2nd. article in our 7week series on Sci-Fi/Fantasy
By Comic Relief
Though we haven’t seen anything from Ridley Scott in a while, one of Hollywood’s science fiction heavy weights is about to return to the genre that made him great. One of Hollywood’s Godfathers of futuristic horror, most of Scott’s early work still hasn’t been surpassed creatively. So you may be wondering what made him so great. Well, we’ll explore that, but first let’s review the clip. Barely more than cutting room floor refuse, Scott’s Prometheus’ impressionistic trailer has kept audiences riveted for most of the last year.
How could you be anything but an innovator if you have a portfolio like this; “Someone to Watch Over Me” (1987),“Hannibal”(2001),“American Gangster “(2007),“Gladiator” (2000),“Black Hawk Down” (2001),“Thelma & Louise” (1991),“Kingdom of Heaven” – Director’s Cut (2005), “Alien” (1979),“Blade Runner” (1982), and many think your first two science fiction films are the best of your best work[1]? Acting wise, should I mention who he’s made stars out of: Sigourney Weaver, Russell Crowe, Tom Berenger, Mimi Rogers, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Julianne Moore, Gary Oldman,Ewan McGregor, Eric Bana, Josh Hartnett, Tom Sizemore, Brad Pitt, etc., but most of that is fairly subjective.
I want to discuss some of the film making assets we can use box office dollars to quantify. I would say the strongest weapons of Ridley’s arsenal are: 1. His gift for building strong characters, 2. His exceptional ability to put audiences in the worlds of his characters, and 3. His knowledge of when to step aside and let the work of others speak.
“Thelma and Louise” should confirm his genius for creating strong women characters, yet without his character “Ripley” would we have ever seen a woman perform that well in an action movie. Maybe the character’s similar name confirms he purely made sure a woman had all of the instincts he would endow himself with if he were a character.
Speaking of bringing audiences into the heads of the characters, claustrophobia was one of the fears you had to experience to understand the space horror in “Alien.” All the close-ups and tight spaces were the foundation of discomfort that made you jump, whenever one of the aliens pounced.
Speaking of set design, if nothing else, Ridley was a master collaborator. Despite the obvious narrative nature of the film, many attribute the visual nature of the original Alien movie to artist H.R.Giger.
So many film philosophers were provoked by his work. Quoting A.R. Duckworth,
“The film explores, through the detective figure Deckard, questions of
authenticity. An aspect of postmodernity is the loss of faith in traditional
meta-narratives [meta-narratives are the overarching stories that explains
and legitimises knowledge or belief [2].”
Past, present, and future all assembled for the same narrative, how many articles dedicated to post-modern design have referenced the visionary urban vistas of “Blade Runner?”
It may be a lot to ask for, yet since this is film is a prelude to his return to Blade Runner, let’s hope this is more of a return to form than a franchise sequel. Since neither Sigourney Weaver nor Harrison Ford plans to return for those respective films, we can only hope Ridley has another chapter of his own ground breaking vision to supply these new works.
Here’s another hint at what the film’s name means to a film derived from the “Alien” franchise.
Please join us for a discussion Thursday 4/5/2012@7pmE/12UTC
Also see: Science Fiction/Fantasy Influence on Our Culture: Part 1
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Article References:
[1] http://www.movieretriever.com/blog/692/the-ten-best-ridley-scott-films
[2] http://ardfilmjournal.wordpress.com/2008/08/26/blade-runner-and-the-postmodern-use-of-mise-en-scene/
comicreleaf
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Comic Relief
parisienne
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Open Book
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Fantastic CR!
I love Ridley’s work and did not know he did Thelma & Louise! Great film!
I’m looking forward to our discussion. 🙂
Thanks LB.
Yeah, he’s really unbelievable. I guess you could argue that we gain more from him keeping his sights on earth or in the present. Yet I think his period films “Gladiator”, Kingdom of Heaven”, “Robin Hood,” are cool also. You see all of these fantastic aspects to his work because he’s such a maniac regarding all forms of film design. Really I think his eye for these things is really really sexy. You don’t find many who are connoisseurs of narratives, scripts, actors, and production design.
ITA! CR
Hi CR!
THANK U! THANK U! Can I just mention how excited I am about Prometheus? I love, love, love the Ted trailer. That is such a smart trailer its so character driven without given away the plot. LOVE IT!! Also, I love how matter of fact Guy Pearce is when he delivers THE line. Its my fav. Do u know what line I’m talking about CR?
Anyway,James Cameron who?
PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! Don’t get me started on James Cameron. ….at least not until the discussion
OB,
How could anyone know????? O.K., I’m going to assume you’re talking about:
First guess:
“T.E Lawrence, posthumously of Arabia, but very much an Englishman favored pinching a burning match between his fingers to put it out.”
Second guess:
“The trick Potter, is not minding it hurts.”
I will not be surprised if I fail.
HAHAHA!!! Ahhh! Your second guess was the correct one.
“The trick Potter, is not minding it hurts.”
Sorry, I missed the discussion.
Thanks, I did much better than I expected.
O.k. I just checked IMDb and Michael Fassbender is second on the cast list. So hopefully he will not get killed at the beginning of the film. Perhaps he’ll make it 3/4 of the way through. LOL!! Anyway, I’m excited about this discussion.
See you then.
It surprises me how much the new trailer resembles the original.
OMG! This trailer gave me the chills. The production design is so seamless when u look at the two films side by side. How impressive……I loved the little doc. on H.R. Giger the concept behind the Alien designs are very erotic and like your looking at the inside of a womb. Also, the colors and textures are so dynamic in Prometheus and Alien. This is something I think Ridley is the master of. He makes his sets looks so real and alive u can actually hear and see a pulse. LOL!!
No words. The man is genius. Pure creative, story-telling genius.
Yeah, in terms of recognizing the genius, it’s kind of unavoidable. Thanks for the support. This week, this article has a really tough act to follow.
As opposed to the original TEASER trailer, it seems there’s an even bigger and more descriptive narrative trailer for Prometheus. Check it out.
In terms of the new trailer, I see a lot of unfamiliar faces. I think we can assume the body count will be really really high.
Everyone has worked with Fassbender, Scott worked with Elba on “American Gangster,” and like Sigourney Weaver, Noomi Rapace appears in her underwear for most of the shots in the trailer so I’m assuming all will probably last beyond the half way mark.
Excuse me as I nerd out a little…….. Michael, Idris and Charlize? I’m am so PSYCHED!!! THAT TRAILER LOOKS AWESOME!! I’m wearing my Alien costume to the movie of course. LOL!!
Why would I not put it past you, OB! hahahahahah!!!! 🙂 and yes, I agree with you. What a fabulous cast. Good Golly Miss Molly, this film has AMAZING written all over it!
HAHAHA!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
OB doesn’t have an “Alien” costume.
….’cuse while pick up my popcorn.
…… Smirkgigglesnort snort
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Ok, can we talk about the music for just a moment?
HOLY MACARONI that is some spine chilling soundtrack! It is haunting and suspenseful and truly captivates the tone of this film. It was composed by Marc Streitenfeld who also did Robin Hood, American Gangster, and The Grey.
I’m saving money in my money jar for this summer movie season!
Thank u for the info on Marc Streitenfeld Ahhh! I did not know he did RH & AG? I like his work. The Prometheus soundtrack is so hypnotic.
Oh LB,
It doesn’t take much to make me curious. Really, you made me do it. And OB I agree.
I hate how people you like the most get killed off first! hahaha!!!! I had not seen the Prometheus trailer until now. Holy cow! Pumped. Up!
I know right? Did u see the 2nd Prometheus extended Trailer and Ted trailer?
In the second trailer the last line by Fassbender suggest he will make to the end before getting axed.
Everyone-
Who do u think will be first to die in Prometheus? Also who do u think will make it to the end of the film?
CR,
Great Article! I love Ridley Scott’s work. Although I’m not very big on anything with aliens in it. Two words for me sum up Thelma and Louise: Brad Pitt.
I can’t wait to see Ted. I’ll be in the theater for that. I love Seth McFarlane.
OB,
I think Michael Fassbender will die first and Charlize makes it to the end. 🙂 (Girl Power!)
Paris,
Can’t promise anything Paris but I think you’re going to be missing out. Though “Ted” does sound funny, if it opens the same week as Prometheus at least you’ll have your choice of seats.
