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centrosphere
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 9:53 AMThe more images I see, the more I think that this time Scott wants to distance itself from some things in Alien by bringing us the opposite:
[img]https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/542082_394302570592871_256360704387059_1245680_1201617675_n.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i.minus.com/itrza7xhB8eVO.gif[/img]
[img]http://i43.tinypic.com/k0nksi.jpg[/img]
We are very far away from the "used universe" concept as well as from the "space truckers" guys from Nostromo. Prometheus is deliberately luxurious!
I´m curious, I really want to know what message Scott wants to throw us.
23 Replies
centrosphere
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 9:56 AMLet me elaborate.
We all can agree that Prometheus is a top of the line ship, a scientific and exploratory vessel that must be well equiped for it´s mission.
This is something very different from affluence. Specially if in the end people hypersleep most of the time and must sweat for their salaries when they arrive at their whatever destination.
So, the luxury, to me, is proof that Scott want to make some statements about the society that built Prometheus. What do you think?
want-to-see-prometheusNOW!
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 10:10 AMTo me the crew in Prometheus and the crew in Alien are a different class of people. The former being a bunch of academics or college types, at least Noomi and some of the other main characters. I take that back. Maybe, well I should say it seems there's a variety of people among the crew. In Alien all the members seem to be pure working class. I can image them as union workers on an auto assembly line or something...
PUNX
Art DirectorMemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 10:11 AMScott himself said that ""used universe" or "grunge" look had been done to death since Blade Runner (nice of him to remind everyone that he was one of the (if not the) first to bring us that look). As in Alien the whole truckers in space look had not been done before, Scott tends not to do stuff we've seen (or he has done) before.
The more I see of this film the more it reminds me of a head on collision of Chris Foss and 2001!
http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/sariefaerie/random083-1.jpg
want-to-see-prometheusNOW!
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 10:20 AMI was going on about class differences and forgot to make my point. I thought maybe the Prometheus crew were just better pampered compared to the guys on the Nostromo. They were lucky enough to end up with better facilities. Punx seems to have a better answer.
Batchpool
MemberFacehuggerApr-28-2012 10:33 AMLooking at some of the new releases that are coming up over the next year, a lot of set designs seem to be similar in nature to Prometheus, so I think this film is already influencing current set production standards. I think that the set design for Alien had a very analogue feel, particularly when you compare the technology of the time to what we have now and what makes up the background wallpaper to any scene. IMO its the advancement in studio production technology that is allowing the ability to put on screen a look that George Lucas was probably trying to get when he revisited Star Wars, perhaps he should have held back a bit more before attempting Phantom Menace. From a class point of view I bet you won't see anyone smoking a cigarette in Prometheus, or I would be very surprised if anyone is shown smoking.
PUNX
Art DirectorMemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 10:37 AMThere was already a class difference in Alien, Parker and Brett were the blue-collar workers on the Nostromo, everyone else seemed of a higher social class (or were told they were, because I assume being captain,first officer, warrant... Navigation... and science... all took some higher eduction to achieve). And lets not forget that in England by higher social status you have more of a (if not definite chance of being an officer). I think this is kinda' confirmed by the lines "Get started on the floor panel I'll be RIGHT DOWN" and "If you have any trouble I'LL BE ON THE BRIDGE!" We have to remember that that film was made in the late 70's and there was massive class arguments and divides here (in England).
I am just curious to see if the attitude toward sex (i.e anyone who is willing) is the same
http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/sariefaerie/random083-1.jpg
centrosphere
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 10:40 AM@wtspn,
Maybe, but: a) there was a kind of class division within the Nostromo´s crew, and we can see its consequences in the very first scenes; b) even in the best exploratory vessels today _ let´s say, the kind of vessel that goes to Antarctic to conduct research _ you don´t see chandeliers. Scott is going over the top, and likely for some meaningful reason.
@punx,
I do agree, but I wasn´t doing advocacy for a return to the "space truck" look. In other words, I´m not speculating why we don´t see the "used universe" in Prometheus (in an earlier thread I even pointed that it would be weird in this kind of ship), but why we see so much luxury...
Batchpool
MemberFacehuggerApr-28-2012 11:00 AM@ punx,
I get the impression that the role of David is what is going to define class division. I think he is going to be the servant/slave to the rest of the crews elite class. This may be a bad comparison but if you remember the role of the original Kryten in Red Dwarf before Lister started working on his attitude.
Batchpool
MemberFacehuggerApr-28-2012 11:10 AM@ centrosphere
I would like to sum up the three above images.
Students Union, Sports Hall and Board Room.
allinamberclad
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 11:17 AMI agree.
