10 Harsh Realities of Rewatching Prometheus 12 Years Later

After graduation, Prometheus became one of the most critically and financially successful releases of all time. Stranger series – yet, 12 years later, it’s increasingly clear that some aspects of the film work better than others. With a critic score of 73% on review aggregator. Rotten Tomatoes and a worldwide box office of $403 million, the film clearly found a significant audience. However, looking back, we can return to Prometheus reveals some serious flaws that no amount of contemporary critical praise or public recognition can overcome.

Prometheus‘relationships with Stranger the saga is somewhat complex. Before release, director Ridley Scott said the film would reflect “Alien DNA”, establishing a clear connection between projects. Although key plot details confirmed that the two films were closely related, the narrative was not a direct prelude to the original Strangerfollowing different characters and different tangents. This approach could prove both bold and effective. However, while the film’s spectacle remains impressive in 2024, other features are surprising.

10

The story of the engineer from the film is a complete mess

The main characters are disappointingly ill-conceived

PrometheusThe problems are obvious from the start with the opening of The Engineer. Aliens belonging to the same race as Strangermysterious”space jockey” are central to every element of the story, they established human life on Earth and paved the way for the Prometheus crew to follow several thousand years later. Their presence allows the film to explore important themes such as the origins of humanity and the purpose behind it . our creation Unfortunately, the actions and motives of the Engineers fall apart under the slightest scrutiny.

From why they created humans to how their role relates to our understanding of evolution (a plot hole pointed out by one of Prometheuscharacters), some aspects of the Engineers’ story do not match. It’s never clear why they want to direct people to their weapons reserve on LV-223, or why the revived Engineer is so determined to destroy humanity as soon as it awakens. While their presence in the narrative (and in humanity’s own past) raises intriguing questions, Prometheus doesn’t answer any of them satisfactorily, making the exploration of the space jockey feel like a missed opportunity.

9

Black slime makes no sense

Its properties and capabilities are poorly explained

Problems with PrometheusThe mysterious black slime is even more serious than the problems with the Engineers. From the very beginning, the strange substance is central to everything that happens in the film, and the film’s mysterious opening hints that it is a central ingredient in humanity’s creation. However, what exactly black slime is, how it works and what its powers are are among many questions. Prometheus plot points that are never satisfactorily explained.

At various points in the film, it is suggested that the slime is instantly fatal to engineers, capable of turning into an internal parasite (in Holloway’s case), sexually transmitted (as it is in Shaw’s case), and dangerous enough to turn Fifield into a zombie. It also appears to be home to the alien insects and snake-like hammerheads that inhabit the Engineers’ facility. All this proves the power of black slime.but does not provide a rational explanation of what it is or how it works. This is especially disappointing given his central role in later entries in the franchise such as Alien: Covenant And Alien: Romulus.

8

Alien symbolism is incredibly confusing

This undermines the story of the Prometheus sequel.

Bye Prometheus does not have a full xenomorph (even the Deacon creature seen at the end is noticeably different), clues to the presence of the cult creature are scattered throughout the story. From the mural that the expedition team identifies (apparently featuring an alien resembling H.R. Giger) to Fifield and Millburn’s ominous discovery that several engineers appear to have imploded from the inside, the connection is not entirely subtle.

The problem is that the xenomorph not only never appears in the film itself, but Prometheusits own continuation contradicts its having any role at all. According to Alien: Covenant, The xenomorphs as we know them were only created through David’s extensive experimentation.. This, however, clearly creates several problems related to the apparent behind-the-scenes role of these creatures in Prometheus. This is perhaps the most striking example of how subsequent events in Stranger series made key elements PrometheusThe story seems redundant or even downright contradictory.

7

Prometheus characters are shallow (and frustratingly stupid)

Some of their decisions are really confusing

Like many expansive science fiction stories, Prometheus suffers from giving its extensive cast limited screen time. As a result, many of the characters feel thinly drawn and lack motivation or development. Sean Harris’ Fifield, for example, was known from the start as an actor who plays for money, but this doesn’t seem to have any further impact on his character. Likewise, Charlize Theron’s Vickers is shown to be cold and authoritative, and her dismissive behavior towards the rest of the team doesn’t make much sense. As a result, major revelations, such as the twist that Vickers is Weyland’s daughter, fall flat.

However, these problems are minor compared to the amazing stupidity of many Prometheus characters. Whether it’s Holloway’s decision to remove his helmet (despite the danger of the alien planet), Milburn’s determination to pet an apparently hostile alien, or Shaw’s conviction that she should ignore the warning about the impending silicon storm and spend a few more minutes exploring, characters make a series of bizarre decisions seemingly for no other purpose than to move the plot forward.. This both undermines their authenticity and makes the whole story incredibly contrived.

