Prometheus: Ridley Scott returns to Sci-Fi

[Set Harth]

Timby wrote:

---

(there's a reason the ads have been playing up that Scott is the director of Blade Runner and Gladiator, not Alien)

Because Blade Runner isn't a sci-fi film?

And don't you think the ads are playing up Alien in ways other than showing the word "Alien" on the screen?

[Timby]

Set Harth wrote:

---

Because Blade Runner isn't a sci-fi film?

Blade Runner doesn't have the stigma of the last three entries in the franchise being God-awful. Fox was very deliberate to avoid any sort of direct link to Alien outside of promotions over the last couple of months, and for good reason -- by positioning Prometheus as its own thing, the studio was able to start the build and avoid people saying, "Oh, fuck, another one? Weren't the two Alien vs. Predator movies bad enough?"

And don't you think the ads are playing up Alien in ways other than showing the word "Alien" on the screen?

There's been a definite slow burn; now that they're mimicking the original Alien trailer (and using that siren), the connection is becoming a little more clear-cut.

[nvek86]

The first clip of the film has been released.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5bTz4FURAk

It doesn't show much (and I actually have the feeling that they cut something from the middle), but it looks very good.

[Tom Servo]

nvek86 wrote:

---

The first clip of the film has been released.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5bTz4FURAk

It doesn't show much (and I actually have the feeling that they cut something from the middle), but it looks very good.

Ya, something was cut out of the middle there. Janek jumps all over the bridge with the way it was cut now, plus it seems way too short.

This movie is going to be awesome.

[Timby]

Tom Servo wrote:

---

This movie is going to be awesome.

There are bits and pieces that I'm not thrilled with so far, largely some very specific aspects of the design (and I wish the trailers hadn't gotten so spoileriffic over the last couple of months). Specifically, I'm not crazy about the suits, but they do have a definite lineage from the Alien ones, particularly when looking at the shoulder pauldrons. The bigger issue for me is the color palette of the inside of the Prometheus itself, which still feels overly bright.

In any event, I'm still ridiculously excited. That being said, Ridley Scott has always been a better designer than director. At least half of Blade Runner is him playing with his own toys, yet it somehow works because they're fucking amazing toys, so I'll wait till the film is out to judge the look, since Scott usually knows what he wants and he tends to be right more often than not. (Also, science fiction brings out his artistic side like there's no tomorrow, and he's insanely controlling of his art departments.)

[davejames]

Hmm, I know it's heavily edited, but at the moment it kinda feels more like an Avatar sequel than something from the quiet and eerie Alien universe.

Hopefully the actual movie will be a bit slower and more atmospheric...

[Tom Servo]

Timby wrote:

---

There are bits and pieces that I'm not thrilled with so far, largely some very specific aspects of the design (and I wish the trailers hadn't gotten so spoileriffic over the last couple of months). Specifically, I'm not crazy about the suits, but they do have a definite lineage from the Alien ones, particularly when looking at the shoulder pauldrons. The bigger issue for me is the color palette of the inside of the Prometheus itself, which still feels overly bright.

In any event, I'm still ridiculously excited. That being said, Ridley Scott has always been a better designer than director. At least half of Blade Runner is him playing with his own toys, yet it somehow works because they're fucking amazing toys, so I'll wait till the film is out to judge the look, since Scott usually knows what he wants and he tends to be right more often than not. (Also, science fiction brings out his artistic side like there's no tomorrow, and he's insanely controlling of his art departments.)

While I do see the issue people have brought up with the overly "bright" art direction, I see the explanation as twofold. First, despite the fact that this takes place before Alien, the Nostromo was essentially a space tractor-trailer, and I think the clunky suits and the dark industrial interior of that ship is a reminder of that fact. These guys were the working class, and wouldn't have top of the line...well anything. The Prometheus meanwhile is a state of the art research ship, so it would make sense that it would have sophisticated new technology and accessories.

IIRC Scott himself directly addressed the issue with the design in an interview, and stated that he thought the whole "used future" had been overdone since the time he made "Alien" and that he wanted to go in a different direction.

One thing to remember as well, is that Scott stated early on in the filmmaking process, that he had to over light the sets, since the 3D cameras needed more light then the cameras he used on Alien. IIRC he said that they would be doing some lighting changes with CG in post production. How much of that work has been represented in the trailers I do not know, but it's something to look out for.

[MacLeod]

Well the BBFC has given it a 15 rating, the other 'Alien' I think all got 18 ratings. Running time 123m 36s.

So is this the cut the same as the US 'R' version or is it an international cut.

Though the version submitted to the BBFc passed with no cuts.

http://www.bbfc.co.uk/CFF286710/

[MacLeod]

davejames wrote:

---

Hmm, I know it's heavily edited, but at the moment it kinda feels more like an Avatar sequel than something from the quiet and eerie Alien universe.

Hopefully the actual movie will be a bit slower and more atmospheric...

Quiet and errie as in "Aliens" with it's fire fights?

[Timby]

davejames wrote:

---

Hmm, I know it's heavily edited, but at the moment it kinda feels more like an Avatar sequel than something from the quiet and eerie Alien universe.

There's definitely some influence from Avatar -- the sickbay feels like a poor man's take on that design, and on other sets, the neon paneling and the hazard tape being fucking everywhere is really hurting the look for me. Subtlety is key, and it's kind of being lost in some sort of strive for so-called realism. In Alien, the Nostromo and its design and direction conveys just as much narrative, context and subtext as does the rampage of the penis rape machine alien savaging the crew.

[davejames]

MacLeod wrote:

---

Quiet and errie as in "Aliens" with it's fire fights?

Yeah but that movie still did a great job establishing up front that this was the same eerie, atmospheric planet as before. Which is why everything that came after was so damn effective.

Plus, being that this is Ridley I was naturally hoping for a tone closer to the first movie anyway.

[davejames]

Tom Servo wrote:

---

There are bits and pieces that I'm not thrilled with so far, largely some very specific aspects of the design (and I wish the trailers hadn't gotten so spoileriffic over the last couple of months). Specifically, I'm not crazy about the suits, but they do have a definite lineage from the Alien ones, particularly when looking at the shoulder pauldrons. The bigger issue for me is the color palette of the inside of the Prometheus itself, which still feels overly bright.

I don't really have a problem with the art design or brightness level. I just want it to move and feel more like the original Alien than a typical, flashy, scifi/horror flick.

[Timby]

davejames wrote:

---

Yeah but that movie still did a great job establishing up front that this was the same eerie, atmospheric planet as before. Which is why everything that came after was so damn effective.

Plus, being that this is Ridley I was naturally hoping for a tone closer to the first movie anyway.

Ridley Scott and Damon Lindelof have said that they're adhering to the continuity of Aliens, in which it was established that the planet shown in Alien was LV-426. I believe the planet in Prometheus has already been designated LV-423. The derelict from Alien is not the same ship as the one in Prometheus.

[MacLeod]

nitpick, LV-426 (Acheron) is actually a moon, one of at least three orbiting a ring world. So perhaps LV-423 is one of the other moons, as it also appears to be orbiting a ringed planet.

[davejames]

Timby wrote:

---

Ridley Scott and Damon Lindelof have said that they're adhering to the continuity of Aliens, in which it was established that the planet shown in Alien was LV-426. I believe the planet in Prometheus has already been designated LV-423. The derelict from Alien is not the same ship as the one in Prometheus.

I realize it's a different planet, but I would still hope the mood and tone of the movie would be the same, considering it's still the same Alien universe.