Prometheus

Prometheus

2012

Action (Sci Fi)

Rated R

Running Time: 124 minutes

Starring: Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace

Directed By: Ridley Scott

Rating: 6 out of 10

Outline

A team of explorers heads to a distant planet looking for the answer of humanity’s origins.

Review

So I thought long and hard after watching this movie trying to decide if I liked it or not. It sat right on the fence for me but I finally decided the combination of some spectacular visuals and Michael Fassbender’s acting won me over to tell you to give it a view. The movie Prometheus is the futuristic tale of a group of explorers trying to discover the origins of humanity on earth. It leads them to a planet in the far reaches of space where they find out some questions are better left unanswered.

I am going to start out by saying I am not going to get into a nerdy in depth discussion regarding where this movie fits into the whole Alien franchise. After watching this film it is pretty clear to me it is a prequel to Ridley Scott's film Alien. The whole semantics of it being a standalone film but based in the same Alien universe really is incidental when it comes right down to it. Be warned though this film resembles the first Alien film the most. It is a well built up drama relying on suspense and origin story to win the viewer over. So if you are looking for more action driven story lines like the Aliens films numbered 2 through 4 you will be sadly disappointed. I am a huge fan of the first two Alien films so I was pretty stoked to see this film. While it was not what I expected I found I was totally wrapped up in this pretty cool prequel. The first thing you will notice is the visuals in this film. Everything from the distant planet they travel to, and the spaceship they are on called Prometheus are just crisp and at times stunning. The films camera work is clearly a homage to the first Alien film. The coloring and texture are grainy and tinted, especially on the spaceship making the film look like it was shot years ago which I thought was a neat touch. The film is a well thought up story but has too many unexplained layers to be thoroughly enjoyed in my mind. Now they may clear this up if they have a sequel to this film but it will leave a sense of unfinished business by films end. 

The characters in this film are pretty varied and interesting. I would be remiss if I didn’t start with Michael Fassbender playing the Android David. In a world where all roles should be appreciated at the Academy Awards this portrayal might have been nominated. He is excellent and he steals the show. He has such a grasp of what this character should be that it is hard to believe he isn’t a robot. The leading lady Elizabeth Shaw played by Noomi Rapace is no Sigourney Weaver and yet she is not out of place in this film. She holds her own in this movie and without giving away the scene is involved in one the creepiest moments this franchise has ever had (That includes chest bursting aliens). The film has a solid supporting cast which includes Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce, and Idris Elba. While good in their respective roles I felt the movie did not or use the cast nearly enough. It is hard to care about a character when so many of them have limited screen time.

The film does a good job in always keeping the viewer on its toes. As the team looks for answers on this foreign planet there is always a lingering tension that things are not what they seem. As more questions get answered the more hectic and frantic the feel of the film gets. The film however is very slow and because the crew of Prometheus is too big it is hard to fully invest in its characters. It also does not have enough outright scenes of blood and violence for my taste to break up the slow points.  When the ending arrives the film instead of feeling natural seems rushed and unfulfilled.

It is hard to criticize Ridley Scott as a director but he failed in some key aspects in this film. The story is all over the place and the ending is unsatisfying. The pacing while adding tension also seems stretched detracting from the overall feel of this film. What he did well was the look and style of this film. He knows his original audience and delivers a decent sci fi flick. Although he could have used more scenes of action and or horror they are fantastic when they do occur. His casting is solid if not perfect and he utilizes the best characters to maximum potential.

I am going to give this movie a recommendation but remember it is clearly meant for fans of the first Alien film or dramatic sci fi lovers.

T Factor + If you like the Alien Franchise this could score higher on the rating scale.

T Factor – If you like your films with intense scenes of violence and action this could score lower on the rating scale.

If you liked this film reel recommendations: Event Horizon, Alien