Ridley Scott's "Prometheus"

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Ns1

Ns1

No Lifer
Jun 17, 2001
55,420
1,600
126
Ichinisan said:
Adam Savage says the Engineers were done with practical effects (costumes and makeup). I don't see how that's possible.
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"We ran some tests [on the Engineer] to basically convince Ridley that we could do better than prosthetics," suggests Martin Hill, Weta Digital's VFX supervisor. "He's like an Adonis, the perfect humanoid with white skin. They had a maquette built, which Ridley shot and lit. So we built the same bust from scratch and replicated the lighting and the skin quality and the translucency, but we made him move and made him articulate with blinks and expressions. On the basis of that Ridley decided to go digital.

"Ridley wanted to get as much in camera as possible, so it was very much the antithesis of a virtual studio in a way. On set, he had an actor completely made up with silicon over his whole body, which he shot for non-visual effects. And that presented a bit of a challenge for us because, if we want to make a visual creature, we add musculature and make it as physically correct as possible. But, of course, we have this slight dilemma here. We need to match the onset Engineer as well as other creatures later on and make something convincing and compelling and obviously very real. And so we built this digital Engineer and there are some interesting compromises. What we're actually representing is an actor and what we found straight away was that we can make a digital humanoid with pretty convincing skin. We've advanced the technique since Avatar for our subsurface algorithms. But trying to replicate the human with the extra silicon on it was a completely different situation."


The Engineer presented new challenges for Weta involving new subsurface algorithms to overcome a waxy look.
*

They actually carved vein patterns into slabs of silicon to get it right. And that presented a whole new series of challenges involving new subsurface algorithms. "To represent a very translucent piece of silicon, you want to increase the depth of all your subsurface," Hill continues. "And the problem is that you lose any sense of internal structure. The light bleeding the Engineer was so deep that he started to look waxy, so we had to advance all our technology to be able to put inner structures within our subsurface. This way we got a sense of the bone or cartilage inside the nose and the bones in the fingers that would actually block internal light. We added extensions to the quantized-diffusion model for rendering translucent materials that was presented last year at SIGGRAPH by Eugene d'Eon and Geoffrey Irving."
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http://www.awn.com/articles/visual-effects/prometheus-bringing-alien-21st-century
 
IHateMyJob2004

IHateMyJob2004

Lifer
Sep 29, 2004
18,656
68
91
I am reading articles on comp[alints about Prometheus. Did people watch the same movie I did.

Is this really the stuff that is confusing people?
I ask because David (Michael Fassbender) has a nice working knowledge of the alien technology, to the point that he can even fly one of the alien ships. And, when the crew first enters the room that contains the "black goo," David goes straight for it -- to the point that he almost jeopardizes the mission trying to take a canister of it back to Starship Prometheus. If he wasn't aware of the goo beforehand (or, more specifically, hadn't been programmed by Weyland to be aware of it), then why the extreme fascination? So extreme that he uses it to poison Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green)?
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1) That robot/android whatever it was. He studied language and many other things. Essentially, he studied everything he could that should aid him in communicating whatever it was that were on the cave drawings. OK, he could communicate but is it really that far of a leap to think that he could understand how to fly one of their ships? I was not taken back by this at all.

2) David went after the black goo! SHOCKING. His boss (the old guy) had "days to live" and his mission is to find the genesis to life. So, he sees a suspicious goo and thinks that maybe it is a sort of fountain of youth. This did not confuse me.

These are the plot holes?
 
RPD

RPD

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2009
5,108
596
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Regarding point 2 plot hole, I think the issue people have with it is, he's already been suspended for the flight here, which was YEARS. It doesn't make logical sense for the robot to just randomly experiment with the goo when the guy could have just chilled for a long time to allow for a proper analysis of it.
 
surfsatwerk

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
RPD said:
Regarding point 2 plot hole, I think the issue people have with it is, he's already been suspended for the flight here, which was YEARS. It doesn't make logical sense for the robot to just randomly experiment with the goo when the guy could have just chilled for a long time to allow for a proper analysis of it.
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Considering how fast people started dying, being prompt in his curiosity was a good idea.
 
