LoginItās a Ridley Scott film, so right off the bat we know itās going to be a meticulously composed, lit, shot and edited beauty. But Prometheus is a maddening movie which poses questions that it doesnāt even bother to answer, or even bring back up after throwing them out there, and canāt make up its mind over whether or not itās a companion piece of the Alien franchise or the long-gestating prequel. Itās a schizophrenic film in which various plot points, devices and characters change on a whim with little-to-no regard for what has come before.
The film begins its story with a gigantic white Engineer swallowing a black liquid and promptly dying/decomposing before our eyes. Where he is exactly is never explained, nor is what heās committing ritualistic suicide for. Itās all a load of vague but beautiful images. Even if the makeup job on the Engineers is distracting on how rubbery and synthetic it looks, never fully convincing us that this is a creature to be amazed and silenced in the face of.
No matter. We rush forward to 2089 and meet our two opposing scientific minds ā atheist Darwinian evolutionist vs. Christian creationist believer ā and, of course, theyāre lovers too. Anyway, they keep finding these same cave paintings/stone engravings from ancient times with a figure pointing towards a group of three stars. They gain backing through a privately funded trip by a believed dead eccentric billionaireās company, and weāre off to explore the universe in the Alien mythos.
And for a period of time, it all plays out in a completely fascinating way. So, Prometheus ISNāT the long-awaited prequel to the whole thing, but a separate entity that expands upon the same universe? Interesting, I enjoyed it.
But then the references to Alien come in, and lead to a conclusion that I can only describe as the filmmakers suddenly going āOh shit! We need to make this a prequel and tie it in after all!ā midway through production. Because itās right around the midsection of the film that things begin to go flying off the rails at an ever quickening speed.
It took enough of a leap for me to buy into a highly expensive space mission being funded on the slimmest of hunches with little-to-no empirical evidence, but once we get into the mysterious black ooze, Davidās twisty-turny machinations and the Engineers having a gloriously bloody freak-out, I was ready to get off this space ride.
You see, while digging around in the bottom levels of the space caverns, they discover a throne room with a moving painting featuring an Alien Queen in the crucifix position, a giant statue of a head and hundreds of containers of black ooze. Itās all appropriately atmospheric and unnerving, but once the black ooze is unleashed to wreak havoc upon the world things just get confusing as the film cannot decide to stick to what it is exactly that this stuff does. It changes willy-nilly depending on what they need it to do.
One moment it transforms a tiny worm into an albino space-cobra with a vaginal opening for a mouth, the next itās able to turn a dead member of the crew into a contortionist zombie who attacks them, and yet still it transforms another member into a diseased humanoid who looks like heās suffering from a kind of super-AIDS. And so it goes. This black ooze does whatever the plot requires it to do and never sticks to the logistics that had been established when it was first introduced. So this black ooze can kill the Engineers, but it can also transform someone into a chalky, sore-ridden mess AND impregnate someone who was sterile with an octopus-like creature? Sure, why not, I guess.
And then thereās David, beautifully portrayed by a glacial Michael Fassbender, and Charlize Theronās Meredith Vickers, two characters who change personality stripes at the drop of a hat. David, like most androids in the Alien universe (Bishop and Call being the exceptions), cannot be trusted on the basis that heās an android alone. And that he has an secret submission isnāt surprising. Whatās surprising is how quickly he betrays that submission and manages to stay active for an incredibly long time without a power source. And he somehow has all the knowledge of the Engineers after stumbling across their layer on his own and spending a few hours there. Iāll grant that an android can assimilate data at a far quicker rate than a human ever possibly could, but the sheer amount of information he would have had to assimilate wouldnāt have taken so quick a time.
And Theronās character is introduced as a remote Hitchcockian blonde, complete with own secrets and agendas, with a splash of the tough-girl/riot grrrl-power ethos of the original franchise. A subplot about her possibly being an android is brought up, never answered, and forgotten as quickly as it was presented. Her descent into screaming, useless, helpless female is embarrassing. Not for Theron, who plays it all incredibly well, but for the inconsistent writing.
This leads us back to the Engineers, and the faux-profundity of the whole Science vs. Religion debate at the heart of the film. Itās a fancy window dressing that means nothing more than that. The debate is never fully engaged, nor does it really go anywhere besides one character eternally believing and getting her belief reaffirmed through her horrific travails, and the other dying off at the expense of magical black ooze. If the Engineers are gods, or the creators of mankind, and the one we saw at the beginning was giving of itself to create life on earth, why are they so intent on bringing us back to kill us off? And, if this isnāt their home planet, why are they stuck here?
