Bits Feed (Page 328)

@BlackAnt,

I will agree it was lazy storytelling to assume David could operate ancient Engineer technology. I think it would have been far more entertaining (and realistic) if he attempted to press the right buttons but accidentally unleashed Hell on the Prometheus crew.

We should also consider that the installation on LV-223 had been abandoned for some time. Perhaps the Engineer facilities here were dated and running older, obsolete tech? Clearly there were some bugs ... lol More so this might equate to someone in the 1950s traveling to the future and discovering a military base from the 1970s. Obviously a ridiculous comparison, but for the sake of discussion, my point being perhaps the tech present on LV-223 was not as advanced or the pinnacle of Engineer development at the time?

I dunno, I'm trying to give David the benefit of the doubt hahaha

You are right though, the physics and laws governing the Engineer tech and their abilities exceed any comprehension Humans or their A.I. are likely able to grasp. But, having an advanced A.I. take point when trying to exploit such technology lends a little more believability to the plot than if it had been one of the Human crew.

I too, was left moderately entertained by the CGI in Covenant, truth be told, I enjoyed Prometheus and its special effects more.

SarcasticGoji,
Without spoiling anything--No.

SasquaDash,
Over dramatic or not, the title speaks to the cultural appropriation of Godzilla I've spoken about in prior posts--And, personally, I'd call that harsher than "whitewashing", but the latter makes for a better title I suppose.

I don't see where the article comes off as "arrogant" or "hateful". Where does any of that come into play in this article? All I recognize is something that comes off as well researched and very honest in Ryfle's opinions. The man has recorded audio commentaries for five Godzilla films and written two of the most valuable English language books on the series, including the Ishiro Honda biography--having spoken to his family and many surviving Toho filmmakers. Knowledgeable? Sure. Earned the right to speak out on these topics given the exorbitant amount of resources/people he's been privy to? Absolutely. But I don't detect a hint of arrogance or hate in this article. I do see you use these words a lot when someone criticizes the Monsterverse. Is it possible you simply use these words for anything that upsets you in regards to criticism of these particular flicks?

A few things to consider: Ryfle is correct in explaining that the responsibility for America's nuclear tests in the 2014 film were being side-stepped in favor for something more righteous. "They were trying to kill it," is not a line indicative of, "how arrogantly these types of weapons are used." It painted the US's tests as a reaction toward trying to protect the world from a potential threat. (Even though, the reality is Castle Bravo poisoned people, got someone killed and put toxic fish on the Japanese market.) And at no point does Ryfle claim the scene between Stenz and Serizawa "glorifies" nuclear weapons, but merely that the scene acts as a conduit accepting the losses of Hiroshima as practical for the greater good.

In fact, the word "glorify" or "glorified" does not show up in the article at all. He's not even saying the film is pro-nuclear. (Nor is there an argument made that a heroic Godzilla is "pro nuke". That's an odd thing the assume since it's never even insinuated.) What Ryfle is criticizing the 2014 film (and the 1956/1985 American re-cuts of Godzilla and Return of Godzilla, respectfully) for is side-stepping responsibility for why Godzilla exists as a film character at all.

Granted, I don't entirely agree with Ryfle here. Personally, I think more can be said for how misused Godzilla was in the follow-up movie. The 2014 film has some problematic issues, as Ryfle pointed out, but it doesn't particularly say anything good about nuclear power either, as you suggested with the MUTO's arc. But he makes some good points that explain why Godzilla's compatibility with the Hollywood blockbuster mantra clashes with cultural ideologies.

I assume a 4K TV is required and likely an increase in contrast and brightness settings to achieve this level of clarity, cause it isn't that bright for me either hahaha

I like 2001 since I think the white eyes look cool and the face too.

Regarding the SAFEGUARDS for the Engineers Home-World then YES you would expect better, but then the same can be said about LV-223 and HOW they suffered the Outbreak.  But we are talking about Necessity to drive the PLOT, so if David and Dr Shaw where Stopped before they could Enter the Planets Atmosphere say a Barrier is Raised and the Ship Disabled then the Engineers discover that the Ship has NONE of their Kind but Intruders then we would have had a Different Movie and well the ODDS of David and Dr Shaw being around for LONG would be Slender...

