Quote from: skhellter on Dec 31, 2016, 05:16:36 PM
The Covenant crew might be under the impression that "paradise" is just a secret terraformed planet (created by humans) and that the "strange signal" comes from an old Weyland research station that is in trouble.
From above they examine and find breathable air, lots of absolutely earth-like forests.... the buildings they see might be confused with human settlements, etc..
In short, they have no idea about "Engineers", their Paradise or the Prometheus expedition..
So they just land, assume that everything is fine with the local earth-like fauna/flora and immediately try to find the signal's source.
"maybe it's just a busted communications tower" and they think they can help.
I think that's the easiest way to explain away the lack of special hazard suits.
Which makes them look even more stupid because they didn't bother to confirm and verify before putting
all their lives at risk (plus those back at base, who they'd be in danger of infecting - and who shouldn't even let them back on board, if following basic scientific protocol).
All of this is pretty bizarre when you remember how Ripley, '
Alien', addressed this
precise issue as only causing problems if people didn't follow the kind of training even space-going tug jockeys are getting.
Quote from: Ingwar on Jan 01, 2017, 10:00:59 PM
Regarding taking helmets off in Prometheus.
[as they reach an area of the structure that has water streaming down and the sun shining through the open ceiling]
Charlie Holloway: Look at this!
Elizabeth Shaw: Oh, Charlie!
Ford: Jesus! Sun light's heating the water. Check out the humidity.
Charlie Holloway: Yeah, look at the CO2 levels. Outside it's completely toxic and in...in here, there's nothing. It's breathable.
[as Holloway prepares to take off his helmet]
Elizabeth Shaw: What are you doing? Charlie, don't be an idiot!
Charlie Holloway: Hey, don't be a skeptic. Right? There's something generating an atmosphere. David?
David: Dr. Holloway is correct.
Ford: Cleaner than earth, actually.
Charlie Holloway: They were terraforming here!
Elizabeth Shaw: Please, don't do...
Charlie Holloway: Look, Eli...
Elizabeth Shaw: Please, don't!
Charlie Holloway: Eli, I'm not wearing this thing anymore! Wish me luck, babe.
[he takes off his helmet, takes a large breath of the air and laughs]
Elizabeth Shaw: You crazy bastard!
Again, that's just referring to chemical composition, not what might be living down there. It also meant they weren't even thinking of their
own bacteria/etcetera contaminating their
surroundings. Holloway was bad enough, but then they
all go and do it - including Shaw, who was the one character pointing out it was against basic scientific (and archeological) protocols.
Real scientists had a
lot of problems with how badly that film misrepresented their fields. Some of their criticism is heard here (along with constructive suggestion for how the various inaccuracies could have simply been fixed)
Quote from: anduu on Jan 02, 2017, 11:19:02 PM
Exactly...What kind of movie would it be if we had to watch them shamble around in hazmat suits for 90% of the movie...
Also see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspension_of_disbelief.
The Nostromo crew did it - as did the Prometheus crew, for a while. If anything, I'd argue it made those scenes a little more tense, not less.
Besides, they'd have clear visors, just like in '
Prometheus'. It's not like the audience would find it mysterious to identify which actor is speaking.