REVIEW: “Prometheus” Is More Than Just An “Alien” Movie
Comments (8)
For sci-fi fans wondering if Ridley Scott’s latest really is a prequel to “Alien,” the answer is yes and no. Yes, there are many aspects that connect the two films in terms of content and stylistically, but the narrative of “Prometheus” takes a different path that many “Alien” fans will not expect. Instead of focusing on survival against aliens, the film is ultimately about finding the meaning of life. While maintaining the elements of its classic sci-fi roots, “Prometheus” is still able to call itself an original.
There is no doubt that this is another one of Scott’s visual masterpieces with its combination of style and spectacle. “Prometheus” captures the gripping suspense of its predecessor with the eerie soundtrack and long foreboding shots, keeping the audience in anticipation.
The film is perfectly paced, opening cautiously with curious exploration and eventually building to deliver thrills with action-packed scenes that are almost overwhelmingly horrific.
The striking opening scene overlooks the beautiful and vast lands of moon LV-223 where a humanoid eats something that causes its body to decay, evoking a slew of questions that the audience will continue to ask throughout the film. From there the title sequence fades to show archaeologist couple Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway discovering a cave painting that gives them the green light to go to space in search of their makers, whom they call the “Engineers.” They take the spaceship Prometheus en route to moon LV-223 with hope of getting their answers to their existential questions.
While some of the characters are expendable, as they were meant to be, others like Noomi Rapace deliver convincing performances. Rapace has already proved herself a bad ass in the original “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” trilogy and she continues to thrive in “Prometheus” as a determined archaeologist with unwavering faith and curiosity. Despite her innocent pixie cut and petite frame, her intensity reflects, if not surpasses, that of Sigourney Weaver’s character in “Alien.”
Charlize Theron also takes on a strong role as mission director Meredith Vickers. Her frigidity could almost classify her as an android, if it weren’t for her condescending superiority towards the rest of the crew.
In contrast, the android David, played by Michael Fassbender, can almost be mistaken for a human. Created to imitate human emotion, David seems to create an ego of his own, and it is full of vindictiveness and jealousy. This dangerous persona is lurking underneath his cool exterior and Fassbender plays it off perfectly throughout the film as his intelligence starts to prove fatal from some of the human characters.
Though Guy Pearce is scarcely in the film, he plays dying executive Peter Weyland, David’s creator. He funds Shaw’s expedition also in hopes of finding the Engineers, but with his own motives. He is driven by his desire to defeat death, and is convinced that the Engineers have the power not only to create, but to save. Unfortunately, Weyland does not realize that they also have the power to destroy.
It is the last surviving Engineer’s desire to destroy the humans that changes Shaw’s question from “Why did you create us?” to “Why do you want to destroy us?” Perhaps it is because of people like Weyland. By creating life in David and seeking immortality, Weyland is determined to become nothing short of a god. Questions of David’s existence begin to echo the questions of human existence. In one scene David asks why humans created him, to which he gets the response, “Because we could.” David then asks, “And how would you feel if your makers said the same thing to you?”
The intelligent and original concept of “Prometheus” may turn on some viewers but its complexity and turn away from “Alien” may be too far-fetched for others. But after all the chaos and build-up, the film provides no answers to the questions it raised, and this can be either intriguing or frustrating for audiences.. In one scene Shaw asks the ship’s captain Janek if he is curious about what answers the Engineers may hold, in which he replies “I don’t care.” By the end of the film, viewers who are just looking for a straight forward sci-fi flick may agree with Janek’s apathy. But others, like Shaw, will be left wanting to know more. That being said, there is enough intrigue left in the end to produce another highly-anticipated money-making sequel.
Reach Staff Reporter Megan Singson here.
Comments
I don't think the engineer drinkn the drank was on earth. Doesn't fit.
Really boring movie. Another “Hugo”, if you will. People want to be entertained when they go see a movie–on this point alone Prometheus fails miserably.
The worst part of this movie is that the story is so stupid and riddled with plotholes that it insults your intelligence and just kills your suspension of disbelief.
Ridley Scott hasn’t made a good movie since Black Hawk Down. I think part of the problem is that he has not chosen good scripts lately. Visually, Ridley Scott is a genius but movie audiences want a story and characters they can relate to–Prometheus is such a huge disappointment in this respect. Nice visuals but no heart. Prometheus never connects with the audience at any point, and this is a real problem. Even the corny Dances with Smurfs by James Cameron was miles better than Prometheus because audiences could relate to some aspects of the story and characters.