RPD

RPD

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2009
5,108
596
126
surfsatwerk said:
Considering how fast people started dying, being prompt in his curiosity was a good idea.
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... Really? With that same logic, I suppose you didn't think anything of them going, oh we can breath down here, everyone take off your helmet in this completely alien environment. There will be ZERO chance any of us breath in any viral or bacterial agents that would make us sick. Nope none.

I mean they followed such sound scientific practices, I suppose you are right.
 
surfsatwerk

surfsatwerk

Lifer
Mar 6, 2008
10,110
5
81
RPD said:
... Really? With that same logic, I suppose you didn't think anything of them going, oh we can breath down here, everyone take off your helmet in this completely alien environment. There will be ZERO chance any of us breath in any viral or bacterial agents that would make us sick. Nope none.

I mean they followed such sound scientific practices, I suppose you are right.
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In alien snake culture attacking someone and crawling down their throat is a sign of respect and friendship.
 
S

-Slacker-

Golden Member
Feb 24, 2010
1,563
0
76
I didn't mind the helmet removal bit, because it was inconsequential to the plot. Weather they had the helmets on or off changes nothing; Things would not have turned out differently.
 
V

Via

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2009
4,670
4
0
Maybe not, but (as I posted probably 600 posts ago) it's yet another instance that reveals the immature, childish nature of Lindelof's creative process.

I'm taking my helmet off! No, dont! Shut up loser. I'm taking it off! Don't!!! I'm telling mom!!!!!
 
ImpulsE69

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
Via said:
Maybe not, but (as I posted probably 600 posts ago) it's yet another instance that reveals the immature, childish nature of Lindelof's creative process.

I'm taking my helmet off! No, dont! Shut up loser. I'm taking it off! Don't!!! I'm telling mom!!!!!
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There was a reveal to this. Granted the motivations were dumb as hell from a scientific point, there are many movies where it goes just like what you stated above. The reveal being.."why was there oxygen there?".
 
V

Via

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2009
4,670
4
0
I think it could have been revealed in a more artful, mature way.

But who am I kidding? If this movie had been intended for someone like me it the filmakers wouldn't have hired Lindelof to write it.
 
SP33Demon

SP33Demon

Lifer
Jun 22, 2001
27,928
143
106
RPD said:
... Really? With that same logic, I suppose you didn't think anything of them going, oh we can breath down here, everyone take off your helmet in this completely alien environment. There will be ZERO chance any of us breath in any viral or bacterial agents that would make us sick. Nope none.

I mean they followed such sound scientific practices, I suppose you are right.
Click to expand...

Overwhelming emotion will always override logic. It's our fatal flaw.
 
N

Narse

Moderator<br>Computer Help
Moderator
Mar 14, 2000
3,826
1
81
KlokWyze said:
Great movie that took a lot of risks. Alien was much tighter and well put together than Aliens, but the sequel took way more risks and had a huge payoff. It's certainly the favorite across the board.

Prometheus took A LOT of risks and it ended up shooting itself in the foot in many ways... this will bother you IF you are looking for problems. I tend to go into movies with an open mind and not just nitpick every single little thing. This kind of attitude let's you ENJOY the movie. Well, unless of course one enjoys bitching and moaning while watching and afterwords on the internet more.

<moaning>
One thing that bothered me was that the initial mutations of the worms that killed the 1st 2 crew member seemed to up and disappear.

Oh yeah, and the super smart robot bitch couldn't RUN TO THE LEFT while the ship was rolling towards her. o_O

</moaning> :D
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I will never understand why people nit pick a sci fi movie on the technology shown in it. For the love of Pete people are already suspending belief about space travel and alien engineers but yet they want to complain about the medical bay, or that the couple had sex. I really enjoyed Prometheus, made me think about it for days after. I will be buying it on blu ray to add to my sci fi collection. Not a perfect movie but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
 
ImpulsE69

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
14,946
1,077
126
Narse said:
I will never understand why people nit pick a sci fi movie on the technology shown in it. For the love of Pete people are already suspending belief about space travel and alien engineers but yet they want to complain about the medical bay, or that the couple had sex. I really enjoyed Prometheus, made me think about it for days after. I will be buying it on blu ray to add to my sci fi collection. Not a perfect movie but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
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I only had 3 REAL complaints:

1. Shaw jumping chasms right after major surgery (that only got stapled shut).

2. The map guys got lost, but everyone else got out just fine (w/o a map) and the dude at the ship didn't realize they were still there until much later.

