I'll present my detailed, spoiler-filled review of Ridley Scott's Prometheus (2012) one week from today, here on the blog (so see it before then; twice if you can...).
While watching the new film, keep in mind this matrix, and see how many categories Prometheus fulfills. This may be one manner of judging how much of an Alien "prequel" the Ridley Scott film really is. Does it live or die by the conventions of the established series, or does it feature new tropes and ideas?
While watching the new film, keep in mind this matrix, and see how many categories Prometheus fulfills. This may be one manner of judging how much of an Alien "prequel" the Ridley Scott film really is. Does it live or die by the conventions of the established series, or does it feature new tropes and ideas?
|
Title
|
Alien (1979)
|
Aliens (1986)
|
Alien3 (1992)
|
Alien Resurrection (1997)
|
|
Android
|
Ash
|
Bishop
|
Bishop
|
Call
|
|
Company Man
|
Ash
|
Burke
|
85,
Bishop
|
No
|
|
Comic Relief
|
Parker,
Brett
|
Hudson
|
Morse,
85
|
Perez
|
|
In awe of the alien
|
Ash
|
Bishop
|
Golic
|
Gediman
|
|
Joseph Conrad
|
Nostromo
Narcissus
|
Sulaco
|
Sulaco
|
No
|
|
Pregnancy/Gestation
|
Kane
|
Colonists
|
Ripley.
Dog.
|
Alien
Queen
Purvis
|
|
Self-Sacrifice
|
No
|
Gorman
Vasquez
|
Dillon
Ripley
|
Christie
Purvis
|
|
Failed Mission
|
Dallas
in the
vents
trying to
flush
out alien
|
First
engagement
with
aliens in
sub-level
3
|
Prisoners
attempt
to
entrap alien
|
Military
attempts
to
breed and control
aliens
as bio weapon.
|
|
Ship/Facility Destroyed
|
Nostromo
|
LV-426
Colony
|
Evacuation
pod
|
Auriga
|
|
New Alien Life Form
|
Space
jockey
Egg
Facehugger
Chestburster
Adult
alien
|
Queen
Alien
|
Dog
Alien
|
Newborn
|
|
Surprise Death/Attack
|
Kane
chest-bursted.
Alpha-male Dallas killed
half-way through.
Ash decapitated.
|
Bishop pulped
by Queen
on
Sulaco.
|
Andrews dragged
through Cafeteria
ceiling
|
No
|
Interesting stuff. I'll look forward to the review next week. I'm heading out to the theatre
ReplyDeleteon Thursday night for a viewing.
As an aside - always thought Andrews would have made an excellent newscaster, starting each broadcast out with his patented "This is rumor control. Here are the facts..." catch phrase.
Hi woodchuckgod,
DeleteI can't wait to read your thoughts on Prometheus. I'm looking forward to posting my review on Tuesday. It's great to have Ridley Scott back in the sci-fi/horror genre.
Oh my gosh, you're totally right about Warden Andrews in Alien 3. That opener "This is rumor control...here are the facts." would be perfect for today's cable news.
Someone ought to steal that...
best,
John
Just got back from my screening. I'll look forward to Tuesday. Until then - I have a lot to sift through in my head. As Ash might say, I'm "still collating".
DeleteFor now, I'll simply keep my response to a succinct and spoiler-free "Wow." Wish I had time to go see it again.