Prometheus (Post-release)

It's implied that the aliens eat, it's just something we never see.

One thing that bugs me about it is how quickly the creatures grow (including the one in Prometheus) very quickly, apparently without eating. In order for a creature to grow in physical size and weight, they must consume something at least equal to that weight that was gained (and generally much, much more). Take the squidhugger for example.. it went from something weighing maybe four or five pounds to several hundred pounds. You can't simply pull that mass out of the ether.. it has to come from somewhere.

Well...this is a pretty far fetch, but it *could* pull that mass from the ether. Theoretically, at least, mass can be converted to energy and vice versa. Therefore, if the creature had enough theoretical stored energy it could convert that energy to matter. Now, in the novelizations of ALIEN (and I believe in some of the comics, forgive me for going there) it was theorized that the xeno's energy came from a chemical reaction in its blood. The basic idea behind it was the alien had a finite supply of the acid reaction, as it moved and attacked, etc, it used the acid reaction to power its self. The idea was especially prevalent in the concept of the facehuggers, which was basically an "immortal" creature so long as it just sat there and didn't do anything. Think of it kinda like a car; you have full tank. As long you don't run it, no gas is lost. You can drive as hard and as fast as you want. Once the tank is empty, it's done.

Now, how all that would translate over to real world science I have no idea. I don't know enough chemistry and biology to propose any real method to make that happen. I do know that energy stored in compounds in not a one for one, at least as far as pounds mass go. A pound of U-235 has a hell of lot more stored energy than a pound of carbon-12.

Charlie
 
All that gobbledygook reminds me that I got the new Cinefex today.. I should go read it.. lol.




(I'm not jabbing at your post, I get what you're saying, just odd timing. :))
 
Haha, sorry about that guys.... I have missed only a few pages of the thread, thought it was very funny even though I love the movie and want to see it again this week.
 
Maybe its cells just keep spliting until it reaches a certain mass, hence making it grow?

Its kind of like Bruce Banner growing into the Hulk


It's implied that the aliens eat, it's just something we never see.

One thing that bugs me about it is how quickly the creatures grow (including the one in Prometheus) very quickly, apparently without eating. In order for a creature to grow in physical size and weight, they must consume something at least equal to that weight that was gained (and generally much, much more). Take the squidhugger for example.. it went from something weighing maybe four or five pounds to several hundred pounds. You can't simply pull that mass out of the ether.. it has to come from somewhere.

In most of the films, this actually gets a pass, usually in the form of the novels or deleted scenes or something. In the first film, it was eating from the ship's stores. In the second, they were eating livestock and stored food. In the third, presumably bugs or other small indigenous life. In the fourth, it's probably safe to assume that the scientists were feeding them. But was there really enough biological material in that medical room on the Prometheus escape pod to feed it? It seemed contained there, unlikely that it got into the food storage.

Just a thought. On the surface, it pretty much matches all the other films, creatures growing very large entirely on their own, it's only when you stop to think about it that you start scratching your head. That, and I just got up and have really bad bed head.
 
Just back from seeing this for the third time; took my dad along, he had a great time. Some comments:

* ok, I concede the jury is out on the face/skull thing. It was almost like seeing a different print. I have NO IDEA what is going on with this, but I'd swear in court that the overhead shot before the storm hits occurred quite a few seconds sooner (storm more distant) this time around and that the angle differs as well as the skull-ishness. But - there's definitely a post-storm shot in which it does seem to have lips! The chance of different prints being screened at the same time is next to nil; I guess this is a testament to the sheer unreliability of memory. Mine anyway. :lol

* Vickers. Swoon. She just grows on me more and more. Theron's reaction to having flamethrowered Holloway is brilliant; humanises her very well. I want to see the scene where Janek consoles her. Un-kill her, SRS!

* as David enters the tunnels on his rover a map (2d flat projection) is shown behind Vickers. He is heading off to the right versus the main group. Looks as if that might diverge pretty immediately, e.g. from that entrance 'foyer' area.

* Running/falling Jockeys - one of them does fall in the initial shot of them in the tunnel. It's not clear if it is the same one who is decapitated, but I still think he could be the immediate threat the others are running from - even if he IS a scared victim himself.

* David's speculation re the Jockey plans is not completely unfounded. When he activates the Orrery, the Earth icon is highlit before he does a thing to it.

