We have just uploaded our Alien: Engineers Podcast, the 33rd episode of the AvPGalaxy Podcast. The 33rd episode is our episode that takes a look at the earlier incarnations of Prometheus from when it was a straight-up Alien prequel. We walk through the early script by Jon Spaihts and discuss it in detail.
Our 33rd episode is the Alien: Engineers podcast where we discuss the earlier Prometheus scripts by Jon Spaiht’s. This concept art is of the Ultramorph from the end of the script.
RidgeTop, Xenomorphine and I are joined by special community guest, HuDaFuk. Regulars to the forum will recognize his name but for those who might not read the message boards, you will most likely recognize his work from Xenopedia, the AvP Wikia, where HuDa is an administrator.
This episode is a longer one, running at just under 2 and a half hours in length but we cover the Alien: Engineers script in some great detail. As well as summarizing the events of the script, we also offer our own thoughts, comparisons, and criticisms. If you’re interested in reading the script yourself you can find it in our downloads section (along with many other drafts of the various other Alien/vs/Predator films).
We’d love to hear what you think about our latest episode. Did you agree or disagree with our assessment of Alien: Engineers? Or perhaps you just have some comments you’d like to make? Feel free to let us know down below!
That seems to be the general consensus! We never really plan them out to a specific time though. They just take as long as they take. Glad you enjoyed - you and tmjhur.
Hey chrom, did you get chance to get it up?
I agree a combination of the two writers would have worked best but much more in favor of Spaights version with the pacing tidied up, the characters more developed and the aliens more lethal and less cannon foddery.
Fantastic! Thanks mate. I look forward to reading it!
No worries mate. I completely understand. I'm exclusively a car journey listener myself so my podcast listening time is just about an hour every day. I appreciate you taking the time to listen.
That's certainly a possibility and not one I'd argue against! Personally I just feel as if Fassbender and Lindelof greatly improved the character.
I understand where you're coming from. We all wanted Ridley Scott to come back and we got that. It didn't equate to an amazing film.
Thanks.
I finally made it through the whole thing. Longer podcasts are fine, but they take a little longer to get through. Interruptions, double back to re-listen to the section I missed, that sort of thing. It's obvious you all put a lot of thought into the topic and the discussion. I agree the aliens were too easily defeated and there were some bits that needed smoothing. It was, of course, a mistake to let Lindelof near any of it.
In terms of android behavior, I like full evil android David. The idea that he "overcame his programming" doesn't necessarily mean what we think it means. He probably had an evolving AI. That's a common enough trope in SF. He's supposed to be a learning machine. Maybe he learned things that affected his worldview. Maybe he had soem logic errors in his subroutines
I don't agree with the idea that Giger could have had a field day with the Spaihts script. Look, I'm a lifelong fan of Giger's work. But I doubt - seriously doubt - that Giger could have made a very a big contribution to the project. Maybe he could have done something, but I think the Giger who made the works that affected so many people sort of went away by the mid nineties. Even the work he did for Alien 3 was mostly small drawings. There is really no sign that he was still doing a lot after that.That's probably a remarkably unpopular thing to say; but all anyone has to do is prove me wrong and I'll cheerfully recant it. Ironically, it's much like Vicker's line in the movie. "A king has his reign, then he dies." And Giger has no heir, literally or figuratively speaking. It's unfortunate. That said, I hope Scott's team will do a fine pastiche of Giger for Covenant and future movies.
Anyway, good job on the podcast.
Hey Chrom! I've sent you an email to the address in your profile. Thanks man, I appreciate you letting us know.
I did!
Was a part of a larger course, but AI was a specific section, yes. Back in the late nineties, although the basic principles still mostly apply.
Yeah. That's one of the more irritating points. Whilst I freely acknowledge that Lindelof fixed issues I had with Spaiht's work, conversely he made other points worse. They traded one script with issues (though I still stand by the opinion it was a better piece) for another script with issues.
and 'Su-LAH-co' not 'SULACCO' ......just sayin'
It bothers me even more that they thought the black goo was a good idea. put it in a bottle and call it LPD - Liquid Plot Device.
No disagreeing with you there. There was no doubting at all that Prometheus was a part of the Alien universe. You couldn't escape that fact!
On a personal level I disagree with you there. For me it was the Aliens. They were the reason I had nightmares for so many years, they were what I was fascinated with.
I was also drawn in heavily by the mystery and intrigues of the Space Jockeys so I definitely understand the allure and appeal of any mysteries in Prometheus. However, for a film that was supposed to be there to be chockablocked with answers, it was a frustratingly vague film. Just my stance, anyway.
Thank you, kindly.
Exactly how I feel. I would love to see those earlier drafts (especially the one where they just find the Derelict, rather than pyramids. I wonder how differently that one plays out because I couldn't imagine them finding any terraforming technology within the ship. It'd seem more of a stretch.
There's plenty of things I enjoy in Prometheus too. I just find it a very frustrating film to watch.
I would say that there is a film somewhere between this script and Prometheus that would have been incredible and scary. I think if you had cut the original xenos out, changed planets, and made it less busy the spaights draft would have been great.
As it is I feel Prometheus is heavily flawed and contains almost no dread or atmosphere, I find the soundtrack was more uplifting than not. Its confusing and overly vague, not mysterious.
Not to say there isn't things I enjoy about Prometheus, its just has so many problems.
Here's a direct link! http://www.avpgalaxy.net/files/podcasts/avpg_pc_episode33.mp3
I'd never really thought about those as I didn't really consider them homages to any of the previous films.
Stuff like David playing basketball like Ripley or the countdown timer in Prometheus etc. I would like to hear you guys opinion on whether or not simply putting something in a movie as a homage to earlier work is it a nostalgia thing and does it add to the movie ?
That's the problem with longer ones. Glad you're enjoying it so far though!
America is a lot bigger as well though. You might be spread out.
I would bet that the UK has a bigger fanbase than the US, in 24 years of fandom I've actually never even met another person that was into the series like I am. It doesn't mean there isn't a big fanbase here, but I don't think its all that common.
Thanks! It's nice to know we do have regular listeners who enjoy listening to us!
It's certainly not out of the realms of possibility! From the way Ridley is talking about Covenant, it seems like it'll be focusing heavily on the creation of the Aliens and those threads of creation and evolution of the Alien were more apparent in the Alien days of Prometheus. I would not be surprised to see the proto-Aliens return.
I'm glad you enjoyed the listen! I'm pleased to hear we helped you in your understanding of the script and how we feel about it.
We never really set any particular lengths but sometimes they just run long because they have to or they run short because you can't really stretch it. We just let them run as long as the conversation dictates.
What do you mean? The issues with sequels/prequels having repeat sequences, dialogue? That kind of thing?
Indeed! Poor RidgeTop is always outnumbered!
That's a hard question and I'm not sure how I'd measure that. Alien guests at conventions are generally quite popular. We tend to have special events and etc about them over here. Of course, they were largely filmed over here too so there's that.
Thanks. Really . Enjoyed it.
The longer the pod cast better.
Xenomorphine: you studied AI ?
Wow.
One day it would be nice if you guys talked about the whole homage/throwback thing.
Nice to hear Huda !
Thanks
Just out of curiosity is there a bigger following of the franchise in the UK then America ?
In my opinion Alien: Engineers was still exploring those new angles, just with a more coherent structure. Like we said in the podcast, it wasn't a flawless script by any stretch but it was a better foundation.
I do wonder how it would have fared had they put more focus on the proto-Aliens and not trying to shoehorn in the classic ones. I'd have been interested in seeing that.
I'm not surprised. They butchered a much better put together effort.
Thanks.