Of course these questions are never answered. Theyāre only brought up for the inevitable franchise they were hoping to spiral off of this film. The film begins by exploring another pocket of the Alien universe before devolving into a proto-facehugger and Engineer battle that gives birth to an early form of the xenomorph we all know and love. So now weāve got Prometheus telling us that the Alien franchise was actually symbolic of the Big Issues in life. What? The xenomorph is actually a symbolic form of a hellish demon unleashed upon unsuspecting masses to horde more souls for its dark master? Ha!
As someone who grew up on the Alien franchise I can say this, yes, there was symbolic characters and story lines to real world issues: Ripley being shunned out for being a crazed woman in Aliens by the patriarchy at work in both the military and big government should feel real enough to anyone who has had to face the glass ceiling, or the racism/prejudice involved with androids throughout the franchise, learning to accept and trust the āother.ā But the films were mostly well-made and well written exercises in haunted house terror and intense military carnage wrapped up in a sci-fi bow.
For all its posturing to Big Issues and Ideas, Prometheus canāt seem to make up its mind about what the Engineers are, or why. By the time an Engineer straps itself into a gun turret and launches the spaceship which we once thought was a cave or dwelling into the air, we know that all of those big questions were just silly mysticism trying to make the film seem deeper than it was. During, roughly, the first hour when Prometheus focuses in on creating an intense, exciting horror/thriller/action film that itās at its best. Right after the abortion scene (which is probably the best sequence of the whole film until she keeps running and banging her stitched together stomach on sharp or jagged objects, performing feats which should have ripped the staples out and caused her to bleed to death, but I digressā¦) is when the hysterical mumbo-jumbo kicks into overdrive and the plot threads unravel at a rapid pace, and itās all over. In the theater, much like in space, no one could hear me scream.
Prometheus Reviews
Prometheus
Posted : 11 years, 4 months ago on 18 December 2012 09:49
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Prometheus review
Posted : 11 years, 6 months ago on 29 October 2012 11:57
Despite stunning effects, a solid and capable cast and a huge fan base of the alien movies, Prometheus fell short of being what everyone had hoped it would be, great. Why? Because it failed to answer the questions that the movie itself posed. Instead of making us contemplate whatever idea it was supposed to share, it just confused us and left us hanging. In my opinion, the movie felt like it was just the backstory of the actual movie. A good, unfinished story.
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Good special effects, poor, poor writing
Posted : 11 years, 6 months ago on 27 October 2012 04:49
I must admit that the special effects and overall scale of the film is epic. But for crying out loud the plot is thin as paper and the writing is very very bad. None of the characters are acting in a logical way. There is no explainable motivations behind their actions and the story behind the alien race contradicts itself. After watching it I have a feeling it's just a collection of cool ideas put together without any logic to link them. The film pretends to raise some philosophical questions but it's done in a very childish way and in the end you can "choose to believe" whatever you want despite the evidence to the contrary.
****************************SPOILERS*****************************
They come to this alien planet (not Alien alien, just extraterrestrial) and decide to land immediately without any surveillance from the orbit. Luckily out of the whole planet the place they happened to fly over had alien structures so they land there. Only then the scientists learn from the mission director what they are allowed to do. They go to this alien structure with their hi-tech equipment and an android. The android presses all the buttons he can find like 5 year old and nobody's surprised that he doesn't explain anything. Apparently he mastered a couple of ancient earth languages but that's no explanation to why he understands alien writings. The guy operating the hi-tech probes that map the structure suddenly flips out when he sees an alien corpse while everyone else is cool, decides to go back to the ship and gets lost in the tunnels. In the structure they decide that the air is breathable on the basis of it's chemical composition and take off their helmets. Who in their right mind exposes oneself to an alien environment. You don't know what can be in this air especially that you're looking for alien life. Then out of nowhere a sand storm appears as if triggered by their actions. So they retreat and they take the alien head with them to the ship while the geo-expert most competent on finding his way back gets lost in the structure. In the ship they do decontamination of the alien head but they fail to decontaminate their own heads after the exposure to the alien environment. And now the best happens: The paleontologist/archaeologist suddenly becomes an expert on alien physiology and just by looking at the head decides that there are some new cell outgrowths on the forehead. They decide to reanimate a 2000(?) year old head by using electroshocks after which the head explodes. (What was the point of that scene? To show their incompetence?) Then they examine the alien DNA under the microscope(!) and the analysis