Honestly, since 1986′s Aliens, there hasn’t been a truly great sci-fi movie. Aliens just hit all the right buttons–great characters, solid plot, great suspense and thrills, and great action. Who can forget Ripley in mum mode kicking the alien queen’s ass? It just connects instantly with audiences–there was no need for tons of meaningless semi-mysterious dialogue like in Prometheus. Everyone understands how ferocious a mum can get when defending her child, people get this instantly. There is nothing like this in Prometheus, just emotionless dialogue and characters doing stupid irrational things.
Wish that movie directors in general would study Aliens and get back to basics. Seriously folks, this is not rocket science–people just want to be entertained. If you’re going to spend hundreds of millions on a movie, (1)don’t insult the audience’s intelligence and (2)make sure the movie is entertaining. Look at Avengers 2012, not a classic by any means but entertaining and it cleaned out at the box-office.
Heck, even The Artist 2011 was way more entertaining and thought-provoking than Prometheus–and it was made on a $15 million budget in black and white! If Blade Runner 2 is going to be more drivel like Prometheus, seriously Scott–don’t bother.
The best science fiction movie in the past 3 years remains District 9–made on a small budget yet was superbly entertaining and thought-provoking. Even “Moon” by Duncan Jones (another sci-fi movie made on a small budget) kicks Prometheus’ ass bigtime.
yo, homie ^ up top must think he's like tha lil' Romeo of movie criticism. whad-the fuck, obviously the movie wasn't going to be the same as Alien. it's a Prequel, written by different people, that has a much more creative and thoughtful storyline. clearly, you've never taken an anthropology class. this isn't just a dumb, gruesome story with no fuckin' point (like your beloved Alien[s]). this is a commentary on how humans view the creation and evolution of life. it's extremely well-written and tackles subjects that are only tackled in other works such as the Bible and the muthafuckin Qur'an. obviously, you're not an intellectual; you're a poor&sad being, lurking on college news sites and preying on the innocent. grow up, you know you're not worth more than the shitty little perch you're squatting on now. i mean, why else would you be debating cinematic opinion anywhere but the LA Times or the Tribune. you just perv-ed your way into a medium where you could walk around with the horse dick. but, no, bros like me gotta read shit comment by wanna-bes and has-beens who creep their way into my college's fiercely competent news forum. of course the author isn't getting paid to write this; this isn't the fucking Academy Awards. why would a studio pay a college publication to sway their review this way or that? lack of common sense turns me off, my boner for this argument is starting to droop. go criticize cinematic theory somewhere else. go jerk off to your '80s childhood posters of Harrison Ford in Blade Runner. and leave the successful future to me and biddies like this ^ reviewer. skulk back to your corner where human enlightenment and poignant reviews are euthanized with a dash of rape. if you're in the south cen-TRAL sometime, hit me up: i'd like to actually hit you up and then spray my love-juice on yo face. ya know, take you back to LV-233--where you exist and online commentary is a fun place to prove we're intelligent. blow me, and exit out the door labeled "I-GREW-UP-FUCKING-GOATS". and remember that your Alfred Hitch-COCK is always fuckin' bent and that Ridley Scott is pissing on your face alllllllllllllllllllllllll the way to the bank. your opinions are out of place and in the wrong place. take up imdb for reviews, it might be as exciting as the night you discovered anal beads. i'm 420-ed out, broseph, so jizz-one-ya-face another night and hope you get chlamydia.
Those weren't fish eggs... They were cells....
Did you even watch the movie? The opening scene was not on LV-223. The point was that they were seeding life on earth... Hence the next part of where the DNA starts connecting with fish eggs in the water.... But that's just a start the movie was atrocious... Visually stunning, but filled with poorly written characters... Plus it was no where near the territory of suspenseful like the original. If I had to take a guess you must be an 80's horror fan if you think this was written well. Go watch a Freddy or Jason movie. I'm sure you'll love the character development. I sure hope your not making a career out of this, or they at least paid you very well to write this. I had such high hopes for this movie, but it was a bunch of people making stupid decisions and uninteresting characters. After about an hour and a half I just wanted it to be over.
Bro... Stop... Using... Ellipses... You're... Not... Cool. Roger Ebert over here apparently has a pretty legitimate opinion
jerkoff.
Well, your comments are just a difference in opinion, no need to get all rude and say that "I sure hope your not making a career out of this,". Everyone has the right to their own opinion, there is no right or wrong interpretation of things; the only person who knows the true intentions of every little detail in Prometheus would be the director, Ridley Scott. And unless you are in fact Ridley Scott, then stop being so disrespectful to the author of this review. Honestly, I don't agree with your review with the movie. I thought the whole DNA breaking apart in the water had NOTHING to do with connecting with fish eggs....where did you get THAT idea? See, difference in opinion; just remember next time don't be so ignorant in your comments.