Was anyone else that saw this movie as annoyed as I was that the main actress was running around fighting aliens immediately after having abdominal surgery! Haha I was SO annoyed, so unrealistic!
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Only in the movies!
How can you go to a movie which is about people fighting aliens and expect any level of reality whatsoever? As I recall in the sequel "Alien" there is a scene in which an alien bursts through the stomach of someone eating dinner. The victim was not offered the opportunity to have sedation before this occurred.
If you are getting upset at the plotlines of this genre of film, it's likely because you are taking them more seriously than you should be. Movies are entertainment and nothing more...
If you are getting upset at the plotlines of this genre of film, it's likely because you are taking them more seriously than you should be. Movies are entertainment and nothing more...
Hey man, it's the future, i'm sure they discovered some super stem-cells and some super-pain killers. 
I want to believe!
I want to believe!
quote:it's the future, i'm sure they discovered some super stem-cells and some super-pain killers
When you start applying logic to this genre of film-making, you are in big trouble. Usually the characters do things that do not make any sense and choose courses of action that are reckless and stupid. You may recall that in the original 1979 Ridley Scott movie "Alien", the Alien creature got into the spacecraft because quarantine protocol was not followed. However, if quarantine protocol was followed, the Alien does not get on board, there is no plot for the movie, the movie is not successful, and "Prometheus", which is a prequel, never gets made, nor does the dozen or so other sequels and copycat films that were spawned by "Alien". So not being logical and smart actually does have its rewards.
The original screenwriter of aliens had chrohns and died last year from complications.
.....and the Alien bursting out of the abdomen is how he described the pain of crohns. I use to describe my UC as like the Alien coming out of my guts. FYI
fisher is quite correct, the original screenwriter of "Alien" and the legendary Alien-bursting-through-abdomen scene was Dan O'Bannon who died in 2009 of Crohn's Disease at age 63. Attached is his New York Times obituary which indicates he also wrote "Total Recall", one of my all time favorite science fiction films:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12...ovies/21obannon.html
In fact he was a legend and the fact that the "Prometheus" writers wrote the female lead to be fighting aliens soon after abdominal surgery may well have been a tribute to Mr. O'Bannnon, who worked with Ridley Scott on "Alien". I am sure Ridley Scott never forgot that "Alien" jumpstarted his filmmaking career.
So maybe there is some more reality in some of these plotlines than the OP had actually imagined.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12...ovies/21obannon.html
In fact he was a legend and the fact that the "Prometheus" writers wrote the female lead to be fighting aliens soon after abdominal surgery may well have been a tribute to Mr. O'Bannnon, who worked with Ridley Scott on "Alien". I am sure Ridley Scott never forgot that "Alien" jumpstarted his filmmaking career.
So maybe there is some more reality in some of these plotlines than the OP had actually imagined.
From Wikipedia:
"In 1990, O'Bannon and Shusett reteamed to make Total Recall, an adaptation of the short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" by Phillip K. Dick. This was a project the two had been working on since collaborating on Alien. The film earned well over US$100 million. An earlier screenplay by the duo titled Hemoglobin was also produced as the low budget feature Bleeders (1997)."
Hemoglobin - aka "Bleeders." Funny - in an ironic sense. More evidence his Crohn's must have impacted his screenwriting
Steve
"In 1990, O'Bannon and Shusett reteamed to make Total Recall, an adaptation of the short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" by Phillip K. Dick. This was a project the two had been working on since collaborating on Alien. The film earned well over US$100 million. An earlier screenplay by the duo titled Hemoglobin was also produced as the low budget feature Bleeders (1997)."
Hemoglobin - aka "Bleeders." Funny - in an ironic sense. More evidence his Crohn's must have impacted his screenwriting
Steve
Steve,
The original "Total Recall" movie which came out in 1990, and featured Arnold Schwarznegger and Sharon Stone, is one of my favorite science fiction films of all time (and I have seen a lot as a fan of this genre). They are doing a remake of "Total Recall" starring Colin Farrell in the role played by Arnold, which comes out on August 3rd, just saw the preview on TV last night. I think the plot in the remake takes place on a futuristic Earth, whereas the original "Total Recall" takes place on Mars.
I have not seen "Prometheus", but since the posts in this thread suggest a plotline that may have been dedicated to the original screenwriter of "Alien" who recently died from Crohn's Disease, I will be inclined to try and see it before it goes to video.