This is a totally different treatment than Alien - [where Prometheus [i]does[/i] actually share some of the sensibility of "2001: A Space Odyssey". I had a painful discussion about this somewhere else].
I'd even put it slightly more strongly than you: to me, it's above, "luxury" - this is opulence: (certainly in terms of these particular quarters. Arguably, perhaps, the rest of the ship), this is the environment of an Emperor - or one who is sponsored by an Emperor.
This is like a Roman State barge.
I think Scott's message is perhaps a little less about the wider Society and a little more about the Empire of a single man.
PUNX
Art DirectorMemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 11:21 AMBatchpool i must say I love your GIF that thing scared me sh*tless when I was younger - There are so may similarities between Alien and Darkstar... but when a painted beach ball and monster gloves work that surely shows the exposure and expectancy of an audience that gives me some hope for Prometheus because Scott has agin and again proved he understands it.
http://i668.photobucket.com/albums/vv50/sariefaerie/random083-1.jpg
centrosphere
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 11:35 AM"[i]This is like a Roman State barge[/i]."
Beautifully said, @allinamberclad...home run.
"[i]I think Scott's message is perhaps a little less about the wider Society and a little more about the Empire of a single man[/i]."
Or maybe about the kind of society that allows for the Empire of a single man.
This sets the stage for this:
...and if there is a parallel, and what they find at LV-223 is the empire of a single man thru the mirror of alieness? A meeting of emperors?
Because, you see, this is definitely not as they disembarked in Coruscant, the center of a galactic Empire. LV-223 stinks of death. It´s a ruin, or something worse.
What if advanced civilizations doesn´t need "populations"? David sets the curse; some future Weyland could live in an world served only by Davids.
What if the Space Jockey emperor is a solitary being, mad in his solitude, pampered and defended by his nanotech servants?
Shane
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 12:00 PMI always liked "Compare a top of the line science labs to the cab of an 18 wheeler".
That is pretty much the juxtaposition I view it as.
Biehn_Bandit
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 12:26 PMUpper class people don't smoke? That's a new one to me.
allinamberclad
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 12:32 PM@centrosphere
I follow you. There are some interesting and sophisticated thoughts, there.
Shane
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 12:35 PMGrunge is always in to me.
Then again, I wake up often thinking it is still 1994.....
Batchpool
MemberFacehuggerApr-28-2012 2:43 PMJust to clarify my point about smoking, the Prometheus appears to come across as a space bound university. From a class viewpoint, the suggestion I am inferring is that in all academic institutions there no smoking policies. If we are to believe the crew are the academic elite then it would be safe to assume no smoking. Upper Class does not always go hand in hand with academic, as you can also have Upper Class and thick as a brick. It is certainly the case that the ruling elite in the European Parliament are allowed to smoke and that there is smoking allowed in the Parliament buildings of London. As for the rest of us smoking has become a big no no. With respect to Prometheus, smoky rooms would deliver a different ambiance to the mood and feel, which can be seen in full effect in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. If by some strange chance someone has footage of Peter Weyland saying “ I am God”, whilst sparking up a Woodbine, then I’ll be more than happy to run down my street naked with a firework up my backside. Now that would be class.
Biehn_Bandit
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 2:54 PMThat's a reasonable explanation. Except we don't know if the ship is regarded as an academic institution. And not everyone on the ship is a part of the academic elite necessarily. If Janek decides to light up a Newport, who but Vickers is going to tell him no? And Vickers is corporate. I've met and read about a few CEOs and administrators who I wouldn't class as academically elite. Then there is the security detail and how they behave according to their level of discipline.
But it could be due to your reason, or that smoking is not allowed aboard space ships, in space, or in lab environments in general, due to safety/hazard reasons.
shardy
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 4:52 PMi am delighted that Scott went
for the pristine / clean look for this film
had he gone the dirtier route, i still would have been into it,
but this direction makes sense to me. perhaps the timeline that
this story takes place in, the poorer caste system (for this time)
were unable to afford the education to be able to get jobs that
were off world(?)
in any case, this should be an interesting ride
silica
MemberOvomorphApr-28-2012 5:27 PMWhen it comes to set building - dirty is more expensive. But honestly, jetplanes looked so nice back in the day when they were brand new. Today, they look and smell like buses, often.
Grindolf
MemberOvomorphApr-29-2012 12:29 AM
Ridley comes from the school of design, first you start with the story where its written that the ship is a luxury ship and then from there you design how it will look. Obviously the script was geared towards making this a stark contrast to the Nostromo but if they wrote :Open on the Prometheus a state of the art turd: I'm sure something would seem a tad off .
Grindolf
MemberOvomorphApr-29-2012 12:31 AM
Plus Weyland was probably thinking "Well if im going to hide on this fucking thing might as well make it a sexy beast"
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