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Which to watch first: Prometheus or Alien?

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Gaaraz

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Hi,

We've got Sky TV but only for another week or so, and Prometheus has just arrived on there which we'd like to watch.

I'm tempted to go just go ahead and watch it, but I haven't seen Alien for probably 10 years despite it being one of my favourite ever films, and my girlfriend has never seen it... will watching Prometheus first ruin it for her/us?

(sorry, would've asked in the Prometheus thread but worried about spoilers)
 
Just watch Prometheus, it is it's own thing.


Although, I highly doubt any female would ever like Prometheus. Nothing there for them. At least Alien works as a horror film and has a compelling lead.
 
Prometheus will leave you with a dozen more questions and doesn't answer any of the ones you always had. Just watch Alien.
 
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Don't watch Prometheus.
 
I thought the best parts of Prometheus were the references to Alien, so I would recommend watching Alien first. But it still works as a standalone movie, and won't ruin the Alien plot.
 
For the love of God, watch Alien 1-3 in order before Prometheus. Please don't let shitty retcons color your experience of the franchise, because particularly the first two movies are at the top of their respective genres, and even 3 is a hell of a lot better than it gets credit for (the Prometheus script is dog poop in comparison imo).

Alx said:
I thought the best parts of Prometheus were the references to Alien, so I would recommend watching Alien first. But it still works as a standalone movie, and won't ruin the Alien plot.
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I strongly disagree. It fucks with the mythos and completely sucks the sense of cryptic wonder out of certain key background elements of Alien. The wonder and mystery of the first film are 1000 times more interesting than the lame Chariots of Gods regurgitation of Prometheus.
 
Alien. Prometheus is a fantastic visual experience but it fucks with the source material too much and becomes convoluted.

Alien is just a better film, so is Aliens.
 
Definitely Alien first. It's definitely the movie that should introduce you to the 'Alien universe'.
 
JB1981 said:
Please don't watch Prometheus.
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I adjusted this slightly.

I actually watched Alien again the day before going to see Prometheus to "get ready". Then I went and saw the movie and even paid for the upgrade to 3D. At the end of the movie, there was that infamous last scene, and the credits started rolling. Immediately when that happened, I turned to my friend and said completely matter-of-factly, "That was completely terrible!" We both laughed for a moment, then I got a bit sad that I wasted so much money on that piece of shit in the theater.
 
Watch the theatrical cut of Alien. Next watch the Not Really a Director's Cut Marketing Cut of Alien. Then imagine Winona Ryder and Sigourney Weaver getting freaky.

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Then stop.
 
Prometheus is worth a watch but it is bad and I'd never watch it before watching Alien for the first time.
 
Prometheus is about as bad as a big blockbuster can be. Because it cost $200 million the special effects are impressive, the actors are all competent, and all the nuts and bolts of filmmaking like lighting, framing and editing are well represented. Everything else is garbage. Garbage plot, garbage characters, garbage action, just 2+ hours hollow characters doing boring stuff.

I just caught Alien on TV yesterday, and with Prometheus still fresh in my mind, all I could think is what the fuck happened, Ridley?
 
Aliens > Prometheus > Alien > Alien 3 > Alien Resurrection

I honestly don't think Alien is all that good. Aliens is far, far better, although it is an entirely different genre of movie.

Aliens is a blistering, fantastically paced action movie with superlative effects work.

Alien is an interesting, if slightly staid horror movie with fuck awful effects work (apart from the very end, the Alien looks cool there).

Prometheus doesn't make much sense, but it's gorgeous and well paced.

Alien 3 is so dull, it's not worth bothering with.

Alien Resurrection is a comedy.
 
Draft said:
Prometheus is about as bad as a big blockbuster can be. Because it cost $200 million the special effects are impressive, the actors are all competent, and all the nuts and bolts of filmmaking like lighting, framing and editing are well represented. Everything else is garbage. Garbage plot, garbage characters, garbage action, just 2+ hours hollow characters doing boring stuff.

I just caught Alien on TV yesterday, and with Prometheus still fresh in my mind, all I could think is what the fuck happened, Ridley?
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Spot on.

Only thing I'd add is that they are doing boring, and in places ridiculously idiotic stuff.

Edit: and this:

Count Dookkake said:
PROMETHEUS is a stunningly beautiful idiot.
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RedShift said:
Watch Alien first, and then watch Alien again instead of Prometheus.
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Haha! This seems to be the GAF consensus :)

I think I'll try to go with Alien first, but if we do go with Prometheus I'll make absolutely sure we watch both Alien and Aliens - Alien 3 looks a bit naff just going by the Rotten Tomatoes page?
 
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