The original "Total Recall" movie which came out in 1990, and featured Arnold Schwarznegger and Sharon Stone, is one of my favorite science fiction films of all time (and I have seen a lot as a fan of this genre). They are doing a remake of "Total Recall" starring Colin Farrell in the role played by Arnold, which comes out on August 3rd, just saw the preview on TV last night. I think the plot in the remake takes place on a futuristic Earth, whereas the original "Total Recall" takes place on Mars.
I have not seen "Prometheus", but since the posts in this thread suggest a plotline that may have been dedicated to the original screenwriter of "Alien" who recently died from Crohn's Disease, I will be inclined to try and see it before it goes to video.
Hahaha! Yes. That, and the fact that the so called scientists kept removing their containment suits even though they were well aware of a contagion being present. *rolls eyes*
But that's why movies are movies... maybe they have better pain meds in 2089?
Actually, it's not really a bad movie. I found it decently entertaining, though hardly a sci-fi classic.
But that's why movies are movies... maybe they have better pain meds in 2089?
Actually, it's not really a bad movie. I found it decently entertaining, though hardly a sci-fi classic.
Spookie,
In the original "Alien" the so called scientists were ordered by Sigourney Weaver's character Ripley not to bring their infected colleague onto the Spaceship Nostromo. But they defied her order and did so which was against established quarantine protocol. But if they actually followed protocol then the Alien cannot get aboard that ship and there is nothing to have a movie about and there would be no prequel to "Alien", the movie "Prometheus".
The same thing happened in the classic 1951 science fiction movie "The Thing." The so called scientists find an alien creature frozen in a block of ice. While waiting for their orders on what to do with it, one of the so called scientists puts a warm blanket on the ice, which is an electric blanket that unknown to him is turned on. This blanket thaws out the creature. who comes to life and menaces the so called scientists.
In the 2011 remake of "The Thing", the lead so called scientist is warned by a paleontologist not to touch the ice block containing the frozen alien creature. But he defies the warning and attempts to drill through the ice to get a "tissue sample" to study under a microscope, believing he has already won the Nobel Prize for science. What then happens is the creature is revived by exposure to oxygen from this brilliant scientist having drilled through the ice to obtain a "tissue sample." The alien then proceeds to kill all the so called scientists one by one.
This genre is called "science fiction" not "science fact." I don't think any more need be said.
In the original "Alien" the so called scientists were ordered by Sigourney Weaver's character Ripley not to bring their infected colleague onto the Spaceship Nostromo. But they defied her order and did so which was against established quarantine protocol. But if they actually followed protocol then the Alien cannot get aboard that ship and there is nothing to have a movie about and there would be no prequel to "Alien", the movie "Prometheus".
The same thing happened in the classic 1951 science fiction movie "The Thing." The so called scientists find an alien creature frozen in a block of ice. While waiting for their orders on what to do with it, one of the so called scientists puts a warm blanket on the ice, which is an electric blanket that unknown to him is turned on. This blanket thaws out the creature. who comes to life and menaces the so called scientists.
In the 2011 remake of "The Thing", the lead so called scientist is warned by a paleontologist not to touch the ice block containing the frozen alien creature. But he defies the warning and attempts to drill through the ice to get a "tissue sample" to study under a microscope, believing he has already won the Nobel Prize for science. What then happens is the creature is revived by exposure to oxygen from this brilliant scientist having drilled through the ice to obtain a "tissue sample." The alien then proceeds to kill all the so called scientists one by one.
This genre is called "science fiction" not "science fact." I don't think any more need be said.
DJBHusky,
A movie is a movie and I completely get that without the contagion, there would be no plot. Like I said, I enjoyed it--I love science fiction and I don't need a rundown of every movie; I've seen them all. It is my favourite genre. But the scientist in me still allows me to nitpick, which I find amusing. Hence the reason why I can enjoy these things on so many levels.
Also, Prometheus isn't exactly a "prequel" to Alien. It's set in the same universe but it has its own planned sequel and I expect it will hold its own pretty well.
A movie is a movie and I completely get that without the contagion, there would be no plot. Like I said, I enjoyed it--I love science fiction and I don't need a rundown of every movie; I've seen them all.
