QIs "Alien: Resurrection" based on a book?
ANo. Alien: Resurrection is the fourth movie in the Alien franchise, preceded by Alien (1979),Aliens (1986), and Alien³ (1992). The screenplay for Alien: Resurrection was written by Joss Whedon. Alien: Resurrection was followed by two more (unrelated) movies, AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004) and AVPR: Aliens vs Predator - Requiem) (2007). Alien: Resurrection continues Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver)'s story begun in Alien, whereas AVP and AVPR were written as prequels to Alien.
QHow did Call get all the way to the top of the elevator shaft after she plunged back into the water?
AThe Alien under water probably didn't show much interest in Call (Winona Ryder), since she was an android. She must have taken an alternate route, not visible from the elevator shaft. The elevator shaft where the Betty crew resurfaces looks pretty much like a dead end, so it is likely Call swam back into the kitchen after the Alien got out of the water. Perhaps she used a flooded air shaft used to vent off the air (visible when they swim through the kitchen). Also, during the swim through the kitchen, some of the shots show that there is a grated ceiling to the kitchen with the water line just above it, so Call may have been able to exit through one of those grates. Whatever the case was, she was able to crawl one floor up, where she could get out and open the door from the other side. Or maybe there was a service elevator used to transport food or an emergency escape tunnel leading to higher floors. The reason that she did not drown can be explained by the fact that she is an android, able to hold her breath longer, having a lower oxygen consumption than humans, or not requiring air at all.
QWhy is Call so determined to save humanity?
AShe says that she is programmed to do so, and there is a solid basis for this. The famous science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov already proposed in 1942 that, for proper functioning, all robots should obey three laws:(1) A robot may never harm a human being, or cause a human being to be harmed by inaction, (2) A robot must obey orders given by a human being (unless these orders are in conflict with law 1), and (3) A robot must protect its own existence (unless this is in conflict with law 1 and 2). These three principles have been widely recognized throughout the genre of science fiction, and have become known as the Three Laws of Robotics. It is most likely that the androids in the Alien continuity (except for Ash in Alien) are programmed according to these laws. Although there are signs that the Second Law not always applies, as DiStephano mentions that the Autons "didn't like to be told what to do". Bishop mentions in Aliens that it is 'impossible for him to harm, or by omission of action, allow to be harmed, a human being', which is a paraphrasing of the First Law. Call is also acting according to the second part of the First Law: if she does nothing to stop the scientists from creating the Aliens, the entire human race may die.
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