A couple of months ago, in comments, I mentioned that while I was really looking forward to the upcoming Prometheus, I had some reservations:
“Yeah, I’m stoked too – killer cast, killer director and production crew. Could be something really special indeed.
But……
I confess to a couple of niggling worries:
First, is it just me, or does all the buzz about Massive Archetypal Themes, the Very Origins of the Human Race etc etc…. seem a bit overblown?
I mean, the original Alien was so humanly small-scale and scruffy – a tired, grumpy, half-assed freighter crew get tossed into a maelstrom of corporate betrayal and environmental hazard. All they want is to get home in one piece and get paid. Then all they want is to get home in one piece. Then all they want is not to die. Powerful thematic narrative ensues, embedded in these very mundane concerns.
I worry that Prometheus, in shooting for Massively Meaningful, is going to run the risk of coming off bombastic.
Secondly (and related, I think), is it just me, or does explaining the derelict, the space jockey and the eggs rob them of a lot of their power?
I know, I know we all want to know – but therein lies the power of the original movie; it’s an unrequited desire. We never do find out what that shit was all about, and that’s what makes it sublimely creepy and mysterious. Maybe the space jockey was the last remnant of just another grumpy half-assed freighter crew just trying to get home and get paid – a million years ago. Or a thousand, who knows? Maybe his kind are gone, maybe they’re not; maybe we’ll meet them round the next corner. Maybe the eggs were a random hazardous cargo, maybe an infestation, or okay, yeah, maybe a weapon and the space jockey some kind of biological warfare bomber pilot. Or maybe the xenomorphs and eggs are some part of the space jockey race’s own lifecycle that somehow got out of hand. It’s all maybes, and that’s what lends it power: We Will Never Know. The universe is ancient and infinite and strange – feel its cold breath on the nape of your neck.
By offering an explanation, by actually solving the mystery, you undercut the chill of Not Knowing – AND you run the risk of your explanation being nowhere near as cool or scary as the audience’s own various speculations on the subject. So your explanation needs to be Pretty Fucking Chilling and Cool, if it’s going to deliver over and above those risks it runs. I worry that it won’t be, that in fact it’ll be trite and Scy Fy channel dumbed down.
Truly hope I’m wrong, on both counts.”
So, now I’m thinking about changing my name to Cassandra
It’s as if Damon Lindelof got hold of a time machine a couple of years ago, zipped ahead to April 2012, and then went back and said “Hey, there’s this mid-list SF author called Morgan who’s got a bunch of misgivings about this movie. I know, let’s write a screenplay based entirely on those misgivings.
Or maybe it’s just that hiring the writer responsible for Lost to update what was the darkest, nastiest, most powerful SF movie franchise ever devised is a bit like setting out to re-make Sergio Leone’s Dollar Trilogy with the cast of the Muppet Show. Feasible in theory, but why the fuck would you do it?
Now, I hasten to add that haven’t actually seen Prometheus yet myself. And I suppose that Mr Rothwell there could (for reasons I confess I’m rather hard-pressed to imagine) be lying his arse off about the movie. But you know what – he’d be far from the only one (though certainly the most hilarious so far). No, I think, all things considered, this one is going to take the same priority place as the rather poor and wholly unnecessary The Thing prequel – i.e. rent it at Global Video some time when I’ve got nothing better to do and can’t find anything more promising to watch.
Oh, well – it all saves on baby sitting, I guess…..
Sigh.
My totally unprofessional review of the movie: Visually stunning, predictable story with huge plot holes, hit-and-miss acting. I agree, it might be best to just rent it, however the only reason I would say to see it in the theaters would be for the visuals. There is a sense of scale that is made for the big screen.
Sorry about that. My new post is about Sea Monkeys. I’m spotting a pattern of much anticipated entertainment that fails to appear.
Thanks for the links – a couple of comments on IMDB were priceless “it was like being rick-rolled”; and “where no idiot has gone before”. And now I know why I liked Alien so much! Maybe this explains why I compared Broken Angels to Alien?
