Ghidra, your excitement's rubbed off on me. I love Alien (although it's not my favourite Ridley Scott film; that would be Blade Runner - which reminds me of the first anime I really got into, which was Bubblegum Crisis... but that's another story).

I love practical effects, so that's a definite plus to Prometheus. One of my favorite movies of all-time is John Carpenter's The Thing, which I think is one of the best practical effects movies ever made. The sequel that came out recently wasn't bad, really, but it's a film that I think should have honored the original by sticking with practical effects.

That is all (for now).

I didn't see the Thing prequel.  I kind of avoided it on purpose like a few other films.  However, I do know the Thing prequel was actually filmed with practical effects, but the studio forced the director to go back in post and replace it all with CGI.  Kind of gets to the heart of my "what's wrong with Hollywood" theory.  The studios purposely hire directors with little to no resume so they can do two things, pay them very little and bully them into bending to their will.  Bean counters don't know film or art from their own rear ends, so it always ends up badly.  This is why Prometheus won't suck.  There's now way Ridley Scott is going to be bullied into doing anything he doesn't want to.

I'm sure Bubblegum Crisis has its origins in the cyber-punk genre like Blade Runner is steeped in.  Certainly a connection in there, also the plot with the Boomers.  Ridley Scott is also going to make a new film in the Blade Runner universe soon as well.  He's already signed on for it I think.