New Prometheus trailer (here be rage)

[Kahunaburger]

I think it pretty much goes without mentioning that I meant two attempts at portraying the same thing, one being more fake than the other.

The problem is that it's actually not two versions of the same thing. One portrays a hostile, sinister universe with unreliable technology, the other portrays a universe with pretty vistas and sleek technology. In other words, one attempt fits the theme, and the other doesn't.

 

[fix-the-spade]

"Alens" anyone ? 40+ years past "Alien" movie ? Sulaco ? Colonial Marines ? Army equipment ? Lcd-virtual-touch screens ? ...Noooooooooooooooooooooope.

Ah, but Aliens did have super high tech. Hadleys Hope had a big glass touch screen table that they view the colony schematics on whilst the civilian Space Station had a virtual outdoor environment that Ripley sits by while waiting for Burke to retrieve info on her daughter.

Provided the visual style of the film as a whole fits Alien I can live with CGI and snazzy user interfaces. From a canon perspective it's easy to explain away with Weyland-Yutani's famous open policy regards high technology and intelligence. The Nostromo is twenty plus years old by Alien and the platoon on Sulaco are effectively a B-Company on movie form, green officer, under strength and seemingly under equipped. The only reason they go out at all is because a crazy lady says she saw a monster there, it's supposed to be a formality. That's my explanation anyway.

If CG Aliens start dropping out and doing the Conga... well...

 

[Kahunaburger]

I think it pretty much goes without mentioning that I meant two attempts at portraying the same thing, one being more fake than the other.

The problem is that it's actually not two versions of the same thing. One portrays a hostile, sinister universe with unreliable technology, the other portrays a universe with pretty vistas and sleek technology. In other words, one attempt fits the theme, and the other doesn't.

I didn't say the tones of the movies are entirely the same. It was just a statement about special effects in general.

Although, tone's the problem, isn't it? The Alien movies are very dependent on thematic and tonal elements. Aliens has a tonal shift and is much more of an action movie, but it works because it maintains the whole "insignificant humanity poking into stuff they should have left alone in an unknown, scary, and hostile universe" thing. The script, set design, prop design, lighting, and effects all support the tonal underpinning of the film. From what I've seen of this movie's script, lighting, effects, props, etc. all seem to indicate it will be closer to the AvP end of the tonal spectrum than it should be.

Maybe I'm wrong, and the trailers for Prometheus just suck. But everything I see about this movie impresses me less and less.

 

[hutchy27]

Well one explanation is that the Prometheus is a hi-tech research ship and is outfitted with the best of the best technology of it time while the ship from alien is a less advance mining ship which might of had been using old technology.

 

[Kahunaburger]

What the fuck, man? You take that back! Ridley would never create another AvP! *sobs*

Sorry, I meant to say something more along the lines of "this is closer to the AvP end of the spectrum than I'm comfortable with." I don't think it's going to be very much like AvP at all, just that the tone seems (to me, at least) to be straying a little too far afield of the first movie.

But yeah, agree to disagree, especially since the thing isn't even out yet

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I'm sure if he could have put this tech into Alien he would have. This still seems pretty damn atmospheric and cool. Frankly, if he'd used the same stuff as in Alien I doubt I'd be able to take it as seriously.

 

[The Preened Mr. Fust]

I'm getting the impression that people going into this film expecting to get an atmosphere like in the original Alien are setting themselves up for disappointment. The trailer, if you ask me, quite clearly shows this movie to be a different bird.

Will I find this movie as good as Alien? Probably not, but I'm sure glad he's not trying so hard to be just like it.

Will I still enjoy the movie? Probably so, I love future tech and space creatures.

Captcha: have an inkling


Edit: Also, people, please bear in mind Aliens was directed by James Cameron, not Ridley Scott.

 

[CODE-D]

I like the touch screen virtual tech as its one of the reasons I cant watch the old alien movies seriously anymore. That other tech (alien, aliens etc) looks like shit you give to a run down school to keep in storage.

I'll grant that the archaic computers in Alien added to the creepy atmosphere of the film, but really, as a form of technology that's like, what, 150 years in the future, it's just not viable at this point.

And really, the creepy atmosphere is all that should matter in a movie like this. I don't know about you, but the giant holograms, pretty skyboxes, and iPhone-esque gadgets don't strike me as creepy or atmospheric the way the primitive/noisy Alien computers did. I'm about a decade younger than Alien and grew up using computers orders of magnitude more powerful than the ones available in 1979, but when I saw the movie the special effects technology worked well for me - it supported the movie's tone and atmosphere, which is exactly what it needed to do. (It also seems more real and solid to me than the stuff in the Prometheus trailers - never underestimate practical effects haha.)

I was born in 1991 and seeing those computers in alien like I said just look silly and make me think, how is this ship even functioning. Is that the alien snarling or the sound of dial-up.