Yeah. I try to get excited about movie releases, really I do. I love movies.
But from my own complete outsider’s perspective on Hollywood blockbusters, the entire process–from casting to camerawork–seems to be devoted solely to giving people what they’ve already seen and feel comfortable with; it’s like the industry considers intriguing, original narratives, innovative storytelling and showcasing new acting talent to be too much trouble for what they’re worth.
Considering the current state of affairs with how Hollywood wants to make its money, I’m placing a personal embargo on giving a crap about U.S. blockbusters until they all have a serious change of heart. Drastic maybe, but as you say, it’ll save on babysitting and ticket costs, not to mention the unnecessary aggravation.
I’m really no conspiracy nutter, but isn’t it strange how Hollywood appears to write under fundie mandate?
Scientists that place True Belief over the scientific method; a scientific expedition leads to unspeakable horrors (the ol’ “science is bad” spiel); the black guy sacrifices himself heroically for the white race; etc.
Maybe it’s not something coordinated/deliberate and just a reflection of our time that’s flooded with reactionary memes to the point I wouldn’t be surprised to encounter New Revelation beards on the street.
‘Or maybe it’s just that hiring the writer responsible for Lost to update what was the darkest, nastiest, most powerful SF movie franchise ever devised is a bit like setting out to re-make Sergio Leone’s Dollar Trilogy with the cast of the Muppet Show. Feasible in theory, but why the fuck would you do it?’
haha, perfectly put.
it’s a real shame about this movie, it was so well directed but i just found the whole thing quite silly. and those plot holes!
“Totally shite and absolutely brilliant!”
“Very silly but still a hell of a ride!”
I found these two comments very accurate. Living in Vancouver I had the chance to watch the movie as soon as it was out in theater, and I enjoyed, despite all the holes and the silly things int the plot – for instance, Damien Lindeloff has no idea how scientific explorations are done. But the movie is visually stunning, and it has left me with the feeling of how amazing it would be to travel across the universe looking for answers we haven’t been able to find here on earth.
On a more rational side, I have to say I agree with you Richard, you should probably change your name and call yourself Cassandra! When I first read Broken Angels, I used to imagine your broken angels much alike the space jockey, and the spaceship you describe in your novel as the one we can see very briefly in Alien. Ironically, watching Prometheus I felt some things were coming right off your novel. I don’t know why you call yourself a “mid-list SF author called Morgan”. In my very humble opinion your novels are among the most interesting (SF) novels I have read in the last 20yrs. And I think Hollywood folks know you very well, unfortunately…
Sorry for the mistakes, was watching the football game while writing this…
Urgh. 2+ hours better spent playing Mass Effect, by the sound of it. Why is it that people saw Lindelof’s name attached to Prometheus and were still surprised when it turned out to be a mess? Logical inconsistency is the man’s middle name.
I wish that people would please stop using the phrase “visually stunning”. What sort of fragile mind would be dumbstruck by this unimaginative piece of derivative blandness? I can’t think of a single frame that even came close to visually interesting.
Morgan, please watch it – for reference, if nothing else – and let us know what you think.
I went to see it at an IMAX, not a lover of 3D at all but… it worked. I loved it. I went with no expectation really, adore Alien it was such a classic film and scared me to death, loved the sequels right the way through to even the quietly ignored Resurrection. Went to see Prometheus looking at it as a stand alone really.
Some things don’t really join up, still haven’t a clue what the opening scene was about even though it was fantastic…. I seem to have missed the point somehow.
Loved the references to ancient aliens and that part of humans’ unexplained ancient history, but tie in to the story line was a bit weak. Disappointed on the genetic engineering slant because I understood alien to be a proper species, with its whole culture and planet etc and I wanted to be scared more about that.
All in all I found it enthralling and enjoyable and want to see the next installment…. and what’s more I’d go back and watch it at the cinema again and I am fussy about films.
I recommend to people – go watch it at an IMAX then buy the DVD, do not just watch it on DVD.