tells them it matches human DNA. (Wow really? After millions of years of evolution of human species it's still the same? Oh wait, you can "choose to believe" so. Yet the opening scene of the alien committing suicide and dispersing in the water with cool particle effects suggests that he initiated all the life on the planet. But then again the ancient cultures worshipped the solar system the alien structures were on. So maybe we are their direct descendants. But it's not where the alien race comes from. It's just a storage place for biological weapon. Why would the aliens leave an "invitation" to their military base?) Meanwhile the android opens one of the vases they found in the structure like he knew exactly what he's doing. All in his room without any secure containment. He brakes open a vial of unidentified liquid which for all he knows could be kryptonite or cool-aid and decides to roofie one of the scientist with it. Meanwhile the guys that were afraid of the alien corpse and got lost in the structure decide to make friends with a snakelike life form that emerged from a puddle and get raped by it. The roofied scientist gets sick but before that he manages to have sex with his colleague (Elizabeth) and impregnate her with an alien life form. Then the android scans the Elizabeth on the next day like he knew what he was looking for and tries to restrain her so she will give birth to an alien. (Why would he want to do that???) She escapes and uses automated surgical chamber to remove the alien from her belly. The procedure cuts through her whole abdomen and then staples it back together. From now on she runs around in all action scenes with her severed abdominal muscles. (The least they could do is show some hi-tech quick healing procedure or something.) She escapes and finds Wayland to be on the ship and he's looking for cure to old age. No one is surprised she has a gushing wound across her abdomen and they embark on another trip to the alien structure which turned out to be a spaceship. They revive one of the alien crew members which goes on a killing rampage after a chat with the android (no explanation why) and decides to fly the spaceship to eradicate life on earth. Fortunately after a quick chat with the female protagonist the pilots enthusiastically decide to go kamikaze on the alien spaceship and die with smiles on their faces. Then there is the nerve wrecking scene of the doughnut spaceship rolling and chasing Elizabeth and Meredith in a straight line when all they had to do to avoid it was to step aside. The alien pilot somehow survives the crash and comes back with a revenge on his mind. It is defeated by the foetus Elizabeth gave birth to which grew to a gigantic size on absolutely nothing in a matter of hours closed in the operation chamber. In the end Elizabeth joins forces with the android who poisoned her lover and tried to kill her as well and they fly off to find the home planet of the alien race.
****************************SPOILERS*****************************
They come to this alien planet (not Alien alien, just extraterrestrial) and decide to land immediately without any surveillance from the orbit. Luckily out of the whole planet the place they happened to fly over had alien structures so they land there. Only then the scientists learn from the mission director what they are allowed to do. They go to this alien structure with their hi-tech equipment and an android. The android presses all the buttons he can find like 5 year old and nobody's surprised that he doesn't explain anything. Apparently he mastered a couple of ancient earth languages but that's no explanation to why he understands alien writings. The guy operating the hi-tech probes that map the structure suddenly flips out when he sees an alien corpse while everyone else is cool, decides to go back to the ship and gets lost in the tunnels. In the structure they decide that the air is breathable on the basis of it's chemical composition and take off their helmets. Who in their right mind exposes oneself to an alien environment. You don't know what can be in this air especially that you're looking for alien life. Then out of nowhere a sand storm appears as if triggered by their actions. So they retreat and they take the alien head with them to the ship while the geo-expert most competent on finding his way back gets lost in the structure. In the ship they do decontamination of the alien head but they fail to decontaminate their own heads after the exposure to the alien environment. And now the best happens: The paleontologist/archaeologist suddenly becomes an expert on alien physiology and just by looking at the head decides that there are some new cell outgrowths on the forehead. They decide to reanimate a 2000(?) year old head by using electroshocks after which the head explodes. (What was the point of that scene? To show their incompetence?) Then they examine the alien DNA under the microscope(!) and the analysis tells them it matches human DNA. (Wow really? After millions of years of evolution of human species it's still the same? Oh wait, you can "choose to believe" so. Yet the opening scene of the alien committing suicide and dispersing in the water with cool particle effects suggests that he initiated all the life on the planet. But then again the ancient cultures worshipped the solar system the alien structures were on. So maybe we are their direct descendants. But it's not where the alien race comes from. It's just a storage place for biological weapon. Why would the aliens leave an "invitation" to their military base?) Meanwhile the android opens one of the vases they found in the