Ridley Scott’sPrometheusis an extremely polarizing movie that’s caused many different reactions among fans of the franchise, but one of the main criticisms that’s often thrown at the film is that it lacks the grimy aesthetic that madeAlienso beloved. Everything inPrometheusis much more polished and saturated, with the technology reaching new heights and the spaceships appearing much more expensive. This seemingly makes no sense, asPrometheusis set many years before the originalAlien- which remains one ofRidley Scott’s best movies.
This glaring disparity is difficult for some fans to get over, and initially seems like a major plot hole. However, while there certainly are someplot holes in theAlienfranchise, this isn’t one at all. There’s a clear in-universe reason for this change, linking the aesthetics of both movies to the social messages that they’re trying to convey. The clinical visuals ofPrometheusare there for a reason, and the franchise’s commentary on classism and social status wouldn’t be as powerful without them.
Prometheus Is About A High-Class Mission Aboard An Expensive Ship
The Clientele In Prometheus Are Simply Richer
The in-universe reason behind everything looking more refined and high-tech inPrometheus, compared with previous entries in the franchise, is that it focuses on a wealthier sector of the company. The journey to LV-223 is a high-class mission that’s described as one of Weyland-Yutani’s highest priorities, whereasmost of the assignments in theAlienfranchise are low-class missionswith generic workers. The clientele of this trip are extremely wealthy, with intricate knowledge of science and technology - so they earned a more high-tech ship and more comfortable lodgings.
Prometheus Star Defends Ridley Scott’s Most Divisive Alien Movie With The Best Explanation Of Why Audiences Felt Lost
Prometheus star Guy Pearce shares his theory for why audiences are so torn on the Alien prequel movie, which remains the subject of frequent debate.
Prometheusis one of Ridley Scott’s best prequels, not only because of how effectively it builds upon the existing lore of the franchise, but also due to its exploration of a totally different side of theAliencoin.The working-class missions have been explored many times before, butPrometheusis the first example of Weyland-Yutani managing high-profile guests. Naturally, their environment is going to be completely different. In fact, the excessive wealth ofPrometheus' shipindirectly comments on how mistreated and undervalued the employees were inAlien, which is one of the film’s main themes.
Most Alien Movies Follow Blue-Collar Workers In Cheap Ships & Stations
Ripley Isn’t A High-Profile Employee
Prometheusis a completely different kind ofAlienmovie, so it’s not surprising that its visual style is also unfamiliar.The previous movies areallegories of corporate greed; they explore how Ripley and her colleagues are exploited and manipulated by Weyland-Yutani to make the most profit. Their surroundings are a perfect way of displaying this visually, as they’ve been given the most basic and rudimentary vessel to escort them to such a dangerous location. The contrast betweenAlienandPrometheus’ ships is a comment on how the company views these two groups.
Even if Ridley Scott had the technology to makeAlienas high-tech as the prequels that would follow, it wouldn’t have made narrative sense.
Much of Ripley’s journey inAlienfocuses on how she’s viewed as inferior to her employees because of her lack of wealth. It’s a direct criticism of America’s classist and capitalist society in the late ‘70s, andAlien’s endingis made even more powerful as a result. Even if Ridley Scott had the technology to makeAlienas high-tech as the prequels that would follow, it wouldn’t have made narrative sense.
Prometheus’s Technology Gap Also Has To Do With When It Was Made
The Prequels Were Made Over 30 Years After The Original
As previously alluded to, the obvious answer for the disparity between the ships inAlienandPrometheusrelates to the time periods in which these movies were made.Alienwas released in 1979, andstudios didn’t have the kind of money to spend on big sci-fi blockbustersthat is considered normal today. And even if they did, there would have been no incentive to splash out so much cash on a movie likeAlien. The only reasonPrometheushad a large budget was because of Ridley Scott’s previous success and the box office draw of theAlienfranchise.
Even ifPrometheushadn’t centered around wealthier clients, and Ridley Scott had attempted to capture the same crumbling, washed-out interiors as the Nostromo, it’s inevitable that it would have looked crisper and cleaner. A modern film will always look and feel modern compared to one from the 1970s, no matter how revolutionary and boundary-pushing the production ofAlienwas.
Prometheus
Cast
Prometheus, released in 2012, is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott. It follows a team of explorers as they uncover clues about humanity’s origins, embarking on a perilous interstellar expedition where they confront formidable challenges to secure the future of mankind.
