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My opinion differs. I give it a solid B grade. If you're a fan of the Aliens saga, this story fills in a few blanks; it's a prequel explaining the origins. It is not cryptic; it tells the story, while leaving opening for more to follow. For scifi fans, the faults won't keep you from enjoying this film. If the Alien gore bothers you, then be advised that it here also.
The characters, other than Michael Fassbender, don't give Academy performances, but are good enough. Credibility is lost with Noomi Rapace's role (all I can say is don't mess with Lizbeth Salander), but it roles on. Fassbender's character takes liberties with "2001: A Space Odyssey"; in looking like Keir Dullea and sounding like HAL.
The effects and scenery are first rate, but IMO, the 3D thing didn't add much. A few of the close-behind-the-body shots had me wanting to yell "down in front"0. It would be just as enjoyable in 2D.
Otherwise, if you find yourself in Seattle, make your way to The Harvard Exit or Seven Gables theaters. Fine old cozy theaters showing non-first run indies.
Follow Ups:
WTF on the taking off the headgear just because the ‘atmosphere is breathable?'
The biology protocol was so bad, it broke continuity for me.
The biologist was a dope. If a snakelike creature that rears up like a cobra seems like something you should try caress, what the hell?
First sign of critters, leave the room. Don't try to stroke them affectionately.
Same with the protocol once they got the head back on the ship. "Hey, let's 'sterilize' the outside then start fucking with the inside in an open environment."
They have machines that can send communications into a 'mountain,' but they can't be bothered to scan what's inside the 'head?'
Otherwise, great restraint on the 3D fireworks.
More spoilage - immediately after opening the abdomen with a horizontal cut, a person can’t run and do pull ups. Also, she left behind the placenta. Sorry, too ridiculous.
Next up - Elizabeth's flight will last about 2-3 days until she starves to death or dies of thirst.
Likes:
How the engineers looked.
Meeting Promethius at the very start of the film.
Viewed the first film with some friends when it came out. Great movie it scared the heck out of me. I just don't do the blood and guts movies any more or I would watch the DVD later.
I think one of the best parts of "Alien" (1979) is the 20 minute opening, at first critizised for its being "not much happening" or stagnant.
We know better now - that creating atmosphere and pacing were objectives perfectly realized.
Then there were the scenes with Ash ("twitchy" artificial person)! Ian Holms is perfectly chilling.
The whole theme about trusting a system that has no soul, is completely clear. "Mother", "David" even HAL are archetypical examples of how, machines/artificial devices (or systems) have no clue without a soul (our part of God) to steer action towards fruition.
The Alien odyssey is like our very own classic epic told about our times, and for all times a warning like "Frankenstein".
...I saw it over the weekend at the local IMAX and was really impressed with the intelligent and realistic use of 3D and the overall production values. It was also loaded with references to other films which I found interesting. However I was disappointed by the basic storyline, plot holes and general lack of logical flow. Guess I was expecting too much. Maybe Scott or someone else will redeem the thing with the sure-to-follow prequel-sequels.
I thought the acting was good, the sets were good, and the CGI was well
integrated into the whole.
The story is full of holes, inconsistencies, and some just plain
stupidities.
Shaw running amok after major surgery to remove to alien from her?
Prometheus ramming the alien ship to prevent it from leaving the planet?
Doesn't prometheus have any weapons systems it could use?
Old man Weyland coming along for the trip? Very weak and very dumb.
David slipping an android in a drink to Shaw's boyfriend?
There's just too many things about the story that do not make sense.
That was never the case with Alien or Aliens. The above a just a few.
I like my movies to be believable within their frame of reference.
This one was not.
Overall I will give it a 75/100. And I'll probably see it a 2nd time.
It held my attention. But it's certainly in the same class as the first
two films in the series.
As an aside: I've not been in a movie theatre in 5 years, and was quite
appalled by the amount of advertising. I don't like to pay to have people
try to sell me products I neither want nor need. I was also appalled by
the 6 trailers for coming movies - aside from one about a pilot who lands
a crippled plane with alcohol in his system, the coming summer movie fare
looks like complete dreck.
MK
Shaw's self-surgery was quite an accomplishment for a non-medical person. Perhaps much of the mechanized part of the actual surgery cauterized and minimized the pain people would feel now OR those pain shots were kickass and localized. Indeed, a large, weak part of the plot.
...Shaw running amok was that survival instinct that we keep on seeing in Alien films - keeps them (and us) going. Being 3 months pregnant after 10 hours is enough to motivate haste, methinks?The Captain said that the (science) ship was weapon less. Makes for a spectacular (and heroic) last ditch sacrificial effort against all odds by the stalwart crew. The ship they were ramming was made of silicon, way tougher than nails, but apparently its drive (?) not immune to the effects of ion plasma engines ignited within that atmosphere.
