Yup, I think you have it mostly worked out, Rick. David is the key. He is our creation just as we are theirs. He seeks the secret of life, and will turn on his masters to achieve it. When he asks the doctor what he would do to solve the mystery, I believe David is seeking confirmation that what he is about to do is indeed human. Which is what he wants to be.

As far as humanity being too violent and greedy, that probably is where they will try to go with this. Which is a little disappointing. It's very unoriginal. That theme has been around since the 50s. Enough already. Plus it's really silly for several reasons here. For one thing, the Engineers are quite capable of violence themselves. They don't seem to have any superiority over us in that department. For another, that we are violent should not surprise them. We evolved from their DNA. Not to mention the fact that evolution spawns violence as a survival strategy, which they would understand as "engineers".

Perhaps more sensible and even original would if WE were superior to them in some way. After all, David is superior to us. Then the engineers would fear us. How are we superior? Obviously not physically. Maybe we breed faster. I don't know.

I didn't catch the 2000 years part, when the ship accident occurred. You're right, that can't be coincidence. That would imply a Jesus line of thinking. Or perhaps Emperor Augustus! I hope they keep that angle of the story in the background. No need too distract with controversy that won't add much to the story.

I still think the last transmission of Captain Shaw is a clue. Her message is to avoid that planet, but someone could someday confuse it as a distress signal. Or pretend to. And it could draw a ship, the opposite of its intent. Likewise, the paintings on Earth were intended to warn. Perhaps by friendly Engineers trying to help us.

You're correct that the characters were flat. I kept thinking that during the movie. But that does happen a lot in sci fi, I think. Ripley was not the most sympathetic character either until later in the story.

I never did understand the ghosts here. As a writer, it almost seemed like exposition. They needed an excuse to bring up the map, and to show David how to operate the ship.

You bring up a great point about David's knowledge. His knowledge of their language comes from studying old human languages, which derived from this source. As for knowledge of the ships, that seemed to come from his reading the hieroglyphs on the wall.

The loose are ends remain, however. Why did the surviving Engineer remain in stasis? Why did he not proceed earlier to Earth? Why didn't more Engineers show up to clean up the mess and proceed to Earth? I'm cool with that they purposely left questions open. They better ties them together properly in the sequels, though. If they don't, this seems like pasted together scripts.

I'm afraid to say that I didn't like this. I think most of the illogical plot points have been covered. The only reason I could work out for our planned demise, was a link between the xenomorph hyroglyph on the wall and it's lifecycle as shown in the film. Elizabeth gave birth to the squid thing, which in turn french kissed the Engineer, giving rise to the xenomorph.

This also raises other questions. Why create us, unless they need us to create xenomorphs (and why)? If we share their DNA and they have this devine primal soup, why are we needed at all? If they already know about xenomorphs, humans, or some other species similiar to us, must have given rise to xenomorphs already. So, are the Engineers on this planet out to erradicate humans to prevent this, or come to Earth and create xenomorphs?

I think the point regarding humans being too violent isn't meant as a moralising one for us...it's merely that us being like them makes us a threat and so the creator wants to put us down. Or we are just tools to be used to grow xenomorphs to use in their war.

I also think we are anathema to their beliefs. At the start an Engineer has to die to create life on a barren planet. That is how they reproduce...by dying. Humans create life through sex (which is shown as dangerous because it creates a violent squid!). Because we can create life and still live, we don't value it and we seek a meaning to it. We have created false life (David) and seek immortality. Both these things are against the Engineers belief system and perhaps explains why he turns aggressive.

To create life is the ultimate meaning for the Engineers. Our artificial intelligence and our quest for immortality threatens that cycle...we would undo all their work.

I think there might be a part of our superiority in David...for all their technology have they developed artificial intelligence? Plus the last time they saw us we were a long way from inter galactic travel...now our technology can't be far behind theirs...and I think it's fair to say the chances are we would rapidly surpass them on such an exponential trajectory...in terms of technology at least.