OB,
Oh my God, here we go again. If you haven’t picked it up yet readers, OB is from a psychotically competitive family who could make gardening into a violent Olympic sport.
O.k. here goes…
Noomi Rapace seems (in the trailers) to have a lot of lines, appears to be in her underwear a lot like Sigourney Weaver, and is number one on the IMDB page so I assume her character will be last to go if she does at all.
All in a ton of movies, Micheal, Idris, and Charlize seem pretty equal to me. But I’m going to use awards to create an order. Charlize has an Oscar. Idris just won a Golden Globe. Like Charlize, Micheal was rumored to be an Oscar contender this year, then wasn’t. So I assume 4. Charlize goes fourth. Idris goes third. And Michael goes second. Doesn’t really matter, none of them is the first.
Of the likely principle cast Logan Marshall-Green goes FIRST. There are a lot of second bananas who will likely be slaughtered before him, but when people comb your hair back and you look that much like Tom Hardy you’re the first who has to die. The quicker the better; babyfaces have to bite the dust. Actually I understand he’s been in a lot of stuff even if this is the first time I’ve seen him.
OB, you’re insane.
I won’t be able to make it to the convo tonight but Aliens always scared me when i was younger so I mght give it a try after i see Ted. Great Article!
Thanks Paris, talk to you soon.
I’m not always a horror fan but watching good theatrical design sets this movie apart from so many others.
The Alien films always scared me when I was younger too Paris! I watched through my fingers everytime and I still do that over a few scenes now, lol!
Not of fan of aliens bursting out of chests…Haha!
CR,
How do you think “Alien” compares to other sci/fi alien films? I don’t really pay much attention to them, but of course with Ridley’s amazing films, they are easily remembered.
LB,
Sorry, let me get this out of the way.
Hello,
Experienced and first time visitors, feel free to join in at any time.
Referring to your question I think Alien is one of the few masterpieces of the genre.
Let me bring up one of the movies that was positively influenced by this movie.
Great!
I know you’rr a horror fan. Do you like science fiction mixed in with your horror movies or are you more of a purist?
Oh gosh…Um…could you give me an example of each????
…..an example of each;
“Saw,” “Halloween,” I guess “scream,” “Blair Witch Project” were, I guess all horror films.
science fiction films would be “Star Wars,” Star Trek,” “Contact” etc.
Horror sci-fi Combos would be “Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” “2001” and “District 9”
Did that help?
Yes, I was just trying to think of sci/fi horror films and needed a little guidance. Give me a minute to think…:)
Honestly LB,
I’m pretty sure you’ve seen a lot more horror films than I have. I haven’t see most of the films I just listed.
Which ones are your favorites?
Surprisingly I have not because my tough counterpart reverts to a 12 year old girl when he sees trailers. Still love him though
As for Scifi/ horror, I think I am more of a purist but as long as the horror is well executed and somewhat believable then I can appreciate it.
Somehow I doubt he’s a twelve year old girl at work.
What’s the SCARRIEST FILM YOU HAVE EVER SEEN? Now let’s be honest.
No, and that’s why i dont get!!
SAW. Scared the bejeebus outta me. Have not seen the 42 others!!!
You’re very brave I can’t even watch that stuff.
I used to love how Hitchcock could scare you with the potential of things, the suggestion of horror, the implication of chaos. that sense of supernatural was so much more powerful to me.
For me Seeing blood almost seems to be a cop out to me.
I refuse to watch Saw, lol! I know alot of people think it’s tame but the Exorcist scared me. As someone who needs to be in control of most things, something taking over my body scares me so much! The next scariest film I’ve seen is The Ring. God’s honest truth, when I watched that film, a fly landed on the TV, the phone rang and I had a nose bleed. The next 7 where hell, lol!
Basically, anything to do with ghosts, possession and things coming into the home without permission scare me!
I definitely enjoy.thrillers more. Especially psychological ones. What Lies Beneath was fantastic!
By the way, “Distubia” was one of the scariest movies I’ve seen recently.
David Morse was so menacing, yet in a completely realistic way.
What Lies Beneath is good!
Ozzie,
was Michelle Phiffer in that movie? If so I agree that ghost tale was great.
I guess I liked the movie with the line “I see dead people” movie also.
Sorry “the sixth sense” by M. Night Shyamalan.
