Forum Topic
Batchpool
MemberFacehuggerApr-14-2013 12:07 PMI don’t know if you are familiar with the term ‘To be hit by a street car’, but it is that moment in a film where a scene makes you jump out of your seat. Having watched all of the Alien movies and Prometheus , I have come to realise that one of the things I enjoy about a film is whether I have jumped out of my seat.
One of my minor complaints about Prometheus is that it really did’nt achieve that with me. That’s just me and my opinion . It may be a small detail to some, but I do feel an important one.
What I would really like to see is a movie that has a bazooka effect. Something that makes you jump ten feet in the air whilst simultaneously crapping your pants. I think Alien and Aliens had those moments, which was emphasized by the overall tension and drama. This is something that has been somewhat lost later on . Maybe I’m being over critical about this, but it is something that has recently stood out when I look back.
Any thoughts anyone ? When did you last jump through the roof ?
13 Replies
nostromo001
MemberOvomorphApr-14-2013 1:09 PMYes Batchpool, it is true that Prometheus did not have any moments like that but it did have some astounding visual scenes and overall the visual quality was incredible. So if you spread out that bazooka effect over the whole movie you would have the same quanity of effect but just not in one sequence. So no shock value but great quality in general... I guess it just depends on what you are looking for.
[img]http://0.tqn.com/d/chemistry/1/0/E/1/1/chemistry-glassware.jpg[/img]
King
MemberOvomorphApr-14-2013 1:33 PMi actually have to agree with batchpool on this one, yes the visuals were outstanding and great, so was alien if you remember. one other thing, is that they changed the whole mood and theme of alien to something more...relatable. In some cases its like putting aside what Dan Obanon wanted for the alien universe. something so Lovecraftean in nature, less humanized. it seems with prometheus that wherever humans go, all they'll find are reflections of themselves.
[img width=351 height=150]http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ML_kFkjpdzE/SK6uPUT8iKI/AAAAAAAAGm4/tzk1lye2eZE/s400/vlcsnap-94269.jpg[/img] "Frostmourne Hungers"
ZetaReticuli
MemberOvomorphApr-14-2013 4:01 PMI would rather have relentless slow-burn, creeping terror and horror than cheap jump scares. But that's too much to ask for these days.
Might ruin the pacing, eh?
Batchpool
MemberFacehuggerApr-14-2013 5:33 PMThese days, I think that cheap jump scares are exactly that. They’re cheap, and really add nothing to a plot. I’d say that there has been a long period where the cheap jump scare has become too predictable. The thing that makes us jump usually ends up being something and nothing and has become so predictable that what is really meant to get us jumping out of our seats is completely lost. I am content that Prometheus is a slow burn, quality film that does not justify it.
That said, there was a time were a movie might have that rare moment of where you got something that was so unpredictable and would make you jump out of your skin, through the roof and touch the moon. And then go crying for mummy.
shambs
MemberOvomorphApr-14-2013 5:33 PMPrometheus is not a horror film. May have some thriller moments and others that look like dream-nightmare, but anyway is another type of movie; less claustrophobic and stalking but more mystery and epic staging.
I think many of us took the bait with the marketing campaign because Fox wanted to sell Prometheus as a horror movie like Alien (despite Ridley's statements).
Batchpool
MemberFacehuggerApr-14-2013 5:45 PM@ Shambhala
I will certainly hold my hand up and admit I took the bait of the marketing campaign.
cuponator3000
MemberChestbursterApr-14-2013 7:59 PMI still jump every time Ripley is standing right next to the alien and It shoots its hand out in Alien and when Burke puts his face up to the facehugger in Aliens. With Prometheus, it was supposed to push your imagination and stuff. It was supposed to interest us with deep questions and freak us out kind of like that. if that makes sense...
Not a map, an invitation
Major Noob
MemberOvomorphApr-15-2013 4:54 AMThe two potential jump scares in Prometheus were featured in the trailers, the Hammerpede strike and the Trilobite tentacle lashing out. Another grisly moment they should have saved was Fifields helmet melting.
The trailers were brilliant so long as you held on to the hope that there was much much more left to be seen. I love Prometheus but I knew way too much about it before seeing it, just from the advertising.
Gimm-e
MemberOvomorphApr-16-2013 10:33 AM"The trailers were brilliant so long as you held on to the hope that there was much much more left to be seen. I love Prometheus but I knew way too much about it before seeing it, just from the advertising."
Well, it's their fault for revealing too much, not yours for looking into it. I think the promotional campaign for Prometheus got out of hand at some point and as a result they didn't care anymore what was shown in the trailers.
I mean, how many trailers have they actually released? 3 teasers, 2 full length trailers, the Imax-trailer, the behind the scenes featurettes, the interviews with Ridley and Damon, etc.
Especially the falling derelict was several bridges too far imo.
You don\\\'t see them fucking each other over for a goddamn percentage!
Batchpool
MemberFacehuggerApr-16-2013 1:39 PMI think the Alien trailer has to be classed as one of the best trailers of all time. It still gives me goosebumps and there is just something about it that generates an atmosphere of 'I want to watch that film'. In fact, I think I'll watch it again now having watched the trailer again.
[url=http://youtu.be/e0DFvWLXv9U]Alien Trailer 1979[/url]
Gimm-e
MemberOvomorphApr-16-2013 1:59 PM@batchpool,
The trailer for Alien is probably my all time favorite. imo a perfect example of how to get the audience excited to go see it without revealing too much and without even using 1 word. Is there anyone on this forum who has seen it in theatres in 1979? I'd love to know what your initial reaction was. I also love Jonesy's part in it!
You don\\\'t see them fucking each other over for a goddamn percentage!
Major Noob
MemberOvomorphApr-16-2013 3:15 PMGimme- I think Prometheus was a highly unusual big budget summer film and Fox was unnerved by it, and we see that in the marketing and in the final edit. I'm all good with the cut as it stands, but I get the feeling Fox both shortened the film and tried to maybe quicken the pace a bit, or at least asked RS to do so. RS is a business man, he'll stand by the decisions because he's ultimately creating a product to sell, thus maybe his stance on the " Directors Cut" issue. I don't know.
I saw Alien in 1979 but then as now managed to thoroughly spoil the film for myself before actually seeing it!
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