2012 - Best Year in Movies?

[Hawki]

Y'know, I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I've just thought of something-why is the Prometheus seemingly more advanced than the Nostromo despite the four decades that seperate the events, and why is LV-426 seemingly benign right now?

I know, it's nitpicking, and one has to account for the fact that movie technology has improved and can make things look more high-tech, but still...

Anyway, looking for it all the same.

[Visions of Khas]

That's what I kept thinking, too Hawki. I guess it's just best to nod and smile and go with it.

But I hadn't realized this planet was LV-426. Maybe it undergoes some sort of environmental disaster?

The thing I had the biggest problem with, however, was the Space Jockey. It's practically human-size, and they're supposed to be mammoths!

[DemolitionSquid]

That's what I kept thinking, too Hawki. I guess it's just best to nod and smile and go with it.

But I hadn't realized this planet was LV-426. Maybe it undergoes some sort of environmental disaster?

The thing I had the biggest problem with, however, was the Space Jockey. It's practically human-size, and they're supposed to be mammoths!

Maybe he's a child Jockey who rides ponies.

[hyde]

O M G ...

Full length Prometheus trailer.

[TheEconomist]

I've been waiting for a movie like Prometheus for ten years when I was 3 and became obsessed with Alien and Predator-like franchises. Sadly, that was exactly when they went to shit.

*crosses fingers for Prometheus*

[Hellgrinder]

I'm excited for The Hobbit, and Iron Sky looks hilarious. It should be, seeing as the guys behind the Star Trek/Babylon 5 Crossover parody film "Star Wreck: In The Pirkinning" are behind it.

One more thing. I was watching The Hobbit's trailer on YouTube, and some idiot said "This is just a Lord of the Rings ripoff".

Yes, they really said that.

[Hawki]

But I hadn't realized this planet was LV-426. Maybe it undergoes some sort of environmental disaster?

At the very least, it takes place in LV-426's star system, and considering the presence of a ship resembling the Derelict in trailers, the story seems to be telling, among other things, how the ship came to be wrecked. However, I don't see environmental disaster being the reason for it-Xenopedia is down right now, but from what I remember of Alien and its novelization, LV-426 is a moon, and prior to terraforming, was entirely at the mercy of its sun-"primordial," as Ash calls it.

The thing I had the biggest problem with, however, was the Space Jockey. It's practically human-size, and they're supposed to be mammoths!

Looking at the trailer, is there a point where it's possible to make a size comparison? It certainly appears in the trailer, but I didn't see a point where a mala'kak and human were in the same shot.

Still, if that is the case, that would be odd. It's possible I guess that the mala'kak can have shorter individuals that are still intelligent (as opposed to human children being shorter than adults, and less mentally developed) and there'd have to be at least one Space Jockey that becomes the one the Nostromo crew finds. Which, if its implantation occurs in the movie, would result in a pretty big xenomorph...

I've been waiting for a movie like Prometheus for ten years when I was 3 and became obsessed with Alien and Predator-like franchises. Sadly, that was exactly when they went to shit.

*crosses fingers for Prometheus*

And yet it seems to have a similar plot to the first AvP movie on some level-a message left by an ancient race to lure humans in to a structure that seems to be a trap.

Not really a criticism of your opinion or the movie, just an observation. I will admit however, that I consider Alien vs. Predator to be decent, if uninspired. Haven't seen Requiem, though I did like Predators. Not as good as the original, but it was a good take overall, where we go from one singlely memorable character (Dutch) to less memorable, but more diverse characters.

I'm excited for The Hobbit, and Iron Sky looks hilarious. It should be, seeing as the guys behind the Star Trek/Babylon 5 Crossover parody film "Star Wreck: In The Pirkinning" are behind it.

One more thing. I was watching The Hobbit's trailer on YouTube, and some idiot said "This is just a Lord of the Rings ripoff".

Yes, they really said that.

And at that point, I turned to Morgoth-my faith in the race of Men has been lost.

[TheEconomist]

You liked Predators? Wow.

The original was about the most badass dudes battling it out with a powerful "jungle demon" that happened to be from space, and Predators was about punks shitting their pants while even unremarkable female characters make them look like pussies. Ten minutes of Predator and you've got a spike in testosterone and hair growing on your chest. Ten minutes of Predators and I was damn close to asking for my money back.

Predators can only be considered a disgrace when you consider what the original was about.

>

For fuck sake, he was a wimp in That 70's Show, what is he doing in this movie? And, why is the female character the most badass one? Of course, that isn't saying much since the other male characters were the types that I would take their lunch money in high school. The first seasoon of Lost was a better Predator many than this one.

And yet it seems to have a similar plot to the first AvP movie on some level-a message left by an ancient race to lure humans in to a structure that seems to be a trap.

Indeed, but that wasn't the part of the movies I had a problem with.

I consider Alien vs. Predator to be decent

Decent what? Actions movies? Sure, if you aren't an action movie connoisseur then it could be decent. But the Aliens and Predators movies were always about more than just action.

[Hawki]

You liked Predators? Wow.

The original was about the most badass dudes battling it out with a powerful "jungle demon" that happened to be from space, and Predators was about punks shitting their pants while even unremarkable female characters make them look like pussies. Ten minutes of Predator and you've got a spike in testosterone and hair growing on your chest. Ten minutes of Predators and I was damn close to asking for my money back.

Predators can only be considered a disgrace when you consider what the original was about.

Keeping civil, but I disagree. Predator is the superior film IMO, but it has its flaws that Predators doesn't. It only really has three distinct characters in my eyes, said characters being Dutch, Dillon and Anna. Dutch is the main character, but only really shines in the later part of the film where he goes all primal. Dillon is distinguished by being a 'pencil pusher,' but even he is just another grunt with a gun at the end of the day. Anna is distinguished by being the only female in the film, and a useless one at that. As for the rest of the characters, they all really fade into the realm of 'grunts with guns that are redshirts at the end of the day.' Aliens managed to make you care even about the minor marines, but Predator failed to do the same for me.

With Predators, while the characters get various levels of development, they're at least characters in their own right. All from a different background, all with a different skill set, etc. In a way, I see Predators being to Predator as what Jaws 2 is to Jaws. Both sequels go the route of showing the monsters from the start, because the original both went with the unseen foe angle. That angle is usually more effective, but it doesn't mean variety is bad.

And what about Predator 2? Is it bad as well by virtue of not being like the original?

Decent what? Actions movies? Sure, if you aren't an action movie connoisseur then it could be decent. But the Aliens and Predators movies were always about more than just action.

Decent may be the wrong word..."average" might cover it better. The characters are average-nothing special, but you actually care about some of them. The plot is...average-it's an interesting twist, but the notion of extraterrestrials jump-starting human civilization has been done before, and it seems redundant for yautja to have to continuously lure humans to the Antarctic when there are surely better options avaliable to them. The fights are...average. Certainly nothing special, but it's nice to see yautja vs. xenomorphs in some capacity. Really, the only major gripe I have is with Lex at the end, whose mindset seems to be "I forgive you Mister Predator for being part of a hunting group that has left me as the only survivour. I'm fully willing to forget the deaths of my friend, team up with you, and have you burn a mark in my forehead. Oh, and I don't expect to be questioned by the authorities as to how I'm the only survivour of this expedition."

And let's not even start on the ScarxLex fanfics...

So yeah..."average," is how I'd describe it. I mean, it's a "x vs. y" title-were any of us expecting something above average?

[Gradius]

This video irrefutably proves that Predator was superior: