Throwback Thursday: Prometheus Re-Watch

For the first time since the midnight release, I watched Prometheus. I loved the film the first time I watched it; I found it thought provoking and an interesting concept of how life began, and even a realistic representation of what science could evolve into.

In case you couldn’t guess, SPOILERS.

The only issue I had was that some things about the Engineers made no sense to me. Having the knowledge that this is a prequel to the Alien franchise (which I have never seen, sorry…) many parts of the story don’t seem to correlate to Alien. In the comfort of my own bed, my boyfriend and I discussed the movie in the context of other people’s reviews and in the relation to Alien (my boyfriend loves them). 

The Opening

I was told that people have different interpretations of opening scene. My first (and then second watch) made me think the opening was an Engineer left behind to create life. This was done by his body breaking down to his DNA, allowing for evolution to occur. Any other interpretation is lost on me. What else could even be occurring? He didn’t know what he was drinking? They didn’t plan on evolution or humanity? If you have a different idea, please explain it in a comment. It seems to me that reviews/viewers are overanalyzing the opening when it was fairly cut and dry.

Sexualization

If you are new to my blog, please note that I will almost always need to discuss the representation of women. In this movie, the women aren’t at all sexualized. 

The relationship between Elizabeth and Holloway isn’t shown by sex, it’s shown through mutual respect, shy smiles, and hand holding. Then when they have sex it’s a plot point. It isn’t done out of a need for the audience to see a naked woman. 

The women are also in space suits/outfits that are equal to the men’s. So often in science fiction, for example some of the outfits in the Mass Effect series, the women are in space suits/armor that has boob cupping pieces…which is in no way realistic. Female astronauts and females in the military do not have special women only uniforms, they have their size. 

However, Elizabeth Shaw is naked in the film again. I bet some readers thought I’d forget that.  But if you see a woman giving herself a C-section and think it is sexual, then you need to see a doctor. Your mind is fucked up. It might be strange to some women that this was a plot point but I think it shows her strength as a woman in a womanly way. Too often feminists want women to basically be men. Shaw experiences something that men and even most women understand but cannot comprehend. As David says, she has an amazing survival instinct. Most women would not survive the physical pain let alone the emotional pain she is experiencing. She’s infertile and her lover just died after impregnating her with a creepy baby. That’s a lot to take in.

In conclusion, I would rate Prometheus as 4 out of 5, losing points for the slight confusion it causes. 

Other things to note:

Weyland is Guy Pearce! WHAT!

What did David ask the Engineer? I need to know.

Also, so many problems would have been solved if everyone would just be nice to David. AND if they had given him more to do during the two years that everyone else just slept. Boredom and resentment is not good combination. In the words of my favorite Youtube celebrity Sassy Gay Friend, “Look at your life. Look at your choices.”