Alien Movie Universe

The hightech stuff in Prometheus and Covenant...

Alien-Covenant.com/forum/
Forum Topic
7384 Views12 Replies

Benni_RoR

MemberOvomorphJun-18-2017 7:57 AM

One thing that "bothered" me right when I watched Prometheus (and later Covenant) for the first time ever, was the fancy hightech stuff, the hologram projectors, the touchscreens and everything.

It feels very weird compared to the tech seen in all 4 Alien movies. Obviously this is due to the fact that Prometheus and Covenant are modern movies, whereas the older Alien movies are actually "old" and show the actual computer tech available at the times the movies were made.

But to me, this is no excuse. Alien: Isolation perfectly managed to recreate the retro-tech and was basicly the first movie in form of a game. (with a different story of course) And A:I is a damn videogame. (a damn good one tho)

So why did Ridley Scott decide to make everything so fancy and new? Why did he ignore the feel and vibe of his own movie?

Another thing are the weapons. In Prometheus, the security dudes use some weird blue pistols, that don't do much against Fifield nor the Engineer. Originally, Scott wanted to have Pulse Rifles, or atleast some version of the classic Pulse Rifles. 

Then in Covenant we see AUG-A3s and M4 carbines, which should be considered damn old at the time Covenant takes place.

Again, why no Pulse Rifles?

My solution to this "mystery" is that the Prometheus and the Covenant are both highend and hightech vessels directly developed and constructed by Weyland, one for exploration, one for exploration+colonisation. 

The Nostromo on the other hand is just a cargo ship, probably even outdated, or maybe just the standard ship one would encounter at the time. I dunno remember anymore who said it, but he said something along the lines of: "Alien is about a bunch of truckers in space."

Is this the reason for the differences in tech and equipment? But if so, why would a brand new ship like the Covenant be equipped with outdated weaponry? Ok, weapon is weapon. When Captain Oram shot the Neomorph, his weapon was totally suitable for that job. Fair enough.

But shouldn't Weyland (or whoever was in charge after Peter died on LV-223) be a perfectionist of some sort? Just look at David.

But I don't wanna lose myself in "weapon talk" here.

Just curious about what other people here thought about the tech shown in Prometheus and Covenant. Maybe I did not look carefully enough, but to me it seems that barely anyone else noticed this. Sorry for the long post.

12 Replies

hox

MemberFacehuggerJun-18-2017 8:16 AM

The Nostromo is a workhorse. It features clunky rugged technology because that's what works cost-effectively. Having said that, it's wedded to 1970s ideas of what computers in the future might be like.

Burke, Carter J.

MemberOvomorphJun-18-2017 8:33 AM

I remember Ridley saying on one of the making of's of Alien, that at the time he imagined waver thin screens on the nostromo, which of course weren't available in '78. But that's what he wanted.

one could explain the difference in the tech on the Prometheus and the Covenant compared to the tech an the nostromo with the differences between a tug boat or a fishing boat and a luxury cruise liner. Whatever is suitable for the intended purpose.

I'm really an ok guy.

esther85

MemberOvomorphJun-18-2017 8:38 AM

I noticed the difference... :-) but I was ok with the "fancy hightech stuff", actually I liked it. But anyways at some point I can agree with you. There's no continuity between the movies in the tech stuffs. So you are right in this topic.

But on the other hand... Maybe I'm alone with this opinion, some ppl will blame on me, but when I rewatched the Alien movies... well, I smiled a lot because of its tech. I accepted it, bec it's a 1979 movie, but I'm sure, I would be very very surprised, if I 'll meet this kind of tech in a 2017 movie. 

But ás I told you before, I agree with you, maybe they could have find some better solution for this problem. 

 

Barf The Mog

MemberFacehuggerJun-18-2017 9:21 AM

The Nostromo is a blue collar space rig, and the tech is fine compared to the newer films. The MUTHUR computer room, on the Nostromo, is a work of art. 

You don't waste money on an elite ship when the crew is expendable, even if their fate is unbeknownst to them. 

Based off of aesthetics, I prefer the tech of the Nostromo. 

Ripleys_Ghost

MemberFacehuggerJun-18-2017 9:56 AM

Yeah, the chunky, retro, used-up look of the original movie was great.

It's nice to see what they can do these days of course.  One thing that I found out of place in Prometheus is that the Prometheus ship wasn't realistic/practical at all.  Let me explain.  This is one of the first long-distance missions, costing over 1 trillion.  The ship is unrealistically spacious and luxurious.  A mission like that would be pretty cramped just because you'd have to bring everything with you.  You'd never see a grand piano on a vessel like that.

Here's an aesthetic that I really like.  Check it out.  Imagine this gritty look made with modern tech/methods (this had a casual tie-in to blade runner):

Movie Trailer: Soldier 1998

Benni_RoR

MemberOvomorphJun-18-2017 10:13 AM

@Ripleys_Ghost Yeah, I have heard about this movie before and how it is set in the same universe that Blade Runner is set in.

I have also read that the soldier Todd had some training with M41A Pulse Rifles and Smartguns...