Prometheus was a trillion dollar vessel whose MAIN (secret) passenger senior Weyland (Weyland Industries) was convinced that he could entreat the creators to save him from death. (Death/transmutation, in all its forms and for differing reasons, is a major theme here.) Carrying weapons to "god" wouldn't seem very gracious or humble, would it? Weyland had nothing to lose, as he was dying anyway, so he builds a ship to serve HIS interests, not Captain Kirk's.
AAh David, the synthetic "son" of senior Weyland and artificial brother of Weyland's biological Daughter (Theron, something odd there too?). He/it is a puzzle, not unlike HAL with conflicting directives/programs motivating his/its fully realized actions. Funny how the "creators" also seem to have mixed feeling about humanity and its offspring as well?
That brings us to one such program David is operating from (drink to Shaw's boy) which is one we're so familiar with: "infecting one of the crew, so to capture a sample (of this ultra bio-technology/(weaponry) and bring it back to Earth". Funny, that's exactly the creator's agenda as well. See how this is all starting to fit?
Just like Ripley says 33 years later, taking sides becomes tricky when there is hardly a difference between one's "enemy" and oneself! Humans retaining Faith (for Shaw, her cross), or the artificial machinations of a greedy Capitalist/Empire and those faithless who are cast from the Garden of Eden for their taste of fruit. All are being spun by the conundrums they create.
Galactic ethics and religion, like physics, are constant, not dumbed down, but REFRESHINGLY told as a myth upon mythological and historic foundations that ARE who WE'VE become as a species/culture - foretold by griot film meisters like visionary histrionic R. Scott.
Really, can WE do no wrong???
BTW- couldn't help but think I was watching Cher throughout. Noomi really has the same facial bone structure. Lovely brown eyes... its late...
(Note: IMAX 3D is best seen from the center so that the screen fills your vision field. I had a more distant seat this last time and the effect was less intense.)
Edits: 06/13/12 06/13/12 06/14/12
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Edits: 02/27/18
...and I agree with your B.
It was fun, thought provoking and a terrific sci-fi flick.
Was it a coincidence Noomi's name was Elizabeth?
That Fasbinder looked like Kier Dulla and sounded like Hal?
A homage, no doubt.
If the men on the planet had the same DNA as us, how come they were twice as big as us?
Guess that's our Darwinian adaptation.
Fasbinder's study of Peter O'Toole in "Lawrence of Arabia" was as hoot. The android's study of human behavior epitomized by one 20th century actor's style? Priceless.
Combing his hair like O'Toole's Lawrence" was another quick and understated humor point.
I'm tempted to have another go to see what else may have slipped by, in all the excitement...
Beings twice the size, from a planet with twice the gravity?
Time to read the cliff notes...
I liked it. It lived up to what I expected.
-Wendell
The way it ended Ridley can pursue Noomi or just leave it. I hope he lives to 110 so he will decide to do something with it.
It was a good ending or beginning?
Just read your post as RIPLEY and thought if they somehow dredged HER up I'm definitely going to pass!
Glad I misread it!
So many dumb people with smart phones...
... would be a treat - a journey towards redemption, the savior of mankind being a woman?
Scott likes female heros, and there is lots of room for a humdinger here.
All juicy themes, that could even link up with Alien Resurrection if one takes liberties with space time relativity.
Epic.
I perceive two burning questions: a) why the the planters want to destroy our earth which they created? (watch the news), b) who MADE (created) the planters?
It was a nice turn for Rapace to pursue the unknown rather than to high-tail it home with the news.
... revealed within the film.Had to sleep on your burning questions, but they are right on.
After my second viewing it jumps right out from our very own mythological history... What happened 2000 (carbon sampled) years "give or take" from the time the planters were hoisted by their own petards and found mummified and laying in heaps?
The Crucifixion.
Therefore the planters are not the actual creators but were indeed created, as were we if albeit by their hubris 35,000 years prior to the film story. Those builders of the towers of babble (taking creation to themselves and too far) pay for their folly.
The planters were trying to correct their big mistake, which of course is our big mistake - angering God.
All these machinations blow existence out of all proportion as a curse upon those who have ventured from Eden - planter or planted it all must balance eventually.
Rapace's quest to ask "why" may indeed be the salvation mankind needs to make amends; although barren perhaps she will finally bear a Son divinely? Space-time is no impediment to the extra-dimensional forge of God's will.
Prequel sequel shmeequel ... I'm ready for the next installment any which way.
Edits: 06/14/12
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Not to knock your comments, but you're getting in pretty deep for a 2-hour movie.
...party, I guess.Just don't like the idea of getting stung for $16.50 twice, and have to make something of it. :)
(Also helps to have a Theatre background where nothing is done without subtext - so I understand creative people and often where they are coming from.)
Edits: 06/15/12
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