Thursday, June 14, 2012

Movie Review: Prometheus (2012)

Ridley Scott’s Prometheus is a bold film that sends its characters on a journey to find truth, only to leave them with as many questions as they have answers. This is one of the best science fiction films in modern memory, and it will leave you feeling completely mesmerized from beginning to end.

Prometheus is a Ridley Scott film, so it’s no surprise that it looks absolutely incredible. The visuals are dark, haunting, and truly original. This is the best looking movie I have seen this year, and it may very well be one of the best looking science fiction films of all time.

If you’re looking for scares, you will still find a lot of great horror moments in Prometheus, many of which will bring back memories of the original Alien (1979). One scene in particular, involving an emergency extraction surgery, is the modern equivalent of the famous 'chest burst' scene that shocked audiences more than 30 years ago.

It’s difficult not to mention Alien when talking about Prometheus, mostly because Scott constantly makes rather heavy-handed references to his sci-fi classic. Some of the tie-in scenes force Prometheus into the shadow of Alien which is quite unfortunate, especially considering that Prometheus has its own self-contained plot.

Overall, the story here is quite good. Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) finds artifacts on Earth that hint at extraterrestrial answers to the origins of human life. The spaceship Prometheus sets out to find the truth; however, once they reach their destination, everything goes terribly wrong, and the crew finds themselves battling for survival against hideous alien creatures.

Sadly, most of the crew is one-dimensional and uninteresting, with the exception of the ship’s brilliant android, David, played by Michael Fassbender. The performance of Fassbender is absolutely excellent, making him a strong contender for best male actor in a leading role.

Despite the complaints I have with the characters, Prometheus is still an intelligent sci-fi film with a lot of depth. While this isn’t the best film in the genre from director Ridely Scott, it’s still an excellent addition to his legacy that will be held in high regard for years to come.

I’m happy to say that Prometheus is one of the best films I’ve seen this year. Whether you’re in the mood for some bloody thrills or brainy science fiction, this movie has the perfect blend of both. Prometheus is an incredibly well-made film that may not quite meet its own philosophical aspirations, but it will still stay on your mind long after you leave the theatre.


This article was first published in Blogcritics

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