It is my favourite genre. But the scientist in me still allows me to nitpick, which I find amusing. Hence the reason why I can enjoy these things on so many levels.Also, Prometheus isn't exactly a "prequel" to Alien. It's set in the same universe but it has its own planned sequel and I expect it will hold its own pretty well.
I have not seen "Prometheus" but my understanding is that it has been marketed as a prequel to "Alien." The Director Ridley Scott also was the director of "Alien."
In reciting some of those plots of "Alien" and two of the 3 "The Thing" versions, my point was that the scientists do not act logically or rationally in any of these films, and they either defy orders or else do stupid or reckless things that we would not expect professional and well intentioned scientists to do. I actually believe that the screenwriters of these films have some fun with this. As we saw in "Alien", the only rational character on that ship survives, whereas all of her irrational crewmates die incredibly horrible deaths.
I plan on seeing "Prometheus" now that you guys have posted about it.
In reciting some of those plots of "Alien" and two of the 3 "The Thing" versions, my point was that the scientists do not act logically or rationally in any of these films, and they either defy orders or else do stupid or reckless things that we would not expect professional and well intentioned scientists to do. I actually believe that the screenwriters of these films have some fun with this. As we saw in "Alien", the only rational character on that ship survives, whereas all of her irrational crewmates die incredibly horrible deaths.
I plan on seeing "Prometheus" now that you guys have posted about it.
It was mentioned here:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/trivia?tab=gf
"Incorrectly regarded as goofs -
Elizabeth Shaw is seen able to walk, run, jump and perform hard physical tasks soon after her Cesarean, with abdominal muscles and the wide cut in her belly stapled together crudely. However, she has been shooting herself up with drugs many times (potentially very sophisticated, future drugs), which could account for her not feeling pain and gaining strength. The drugs may even be able to repair tissue damage for all we we know."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/trivia?tab=gf
"Incorrectly regarded as goofs -
Elizabeth Shaw is seen able to walk, run, jump and perform hard physical tasks soon after her Cesarean, with abdominal muscles and the wide cut in her belly stapled together crudely. However, she has been shooting herself up with drugs many times (potentially very sophisticated, future drugs), which could account for her not feeling pain and gaining strength. The drugs may even be able to repair tissue damage for all we we know."
kobi,
You are a true sci-fi fan. So what you are telling us basically is that the OP and Spooky are goofballs who did not pay enough attention to the movie? By the ways, I am now wondering how these pain killing drugs of the future will be. Let's also hope they have some better drugs for IBD as well so that we can all go out and fight Aliens when we get off the potty.
You are a true sci-fi fan. So what you are telling us basically is that the OP and Spooky are goofballs who did not pay enough attention to the movie?
By the ways, I am now wondering how these pain killing drugs of the future will be. Let's also hope they have some better drugs for IBD as well so that we can all go out and fight Aliens when we get off the potty.
This all seems off topic.
kathy
kathy
quote:Was anyone else that saw this movie as annoyed as I was that the main actress was running around fighting aliens immediately after having abdominal surgery! Haha I was SO annoyed, so unrealistic!
[SPOILER ALERT!]
I finally saw this movie and the scene you refer to. Actually the character was a doctor and she gave herself an emergency C-section with robotic equipment to remove an alien fetus in her womb. Her Doctor boyfriend had been infected with alien cells. After having sex with him and getting impregnated with his alien-tainted sperm, the alien fetus rapidly matured and was detected on an ultrasound examination. This necessitated the emergency C-section to get that alien out of her womb. Since futuristic robotic surgical equipment was used as well as future anesthetics, the scene was semi-plausible. I also note that if you have had emergency abdominal surgery and your choices are (1) fight aliens, or (2) die, survival instincts and adrenaline kick in, and you fight the aliens.
In addition, and you may have missed this if you ran out of the theater, but right after surgery she is seen giving herself a shot (futuristic adrenaline) and swallowing some pills (pain pills of the future). Despite this, she is seen struggling with a lot of pain. She is doubled over in pain at several points after having the surgery.
The scene was tough to watch, for anyone who has had abdominal surgery, and I suspect the graphic nature of it upset you more than anything else. I kind of knew what was coming as I have seen the other movies in this series, but it was really a brutal scene to watch.
The best line in the whole movie was when, shortly after the abdominal surgery scene, she suits up to go fight the aliens, and the Android (well played by Michael Fassbinder), seeing her suiting up, says to her: "I didn't think you had it in you.....ooooooops!!!!!! poor choice of words."