3. Those same guys who ran off at the sight of a dead alien, had no problems playing with an alien snake

Otherwise..I took it for what it was. A fictional movie that was loosely related to Alien.
 
N

Narse

Moderator<br>Computer Help
Moderator
Mar 14, 2000
3,826
1
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ImpulsE69 said:
I only had 3 REAL complaints:

1. Shaw jumping chasms right after major surgery (that only got stapled shut).

2. The map guys got lost, but everyone else got out just fine (w/o a map) and the dude at the ship didn't realize they were still there until much later.

3. Those same guys who ran off at the sight of a dead alien, had no problems playing with an alien snake

Otherwise..I took it for what it was. A fictional movie that was loosely related to Alien.
Click to expand...

The stuff with Shaw I just chalk up to advanced medical tech. The map guys getting lost I assume was because they were bored and after being there for hours got complacent and decided to explore.

The playing with the mutated snake I totally agree with. That part was odd and made me facepalm a bit.
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,851
31,343
146
ImpulsE69 said:
I only had 3 REAL complaints:

1. Shaw jumping chasms right after major surgery (that only got stapled shut).

2. The map guys got lost, but everyone else got out just fine (w/o a map) and the dude at the ship didn't realize they were still there until much later.

3. Those same guys who ran off at the sight of a dead alien, had no problems playing with an alien snake

Otherwise..I took it for what it was. A fictional movie that was loosely related to Alien.
Click to expand...


These are my only real gripes--especially when you consider:

2. the map guy and biologist left, it seems, 30min to an hour, maybe more, before the rest of the party exited. The way it was edited, you see the larger party found their way outside and to the ship in what seems like 5 minutes.

as for the biologist....this guy is not a biologist. lol. WTF would he touch a strange alien creature like that? I do chalk it up to a "need" to inject drama and flaws in characters, but I feel they could have achieved the same need for story if the biologist had just slowly backed away, and was instantly attacked by the worm. I don't really think the "we suffer at the hands of our own curiosity" trope needed to be played out so directly. Meaning--the research team had already followed some ancient, vague, star map simply due to their curiosity. We get it, already, No need to inject profound stupidity in such people.

--the science and "super abilities" of these people...I don't give a flip about this. It seems pretty clear to me that old man is maybe...170 or something. Maybe not quite that old, but we should be willing to assume that a lot of today's projections (read: assumptions) about the advancement of medicine are alive and well in Prometheus. This is simply how Sci Fi works--we don't need to be slapped in the face with nuance and have our hands held through this stuff. If one does, then perhaps one doesn't like sci fi as much as they claim?


all that being said: this is a Ridley Scott film. He is, if all of his history is any indication, a bit unhappy with the theatrical release of his film. There are pretty obvious moments, especially early on, where there seem to be some massive editorial cuts involving timing. Scott is a Director's Cut fanatic. Wait for his version on BD--you will all probably be fans, again.
 
Ichinisan

Ichinisan

Lifer
Oct 9, 2002
28,298
1,235
136
zinfamous said:
...
all that being said: this is a Ridley Scott film. He is, if all of his history is any indication, a bit unhappy with the theatrical release of his film. There are pretty obvious moments, especially early on, where there seem to be some massive editorial cuts involving timing. Scott is a Director's Cut fanatic. Wait for his version on BD--you will all probably be fans, again.
Click to expand...

"Ridley Scott Says Theatrical Version Of 'Prometheus' Will Be His Director's Cut, Will Run About 2 Hours"
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http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplayl...-directors-cut-will-be-about-2-hours-20120415
 
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