Ultimately a science vessel without weapons could bring down a military ship...so their armoury and such is world war 2 standard. Not very realistic, but it is what it is.

Regarding Shaw's message.. no human could resist going to the planet. It's just not in our nature. You'd send a scouting mission the second you got the message.

Personally I think the cave paintings are human. I think they just show our yearning for the age old answers..why are we here? what are we? etc and show us having had that Promethean spirit from the start...we know where the power is and we want it.

Reading up on it now, most seem to think the Engineers left them there, but that seems convoluted to me...why would they set a trap when they could eradicate us at any time, and if it was an invitation, why would it be to a dangerous military base?...plus the paintings are distinctly human in nature.

Could be that your faction idea is correct though...there are pro human Engineers and anti-human ones and they have basically wiped each other out using the aliens.

There is of course the danger, we're just correcting a lot of silly mistakes in a mismatched script!

The Jesus thing was apparently in earlier versions of the script, but Scott removed it because he felt it was too on the nose. Makes sense that there's still overtones in there.

I just realised the film was set on Christmas Day as well...clearly it was overtly on their minds.

The goo is key to a lot of the film's themes.

In the right hands it creates life (it's what they use to terraform the Universe). In the wrong hands it turns into a weapon of Death. The Engineers seem to have a whole Religion/Culture based around this concept (The alien xenomorph is depicted in religious like murals on the walls). The goo is only activated when the humans arrive...why is that? It was contained before and presumably when the Engineers were in that area.

It reacts with the worms to create a species that is only hostile when threatened. It's only when the guy continues to try to touch it that it attacks and it's attacks only increase in strength when more force is applied to it.

The goo turns the aggressive guy into a raging, super strong murderer.

This doesn't explain what was happening to Charlie though...who seemed ill rather than evolving. Being non hostile would he have just dissembled like the Engineer in the opening scene..his body creating new forms of life?

The alien only comes about through sex, which creates the squid, then the squid impregnating a Promethean/Human. Does that mean the outbreak 2,000 years ago was caused by a human...hence their hatred for us?

Reading between the lines it could be a religious type person who caused the outbreak. Ridly Scott is on record as saying that science improves our lives in every single way and Religion just fucks it up.

The Engineer will have hibernated because it removes him as a life-form from readings so the Aliens wouldn't have been able to hunt him down. That way he gets to outlive their cycle and complete his mission.

No other Engineers come because the infection has spread to their homeworld.

Maybe there aren't many Engineers left anyway...all the ones we see are male and they seem to kill themselves to populate the Universe.

Quoted from Eoin I'm afraid to say that I didn't like this. I think most of the illogical plot points have been covered. The only reason I could work out for our planned demise, was a link between the xenomorph hyroglyph on the wall and it's lifecycle as shown in the film. Elizabeth gave birth to the squid thing, which in turn french kissed the Engineer, giving rise to the xenomorph. This also raises other questions. Why create us, unless they need us to create xenomorphs (and why)? If we share their DNA and they have this devine primal soup, why are we needed at all? If they already know about xenomorphs, humans, or some other species similiar to us, must have given rise to xenomorphs already. So, are the Engineers on this planet out to erradicate humans to prevent this, or come to Earth and create xenomorphs?

The supposed backstory to the original aliens was that the Space Jockeys (Engineers) were at war with an ancient race and the aliens were genetic weapons that they would drop off on hostile planets and leave to destroy the planet. So we would be merely part of a process in growing biological weapons.

Alternatives are that there are another race of Gods who also created the Engineers and then replaced them with humans. One faction of the Engineers hates humans and is intent on wiping them out. Evidence for that comes from the fact the ship in the opening scene is a different kind to the engineer ships and the fact that the concept art for the opening scene has a different race of beings in it again...with one of them giving the drink to the Engineer.