* the ringed planet appears not to be a gas giant; it looks as it it has a thin atmosphere and a visible, solid surface. It is huge, judging by its relationship to its moons it looks Jupiter-sized or bigger. Its mass would be thousands (millions?) of times that of Earth. I don't think this is currently believed to be possible. The planet should at the least have an atmosphere so dense it would closely resemble a gas giant, but its mass would have to be somewhere into brown dwarf territory. I know I know, 'it's only a movie'. :)
 
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Maybe its cells just keep spliting until it reaches a certain mass, hence making it grow?

Its kind of like Bruce Banner growing into the Hulk
And seeing as it is a bio-weapon - bio-mechanoid - and not really a natural purely biological organism, thinking of it in terms of normal biological growth through consumption of food is flawed. There's no telling what has been engineered into this thing in terms of growth and consumption rates and whatnot.
 
If I was to nit pick this film...which I loved btw...but I think the only change I would make is completely remove the opening scene showing the Engineer drinking the black goo and falling into the river.
I do think that THAT scene is out of place in the film.

The movie could have started right after the opening credits with them finding the cave drawings. Then, imagine the idea of them later on finding out that we share the same DNA...could work 'better'? Maybe....just thinking out loud here because I really did love this film but do struggle with that opening spoiler, or revelation that they've created us.

David
 
That was one thing that was a bit off, looking back on it. The "reveal" of the human head inside the jockey helmet should have been *gasp*, except the audience already knew it. For that reason alone, the opening scene is out of place. Almost a bit of a spoiler for later on the film, really.

Maybe a better way would have been to show him in the biosuit, so all we see is Jockey and not human. Show him prepping the solution, and imply that he drinks it rather than actually showing it, then go on with the DNA-breakdown, etc. Basically, the same scene, but without showing that the person is actually human(ish).
 
* ok, I concede the jury is out on the face/skull thing. It was almost like seeing a different print. I have NO IDEA what is going on with this, but I'd swear in court that the overhead shot before the storm hits occurred quite a few seconds sooner (storm more distant) this time around and that the angle differs as well as the skull-ishness. But - there's definitely a post-storm shot in which it does seem to have lips! The chance of different prints being screened at the same time is next to nil; I guess this is a testament to the sheer unreliability of memory. Mine anyway. :lol

:cool
In regards to the running Engineer who falls, I think he does get back up and then we see the final (infected?) one who get's decapitated bringing up the rear.
 
At the last screening my friend Danny and I went to, we had the theater all to ourselves. When Vickers says "If you go down there...You'll die." my friend said "That what she said." :lol
 
:cool
In regards to the running Engineer who falls, I think he does get back up and then we see the final (infected?) one who get's decapitated bringing up the rear.

The last Engineer running also looks back, just before he falls and gets decapitated. He is the last one to look behind him.

If I was to nit pick this film...which I loved btw...but I think the only change I would make is completely remove the opening scene showing the Engineer drinking the black goo and falling into the river.
That would be like taking the Monolith out of the opening scene with the apes in 2001 A Space Odyssey. I think that opening must be at the beginning of the film to let you know they did create us, otherwise it would be another question open to speculation. That scene pretty much nails it on the head and says, 'they did create us'.
 
That would be like taking the Monolith out of the opening scene with the apes in 2001 A Space Odyssey. I think that opening must be at the beginning of the film to let you know they did create us, otherwise it would be another question open to speculation. That scene pretty much nails it on the head and says, 'they did create us'.
Except, the monolith is the tool and stays mysterious throughout and you never see the creator. Very different way of playing the same scenario. One is clever, one is cheap. You take a guess which is which.

Keeping the mystery about the space jockey for parts of the film would have been more rewarding. Make it an interesting reveal and discovery instead of just showing it up front.
 
I can definately see what you mean about making it a mystery, but I suppose SRS wanted to start the film with a way to portrait the Creation myth. If he wanted to have those scenes in, there was no other way IMO.
 
He could have had the engineer in the space jockey suit or kept him robed up and never show the human appearance at that point. That would retain the mystery for when the severed head is revealed in the helmet later.

The difference between good storytelling and bad. Professional and amateur. Erotic art and porn. .)
 
The difference between good storytelling and bad. Professional and amateur. Erotic art and porn. .)

The breakdown into molecules wouldnt have worked. Trying to hide him in a robe or armor would be hard to pull off. Ridley Scott an amateur? You are making a far to big deal out of it.
 
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