# If You Like SF, Go See Prometheus! (no open spoilers) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 8, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534 "2012-06-08T18:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/21 "2012-06-09T02:43:57Z")
> [@Mikeisskeptical](#): > > I don’t get it. Granted it was visually magnificent, but it made no sense at all. I guess I must be nitpicking here as no one else seems to have any objection to the fact that the central premise of the whole movie is totally impossible. I thought the characters were too inconsistant to even be considered one dimensional, the dialogue seemed to have been written almost at random, character’s reactions to events were ludicrously implausible. There were some fine performances, (as well as some average ones) but the story was almost comical. What was all that puddle-deep theological/mystical twaddle about? Was that supposed to be profound? It wasn’t. It was just noise. I watched it several hours ago and I’m still a little annoyed with Scott and Co. Wish I’d rewatched The Avengers instead, at least that was deliberately ridiculous. FWIW I just got back from seeing it with a group of friends, several of whom were REALLY EXCITED about this movie, but we were all kind of underwhelmed by it. As you say, it looked good and some of the acting was good, but we had plenty of complaints about the actual story when we talked about it afterward. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tooth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c67d28/32.png) [@The\_Tooth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tooth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/22 "2012-06-09T02:44:52Z")
Gory, huh. That’s too bad, I was looking forward to this. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/23 "2012-06-09T02:54:13Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > DON’T READ IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE TRAILER! > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > ’ > > I haven’t seen the movie, but the trailer (and having seen “Alien”) seems to spoil it. These astronauts go to the planet where the U-shaped ship from “Alien” is, right? The trailer gives me the impression that they have the task of preventing this ship from leaving from there and going to Earth. Since we know, from “Alien” that the ship is still there in the future, they must succeed. And there’s that shot in the trailer of the U-shaped ship crashing, so… > > Maybe it’s like “Titanic”. We know the boat sinks, we just watch to see who lives and who dies. Or maybe the trailer has faked me out completely. Nope. That’s not where they go, and it’s not really what the main story is about. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/24 "2012-06-09T03:00:19Z")
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I’ve never seen any of the Aliens movies (don’t say anything, I’ve already gotten three shocked looks about it today). I gotta say, that had to be the quietest crowd I’ve ever seen a movie with. Once the movie ended, it was dead silent. It’s a pretty quiet movie, and it really sucks you in. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/25 "2012-06-09T03:31:42Z")
Should I go see this in 3d or 2d guys? ---
**Author:** ![Kasper1014](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c89c15/32.png) [@Kasper1014](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kasper1014)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/26 "2012-06-09T03:36:32Z")
My husband and son saw this last night at midnight. They. Loved. It. And the more they think about the movie, the more they love it. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/27 "2012-06-09T03:42:20Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Should I go see this in 3d or 2d guys? I saw it in 3D at an IMAX theater, but the 3D, while nice, was not really what made it rock. I think it would have been very damn good in 2D as well. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/28 "2012-06-09T06:27:04Z")
I’ve never seen “Alien” (which I find odd, seeing as how I’m a nerd), would I like this movie? Be confused by it? ---
**Author:** ![cainxinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7bcc69/32.png) [@cainxinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cainxinth)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/29 "2012-06-09T06:35:38Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > Earth heiroglyphics lead future explorers to a planet that might explain much of humankind’s origin and purpose in the universe, and/or fuck them up in all sorts of ways. “Stargate: The Next Generation”? ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/30 "2012-06-09T08:50:58Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Should I go see this in 3d or 2d guys? I thought the 3D was worth it since the film is visually dynamic, and also because it makes the holographic displays much more interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Mikeisskeptical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@Mikeisskeptical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikeisskeptical)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/31 "2012-06-09T13:56:22Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Should I go see this in 3d or 2d guys? I thought the 3D was excellent compared to a lot of other movies I’ve seen in 3D. It really added a sense of depth especially to the vast alien landscape shots. Like I say, visually this Movie is second to none. It’s just the story I was dissapointed with. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/32 "2012-06-09T14:01:35Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I’ve never seen “Alien” (which I find odd, seeing as how I’m a nerd), would I like this movie? Be confused by it? I haven’t seen alien and I liked it. I’m sure there were more references that went over my head, but I wasn’t confused. It stands on its own. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/33 "2012-06-09T15:07:24Z")
> [@Atreyu](#): > > Just got back from seeing it. I’m a big fan of Ridley Scott’s work, and given that sequels and prequels miss the mark more often than hit, I went in really hoping that he would not disappoint. > > He didn’t. > > Fassbender steals the show. Oh, man, Michael Fassbender? I was on the fence about this one but now I agree we gotta see it. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/34 "2012-06-09T15:08:26Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I’ve never seen “Alien” (which I find odd, seeing as how I’m a nerd), would I like this movie? Be confused by it? Go see _Alien_, silly. It’s one of the best sci-fi movies ever. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/35 "2012-06-09T16:13:57Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I’ve never seen “Alien” (which I find odd, seeing as how I’m a nerd), would I like this movie? Be confused by it? I thought Alien was a garden variety monster horror film when it first came out. Boy was I wrong! It was first-rate science fiction. See it, just about every cable station is carrying Alien type movies this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/36 "2012-06-09T16:15:06Z")
> [@cainxinth](#): > > “Stargate: The Next Generation”? Fair enough, but Stargate was standard adventure SF, which rocks, but this movie has that sense of wonder in spades. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/37 "2012-06-09T19:39:04Z")
I loved how pulpy it was in parts. Consider, the damsel clad in moleskin undies in a creepy surgical/robotic glass tube having to wiggle under a tentacled creature. That’s right off the cover of an old pulp rag. I was also sort of astounded at the supremely unlikely lineage of, the xenomorph. A rogue Space Jockey (Prometheus) kills himself to seed Earth with human DNA. Humans develop for thousands of years and master interstellar travel. The male of the species must ingest some black goo from the Jockey’s weapons cache. Then have sex with a human female. Then the female births a giant facehugger which then must impregnate a Jockey. Did I miss anything? It’s like a Russian Doll of Klein bottles. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/38 "2012-06-10T01:06:18Z")
Meh. I was a big fan of Alien from when it was originally released, and was really anticipating this flick. But I give it 3 out of 5 stars. It had its moments. But too much of it didn’t make sense, in the small details. Many of us SF fans like at least a bit more lip service paid to the S part of SF. Not nearly so good as Alien. Or Aliens, even. But better than the rest of the Alien movies. Good use of special effects. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/39 "2012-06-10T01:14:50Z")
I was excited by the trailers, and thought the story had a lot of possibilities. I’m also a huge fan of Ridley Scott. I couldn’t go last night, but I went to the first show this morning. Meh. Pretty crappy movie. No tension. No suspense. Not much of a sense of wonder. Terrible pacing. Inane dialogue. Characters so flat they didn’t even have one full dimension. And as **Qadgop** noted, no real “science” in this science fiction story, so that was a disappointment. I also agree with **drastic quench** that the chain was stupid beyond belief, but I will note that it didn’t have to be a Space Jockey that got impregnated; it seems that any old life form will do, which kind of makes the whole thing even dumber. I’d give it a 5.5 out of a possible 10. ETA: The .5 is for seeing Noomi Rapace’s butt. She totally fuckin’ rocks. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2012, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534/40 "2012-06-11T23:30:03Z")
I see Prometheus did a quite respectable $50 million box office this weekend. Quite respectable! Sequels ahoy! You have done well, my readers! When the Aliens swarm the Earth, I shall see that you are eaten first! Except for Snowboarder Bo. He’s definitely on the dessert menu. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-like-sf-go-see-prometheus-no-open-spoilers/624534.md?page=3)