OB asked a James Cameron earlier. He directed the sequel to Alien, “Aliens.” Not surprisingly it made a huge amount of money.
He has recently said he would not be producing the sequel to Prometheus.
“A” should be “about.”
Though some might recognize a resemblance to Terminator, there were a lot of great scenes in that movie.
Hi everyone! 🙂
Cool article CR! I never knew Ridley Scott directed Thelma and Louise. He’s just gone further up in my esteem!
Hi Ozzie.
It’s strange how so many people say that? Are people suggesting that making that sci-fi films or horror films suggests the director is socially inept or something???
Well, my surprise was over that he had such a diverse portfolio of work. Whether he was inept or not at other genres hadn’t even crossed my mind, lol!
OH,
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHSAHAHAHAHA
I agree, Ozzie. He has such a vast repetoire and such distinct.style.
Of, course I have to agree with you.
Aliens: Scary Brilliant
Blade Runner: Vast western cultural vision
Hannibal: Psychological strategist
Gladiator: Political theorist
Thelma & Louise: Feminist
American Gangster : African American historian
(And most white directors Martin Scorsese, Woody Allen, James Cameron can’t address the African-American community at all.)
Kingdom of Heaven”; Religious Scholar
Black Hawk Down” : Political Scientist and Third World commentator.
Obviously, he really impresses me.
Can we clone him???
I second that.
Me three! 🙂
I wish I could remember more names but “The Thing,” “The Brother from Outer Space,” “Minority Report”, “War of the Worlds,”, “A.I,” “I Am Legend” were great films about; nature and environmental frustration technological anxiety, fear of social change, social ambivalence, and selfishness. In many cases the technology and aliens were purely metaphors.
Ozzie and LB,
Do you think sci-fi is a decent way to approach delicate topics or do you favor the direct approach?
Ooow, difficult question! Hmmmmm. I think it’s a fine line between making a point and lecturing someone on it. Then I guess it’s down to the individual as to how they’d like to learn of it. Personally, I listen to the news to get the lecture and watch the films to get the creative ideas flowing on how to handle the situation while being entertained!
Yes Ozzie. I think most people don’t like lectures unless they voluntarily signed up for the college course. Hahaha!!!
What about you CR?
I don’t know. I don’t care for lectures from the news; editorials seem to be some thing you should ask for. I think ‘Im purely looking for information when I sit down.
Director don’t necessarily have to be smart, but I do like those who have some truth telling agenda. Should they do it well, their audiences will usually respond well.
Speaking of “Thema and Louise” starting the venture planning to be a feminist might be hard, but planning to tell something of the truth might be an even harder job.
Scott, seems to prove that the genre doesn’t really matter.
Well, when I say news I mean that I can turn it off/close the paper/close the site when it annoys me, lol! I usually do a quick glance of the news and then read up on the parts I find interesting.
I absolutely love I Am Legend.
I saw that a couple of months ago and refuse to watch it again because of the dog. I sobbed my heart out! Apart from that, it’s a great film.
I can’t remember the dog’s name. But I way screaming too when he got too close to those zombie dogs.
I like Will Smith, but because of the “Fresh Prince form Bel Air” I sometimes have trouble taking him seriously.
“I am Legend” usually cures my problem.
This is my last question. How do you believe sci-fi fells? Or what makes a bad sfi-fi film? Please be honest.
1) really bad CGI
2) No realm of the “possible”. There has to be some sense of “it could happen”.
3) horrible dialogue.
4) crappy acting.
5) no purpose as far as underlying message.
🙂
thanks, those things make a horror film for me too, i’m speaking literally.
I agree with LB’s reasons!
CR,
A few questions:
What are the.origins of sci fi and why do we find it so compelling?
What is the water cooler talk about Prometheus and what are the box office/audience projections?
Oops. Guess I deserved that.
1. I read the origins of sci-fi go back at least as far as Greek tragedy. Can’t confirm but I guess as long as people have had anxiety about their environment and the future fantastic tales could exist to relieve or frustrate fears.
2. The water cooler for Prometeus is probably pretty good. I know of one place that makes projections. I can and will come back with that. Off the top of my head; “Men in Black” drops two weeks before it. SWATH drops one week before it, Charlize wins either way but that movie is probably in trouble if the first week does not do gangbusters the first week.