However low your expectations are, lower them more. A lot more. Prometheus is one of the most diabolical movies I’ve ever seen. I sat watching some of it through my fingers, not because it was scary, but because I couldn’t believe somebody thought this was a movie that should get a general release. Or any kind of release at all. Because if it hadn’t had Ridley Scott’s name attached to it, I sincerely doubt it would have.
The most entertaining thing about Prometheus is the slew of often hilarious blog entries and reviews, some of them very incisive. For the incisive, read: http://cavalorn.livejournal.com/584135.html. For the absolutely hilarious, watch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x1YuvUQFJ0.
If you’re looking for a truly good movie, Richard, go see A Royal Affair (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Royal_Affair). It’s based on the life of an 18th Century German doctor, a man of the Enlightenment, who suddenly finds himself working for the King of Denmark in one of the most benighted and backwards and intolerant nations of the time – and how he suddenly finds himself in the position to bring about real change and drag a nation out of the Dark Ages. It’s a historical movie, based on actual events, but it almost feels like SF given the subject matters it focuses on. You’ll thank me for the recommendation.
@ Eric B
Yeah, my first thought for a title for this post was a Dylan quote – I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now….. Looking back, Alien just seems so fucking grown up by comparison to most of the SF (or indeed Blockbuster of any genre) movies coming out these days. The characters were rounded and real, their heroism was muted to non-existent, their space-going context was mundane. They go check out the alien signal because, well, it’s in their contract, there’s no getting out of it, watcha gonna do? Then, when things go pear shaped, they cope as best (i.e. as poorly) as they can with gritted teeth and a kind of grim engineering competence. End result – you believed the Nostromo and its crew were real the same way you believe the guys in those extreme trawler fishing documentaries are real. And the horror was made that much more awful because it erupts in such a mundane setting, the heroism that much more poignant and powerful because it’s squeezed out of such ordinary people. Fiction, in other words, for grown-ups.
By contrast, now (it appears) we’re getting a Super Special Scientific Exploration paid for by A Super Rich Man of Vision, staffed by Highly Qualified Speciaists on a Quest to Discover the Origins of the Human Race!!!
In other words – comic-book stuff.
Prometheus serves well enough as a Hollywood SF popcorn flick, and is in fact better than the average such effort. But Alien worked so well that we naturally had high hopes for Scott’s return to SF and to the universe of Alien. Alien, more than anything, was a classic monster movie. The second one was a “bug hunt” variant on a monster movie. After that… well, pass the popcorn.
Alien defied our expectations and thus was able to deliver some real surprises as it lead us into a dark, scary place where we didn’t know what would happen. The first big clue that Scott was going to boldly go– was killing off the captain (and presumed hero) early in the movie. After that, what was off limits? What was safe? ANYthing could happen. Anyone could die, or worse…
@ Alexandra
That being “sacrificed” itself to bring life to that world, which may or may not be Earth, but implies that is what happened here.
@ Eric B.
Yeah, I know what you mean about belief/science in movies. It is annoying, but probably more a reflection of the culture (~85% believers). Plus belief has strong emotional elements, which provides an easy hook into the viewers’ psyche. Fiction is a lie. All great liars have known that nothing sells a lie like emotion.
@ RKM
I look forward to your pitch: “For A Few Muppets More”
Is it just me or did anyone else see the idea rip from Broken Angels? I mean that holo-recording of the Engineers as they ran away from something chasing them. And how the crew of Prometheus thought it was real! Maybe the writer of Lost is also a great fan of Takeshi Kovacs?
The problem with Prometheus for me is that it was so embedded with Mythology that the average Joe (like myself) found it difficult to understand the gist. It needed more time to explain the whole thing which it didn’t have. Too many plot holes.
“The Prometheus of Greek myth was the titan who stole fire — and a love of science and the intellect — from the gods of Olympus. If Ol’ Pro’ saw this eponymous film, he might keep the fire but give the rest back.”
From: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howard-fineman/prometheus-bound-and-gagged_b_1610536.html
Prometheus- Disappointing. But I had that feeling going in. Took my wife with me to see it. Her shoulder shrug said it all.