structure like he knew exactly what he's doing. All in his room without any secure containment. He brakes open a vial of unidentified liquid which for all he knows could be kryptonite or cool-aid and decides to roofie one of the scientist with it. Meanwhile the guys that were afraid of the alien corpse and got lost in the structure decide to make friends with a snakelike life form that emerged from a puddle and get raped by it. The roofied scientist gets sick but before that he manages to have sex with his colleague (Elizabeth) and impregnate her with an alien life form. Then the android scans the Elizabeth on the next day like he knew what he was looking for and tries to restrain her so she will give birth to an alien. (Why would he want to do that???) She escapes and uses automated surgical chamber to remove the alien from her belly. The procedure cuts through her whole abdomen and then staples it back together. From now on she runs around in all action scenes with her severed abdominal muscles. (The least they could do is show some hi-tech quick healing procedure or something.) She escapes and finds Wayland to be on the ship and he's looking for cure to old age. No one is surprised she has a gushing wound across her abdomen and they embark on another trip to the alien structure which turned out to be a spaceship. They revive one of the alien crew members which goes on a killing rampage after a chat with the android (no explanation why) and decides to fly the spaceship to eradicate life on earth. Fortunately after a quick chat with the female protagonist the pilots enthusiastically decide to go kamikaze on the alien spaceship and die with smiles on their faces. Then there is the nerve wrecking scene of the doughnut spaceship rolling and chasing Elizabeth and Meredith in a straight line when all they had to do to avoid it was to step aside. The alien pilot somehow survives the crash and comes back with a revenge on his mind. It is defeated by the foetus Elizabeth gave birth to which grew to a gigantic size on absolutely nothing in a matter of hours closed in the operation chamber. In the end Elizabeth joins forces with the android who poisoned her lover and tried to kill her as well and they fly off to find the home planet of the alien race.
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Alien 2012.....
Posted : 11 years, 6 months ago on 4 October 2012 04:59
The Alien franchise is unique in a sense that all the earlier films were blessed with the presence of some greatly talented directors on board. While the 1st version was the creative child of Ridley Scott the others were directed by James Cameroon, David Fincher and Jean-Pierre Jeunet respectively. So when Ridley Scott decided to come home to his most coveted genre with Prometheus expectation rose to sky high. Now does he succeeds in that is a million dollar question. Well he is able to raise certain questions with his magnum opus al right but inexplicably remained silent while answering to them. Now Scott has been instrumental while handling science fiction stuff in the past but unfortunately this time his homecoming seems less convincing. Throughout the film it gives an impression that the ace director has a lot in his plate without even knowing how to gulp that. Now lets look at the questions the film raised in it's course.
Prequel to Alien
Prometheus has been widely rumoured to be a prequel of the 1979 classic hit Alien from the same director. Now is to so, I am not so sure. To me it is rather a modern updation of Alien or at best we can call it Alien version 2012. The story remains almost the same - the same mean android,the lone woman survivor at the end, the way the first alien infestation happens - everything seems so familiar to put it nicely.
Our Origin
The main aspect of this film is the interesting plot. It is supposed to be a search for our Origin as a human being or to say in other words a search for secret of our existence. That is one intriguing premise Scott bases his film on and full marks to him for that. But unfortunately that's it as far as the innovation goes. I mean instead of finding our origin through the voyage we actually find a set up for a sequel and that really sucks. He took like an eternity to ask the poignant question and finally left us all clueless about the answer.
Casting
Noomi Rapace as Elizabeth Shaw is the replacement for Sigourney Weaver here and she does full justice to the responsibility handed over to her. Michael Fassbender as David the android is brilliant as usual. He is so good in his role that I really feel he is an asset in this alien drama. But honestly I felt that Charlize Theron & Guy Pearce is wasted in two inconsequential roles. All in all a brilliant cast none the less but not a very effective one.
So in a nut shell Prometheus is a film that works in parts but disappointing in the end. While the cinematography just excels to the point of breathtaking at times the screenplay lets the film down. There is not much logic behind a lot of scenes and at the end instead of becoming a smart Science fiction that it aspires to be Prometheus is left being an Alien Action saga. I had expected a lot out of it specifically because of the intriguing set up it uses but in the end it is more like a summer blockbuster that has entertained me well enough but left me hungry in my belly.
I am going with 7 out of 10 for Prometheus, it scored largely on the merit of the plot it begins with and the sensational production value, but as I have already said I am entertained but not satisfied.
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How far would you go to get your answers?