6

Prometheus wastes great actors in minor roles

The cast is incredibly strong

PrometheusA large cast not only limits character development. It also means that some actors – many of whom would be able to steal the spotlight in other projects – feel completely underutilized. While some performances (notably Michael Fassbender as the android David) are brilliant, for most of the actors involved the story gives them very little opportunity to bring their characters to life.

The likes of Charlize Theron, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce feature surprisingly little in this story. Idris Elba’s Janek appears in one or two scenes before the heroic act of self-sacrifice, Theron is only able to show the cold and indifferent side of her character, and Pierce is absent most of the time, except for a brief interjection at the beginning. end. Other actors, such as Benedict Wong, are treated even harsher.appearing in a couple of short conversations before sharing Janek’s fate. The result is a film full of acting potential but lacking in finished product.

5

Michael Fassbender is great, but David is confusing

The character is full of contradictions

One of PrometheusThe strongest point is Michael Fassbender’s detached, childish and slightly sociopathic performance. like David. Bye Prometheus lacking a traditional central villain, David is as close to an antagonist as the film gets – a role he would fully embrace Alien: Covenant. However, as watchable as Fassbender is, his character is a frustrating mass of contradictions.

Although the beginning of the film introduces David as a man trying to discover his place in the world, many of his defining character traits are never fully explained. His obsession Lawrence of Arabiafor example, has no discernible impact on the story. It’s also unclear why he takes the dramatic step of poisoning Holloway, why he suddenly decides to ally with Shaw at the end of the film, and to what extent his actions are motivated by his own curiosity or loyalty to Weyland. The answers to these questions radically change Prometheus‘ message and meaningbut never receive a satisfactory answer.

4

The script often lets Prometheus down

There are problems at the macro and micro levels

Both in terms of the overall narrative and the specific characters, the 12-year distance proves that there are serious problems with Prometheus‘ scenario. The seemingly irrational behavior of several characters, the central setup of Weyland’s trillion-dollar expedition that never told the participants where they were going, and the emergence of an existential threat to humanity all occur without any real internal logic. When you think about it, these events seem to happen simply because the script demands them, rather than because they make sense for the story.

In addition to these high-level issues, Prometheus also suffers from really annoying dialogue. Fifield’s statement that he “loves stones“, Vickers and Janek’s stilted flirting, and Holloway’s drunken ramblings about not being able to talk to a dead alien all undermine the film’s more sinister tone and themes. The result leaves Prometheus I feel disconnected at best and downright awkward at worst.

3

Prometheus’ strengths cannot compensate for its collective problems

The film’s logic doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

I’m watching Prometheus for the first time in 2012 The film’s impressive scale, often sumptuous visuals and sense of style made up for its other shortcomings.. However, 12 years later and in the broader context of the wider Stranger franchise, the film’s numerous plot holes seem even more detrimental. Taken individually, details such as Millburn and Fifield’s strange decision to step away from the core group only add to the atmosphere of confusion. However, this is only in retrospect Prometheus really buckling under the collective weight of its narrative errors.

In 2024, one can fully appreciate how the inexplicable black goo, what the Engineers really want, and the irrational behavior of the characters all undermine Prometheus in a way that was not always possible due to the initial impact of the film’s presence on screen. Very similar to the movie Avatar dismissed concerns about its story due to its striking visuals, it seems Prometheus escaped harsher criticism simply because it looks so good. Now that impact has diminished, and the film’s flaws seem much more noticeable.

2

Prometheus didn’t need to be related to an alien

This could work as a different project

There’s no doubt that part of what is done Prometheus such success (and such excitement for fans) was a double promise Stranger prequel and return of Ridley Scott to the franchise. However, while this connection was a compelling argument for the viability of the project, it was also unnecessary – purely for storytelling reasons.

The story of a group of intrepid explorers determined to uncover the origins of humanity in deep space could make a compelling standalone sci-fi film, or even the start of an entirely new franchise. Nothing in this setup is needed Stranger tell a compelling story. Instead Stranger The Easter eggs put the film in a bind, forcing it to try to tell a different story from the standalone original while staying true to the source material. In the end, it proved to be an impossible balancing act.

1

The Prometheus Story Hurts the Alien Franchise

This was the worst mistake the prequel could have made

In 2012 it was not always clear to what extent Prometheus will affect Stranger story. While it planted the seeds of key plot points such as the black goo and provided a somewhat disappointing explanation of the space jockey, the relationships between the characters and the story still felt somewhat tenuous. Everything changed in subsequent parts.

Pickup right where you are Prometheus stopped Alien: Covenant reworked the entire saga, rewriting the xenomorph as an android bioweapon rather than a “ideal organism” shown in the first film. This is a development that completely undermines the horrific consequences Strangerit would be impossible without Prometheus‘revelations. The fact that the upcoming series Alien: Earth intends to once again rewrite this aspect of the franchise and is proof that PrometheusThe plot innovations didn’t have a positive impact – a harsh indictment of the film’s legacy and relevance in 2024.