Yeah, although I was really looking forward to this film from when it was announced, the fact that Lindelof was one of the writers always had me a bit worried. And sadly, those worries were justified. The story, and writing, are a mess.
Though I watched Alien a couple of days later, and for me nothing about the space jockey or the alien ship had lost any power. I dunno, maybe something that good is just bullet proof.
Definitely a love/hate movie. Visually its very pretty, but the “where do we come from element” was so crassly, cheaply, clumsily done that it was just embarrassing.
They should have either made a “where do we come from movie” or made an alien prequel, because in trying to do both they simply couldn’t fit it in to two hours and do either topic justice, which is a pity because it had immense potential.
Oh, and Richard, I don’t want to spoil it for you, but there is quite the most unbelievable medical scene in it I have ever seen. What were they thinking!?
Here’s my take on the film that I posted on anouther forum thread that I will repeat here,
“Even though I’m a huge sci fi fan and alien and blade runner are in my top 5 films of all time, I have refrained from posting a review as to avoid giving a knee jerk reaction, but now most people would have seen the film and formed their own opinion I will give mine,
Without posting spoilers I will try to give give my reasons why I felt it was such a disappointment.
1. I felt no emotional attachment to any of the crew, they either came across as plot devices or just plain shallow.
2. The plot had more holes than a tin of spaghetti hoops
3. I found the script gave you a lot of loose ends, not the kind that will be used to push the story forward or give any kind of relevance or sense of depth but rather to disguise the lack of any real kind of narrative.
Basically as you can see all my problems were with the script and poor story development, I found the aesthetics and art direction to be phenomenal (as you would expect from a Ridley Scott film), but I cant help but wonder that if John Sphaits script would have been left untouched we could have had another true sci fi masterpiece, rather than the schlock horror mish mash that was finally released!”
So… you’re writing a Crysis comic of some kind?
Did anyone catch tonights episode of Imagine on BBC One about the making of the play “The two worlds of Charlie F”?
Its a play about the reality of the aftermath of war on the soldiers who fight it performed by real soldiers who were injured on duty. Anyone who has read Richards books/blogs knows that this is a topic which is close to his heart.
“A soldier’s view of service, injury and recovery.
Moving from the war in Afghanistan, through the dream world of morphine-induced hallucinations, to the physio rooms of Headley Court, the play explores the consequences of injury, both physical and psychological, and its effects on others as the soldiers fight to win the new battle for survival at home.
Taken from the personal experiences of wounded, injured and sick service personnel The Two Worlds of Charlie F is a darkly comic, authentic and uplifting tale of survival, made even more powerful by the soldiers performing it themselves.
Although the play is inspired by actual experiences, the names of the characters have been changed”
Play can be viewed in full here: http://thespace.org/items/e0000c9a
It’s odd that you should mention the Muppets, as Prometheus left me with a very strong suspicion that the screenplay started life as a Muppet Babies script. It would explain the extremely rudimentary portrayal of concepts like time, space, genetics and evolution, and all the flaws in the plot are forgivable if it’s meant to be enacted by animated baby puppets (and, incidentally, why the alien ship has controls that light up like a Fisher Price toy).
It even has the obligatory ‘it’s more scared of us than we are of it’ scene where Animal scares the strange creature and Gonzo tries to make friends with it by petting it. The giant stature of the Engineers is clearly a visual reference to Nanny.
That’s my theory and I’m sticking with it!
Is TV the future of movies?
Steven Soderbergh: “American movie audiences now just don’t seem to be very interested in any kind of ambiguity or any kind of real complexity of character or narrative — I’m talking in large numbers, there are always some, but enough to make hits out of movies that have those qualities. I think those qualities are now being seen on television and that people who want to see stories that have those kinds of qualities are watching television”
Apparently Soderbergh is now planning to quit movies and go make TV shows for HBO instead.
I prefer this one: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/06/prometheus-a-gorgeous-mess/258265/
Also, on the note of book comparisons – I am powerfully reminded of the PC game Morrowind when I think of the A Land Fit For Heroes series. The Kiriath remind me of the Dwemer, and the Dwenda bring to mind the Daedra. Probably no relation, but I like the thought.