Posted : 11 years, 7 months ago on 3 September 2012 04:53
''War, poverty, cruelty, unnecessary violence. I understand human emotions, although I do not feel them myself.''
A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Michael Fassbender: David
After many years the masterful film visionary Ridley Scott has returned to where some of his original talents for capturing storytelling, inspiration and escapism originally lay: Science fiction.
Upon seeing his latest work I was impressed at the detail, the pace, the sheer audacity he displays in his end result. It's mesmerising and upon a personal note it makes a striking impression not just with it's immense cast and dazzling effects but with the most important aspects: The art and storytelling entwined in this particular medium.
It hits home from the addictive cast, one of my favourites from legendary new comer Micheal Fassbender to energetic chameleonic Guy Pearce injecting the film with pure professional believability and talent.
Prometheus is a science fiction piece. It is also a philosophical study capturing the fragility of human nature and our physical existence.
The film whispered to me that Weyland offer, ''If you'll indulge me, I'd like to change the world.''
We are insects becoming Godly within a rather large spherical universe where discovery and understanding collide at every moment. Nothing seems to be certain but changing... What I am definitely certain of, when it comes to Prometheus is that the film stimulates us as well as entertains the audience. It gives us something deeper for our minds to feed upon. Gives us questions to play around with and then smacks us with a few answers.
''T.E. Lawrence, eponymously of Arabia
but very much an Englishman,
favoured pinching a burning match between his fingers
to put it out.
When asked by his colleague William Potter
to reveal his trick,
how is it he effectively extinguished the flame
without hurting himself whatsoever,
Lawrence just smiled and said,
"The trick, Potter, is not minding it hurts."
The fire that danced at the end
of that match was a gift from the Titan Prometheus,
a gift that he stole from the gods.
And Prometheus was caught,
and brought to justice for his theft.
The gods, well, you might say they overreacted a little.
The poor man was tied to a rock,
as an eagle ripped through his belly and ate his liver over and over,
day after day, ad infinitum.
All because he gave us fire.
Our first true piece of technology, fire...''
At times the nostalgia elevates back to the days when Ridley was giving us Alien. It almost feels like being back home with Ripley with the female heroine Noomi Rapace playing Elizabeth Shaw. She makes the role faceted.
So we have a historical, prequel feel to proceedings while we are taken somewhere new and exciting which explores our origins. It is an imaginative game in the fashion of HG Wells, ''What if?'', regarding where we came from or where we are going.
Our creator: Was it an accident? Would they regard us as inferior? Would an extraterrestrial presence be hostile or peaceful? The truth is both possibilities are quite obviously correct.
The other interesting study and insight is with artifical intelligence and the robotic android David played by Micheal Fassbender. What would our creation think or feel or do if put in the same situation as us? Would our creation be disappointed to find out the limitations and flaws contained in its creator. Of course it would. How this being would react to such discoveries and revelations seems to faintly echo the days of Blade Runner.
You can almost hear, ''Revel in your time...'' and when we come to the ageing Wayland played by Pearce we have the stabs at mortality and our quest to either accept it or overcome it. Is death avoidable? Are we talking about the physical or metaphysical? Or is it something which remains unknowable until we arrive at the destination? My answer is the journey is what matters. If you spend all your time wondering about the destination how can you enjoy the journey?
Prometheus is a very enjoyable, thought provoking film. However you take it or experience it, whether the action or effects or horror elements are your cup of tea. Whether you value the storytelling or being transported to another time and place which in ways mirrors our own World, whether you enjoy asking questions and not being able to answer every single one. Despite all this to contemplate if you want a piece of deeper stimulation at a pace which isn't in a hurry, where the end is a beginning of sorts, Prometheus is worth the ride and is waiting for you.
Ridley Scott returns from his historical pieces and gives us his science fiction taste of a brave new world. The best is surely to come.
''How far would you go to get your answers?''
A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.
Michael Fassbender: David
After many years the masterful film visionary Ridley Scott has returned to where some of his original talents for capturing storytelling, inspiration and escapism originally lay: Science fiction.
Upon seeing his latest work I was impressed at the detail, the pace, the sheer audacity he displays in his end result. It's mesmerising and upon a personal note it makes a striking impression not just with it's immense cast and dazzling effects but with the most important aspects: The art and storytelling entwined in this particular medium.
It hits home from the addictive cast, one of my favourites from legendary new comer Micheal Fassbender to energetic chameleonic Guy Pearce injecting the film with pure professional believability and talent.