Regarding the Technology then i agree to a Point, i would say that Humans are Intelligent some Exceptionally so even in ANCIENT TIMES and so i think if you brought say 100 Humans from say 1000 Years ago to our Present, then i would think a Majority of them could be TAUGHT how to USE our Technology. We have the ability to Pass On and Learn Knowledge which is WHY i guess we Survived because of our ability to Adapt and Evolve in this way.

But as FAR as say going back 1000 Years and leaving a Smart Phone or Tablet behind for some Humans to Discover then YES they would NOT have a Clue what it is.  We are a Curious Species and eventually some will PLAY with the Phone and Realize you can Touch the Screen to OPEN UP many Different Things, they could with TRIAL and ERROR get to the Gallery and see Images and Videos and maybe Accidentally Activate the Camera....  but the Concept of APPS for Calls, Messaging the Internet etc would be TOTALLY ALIEN to them.

These things would appear ALIEN to us even 100 Years ago, but i would say if you took a Smart Phone back 50 Years ago then it would NOT be as ALIEN or Hard to Grasp i would say Modern Mankind could USE the Technology we have in 100 Years.

But as FAR as sending a Device from NOW to 100 Years ago and Expecting someone to Reverse Engineer it that would be Difficult because their is a LOT of Components that are NOT invented yet and for someone to even Consider HOW such a Device is MADE and take it apart and Build Another as far as going back to 1000 Years ago then YES it would be Impossible for them.

But i dont think we have to look at David being able to Reverse Engineer it, he seems to MERELY be Using it... and as a Intelligent A.I i think he could Learn how to USE what we have seen in the Prequels.  The Technology does-not look like its WAY BEYOND our Comprehension.

However a Point i think you Raised before is VALID in that the Technology we see does-not really FIT with what you would Expect from a Species who are Millions of Years Old... the Technology should be BEYOND our Comprehension.

A lot of things with Movies is a Necessity for the Plot, if Dr Shaw said to David about can he USE one of the Engineer ships.. if his Response was NO-WAY its Impossible for him.  Then Dr Shaw would have to Spend her Time in the Complexes or on a Ship just to Breath the Oxygen Generated until someone ELSE would eventually TURN UP at LV-223.  She likely Starve to Death by then.

Welcome back Black Ant ;)

Firstly i have to agree to a degree i do like the Dome but i also prefer the View/Versions were you CANT really make out the SKULL, you can make out something but its NOT that Clear.

Regarding the David as the Creator i think it makes PERFECT sense as far as the PLOT and Story Arc and Themes, but then having him Create something that SIMILAR but Not the Same (lets say the Ultramorph Design) would have FITTED with the ARC and kept the Original Origins a Mystery.

I think the Xenomorph in AC looks Good in some Shots, and in others its NOT like the Greatest, but with some CGI then that does affect the Budget and well when they wish to have the Beast as being something Tall and Slender then there are LIMITS when your putting a MAN in a SUIT and Especially with the Change to a Unguligrade Type of Leg.  You Cant beat Props/Puppets and Stop Motion but its Expensive and Time Consuming.  So then you see the USE of CGI for Full Body Shots and well i thought it was ok but it looked a bit ROPEY at times on the Covenant.

I like it as well. I really like the Different forms of Godzilla in this one, and i think Godzilla Ultima may become my new favorite design. Honestly it kinda reminds me of mine.

oh, I thought one was a juvinile and the older an adult

THAT ATOMIC BREATH!!

SarcasticGoji no just reminding you who translated the text of the book. (In other words, reminding you about the American dub).

It doesn't look like that on my TV.

Not even a little.

Sadly, I don't have a 4k Blu ray player, or a 4k TV...

@Chris, thanks it's good to be back and cheers to everyone else as well.

This David thing is perplexing and always has been a point of contention for me after viewing AC. I like parts of AC but as whole I just did not get into the CGI beast.

David figuring out millions of years Engineer tech to me would be like taking people from 25 thousand years ago, with bows and arrows and asking them to reverse engineer a CPU.