Nerds and Sci-FI fan boys have been waiting a long time for this, projections will probably be enormous even in the highly competitive summer season.
Nerds and Sci-FI fan boys have been waiting a long time for this, projections will probably be enormous even in the highly competitive summer season.
By the way speaking of water cooler; you may appreciate the “nerd surgery” executed by fan boys on the trailer produced by IGN.
At “Box Office Theory” the main reviewer was fairly reserved because I think he did not get the trailer, the music, etc. I skipped that critique because I was convinced about the trailer’s brilliance.
“…For now, I’m going with more a reserved $120-140 million.”
Again he found the trailer to be undesirable. Cough, cough, ahem.
http://boxofficetheory.com/2012/01/30/2012-forecast-top-10/
Another conservative bid, Lee at “Lee’s Movie Info” thought it was a
good idea to judge the movie by it previous box office. Much of the
other information posted is useful also.
Title: Alien
Release: 1979 May 25
First weekend: $3,522,581
Theatres: 91
Yet, I think this review is equally obscure for all of the information
that isn’t present.
• The admissions cost of movies was much cheaper
• Movie production costs were lower
• Special effects were far less developed technologically
• This movie spawned it’s own on going franchise since the first
• This list doesn’t even take into account “Aliens” which made more money
• Fans receive they’re information primarily by the internet today
• This evaluation doesn’t take into account the other movies that will
be competing for audience dollars the same weekend.
This review is conservative even by bean counter standards.
http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/Open-Compare.php?c=677
Since many are presuming “Alien” is more about the “Space Jockeys” than the acid spiting monsters we’ve grown accustomed to. I head back toward geek centers for their take since the bean counter appraisals seemed so bland and uninspired.
Ryan Lambie of Den of Geek.com seems to believe we may not get our older brother or father’s “Alien.” This may only complicate the question more than predict feature film success.
http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/1060988/our_predictions_for_prometheus_and_where_it_will_fit_into_the_alien_franchise.html
Staying far away from any like a box office prediction, Istory.net goes far deeper into the background and plot that I expected.
Following the philosophical ramifications of the film s some how doesn’t explain how much audiences may respond to Scott’s new work. On the other hand writer RODION does a masterful job of discussing other pop cultural influences and other SCI-FI supportive narratives.
http://www.istorya.net/forums/blogs/rodsky/1557-thoughts-and-predictions-on-ridley-scotts-upcoming-film-prometheus.html
LB,
As much as it’s hard to find robust predictions, I would just stick to the geeks on this one. Word of mouth and fan boy and girl culture tends to make or break films like these. Bean counters are fairly conservative making it hard to dignify their comments. The subjective stew of the others is hard to draw a bead from yet everyone seems very optimistic.
Thanks everyone for coming. Hope I did not talk too much.
Night CR! I’ve had fun! 🙂
Night everyone else too!
t
HI CR and all LIH-family-members,
I am so sorry that I’ve missed so many great discussions recently but work got in the way.
I can only totally agree with all the admiration for Ridley Scott because some of my all-time-favorites are among his movies, like Gladiator (I am a HUGE Russell Crowe fan!), Alien, Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise. I just wanted to add another of his movies here, from 2006 „when he was lazy and wanted to make a movie near his home“ (as he said in an interview): „A Good Year“ once more with Russell Crowe. Although this film is a bit ucommon for both him and RC it is a witty comedy with sophisticated dialogues, an awesome cinematography and a terrific soundtrack. In case you need a 2-hours-mood-elevator, just watch it! You will feel better afterwards and I bet you would like to clutch your backpack and hop onto the next plane to Paris and further on to the Provence. ☺
I don’t know why my avi changed, sorry.
Sony,
Of course everyone has missed you.
I saw “A Good Year” and it was fantastic, and as you said completely
unusual for all involved. I guess Scott needed his primary muse/mouth
piece/scene stealer/ (Crowe) available to make that trip into oddly
tranquil narrative territory. Of course that film makes it all the
more amazing that he could return to “Alien” shores.
I never claimed to reference all of Scott’s work, I only meant to
mention much of what he is known for. That and “A Good Year” might
have been extremely surprising for audiences familiar with the science
fiction incidentally blockbuster work of his early career.
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