Prometheus is a science fiction piece. It is also a philosophical study capturing the fragility of human nature and our physical existence.
The film whispered to me that Weyland offer, ''If you'll indulge me, I'd like to change the world.''
We are insects becoming Godly within a rather large spherical universe where discovery and understanding collide at every moment. Nothing seems to be certain but changing... What I am definitely certain of, when it comes to Prometheus is that the film stimulates us as well as entertains the audience. It gives us something deeper for our minds to feed upon. Gives us questions to play around with and then smacks us with a few answers.
''T.E. Lawrence, eponymously of Arabia
but very much an Englishman,
favoured pinching a burning match between his fingers
to put it out.
When asked by his colleague William Potter
to reveal his trick,
how is it he effectively extinguished the flame
without hurting himself whatsoever,
Lawrence just smiled and said,
"The trick, Potter, is not minding it hurts."
The fire that danced at the end
of that match was a gift from the Titan Prometheus,
a gift that he stole from the gods.
And Prometheus was caught,
and brought to justice for his theft.
The gods, well, you might say they overreacted a little.
The poor man was tied to a rock,
as an eagle ripped through his belly and ate his liver over and over,
day after day, ad infinitum.
All because he gave us fire.
Our first true piece of technology, fire...''
At times the nostalgia elevates back to the days when Ridley was giving us Alien. It almost feels like being back home with Ripley with the female heroine Noomi Rapace playing Elizabeth Shaw. She makes the role faceted.
So we have a historical, prequel feel to proceedings while we are taken somewhere new and exciting which explores our origins. It is an imaginative game in the fashion of HG Wells, ''What if?'', regarding where we came from or where we are going.
Our creator: Was it an accident? Would they regard us as inferior? Would an extraterrestrial presence be hostile or peaceful? The truth is both possibilities are quite obviously correct.
The other interesting study and insight is with artifical intelligence and the robotic android David played by Micheal Fassbender. What would our creation think or feel or do if put in the same situation as us? Would our creation be disappointed to find out the limitations and flaws contained in its creator. Of course it would. How this being would react to such discoveries and revelations seems to faintly echo the days of Blade Runner.
You can almost hear, ''Revel in your time...'' and when we come to the ageing Wayland played by Pearce we have the stabs at mortality and our quest to either accept it or overcome it. Is death avoidable? Are we talking about the physical or metaphysical? Or is it something which remains unknowable until we arrive at the destination? My answer is the journey is what matters. If you spend all your time wondering about the destination how can you enjoy the journey?
Prometheus is a very enjoyable, thought provoking film. However you take it or experience it, whether the action or effects or horror elements are your cup of tea. Whether you value the storytelling or being transported to another time and place which in ways mirrors our own World, whether you enjoy asking questions and not being able to answer every single one. Despite all this to contemplate if you want a piece of deeper stimulation at a pace which isn't in a hurry, where the end is a beginning of sorts, Prometheus is worth the ride and is waiting for you.
Ridley Scott returns from his historical pieces and gives us his science fiction taste of a brave new world. The best is surely to come.
''How far would you go to get your answers?''
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Prometheus review
Posted : 11 years, 10 months ago on 24 June 2012 11:08
Quick review: Overall I found this to be an appreciated addition to the "Alien" universe. Though it got a lot of mixed reviews, and did have a few over-the-top moments, if you are a true fan of the Alien franchise, it is a definite must-watch. Would like to see a director's cut.
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Not bad, but not good...
Posted : 11 years, 10 months ago on 21 June 2012 04:28
I went into this film with a bucket full of popcorn and almost no foreknowledge of the movie whatsoever. Having seen Blade Runner and Alien, I was purely excited at the thought of a new Ridley Scott movie. I expected to be launched into an entirely new setting and atmosphere, a strange new future from the mind of a noted director--however, saying I was let down at the similarities to Alien would be an understatement. The scenes go from a creepy, H.R. Giger-like atmosphere thick with tension and a good dose of awe, until you're smacked with a heavy-handed conversation about fate and religion. While the movie as a whole never worked for me, I must say I was quite impressed with the insatiable, mechanical curiosity that seemed to drive the A.I. handyman, David--which is thanks to Michael Fassbender's great performance. I rolled my eyes at the metallic "eggs" set around the shrine. I groaned at the sight of a foreign body inside a human, and scoffed as she ran away after a serious operation. I hooted when the ship rolled on its edge, and when the unlucky people below seemed to forget how to turn left or right. And when the final chest burst it made more sense, but it all felt sort of cheap... a feeling made worse when I realized I could no longer get a refill for my empty bucket o' popcorn.