I think David is a smart human AI computer; however, there is no way for film makers to make a film truly relatable about such advanced aliens because there really would be no way for us to understand it without all the conventional plot details to make it easy enough for audience members to understand.

I just don't think David could reverse engineer a millions of years old alien AI system. To me I think their code may work faster than the speed of light and at a much smaller scale in hyper-dimensional space....technically places David's limited AI would just not have enough processing power to untangle.

They would also employ different physics and time would most certainly factor in so it may be both physically impossible for David to understand and interact with something that the machine would not let him interact with.

For example, lets say I program a computer and tell it back in time several weeks ago from now "do not let any one access this interface or do not run this code no matter what happens - so no other systems are accessible".

The time scales are just to vast. We might have quantum computers that are very powerful in a hundred years. Engineers at this level of evolution would be able to fold a few trillion universes of code into there systems. It would be beyond anything we could conceive of for many generations of AI....Their AI's would learn too and they would control them. David is depicted as having a quantum qubit computer for a brain; however, his processing power would have arcane limitations compared to the Engineers. They travel faster than the speed of light so their AI computers work faster than the speed of light. This means so many things.

Violating causality presents challenges to David's physical limitations in a specific time line no matter how fast his AI mind might work.

AC is a good looking film overall...I enjoyed the acting. Yet all the parts did not justify the whole for me. After the original Alien it is very hard to recreate that level of uniqueness in so many other films.

I like the Gamera-esque  Godzilla, I think it works for an american adaptation.

And yes Gman, I know what you mean

depends on ur definition of cool

Yeah, the Monke has been done better.

It isn't cool sorry to say...

Firecat94

The show has two rodans! That’s the answer, one if younger, the other is older.

WHAT U GUYS TALKING ABOUT??

i ask about their two different rodans and where the monsters comes from the red liquid of the sea 

fair game, Dash. fair game.

over my head

YES YES YES YES

I had a very hard time watching it the first time...

thank you for reposting this Chris!!! SO excited to get this bad boy someday

judging a book by its cover eh?

@sonictiger thank you for bringing Minilla. I forgot about him. And I thought that if I mentioned, people would get mad. I don't hate him, its just, well...

 You get the point

G. H. (Gman)

"Whitewashing" Godzilla... doesn't that seem a little over dramatic...

Overall that article comes off as arrogant and hateful, pretty much trashing the movie for not "being the original" and being American. Steve Ryfle comes off as nothing more than a stuck up elitist snob, with a condescending "I'm smarter than you" attitude.

Also it seems that he wasn't paying attention to the movie's story, as he claims that the movie glorified nuclear weapons, which it doesn't.

The Government attempting to nuke Godzilla in the 50s wasn't an attempt rewrite history or to say that nukes are good, it was trying to show how arrogantly these types of weapons are used. The film also states that it was a 1954 "nuclear test" that was the government's attempt to destroy Godzilla, at no point does it negate the other nuclear tests conducted by America, Russia, France etc... (as Ryfle claims it does).

The MUTOs were awakened by the mining for Uranium and were drawn to sources of radiation, causing the Janjira power plant meltdown, which destroyed the lives of the people affected. The fact that the MUTOs were awakened by the mining of radioactive elements and were drawn to nuclear power plants shows the potential danger of harvesting this type of energy.

The Female MUTO's "dormant" spore was carelessly stored in the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository, showing the government's irresponsible handling of potentially dangerous material, as they not only tossed the spore aside to be ignored, they put the MUTO in area were it could feed on nuclear energy and grow stronger.

When the military realizes that the monsters are unaffected by their standard weapons they try to use nuclear weapons, this shows the arrogance of the military as they are unconcerned by the potential risks this may cause. Serizawa attempts to warn Stenz about the risks by reminding him of the tragedy caused by the Hiroshima bombings (Ryfle stupidly claims that this scene "glorified" the bombings, making me question his intelligence). The military's plan goes wrong with MUTOs stealing the active warhead and building a nest around it, this shows how the military's arrogance made the situation worse, potentially leading to another Hiroshima like incident.

The soldiers are sent to move the bomb out of the city so that the city won't be destroyed by the explosion or exposed to the fallout.