Well, it’s not available here in Indonesia yet but probably will be soon….
One movie I really enjoyed was Cargo, a Swiss Science Fiction movie that came out in 2009….
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cargo_%282009_film%29
Just back from watching Total Recall on the big screen, visually very nice but overall a forgettable movie I’m sad to say…. They just can’t get it up to the level of Blade Runner huh….
Well…. At least there’s a new Red Dwarf series coming out in september….
Speaking on behalf of AVP gamers worldwide, we just want to see Colonial Marines vs Aliens, preferably not inside a spaceship.
Having read Broken Angels a number of times I have to say I didn’t see anything in the movie that reminded me of Prometheus.
On that subject: Act of Valor was like watching the Delta Force games, one and two, on the big screen. Excellent!
Hey there, long time reader (when did altered carbon come out?) first time poster. To me Prometheus was like a warm, flat glass of lemonade on a hot summers day. You’re thirsty, you’re a fan of lemonade, and there it is, a long tall glass of lemonade (that cool refreshing drink~sorry~). So you take an enormous swig, and the first thing you notice is there’s no sparkle on the tongue – its flat. Then the cloying sweetness that comes when it loses it’s chill. Then finally the annoyance as you try to get the taste out of your mouth. And there’s also the fact Ridley Scott doesn’t know dick about biology. We can’t have a perfect DNA match with the engineers or else we’d all be eight feet tall. And blue. And male. And identical clones of that one poor specimen who gave life to our world. All I can say is stay the hell away from blade runner!!
As I’m living in Indonesia since 1996, where books, especially good books are HARD to find I can get very enthusiastic when I do find a good book. Did find the excellent Market Forces from Richard here a few years ago. I just finished reading this one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transition_%28novel%29
Absolutely a fantastic book that I can really recommend…..
Unrelated, but I heard today that NASA named the curiosity landing sight Bradbury! Hmmm, any Marsalis fans at NASA, probably.
Speaking of all things Scott RIP to Ridley’s brother Tony Scott.
True Romance remains a classic for the Christopher Walken/Dennis Hopper scene alone.
How mind-blowingly ironic that someone with that much money/power/success/fame/respect/talent (not to mention a super-hot wife half his age) should choose to take his own life in the way he did.
Woeful film. I genuinely don;t think it knew what it wanted to be. Such a waste. And Mike J (#32), I suggest you read the Martian Chronicles by…. someone called…
Although I’d hope there were some Marsalis fans at NASA as well
Saw it and enjoyed it, rambling movie that it was, you can’t even compare it to the “other” Alien movies but it really wasn’t as bad as I was expecting after reading all the bad reviews, to me it’s a prelude to (hopefully) some much better movies….
Just read that they’re turning Dan Simmon’s Hyperion into a movie, I can’t even imagine what that would be like!
hmmmmh….
visited the hyperion movie’s website and this comment on there pretty much sums up what I was afraid of:
I think this is total bullshit. First, Hyperion needed to have been a four-year HBO mini-series to adequately cover all four books, so I’m so pissed that this ended up being sold out as a single movie. Screw the other media that may or may not show up to magically explain all of the rich character development that was insanely integral to the books. I don’t want or need a video game or graphic novel, I want to experience as much of the full story as would be permitted by a multi-week mini series. The way this is shaping up now, Game of Thrones is going to blow the fuck out of Hyperion, and that should NEVER be the case.
While this may end up being a good movie as a story that takes bits and pieces of the first two books, it seems like it will end up being a disastrous adaptation for those of us married to the details. I know I could have written the mini-series brilliantly. Hey Dan, I love the fuck out of you, but enjoy the sack of money while you can, since the rest of us will have to enjoy the sack of shit that ends up on screen.
……..
reminds me of that horrible series they made based upon those great Riverworld books from Philip Jose Farmer….
Why did Mr Weyland need a crew? Could’ve crewed it with Davids?