An unexpected Sacrifice... or MURDER?

David 1

MemberOvomorphJune 12, 20121766 Views26 Replies

Not only the initial "Sacrifice" shot is beautiful [though quite short in length] it is also a rather puzzling one. Granted, the idea of it is to let us know that the Dna of the decomposing Engineerthat falls into the waters is what originated Mankind. That is pretty much a given [even if ludicrous to some]. But the thing about the scene that puzzles me is the Engineers' behavior before drinking the goo and facial reaction afterwards. More than pain, it rather resembles surpise. An unexpected happening. He seems to drink the liquid in the cup with great pride; in a ritualistic kind of way. His expression is of someone who reached a personal goal, but as soon as the pain starts to creep, he looks baffled by his bodily reaction. Pain ensues as the Saucer waited for his demise to finally leave. So my question is this: How much of a self sacrifice is there rather than an actual death punisment or plain out murder? And if one concludes that it is in fact a death punishment or even a murderous action that is taking it's shape in that particular scene, wouldn't that make Mankind's beginning an unexpected one? Wouldn't that be the reason for the Engineer race to willingly want to whipe out an entire offspring civilization [as being an unexpected error]?

[b]Ask nothing from no one. Demand nothing from no one. Expect nothing from no one.[/b]

xiuix
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June 13, 2012

[b]Is that first planet in the prologue Earth?[/b] Ridley Scott: No, it doesn't have to be. That could be anywhere. That could be a planet anywhere. All he's doing is acting as a gardener in space. And the plant life, in fact, is the disintegration of himself.

Indy John
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January 18, 2013

".. The departing ship flipping upright, makes the same shaps as that standing rock, with the sun peaking around it..." I stumbled across this suggestion connecting the openning scene to the Green stone in the Big Head Room based on it's shape. Since the Green stone has not found a explanation this is as good as any. I don't know if the Sacrificial Engineer was really murdered but his death is portrayed as our beginning of life. Maybe the Sacrificial engineer should be the 'God' who gave us a start. It still doesn't explain 'Why?' JUst because they could be a reasonable answer though not satisfying to earthlings who think they are (and have been raised to think) special, unique one of a kind. Can you imagine coming across a distant planet filled with humans?

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Batchpool
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January 18, 2013

After a considerable re think, I don't think it was sacrifice or murder. I believe that one possible explanation is that it was a test. I think that what was consumed, may have been a trial by DNA of sorts and that the engineer that died was targeted by a virus because he was not worthy. Check out my thread called ' About that thread I posted in Sept 2013' and check out Joseph Kelper. That will explain better what I mean.

Indy John
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January 18, 2013

Batchpool Good thoughts . I had seen somewhere a mention that than Sacrificial Engineer was actually a test subject for this round of 'goo' something that i didn't think I would consider.

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HadesSpark
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January 22, 2013

my thoughts about the sacrifice, 1) he was sentenced to earth (live/die) 2) he sacrificed himself to escape a contagion ( like on the recorded video that was decapitated, all running away) that drives them mad and HE wanted a new race to start beginning with him (DNA). 3) he was not like the others, maybe he thinks differently instead of destroying planets he want it to change so he escapes the others and knows the only way is to create a counter-race of his. how does it sound guys?

Indy John
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January 22, 2013

I have given your suggestions some thought. The 3rd scenario seems to be the most interesting. THe special goo is somehow smuggled to th edge of the waterfall? The regular DVD doesn't show how the goo container appeared in his hands. In looking back on all of the movie's alien lifeforms, if we include humans in the mix then that must have been 'Goo Lite' he had in the jar as we seem the least deadly.

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