Hi.
Just watched Prometheus the other day. Great film, if a little underwhelming. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Great soundtrack too (especially the "Going In" track). This is just what I got, but was Shaw mentally ill throughout the film? Some of her decisions, dialogue and actions seemed to indicate so imo. Please note the following is not a criticism of the film itself or suggestions to fix anything.
1) Choose to believe: Not a big one. In the briefing sequence, she is questioned about her evidence. She says she doesn't know, which is fine. But then she follows up with "but its what I choose to believe". Something like "don't know, but that's what we're hoping to find out" would have been the more appropriate thing to say imo. Like I said, not a biggie, but kind of acts as a foreshadowing to how she behaves later in the film.
2) No security: Shaw asks Jackson what his toaster is for. He replies its for expedition security, which she flat-out rejects. Why? You're on an alien planet, and are about to go exploring in an alien structure. What sense does it make to not bring security?
3) Bagged NG (Engineer) head: During the storm sequence, the bagged head falls out. Shaw decides to run out into the storm to recover it, despite Holloway's warning, endangering not only her life, but also the entire crew's. Surely another sample could have been retrieved later from the other dead NG bodies?
4) Who made them?: So you get proof of who actually made humanity (not a Christian God) thereby disproving your religion, but instead of acknowledging this but still holding on to the belief, you shift the point to "who made them"?
5) Travelling to their home world: David offers to take Shaw back to Earth. She instead opts to push forward to the NG's homeworld. How exactly is this a rational decision? You're solely relying on a decapitated/possibly damaged android to pilot an alien aircraft to a completely different planet with possibly limited food and water supplies, no crew, with all sorts of known and unknown risks, using technology you've barely had a chance to interact with, and risking the possibility of complete isolation from the rest of humanity. Would it not have been better to head back to Earth, an arguably less risky journey, then lead a second expedition using the knowledge and evidence gained from the Prom expedition?
6) Trusting David: This one is a bit iffy. Does anyone know if she finds out proper that David infected Holloway? I think she did. Given this, was there any reason to trust David so much despite knowing he was responsible for infecting your significant other? In fact, its not even brought up when she goes to retrieve him. Yes, yes, he's the only way out of the planet. Still, would it not have been better to wait it out perhaps with the supplies you have and wait for a rescue team to arrive (similar to the protocol they had in Aliens)?
Just some of my thoughts. I could be wrong, but I'm curious as to what others think.