Out of curiosity, what's your opinion on Blade Runner, 2001, and Solaris?

Ive heard of Blade runner, something with androids and feeling and blah blah blah inspiration for david 8 in prometheus.
Never heard of Solaris.
Havent seen all of 2001(its just so goddamn long and quiet)but know the key points monkeys, precursors, hal is an asshole, its full of stars, giant super fetus. But even that movie tried to look futuristic for its time and had they had the ability to do touch screens and virtual stuff I bet they would have or at the least made it very sleek and shiny like in star trek(2009).

And I think that tells me about all I need to know.

That movies need to adapt as technology adapts and time goes on. That Back to the futures view of how 2015 would be is totally wrong and is the perfect example of this. Yes, Im glad thats clear.

 

[Kahunaburger]

I'm sure if he could have put this tech into Alien he would have.

That may be true - if so, it's a good example of (alongside Silent Hill and Star Wars) how technical limitations can be a good thing.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I'm sure if he could have put this tech into Alien he would have.

That may be true - if so, it's a good example of (alongside Silent Hill and Star Wars) how technical limitations can be a good thing.

Eh... I'm not so sure. I don't really think it would have affected the quality of the film in the slightest, for me at least.

 

[Kahunaburger]

I'm sure if he could have put this tech into Alien he would have.

That may be true - if so, it's a good example of (alongside Silent Hill and Star Wars) how technical limitations can be a good thing.

Eh... I'm not so sure. I don't really think it would have affected the quality of the film in the slightest, for me at least.

As the good folks at RedLetterMedia would say:

You might not have noticed that the Scott/Moebius/Giger/etc. presented technology throughout the film that underscored the tone of each scene in which a new technology was introduced, but your brain did.

 

[Captain Pirate]

I see your point, it's rather ridiculous, like Star Wars. From elite Clone fighting force with high-tech starships, to clumsy, expendable soldiers and slow ugly ships.

Technological discrepancies aside, this looks incredible, like Avatar crossed with Alien.
One first-class ticket for the hype train, please.

 

[Kahunaburger]

like Avatar crossed with Alien.

Looks like I'm not the only one haha.

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I'm sure if he could have put this tech into Alien he would have.

That may be true - if so, it's a good example of (alongside Silent Hill and Star Wars) how technical limitations can be a good thing.

Eh... I'm not so sure. I don't really think it would have affected the quality of the film in the slightest, for me at least.

As the good folks at RedLetterMedia would say:

You might not have noticed that the Scott/Moebius/Giger/etc. presented technology throughout the film that underscored the tone of each scene in which a new technology was introduced, but your brain did.

Hmm... I don't like that argument. It's impossible to argue back from really, isn't it? I can't say 'Nope, I definitely know what my subconscious thought of it'. Besides, even with that, Prometheus is a different film, probably with a different feel.

 

[Kahunaburger]

I'm sure if he could have put this tech into Alien he would have.

That may be true - if so, it's a good example of (alongside Silent Hill and Star Wars) how technical limitations can be a good thing.

Eh... I'm not so sure. I don't really think it would have affected the quality of the film in the slightest, for me at least.

As the good folks at RedLetterMedia would say:

You might not have noticed that the Scott/Moebius/Giger/etc. presented technology throughout the film that underscored the tone of each scene in which a new technology was introduced, but your brain did.

Hmm... I don't like that argument. It's impossible to argue back from really, isn't it? I can't say 'Nope, I definitely know what my subconscious thought of it'. Besides, even with that, Prometheus is a different film, probably with a different feel.

It's not like it's hard to notice when you're consciously paying attention to it. If you keep an eye out for when technology is presented as organic in a friendly and calming way, cold and industrial, or organic in a distinctly unfriendly and unsettling way, you'll notice that it very closely maps the tone the movie is trying to create in each scene.

From what I saw of the trailer, it doesn't look like the relationship between tone, set design, and props is quite as air-tight (or quite as consistent with why Alien works as a movie), which worries me. As I mentioned before, though, the movie isn't out yet and it's entirely possible that it will be exactly the sort of thing we all know and love Ridley Scott for. It would hardly be the first time a trailer intentionally or unintentionally missed a movie's tone haha.

 

[JesterRaiin]

Well one explanation is that the Prometheus is a hi-tech research ship and is outfitted with the best of the best technology of it time while the ship from alien is a less advance mining ship which might of had been using old technology.

Sure, it IS some kind of explanation, but once again. "Aliens" movie taking place 40+ years after "Nostromo's accident". "Sulaco" - vessel packed with Colonial Marines, army equipment, "we've got guns and stuff" - still no virtual touch screens and glowing neon like gadgets. :]

(...)That's my explanation anyway.