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Refreshingly dark and adult sci-fi
Posted : 11 years, 10 months ago on 16 June 2012 01:19
"A king has his reign, and then he dies. It's inevitable."
In the hands of any other filmmakers, a prequel to Alien would have likely yielded a stale rehash of the franchise's established elements within a generic PG-13 action-adventure. But director Ridley Scott had other plans, and the result is 2012's Prometheus: an invigoratingly original story set within the Alien universe. To merely call Prometheus an Alien prequel is very misleading, as writers Damon Lindelof and Jon Spaihts (with input from Scott) have created a majestic science fiction epic which stands alone as an independent entity while further contributing to the mythology behind the Alien series. Added to this, Prometheus is refreshingly dark and adult sci-fi with more on its mind than cheap thrills. This is a cerebral blockbuster; it's unafraid to pose thought-provoking questions about mankind's origins while also finding time for visceral horror.
In the hands of any other filmmakers, a prequel to Alien would have likely yielded a stale rehash of the franchise's established elements within a generic PG-13 action-adventure. But director Ridley Scott had other plans, and the result is 2012's Prometheus: an invigoratingly original story set within the Alien universe. To merely call Prometheus an Alien prequel is very misleading, as writers Damon Lindelof and Jon Spaihts (with input from Scott) have created a majestic science fiction epic which stands alone as an independent entity while further contributing to the mythology behind the Alien series. Added to this, Prometheus is refreshingly dark and adult sci-fi with more on its mind than cheap thrills. This is a cerebral blockbuster; it's unafraid to pose thought-provoking questions about mankind's origins while also finding time for visceral horror.
Towards the end of the 21st Century, archaeologist couple Elizabeth Shaw (Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Marshall-Green) discover a series of ancient cave drawings from different time periods and different civilisations. Through studying them, Shaw and Holloway conclude that the drawings could be interstellar star maps drawn by alien gods who might have engineered human life. Taking off in the spaceship Prometheus under Captain Janek (Elba), they follow the map to the far reaches of the universe in the hope of essentially finding God. Also along for the journey is android David (Fassbender) and a sizeable crew of geologists and biologists, all of whom are watched over by Weyland Corporation representative Meredith Vickers (Theron). However, the mission starts to go awry once the Prometheus arrives at its destination. As Shaw gradually realises the significance of her discoveries, staggering secrets become clear which could put Earth in tremendous danger.
When Ridley Scott initially joined Prometheus, he opted against a typical prequel approach. The script retains a handful of palpable Alien continuity nods, but the references are downplayed and the story doesn't concentrate on the xenomorph species. It's a genius way to revive the franchise, and Scott was the right man for the job. What's most interesting about Prometheus is how commendably anti-Hollywood it is (in fact it's quite extraordinary that Fox agreed to fund this thing). Mainstream blockbusters often adhere to formulas and spell everything out for viewers, but Scott and his crew tell this story the way that they want to tell it. The film has already garnered criticism for not laboriously explaining every facet, but the point is that it doesn't need to explain everything - we are left to answer questions for ourselves, and devise our own interpretations. Plus, a few things are actually explained in visual terms (pay attention and you'll realise what the black goo is). There's nothing wrong with a science fiction film which begs us to pay close attention to every detail in every shot, and which wants us to engage our brain. Prometheus is not the smartest film since it does feature a few moments of asinine character behaviour, but it's far smarter than 95% of the stuff we see during the summer season. (And a note to internet haters: learn what a plot hole actually is.)
Prometheus provides further verification that Ridley Scott is a visual director to be reckoned with. Lavishly produced on a reported $130 million budget, the film is a breathtaking experience featuring several moments of pure motion picture majesty. Each set feels lived-in and organic rather than a sound-stage creation, and it's genuinely hard to discern what's digital and what's live-action. It's rare to see a film of this scope and budget carry an R rating, and this freedom is a huge asset. Prometheus is not filled with gratuitous gore or excessive profanity, but neither does it feel restrained when dealing with violence or terror; Scott pulls no punches. Furthermore, Scott has not lost his deft touch with set-pieces - the horror scenes here are truly frightening. Prometheus also boasts one of the best uses of 3-D to date. With added depth, dimension and detail, the 3-D serves it purpose: it successfully immerses you into the experience, placing you on Prometheus' decks and inside the dank alien caves alongside the characters. Best of all, the dimness associated with the 3-D glasses doesn't turn the film into an incomprehensible mess (it's never even obvious that the picture is darker at all). Prometheus was filmed with 3-D cameras, serving as a reminder of how good native 3-D is as opposed to a conversion.
