (some seem more motivated by ego/vanity or self-preservation), but I think it could be one motivator.
6. Just a parallel to the impregnation/labor/birth cycle of the xeno in Alien (Kane is impregnated, gestates the xeno, which later bursts out of his chest). Ridley Scott has said there would be parallels like this. Yeah, I agree, it's contrived. But I also agree with Frantz that David had no foreknowledge that this would happen. He seems so asexual, I doubt he even gave much thought to Holloway and Shaw as a couple.
flexer
MemberOvomorphJun-01-2012 4:37 AMThis post contains some heavy SPOILERS.
Despite many questions were left unanswered some interesting details can be deduced from character dialogs and scenes.
1. That's the main question of the movie and I think it was not answered on purpose. And from my point of view it's not a bad thing. Maybe the goal of the next film will be to answer that question and now we are left with a great topic to discuss?
2. One of the crew members of Prometheus suggests that this planet cannot be engineer homeworld and looks more like a military outpost. I think that's the best bet. The planet is not completely terraformed and only has breathable air in Engineer temples. Also there are several alien ships and storage rooms. David has recovered information that about 2000 years ago engineers were planning to send a ship with biological weapons to Earth but something went wrong (the weapon got loose?) and the outpost was infiltrated.
3. Black goo seems like to be something created by engineers. I should probably see the movie couple of more times to get stable impression but for now I think that the black goo is some sort of storage medium for engineer biological weapons. The results of contact with goo are probably variable (infection, mutation, meltdown)
4. This question is similar to question #1. One thing to add: engineers seem like really twisted/bizarre creatures, their motivation is beyond our understanding. They create life by sacrificing themselves, they destroy life without any evident reasons to do so and they are really aggressive towards humans once Prometheus crew meets one of them.
5. Weyland wants to use alien technology to avoid death, but he knows no more than the rest of the crew members.
6. I can't agree that this is overly complicated or silly. The whole chain of events with David infecting Holloway, Holloway impregnating Shaw and cuddles appearance feels very smooth and logical like original xenomorph lifecycle in the first movie.
7. This again relates to questions #1 and #4. Yes the Alien ship is leaving for Earth to wipe out humanity. The motivation is probably the same as 2000 years ago. In the end of the movie Shaw raises this very question why did they want to destroy us? Maybe there's something wrong with us?
8. David is 'killed' by the Engineer. The rest of the near by humans shared his fate and it really seems like Engineer was enraged by human presence. Also David was the only one who spoke to the engineer in his native language. Maybe the question he gave made engineer so mad?
9. I think all of these questions can be answered yes :) Looks like there was a massacre on that ship - Engineers were infected by their own creatures and got their chests/heads busted by implanted monsters.
10. Cuddles implanted Alien inside his chest in like a giant facehugger.
11. It's definitely not the derelict ship. In the derelict ship engineer is found dead in control room chair meanwhile in Prometheus engineer leaves his ship before getting chest busted. But again there were several ships on LV-223...
12. Engineer is being shot several times by Prometheus crew members and his suit is a great protection. His helmet looks slimmer than human helmets and could contain a lot of technological stuff.
13. I see a great sequel to Prometheus. Shaw and David moving towards Alien homeworld to find the answers. What could be better?
Toney
MemberOvomorphJun-03-2012 1:19 PMI think the Engineers aggressive reaction was due to the frivolous nature of Weyland's quest.
The Engineer only seemed to flip once David translated Weyland's words.
He seemed intrigued by Shaw's behaviour, if David had asked the Engineer what Shaw had asked then I think he would have reacted differently.
The decision to destroy earth was probably a predetermined one based on the motives of the humans who arrived at the location.
Rob sharpe
MemberOvomorphJun-07-2012 2:18 PMI just got back from watching it, firstly.. as with many forms of media now, games, films etc.. I find that fan bases, and not even fan's ( which is most annoying ) seem to think they know the plot better than the bloody writers... this is most evident by the reaction to Prometheus and the game Mass Effect 3 ( which interestingly I feel may have a similar plot line ) . Fans think they know what they are going to see, and get their knickers in a twist when they get something they did not expect. . . annoys the **** out of me.
Ok, I've watched all the aliens films,. had the aliens v pred comics years ago, figures the lot. so LOVE it.
This is how I interpreted the film.
The "Engineers" were experimenting on Bio weapons, The xenomorph being one of them. The ships can be looked at as Harbingers, bringers of death. They are a race that destroys not Engineers things, that maybe what the misconception is, and also by the characters in the film.
Now your prob thinking, mmm so why seed mankind ? .. well yes, that's a question I asked.. but hey... humanity has good and bad people right ?...
I think clearly the snake like alien which takes out the two guys, is another bio weapon they were working on entirely or was native to the world.
The thing that the David infects Holloway with, is the first step of the Xenomorph race. . it is passed into the male and sexually passed into Shaw where by it eventually becomes the first Facehugger type form, It then impregnates the Pilot and eventually the first humanoid Queen? is born. At this point I feel that the writer is addressing how the created always seek to destroy the creator. (Shaw can also be depicted as the first true Queen of the Xenomorph race)
Now, fopr the "Engineers" ......Clearly we see one at the start which dies, then we see another later in the film that looks exactly the same so I am guessing the whole race may look the same, or even they are part of the race and are soldiers???... at the end of the film David clearly says there are more ships, so the ship found on LV426 ( remember I think they are harbinger ships ) may have nothing to do with the Prometheus Storyline at all and could be a separate ship and mission by the "engineers" entirely. ( also filled with bio weapons )
As for Shaw and the ending where she leaves with David, I think maybe David admires Shaw's faith and decides to help and the next part or film will explain what happens with those two. Im speculating that they go in search of the Engineers home world. Lets face it, the writer could completely go in any direction he wanted to on this lead.
Maybe the "engineers" we see in the film are only a small section of evil/bad individuals of this species and they find the truth. Maybe they arnt and Shaw ends up releasing the Xenomorph species on there native world.
Also a possibility is that the "engineers" are like the reapers in the game Mass Effect 3 and they control a cycle whereby they stop chaos unfolding throughout the universe by destroying certain races, as I said earlier in my comment the created always seek to destroy the creators.
I may be entirely wrong on all of it, but feel I am close to the truth. maybe not all of it, but I think this is where it is going.
Overall I really enjoyed the film and also agree with Toney above that the "engineer" may have become aggressive because of Weylands selfish wish to by immortal or cheat death. ( if you notice he looks at shaw in a different way than weyland at first )
I also think that the Black goo is something along the lines of an Amino Acid that spawns life by cell division. and breaks his own body and DNA down ( sacrifices himself ) in order to seed or even continue a branch of his species.
Im sure many of you will agree with some of this if not all of it and many of you will prob unleash a torrent of hate on my ideas.
What remains is the fact that the writer can damn well do what he wants as the whole story line is his creation and it has entertained me and many millions of other people spanning decades now... Kudos, I thought it was ACE
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