Kethol

MemberChestbursterJun-18-2017 10:59 AM

The difference between the Nostromo and Prometheus is the same as the difference between a 40 year old filthy oil rig and a modern luxury yacht.

The tube monitors are the only thing that really dates Alien (and Blade Runner) for me. Flat screens were not available at the time, but Stanley Kubrick managed to do flat screens in 2001 A Space Odyssey using rear projection.

Ripleys_Ghost

MemberFacehuggerJun-18-2017 11:20 AM

Think that it was Sir Ridley that stated that the Nostromo is probably already 50 to 60 years old as shown in the first film.  So, it's actually older than the Prometheus, by his reckoning.  Having been repaired, upgraded, welded over the decades.

"Speaking of the Nostromo’s technology, Ridley Scott said in 1979 that “the machine that they’re on could in fact be 60 years old and just added to over the decades. The metal-work on it could be 50 years old.”

https://alienseries.wordpress.com/series-f-a-q/

Benni_RoR

MemberOvomorphJun-18-2017 11:40 AM

@Ripleys Ghost That is indeed new to me. I was aware that the Nostromo wasn't one ship of the younger kind, but 60 years... that is quite old. To think about it: barely anyone drives around in a 60 years old car or truck.

Benni_RoR

MemberOvomorphJun-18-2017 11:48 AM

@Kethol Nah, it is not only the monitors. The whole interior of the ship is different. Of course, because they are two totally different models.

But the Nostromo always reminded me of some oil rig or anything similar. Lots of metal, tons of steel bars and stuff.

The Prometheus looked like Steve Jobs was the designer behind it. Same for the Covenant.

Also, have you seen any holograms in the Nostromo? Or recreational areas with huge TVs, stereos or even a library?

It's not only about the tube monitors.

Kethol

MemberChestbursterJun-18-2017 12:35 PM

Why would you have modern high tech gear or entertainment electronics on a portable refinery that is 50-60 years old. It was meant for people to work, then get back in the freezers to bring the load back. The Nostromo was a working class, blue collar vessel. Ridley's "truckers in space" comparison was right on the nose.

The Prometheus was basically a high tech exploration yacht owned by a multi-gizillionaire. Actually, there was even a high tech yacht inside that high tech yacht!

 

Nathan Adler

MemberFacehuggerJun-19-2017 12:40 AM

@Benni_RoR: You’re right in a fashion about Steve Jobs since the David/ Walter series might have designed the Prometheus/ Covenant respectively;)

Add A Reply
Sign In Required
Sign in using your Scified Account to access this feature!
Email
Password
Latest Images
Alien & Predator Alien & Predator Fandom
Alien Movie Universe Forums
Alien: Romulus
Alien: Romulus Discuss the new Fede Alvarez Alien movie here
Alien
Alien Discuss all things Alien here
Alien: Covenant
Alien: Covenant Discuss the Prometheus Sequel, Alien: Covenant
Alien FX TV Series
Alien FX TV Series Discuss the Alien FX TV series here!
Alien Games
Alien Games Discuss Alien games here
Alien 5 Movie
Alien 5 Movie Discuss Neill Blomkamps’s vision for Alien 5 here
Alien Movies
Alien Movies Discuss the Classic Alien Films
Prometheus
Prometheus Everything About Prometheus
Prometheus Fan Art
Prometheus Fan Art Artwork & Fiction From the Fans
Hot Forum Topics
New Forum Topics
Highest Forum Ranks Unlocked
Xenotaris
Xenotaris » Praetorian
86% To Next Rank
ninXeno426
ninXeno426 » Praetorian
62% To Next Rank
Thoughts_Dreams
Thoughts_Dreams » Neomorph
85% To Next Rank
MonsterZero
MonsterZero » Xenomorph
91% To Next Rank
Kongzilla
Kongzilla » Chestburster
67% To Next Rank
Latest Alien Fandom Activity

Alien: Covenant is a sequel to 2012's Prometheus as well as a prequel to 1979's ALIEN. Alien fans looking to know more about Alien: Covenant should check back often. Alien-Covenant.com is an information resource for film enthusiasts looking to learn more about the upcoming blockbuster Alien: Covenant. Providing the latest official and accurate information on Alien: Covenant, this website contains links to every set video, viral video, commercial, trailer, poster, movie still and screenshot available. This site is an extension of the Alien & Predator Fandom on Scified - a central hub for fans of Alien and Prometheus looking to stay up-to-date on the latest news. Images used are property of their respective owners. Alien: Covenant, Prometheus and its associated names, logos and images are property of 20th Century Fox and are in no way owned by Scified and its related entities. This is a fan-created website for the purpose of informing and exciting fans for Alien: Covenant's release. If you have any questions about this site, its content or the Scified Network in general, feel free to contact Scified directly.

© 2024 Scified.com
Sign in
Use your Scified Account to sign in


Log in to view your personalized notifications across Scified!

Transport To Communities
Alien Hosted Community
Cloverfield Hosted Community
Godzilla Hosted Community
Jurassic World Hosted Community
Predator Hosted Community
Aliens vs. Predator Hosted Community
Latest Activity
Forums
Search Scified
Trending Articles
Blogs & Editorials