The Story

I have not seen Prometheus yet, but after reading these boards I can pretty much sum up the entire movie. There are a lot of complaints about things being unexplained....I think that is because the writers imagined that if we somehow encountered a higher intelligence, we wouldn't be able to explain everything either....in fact, there would probably be a lot we wouldn't even be able to comprehend. One complaint I read was why would the Engineers leave an invitation to a military planet (as it is considered) that houses nothing but WMD's? First of all, the pictograms that Shaw and Holloway find probably weren't created by the Engineers to begin with. To me, it is almost obvious that they were made by the humans who worshiped the engineers. Shaw and Holloway just interpreted the pictograms as being invitations just as the early humans interpreted the Engineers as gods. Just because they showed a larger being pointing to a planet in a star system doesn't mean the early humans were interpreting the correct information. They were just recording what they saw and what they interpreted. Second, why does everyone assume that all of what is encountered in the Engineer temples is supposed to make sense? It is all open to interpretation and I really think that is the core of what this entire movie is supposed to be about. We as humans don't have all the answers. We have what we see and what we find and we choose to believe whatever we want. What if a primitive race walked into one of our abandoned homes? Do you think they would immediately know the purpose of everything inside? Do you think they would look at our TVs and know its purpose and function? Even if we told them what are TVs are for, do you think they would even understand? Probably not, they would see a large, smooth, flat black surface with seats arranged around it. They might think it is a place of worship in some form or another - when in reality, it is just a source of entertainment. So to be angry at not understanding EVERYTHING in the movie is foolish. I think Ridley Scott had the foresight to keep certain things ambiguous to leave it up to our interpretation....which, in a way, is a brilliant tie-in to the story of human life - - open to interpretation. Other questions surround the giant head in the ampule room. What I think is that the head represents a single figure within the Engineer race...someone of importance to them like a religious head (no pun intended) - or - a military leader. The latter would make more sense being that the entire complex is considered a military installation...but again, that is just what is interpreted. Some other theories surround the holograms showing the Engineers running from something seemed wrong to me. It is theorized that their "weapons" somehow got loose and attacked their creators. Well, it strikes me as odd that a race of such advanced beings would even allow a mistake like that to happen. What I think is that maybe the complex was sabotaged - someone within their ranks let loose whatever killed the rest of them. The fact that there is only one Engineer left alive could also stand to bolster that theory as well. Maybe he is the one that caused all of that. If the Engineers are anything like humans, than they are not without war within their own species. The large saucer-shaped ship in the beginning is strikingly different than the derelict/juggernaut ships. Its shape is a lot less menacing than the U-shaped, asymmetrical derelict ships. From pictures I've seen, the sacrificial Engineer in the beginning is wearing only a robe and almost seems peaceful...maybe even a bit reluctant, but resigned before he drinks the liquid. The Engineer in the complex on LV-223 is obviously wearing some sort of armored suit that is, in no way, peaceful or serene looking. Not to mention (from what I have read), the first thing he does when he is awakened is attack. So here, we are seeing two completely different actions from the same species. One self-sacrificing - the other hostile. What I am thinking is that there are two different sides within their race. One creates, the other destroys and they are constantly at odds with each other. Maybe the complex on LV-223 isnt a military/weapons complex at all....or at least that wasn't its intention. The black goo seems to be a template for life - it can become whatever it is programmed to become. So many different possibilities open to interpretation. One more thing that kind of struck me upon seeing a picture of the sacrificial Engineer's face.... he looks like the giant head statue in the ampule room. Maybe he is the Engineer equivalent of our Jesus. They venerate him because he sacrificed himself to create life. im just rambling, but in these aspects, the story seems to make a little bit more sense. Good day.