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Point 1) David had already confirmed that the air was breathable. It was safe to take off the helmets. In reality, would they have done a full labaortory test type study on the compostion of the air inside the temple? Probably – but who wants to see that? Why didn't Dallas just insist on putting Kane back into the freezer? That was probably the best protocal.
Like i said, it would be fine if one or two people doing it but the whole team was too much. I am not calling for a scene of them testing out out the air particulates or anything like that. What was the purpose of the whole team doing it? A couple of folks walking without the helmets conveys the same as the whole team, correct?
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Point 2) As already mentioned in a previous post. The Nostromo – an old bucket of rust, had the ability to decipher the signal from the derelict. I don't think it's a stretch to believe that David (a state of the art animated computer) had the ability to learn the basic language. If the plot hadn't made the point of asserting that Earth ancient language was based upon the engineers native tongue – I'd agree with you.
If the Space Jocks wanted to keep people out they would have left a simple warning that could be easily decipherable. And the bigger problem that i have is the operating of the computers, like i said, speaking is something totally different than reading. Dave knowing what a button means what ANY button means is pretty much out there, way too out there even for a sci-fi flick. Or at least any film that is being sort of serious.
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Point 3 A) As mentioned elsewhere. Faifield is a geologist (he loves rocks). He's not a navigator nor cartographer... and whilst I'd agree that it would have benefited from a little exposition as to why they got lost, the fact they got themselves lost isn't unthinkable. By the time they'd re-established contact with the ship, they were already in a position where they couldn't leave the temple.
The problem with this ISNT the characters themselves but the situation that was setup in the movie. Not only do they have communication with the Prometheus but the Prometheus should be checking on them and has a total readout of what was scanned. So there are several levels of backups if the characters themselves arent paying attention, so what we have here for these characters to get lost is a complete F up on all levels which, for me, is a bit too much to call on. This happening to the Nostromo crew is fine because they are not scientists going somewhere prepared for something like this. For this to happening be to this crew would mean that they are just a whole mess of F ups that shouldnt be out there in the first place.
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Point 3 B) The duo, one can assume, are unaware of what the other group encountered in the ampule room. For all they know, the black goo has always been there... and one assumes it may be the furthest point away from what was detected as a life form? However, Milburn is a biologist, despite his Scooby Doo like tendencies to 'run'... so he sees a life form and is naturally intrigued. After all, Kane was intrigued enough to look into an opening alien egg. Who the fu*k would do that???
Again, what the movie set up for the viewers.
So after the people that stayed ran out of that room no one ever bothered to contact Fif and Mil about not going there?And they wanted to leave because they were freaked when they saw huge alien dead bodies. How does it go from freaked out about aliens to being ok when seeing aliens?
Talking about a missing scene, there should have been a scene that shows Milburn calming down or something. And I dont remember a scene of Kane freaking out at all.
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Point 3 C) The entire hammerpede scene was intended (one would think) to reference Alien and what happened to Kane (or certainly reference the atmosphere of those scenes) and to show that the black goo has the ability to alter the DNA/biology of whatever organic matter that comes into contact with it.
Dont just put a scene just to make a reference if it isnt actually going to help the story in this flick.
That looses the point of the scene completely.
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As far as Fairfield coming back to the ship. I thought it was actually quite a good scene... and although one could argue that his zombified presence wasn't the main antagonist, so somewhat superfluous, it did have the result of making it clear to the audience that the engineers aren't the benign higher life form they were hoping for.
How does zombie Fif show the engineers arent benign?
From the start of the movie we are shown the black goo is bad and kills stuff, i dont see how showing it again while killing random background character helps the story. All this time should have been spent in figuring out what the goo actually is and what it actually does. Goo is bad has been clearly stated at this point.
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Point 4 A) I think it's reasonable to assume that both he and Shaw would be disappointed that they found a tomb instead of a living/breathing culture. Clearly Holloway is the more emotional/less scientifically detached of the two... Ergo, feels more disappointed.
Yes i did excuse away this at the end but this kind makes the character a bit out there to actually discover all of this yet still be so disappointed that he is going to go on a bender.
QuotePoint 4 B) Not sure what you mean??? His urge to be at the forefront of the expedition was greater than his fear/suspicion that he was infected. As soon as he realized it was that serious, he knew the game was over...
I did say that this was mainly a gateway scene to other silliness. But is still out there that he will endanger the whole thing simply to see something.
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I'd disagree about Shaw's conversation about not being able to give life... as this is a key theme of the movie. What would you expect? A scene at the start of the movie with her filling in a baby adoption form?
I dont think there was a need for it period.
An infected Holloway does it with Shaw and gets an alien baby that is 3 months on even though she wasnt preggers when they left is completely fine. The added level of, "Oh my god! I cant get pregnant!" Doesnt add to the fact that it's an alien baby that is suddenly inside you.