Prometheus (2012)

 

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Starring: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce

Genre: Science Fiction / Horror

Rated: R

The film begins with Elizabeth Shaw (Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Marshall-Green) and their team discovering an ancient cave painting in the hills of Scotland. Two years later, Shaw and Holloway are a part of a group of scientists embarking on a mission to find the alien beings depicted in the painting. Shaw has dubbed these otherworldly creatures as “engineers” and believes them to be the ones who created us. As the crew lands on a moon, they find what they’re looking for and more danger than they could have imagined.

The first thing that must be stated about this film is that the visuals are absolutely amazing. While some are clearly computer generated, this is CGI done right – which is a rarity. The space travel, aliens and action sequences are very well done and enjoyable. There isn’t an obvious fakeness to them that detracts from the intensity of the scene.

The gore and death scenes are uncomfortable to say the least. The scares worked well – depicting people being penetrated by alien creatures, being confined in small spaces with them, or having them extracted from the human body. For example, a self-inflicted cesarean operation is drawn out in gory detail.  

The acting is very well done, even though some of the characters are barely used to their potential. Noomi Rapace brings Shaw to life and makes her a character to root for and care about. Michael Fassbender as the android David is remarkable as well. He is able to convey multiple characteristics and show minute emotions that go undetected by the rest of the crew. Marshall-Green’s Dr. Holloway is likable at first, but slowly becomes more and more annoying, taking unnecessary risks and getting drunk the first night after investigating the moon’s caves. Both Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce are completely underutilized and their characters feel hollow to me.  I would have liked to know more about them.

Some of the actions of the supposed scientists make little sense to me. Like why an experienced biologist would try to touch a living alien life form without taking any necessary precautions. You’re just asking to get picked off that way, buddy. This is even more bizarre when you think about how, just moments before, the same biologist ran from the carcass of a much larger, decapitated alien. If he were afraid of the dead, why try to interact with the living?

The ending, while a fun ride, feels a bit rushed. Everything happens in rapid succession and then the film is over. I would have liked to see a longer fight scene at the end between the surviving character and the Engineer, but I’ve heard the DVD/Blu Ray is going to be an extended director’s cut, so maybe that will contain the action I long for.

Overall, not a classic film, but a fun one. Worth a watch for Ridley Scott fans or fans of Sci-fi in general. The visuals and violence scenes are top notch and the performances of Rapace and Fassbender give us at least a couple characters to enjoy. There’s plenty of action and scares for everyone.

6.5/10