IN WHAT WORLD DOES THAT "GLORIFY" NUCLEAR WEAPONS!!!

And if he's trying to say that Godzilla being a defender/hero is "pro nuke", Newsflash! Godzilla was a hero in some of the older Toho films, but I guess that fact doesn't fit his "America Bad" argument...

Agreed, as much as I love Godzilla, Hollywood handled Kong better this time around. For points already expressed, the consensus being North America created Kong, home field advantage. Still love the MV Godzilla portrayal though, G14 the best - prefer Godzilla to be either impartial and neutral or a plague of destruction rather than "Humanity's savior".

Been a while BlackAnt, nice to see you back! There's a lot to unpack in your reply, so let me focus on a couple points that stood out.

The clear dome, eye sockets look to me was way more menacing than no eyes at all! Technically speaking we both conclude the same observation, the Beast had no eyes and such avoided such a vulnerability, as you put. I don't think the clear dome and empty eye sockets of the original 1979 design made the Alien look any less menacing, in fact I find the empty eye socket / skull attribute adds a terrifying aspect to the creature's design.

Regarding David's use of ancient Engineer tech and bypassing their security protocols. Keep in mind, A.I. even at its most primitive stage in our world today can calculate problems many times faster than the organic Human brain. An A.I. as advanced as David would have no trouble assessing, decrypting and cracking any code established by any organic species. He studied the Engineer language and for all we know was able to communicate on a different level with perhaps the Engineer's own local A.I. on LV-223. He was able to exhibit knowledge in decoding Engineer symbols when he led the Weyland team into the Engineer facilities, opening doors and activating hologram recordings. It's not far out to assume David could interpret and interact with alien tech with ease. We also don't know how much pre-screening of Weyland info regarding Engineers David underwent before the Prometheus mission. I'm sure he did some homework.

The Runner design is definitely a great design too and I'll add it to another Poll in the future. This topic was more so only to compare the Alien designs of Alien and Aliens, not the entire lineup of entries in the Xenomorph family.

And finally, although I too was a tad disappointed by Alien: Covenant, it still did the beast plenty of justice and turned it back... somewhat... into the ominous, hard-to-kill antagonist we all remembered, instead of the Canon fodder of Cameron's sequel and Alien: Resurrection.

Also, I'm wondering if anyone's going to know what that first quote I used is from...

SarcasticGoji,
He's a little too Heisei Gamera for my taste.

Between the two I think Hollywood just understands Kong better--Which makes sense because it's their creation. We've just handled Kong's empathy and desire to be at peace in a world that knows he exists better.

Kong's design also looks like an evolution of his original, fantastical design, instead of just being a blown up silverback like the 2005 version. The best thing I can say about Godzilla's design is it looks like Godzilla. But it's hardly a definitive look. Nothing too memorable.

Godzilla they've muddled and contorted outside of his cultural confines. I'm reminded of Steve Ryfle's article, about how Hollywood has "whitewashed" Godzilla--And that was just the 2014 movie. Imagine the article he could write with the latest films.

I love how this form is an homage to Varan.

SarcasticGoji,
There are definitely two (types of) Rodans, but age and sex is not the difference between them.

Off the top of my head I can't think of a kaiju that I particularly dislike--I just prefer some more than others.

Chris

Okay, Thank You!

The voice, was ruined by american dubs, the japanese voice was fine

Minilla

He's very cursed

It does evolve, we’ve seen a scene in which godzilla aqualitis becomes Amphibious.

Kattozilla

Yeah It's really good. It has a strange premise (3 kids being stuck in a fantasy world filled with talking amphibians) and lot of weird humor and crazy characters (which I like), but it also has a lot of emotion and can get surprisingly dark for a kids show (especially during the season 2 finale, no spoilers but it has a really brutal moment that's actually pretty shocking for a Disney show). My only complaint is that some of the episode morals feel a little forced (not in a bad way though). And thankfully it doesn't try to hard to be "woke" like other shows. Despite being a kid's show it can easily be enjoyed by adults (I'm 24 and I really like it,).

Overall, it's a cute show that's pretty funny and entertaining. So if you like animation with a crazy plot and out there concepts I would recommend it.