There are lots of similarities with the story and ancient Sumerian legends regarding the Annunaki. Where pro human and anti-human factions appear and some start breeding with humans which creates the nephilim (a concept that also made it into the bible) resulting in the Great Flood to wipe the slate clean.

Hey Rick,

Yeah, I understand the whole backstory, but I was under the impression that this was a standalone film seperate from 'Alien' and in that regard could be watched without any prior knowledge of the Alien universe etc. I think this has to be one of the most talked about and debated action/sci-fi films this year and that seems to be the point in leaving so many questions unanswered, repeat visits to the cinema and a buzz about a sequel.

Eoin

Well, taking just Prometheus it seems that we angered them by killing Jesus who was one of them. (The incident was 2,000 years ago when they decided to kill us...and the film is set on Christmas Day).

They seem to have a very specific Religion/Culture and we don't live up to it.

The Engineers role is seemingly to spawn other life...possibly under the direction of another alien species (the ones in the round ship at the start).

Maybe the Engineers are just jealous of humans....perhaps they are being replaced by them.  Maybe they just don't like them. Maybe we are the raw materials for production of a genetic weapon. We may be needed because we reproduce...all the Engineers appear to be male. Sex is a necessary precursor for the alien xenomorph and it clearly needs a highly evolved host.

Due to the time frame...it seems likely that it is our actions (the Jesus thing) that results in them wanting to kill us. We are seen as being too hostile to allow to survive.

Very interesting thoughts. Well, I guess those loose plot ends did succeed after all. I was kind of on the fence about this film, and though I still am in many ways, I'm pretty sure I will pay to see the sequel just to see some of these questions answered! That shows how powerful unanswered questions can be as a story generator.

Finally saw this Thursday.  I have alot to say, but it may be simpler to say that I agree with basically every single negative comment brought up here.  Lots of great reviews provided by peeps.  I appreciate them all.

So, first of all, as I was watching, I was honestly doing my best to not only enjoy it, but really love it, as I have been eagerly awaiting it and with all the positive word of mouth, really thought it was going to kick some serious ass.

Even though I wasn't thrilled with what I was seeing, I honestly believed that at any minute, my boy Ridley was going to pull some awesome shit out, and from there on, it was gong to be a real roller coaster ride.

It never happened and in fact, things derailed quite quickly, ending in an eye rolling, head scratching finale that literally left me speechless...for a short while.

As I drove home and then hung out in my pool, having a few drinks, I thought about what I watched and tried to come to a complete consensus on my final verdict.  The more I thought about it, the easier it got.  I didn't like it...at all.  I was let down. I was underwhelmed...and then, I was a little pissed off that such talent and money could only produce a so-so movie, based on a ridiculous script, filled with holes big enough to fly both the Nostromo and Prometheus through at the same time.

Let's look at a few of the major flaws:

Characters and their motivations - terrible...unbelievable...poorly written.  Did any one of these crew members seem remotely realistic?  They sure didn't to me.  The 2 "geologists" didn't do any geology work whatsoever.  Why were they there?  To get killed, of course.  Did Dr. Shaw come off as a doctor in any way, shape, or form?  Hell now...not to me, he didn't.  Did the Captain come off as a real space captain?  Fuck no, but he was my favorite character.  Vickers?  WTF was Charlize thinking and what were the writers trying to do with her?

Action - so over the top at times, it actually came across as comical. The finale is a perfect example of how not to end a movie.  Completely ridiculous with the giant Engineer and the giant squiddly baby thing fighting like 2 old rubber suited dudes in a 1950's sci-fi debacle.  The geologist turning into some sort of evil zombie like dude attacking the peeps on the ship?  C'mon now...was that ever going to work?  Reminded me of that shitfest Ghosts of Mars.  Unreal.  The "surgery" scene with Dr. Shaw?  Well, it was definitely intense, but did it work...really?  Nope...not at all, IMO.