And that's good explanation kind sir, still, i'm fed up with explaining all this bs directors and producers are throwing at us, and using "artistic vision" as a shield impervious to all arguments.

If CG Aliens start dropping out and doing the Conga... well...

Unfortunately that's not completely out of question. I'm afraid that Scott took a course to the land of "let's add more CGI, MOARRRR, also Justin Timberlake as the Alien and Rihanna as Ripley". :|

I see your point, it's rather ridiculous, like Star Wars. From elite Clone fighting force with high-tech starships, to clumsy, expendable soldiers and slow ugly ships.

Technological discrepancies aside, this looks incredible, like Avata crossed with Alien.
One first-class ticket for the hype train, please.

It's looking f*cking awesome ! ...Then again, let's not forget about the shitstorm that came with prequels and the things they ruined. The technological leap wasn't the only thing to blame, but it wasn't either helping. :\

That movies need to adapt as technology adapts and time goes on. That Back to the futures view of how 2015 would be is totally wrong and is the perfect example of this. Yes, Im glad thats clear.

Nope. You can't add wooob wooob wooob wooob wooob to Beethoven's 5th Symphony and call it "upgraded official version". It's perfectly fine the way it is.
You see, additions like CGI aren't just enhancing things. They change them. It's like fake tits - you don't look at the girl anymore. You're preoccupied with those round, bouncing, almost too perfect... I hope you know what i mean. ;]

 

[Thaluikhain]

Eh...I'm more concerned with all the "all these ancient civilisations were vistied by aliens that gave them this one symbol that became part of their mythology which leads us to the planet where..." stuff. That's never a good sign. Well, unless you count AVP good for not being AVP2.

Also, yeah, likely to be a generic CGI fest.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Plus, the Prometheus is a state of the art laboratory vessel meant for discovery, and the Nostromo is basically just a rusty oil tanker.

"Alens" anyone ? 40+ years past "Alien" movie ? Sulaco ? Colonial Marines ? Army equipment ? Lcd-virtual-touch screens ? ...Noooooooooooooooooooooope.

You're being a bit anal about this, buddy.

The majority of what you see in the trailer is very intune with Alien's visuals. Both the Alien designs as well as the tech. And you have to understand the tightrope Ridley and the design team are walking; On the one hand they have to keep within the first film's visual spectrum, and on the other they have to show the audience something fresh and new. And from what I've seen they're doing a very good balancing act.

This movie is never going to feel completely at home as Alien's prequel, because it's being made 40+ years afterward; The landscape of cinema has changed. We can't return to that initial 70's grit of the first film, because it's no longer the 70's.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Plus, the Prometheus is a state of the art laboratory vessel meant for discovery, and the Nostromo is basically just a rusty oil tanker.

"Alens" anyone ? 40+ years past "Alien" movie ? Sulaco ? Colonial Marines ? Army equipment ? Lcd-virtual-touch screens ? ...Noooooooooooooooooooooope.

You're being a bit anal about this, buddy.

The majority of what you see in the trailer is very intune with Alien's visuals. Both the Alien designs as well as the tech. And you have to understand the tightrope Ridley and the design team are walking; On the one hand they have to keep within the first film's visual spectrum, and on the other they have to show the audience something fresh and new. And from what I've seen they're doing a very good balancing act.

This movie is never going to feel completely at home as Alien's prequel, because it's being made 40+ years afterward; The landscape of cinema has changed. We can't return to that initial 70's grit of the first film, because it's no longer the 70's.

Why can't we? There's no reason advancements in technology have to constrain our ability to make good movies.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Plus, the Prometheus is a state of the art laboratory vessel meant for discovery, and the Nostromo is basically just a rusty oil tanker.

"Alens" anyone ? 40+ years past "Alien" movie ? Sulaco ? Colonial Marines ? Army equipment ? Lcd-virtual-touch screens ? ...Noooooooooooooooooooooope.

You're being a bit anal about this, buddy.

The majority of what you see in the trailer is very intune with Alien's visuals. Both the Alien designs as well as the tech. And you have to understand the tightrope Ridley and the design team are walking; On the one hand they have to keep within the first film's visual spectrum, and on the other they have to show the audience something fresh and new. And from what I've seen they're doing a very good balancing act.

This movie is never going to feel completely at home as Alien's prequel, because it's being made 40+ years afterward; The landscape of cinema has changed. We can't return to that initial 70's grit of the first film, because it's no longer the 70's.

Why can't we? There's no reason advancements in technology have to constrain our ability to make good movies.

Who says this or any other movie is being constrained in its quality?

What I'm saying is that the way we make movies, the way actors act, and the way we use special effects changes as time goes on. And just because CGI is going to used for creature effects in this new movie doesn't automatically mean it's going to suck. Unless you're one of those sourpusses who hate all GCI regardless how well it actually works. In which case, you probably haven't enjoyed any movie these past 12 years.