Realism in fiction is not necessary, but plausibility absolutely is and, as much as I enjoyed this movie, I have to say it falls far short in that regard on numerous accounts. 'Prometheus' is loaded with inconsistencies in character, poorly thought out plot execution and an irritatingly bad logistical approach.
I didn't watch this science video, but that's not what I'm commenting on. It's the notion that because an individual like me finds fault with the film, I MUST NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD IT. On the contrary, I feel I have as good an understanding of the film as anyone and what it comes down to are the objections I've stated. Don't assume I hate this film, because I don't. I'm merely disappointed with it and severely so. I wanted it to be better than it is and I believe it good have been:
pulserifle 187...people state that Fifield had a map because he directs them as to which way they should go stating, "The Pupps say this way." And he points after having looked at the device on his wrist. Given the visual and auditory information in that moment, and the fact that he released them in the first place, it well within reason to suggest he had access to that information. Not to mention, he could have asked Prometheus for help and he didn't. These considerations make the fact of them getting lost implausible and silly. I, and I'm not alone in this, find it very hard to believe that two scientists, who still have com access to their ship and potential access to the map information themselves, cannot find their way out under those circumstance s and get as hopelessly lost as they did. They could have simply been left behind accidentally in the mad dash to beat the storm back to the Prometheus.
Our group of scientists, one can reasonably assume, are the best money can by, given the stated mission price tag of a trillion dollars and yet they behave like children. Fifield's panic attack is over dramatized and frankly, a bit silly.
Milburn's lack of interest in what is clearly the corpse of a sentient biological entity is an insult to biologists everywhere, not to mention his appallingly bad judgment in approaching the hammerpede.
Holloway is as a six year old who's been at Disney world for all of six or seven hours and throws a temper tantrum because he hasn't talked to Mickey Mouse YET. This man has a doctorate? They have just made the most important scientific discovery in our history and this is how he behaves? The deleted scenes play up his drunkenness, which makes his behavior more plausible, not acceptable, but plausible. They chose to play down that aspect and cut the original scene between him and Shaw in their quarters to make him more 'sympathetic'. As a consequence, he comes off more child than anything and the sympathetic quality they sought is lost. Also, considering that his behavior is so undeniably immature and ridiculous, it's unbelievable that no one calls him out for it, ever; which is particularly maddening when you consider the fact that Shaw calls him out twice in the deleted scenes. WHENEVER A CHARACTER BEHAVES IN A MANNER THAT WOULD SEEM ODD, OFF PUTTING, BIZARRE OR FRANKLY INEXCUSABLE TO THE AVERAGE PERSON, THAT BEHAVIOR WILL ONLY COME OFF PLAUSIBLY IF OTHER CHARACTERS RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. If one considers the drunkenness and Shaw's negative reaction to Holloway's behavior, it comes off more plausibly. Instead, we get a child no one even seems to notice.
Shaw's random emotional breakdown over being barren makes her come off as a basket case, given that we have no prior knowledge of it and it's relevance to the context of the statement Holloway made to trigger it is abstract at best, especially considering the nature of their mission; which she herself is one of the leads on. It comes off as random and pointless, when one considers that this version of the scene was a re-shoot to make Hollway more 'sympathetic'. He ends up looking careless anyway as he clearly knew of her condition. And please, don't misunderstand me here. I completely sympathize with any woman in that position. I merely am referring to the context of this scene in this movie and that's all.
I could go on...but I won't...I'll just leave you all with this....in spite of my tirade, I do believe it's salvageable...I just cannot defend the theatrical cut as film that succeeded in doing what it set out to do. If fell far short of it's potential and I really do hope the sequel is a pleasant surprise...