Did it make sense?  Oh boy...c'mon...anyone can read anything they want into anything, or come up with reasons and solutions as to why things happened like they did or what this and that was supposed to mean.  But, the bottom line is that it didn't make a whole lot of sense.  As in nothing really made much sense.  Questions were posed and answers were withheld.  I'm not even going to go into detail here, because it's been talked to death already.

A few parting shots - Why in the fuck did someone feel it was a good idea to dress Guy Pearce up to play an old, old man?  It looked comical at times, and when you looked at his eyes - as in his actual eyeballs, it was so obvious this was a guy in his 30's or 40's made up to look like an old man.

Why (and how) did Vickers and Shaw run like they did as a massive space craft is crashing on top of them?  Just downright silly, really.

Why would the 2 idiot geologists act like they did as some kind of alien snake thing rears up in front of them?

Why was so little care taken when everyone first went into the pyramid thing. complete with removing their helmets, knowing nothing about where they were or what was around them, including in the air?  A bunch of grade school kids would know better.

Finally, why, why, why...in the fuck would Vickers and the Captain hook up like they did?  Were they going for some kind of comic relief with this? Unreal.

You know, if it wasn't a Ridley Scott Alien Prequel, I wouldn't be so upset...but it was.  This thing has been rumored for years.  Is this really the best they cold come up with?

Sad...very sad.

Quoted from Dreamscale hung out in my pool, having a few drinks, I thought about what I watched and tried to come to a complete consensus on my final verdict.

I just love the fact that you needed to hang out in your pool, drinking, to come to a final verdict on this movie review.

And although I’m jealous about the pool, that's my kind of movie critic.  

Quoted from mcornetto While this ship didn't contain the Alien we've come to know an love, there were other ships where that species might have evolved.

Well, that thing in the end sort of looked like the Alien we are familiar with.  

I just saw this today...because I want a mostly empty theater when I go.  

Anyway, for me, it was a good movie, but there were things that bothered me too. Not the story itself, but other things like the luxury onboard. People drinking alcohol constantly. I didn't believe those things for a second. Also didn't like the things we've seen before. It felt very old hat rather than homage to the previous films. Like the robot's severed head still talks while white liquid drips out of his mouth. Flame throwers . Won't let people onboard because of contamination and so on and so on...

I also thought that with the exception of Noomi Rapace (whom I have named several characters after in my own scripts    ) all the characters were completely forgettable. I didn't believe them as scientists either. Again, with the exception of Rapace. They all came across as a low rate rag tag team to me.  

I have seen Alien and Aliens maybe a hundred times each. This was a decent movie, but I doubt I'll watch it again.    

I'm not traveling on Pia's spaceship. No booze? Jeez. And I thought she was the life of the party!

Well, I was thinking more along the lines of the cost of getting 1lb off the earth and into space and things like art and alcohol just didn't seem believable. Even if that old fart spent a trillion dollars. I imagine one trilion dollars in 2093 would only be a few hundred million in todays money.  

Cheers, btw! What's your poison on this Saturday night? Hubby and I are sharing a few beers and playing balance games on the WII.  

I don't drink often these days. I will be the next few days though. Vacation on Cape Cod. A buddy of mine is there and his wife has to leave early.

As far as booze in space, I would hope by then escaping Earth gravity is something we know how to do. I thought you meant it was unprofessional for them to be drinking. I think R Scott has always treated his space men as though they are like distance truck drivers. They are away from home, get lonely, bored. They drink.

But I was just teasing. You're right about the characters. Absolutely forgettable, except maybe David and the female doctor. They seemed so unprofessional it was kind of a joke.

I didn't see it in 3D, maybe that was the problem. Maybe the plot holes, the bad acting, the weak characters all go away when you put on the glasses!

I did not see it in 3D either. I thought some of the scenery was amazing though.

Btw, I sat through the whole 6 or 8 film commercials before Prometheus....not one single film I'm looking forward to see.  

I thought the new Bourne movie looked very good. But that's the only one. I'm starting to realize it must be really, really hard to make a good film. God knows it's pretty damned hard to write a good script.