Re: Paradise (Prometheus Sequel)
Yeah I love Prometheus too. Underrated it is.
Ben
Hear, hear!
Yeah I love Prometheus too. Underrated it is.
Ben
Hear, hear!
It's just people were expecting a coherent story with intelligent characters that do intelligent things and make intelligent decisions.
Exactly. This is all we wanted. How can people call this movie a "masterpiece" without these key items?
Exactly. This is all we wanted. How can people call this movie a "masterpiece" without these key items?
but the editor seemed determined to make motivations vague... and I don't know why.
At least we can agree on this Art, poor editing was definitely a factor.
The difference between Alien and Prometheus is character definition and narrative causality.
The characters in Alien are very clearly defined. They seem real. Without even having to say or show much. Every action the characters in Alien take follow in-line with their motivations and it all makes sense. Mistakes were made, and consequences ensued. This was a clear narrative. I don't ever remember walking away from Alien asking why? I knew who each character was and what their motives were. Ripley evolved and became our hero.
However in Prometheus, the characters actions have no clear motives, they seem arbitrary, or even contradictory to their archetypes. Does this make the character more complex or interesting. NO. It makes it confusing and frustrating for the viewer and creates needless mystery around the wrong things. I want to focus on the story at hand, not get side railed into the reasons why a certain character took illogical actions surrounding a tangent plot device that will have absolutely no payoff or bearing on the outcome of the main theme in the end. In Prometheus the narrative is convoluted. One action does not lead into the next plot point the way a clearly written narrative should.
Narratives need to be simple and meaningful. Every scene needs to have a reason for existing. At least some information that will advance the plot. And if there are narrative tangents then they need to be wrapped up so we can return to the main focus of the story. A narrative needs a beginning and an end, or at least if you are leaving it open to interpretation then leave us with one single question to ponder about the main theme and come to our own conclusions. The story surrounding it can be as complex as you want, The characters can be as complex as you want, but you need clearly defined characters and simple narrative causality to tell a true masterpiece story. Alien had all of this. Prometheus unfortunately did not.
You mean like Alien, where every character but Ripley makes the most intelligent decisions imaginable?
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Exactly. Without poor decision-making, every film would be five minutes long. For example:
"Hey, Charles Foster Kane, wanna go be raised by this weird banker dude instead of by your loving biological parents?"
"Hell no! That would be stupid!"
THE END
You guys know I am an absolutely unapologetic fan of Prometheus. I still think it was the best film I saw in 2012. However, I can't argue a single line of this. Maybe it is because I WANTED to like the film.
For Aliens:
"To Hadley's Hope: Hey, guys at the colony, do you mind being careful going out to the derelict space ship? The last time someone went out there, they got infected with an alien, which proceeded to kill a small crew in less than 24 hours."
"To: Burker, Carter J. Go screw yourself, we're not sending anyone out there due to the warning. Sincerely, the Colonists."
THE END.
RIPLEY: when I signed up for this, you agreed that I wasn't going to go in with the troops. I'm staying right here in this ship. I'm not going down to the surface. Besides, it's stupid to leave this huge ship unmanned. I'll watch it on TV, thanks. Remember, I told you that this thing is way over your pay grade, so when it hits the fan, don't blame me.
(later)
(watches the mushroom cloud as the plant detonates)
Well, looks like they all bought the farm. Sucks to be them, but I warned them. Good thing I was a ships officer: I better get this thing on course for home.
THE END.
ALIEN:
DALLAS:
Well, this is clearly an ancient derelict, and there's clearly nothing alive here to rescue. We aren't archeologists, so let's head back and leave this find for the scientists to look at when they come back here. KANE! Get the hell away from that hole, you might fall in, and then who know what might happen to you? No, we are going back to the ship, we've done our job and that's the end of it.
CUT TO:
NOSTROMO LIFTING OFF
CUT TO:
EXT. SPACE
DALLAS (VO)
Boy that was one freaky planet. I wonder why ash tried to leave the ship without permission when we got back? Good thing we got him in the freezer before he did something stupid.
THE END
You mean like Alien, where every character but Ripley makes the most intelligent decisions imaginable?
Oh come on, there's a world of difference between a bunch of wage-slave space truckers pressured to detour into a situation way above their heads and a no-expense spared expedition comprising field experts with *some* idea of what lay ahead.
If I were a betting man I know who I'd have my money on for which group *should* display more competence and initiative.