Prometheus' only real downfall is its human characters, the majority of whom are underdeveloped and underwritten. 1979's Alien featured a small, tight-knit ensemble who seemed like real space truckers due to the way they often discussed the "little picture" (that is, their personal lives rather than the plot). Here, the characters are always focused on the big picture, and most of the ship's crew aren't even introduced properly. The flick still works on its own terms, but it's a shame that more attention wasn't paid to developing the characters. At least performances are strong right across the board. Noomi Rapace commendably eschewed aping Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley role, and seemingly pulled this off without even trying. Rapace is a strong female lead, and she's highly engaging from start to finish. The standout here, though, is Michael Fassbender as David. This is a performance riddled with nuances and intricacies; Fassbender genuinely seems like a curious artificial being trying to learn human mannerisms. It's such a transformative performance that you would never believe that this is the same guy who played young Magneto in last year's X-Men: First Class. Also terrific is Idris Elba, again demonstrating his versatility here as the gruff captain of the Prometheus. Meanwhile, Guy Pearce has a minor role as Peter Weyland, and it's difficult to recognise the Australian under the thick old-age make-up.
The debate is going to endure for years as to whether or not Prometheus is truly an Alien prequel. Truth is, it's more of a spin-off which tells its own standalone story, and no prior knowledge of the Alien films is necessary (though Alien fans will better appreciate all of Prometheus' narrative details). Film-goers constantly scream for motion picture originality in this day and age, and that's exactly what Ridley Scott has delivered here. How amusing that Scott has managed to create one of the most original sci-fi movies in decades within what was supposed to be a prequel. It's critical to note, though, that how much you enjoy Prometheus does depend on what you expect. This is not an Alien film in a generic sense; it's a moodier, more thoughtful picture which plots its own unique path. And hey - with the way it explores the genesis of the xenomorph species, Prometheus fundamentally erases the Alien vs. Predator debacles from the official timeline.
8.6/10
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Intense, Visually Stunning (very) but flawed...
Posted : 11 years, 10 months ago on 14 June 2012 03:03
Finally, Prometheus lands in India.
God, I was waiting so much for this film and that feeling was finally satiated. After Scott's classic sci-fi Alien, here comes a prequel that provides answers to some questions that were raised in the 1979 classic. This film gets a mixed review. Some say it's poor story but great visuals. Some say it's Scott's best and it has great visuals. Some say it was thrilling yet boring still visuals were great. My opinion is somewhat mixed... Don't worry, there are no spoilers here.
What is Prometheus? Wikipedia says: "Prometheus is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence, and as a champion of mankind." In the film, scientists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discover clues on Earth that leads them to a half a billion away solar system where the "Engineers" of mankind themselves probably reside. The ship that takes them there is named Prometheus. It's a two year journey so the 16 crew members are kept in hibernation, guarded by an Android named David (Michael Fassbender). After they land, they discover extremely weird stuff which I won't reveal. What happens next is the search for answers, the truth, the truth about our creators which believe me really isn't so much satisfying.
Yep, everyone agrees that the film looks powerfully stunning thanks to the jaw-dropping visual effects equipped with a stunning cinematography and of course 3D. The film begins with a beautiful view of our Earth's geology but minus life. Here we see how we were engineered, how it all began. Another stunning element that adds up to the film is the ingenious electronic score. It's completely perfect for the experience. The sound design, being another important element in any sci-fi film, gets a perfect score from me. All in all, Ridley Scott's Prometheus deserves a standing ovation for the beautiful world that he has very realistically and smartly created just the way Alien and Blade Runner was.
Okay, now have a seat. Stunning visuals aren't going to save the film because instead of solving the questions (which it does) more questions arise like who created our Engineers? And the biggest one is: What happens next, dude? As many people said, the film has flaws. Yes, there are but I guess what they most probably meant by that was "This is another cliched sci-fi that was not expected from a Director like Scott". I guess they are right. Like for example the whole crew. Now there are 17 of them. When the film enters it's intense last hour, it looks like they were simply lining up for slaughter, getting killed one by one. It sort of felt like they were expendable or something. Scott really treats them that way and the film kind of makes special arrangements for the key characters. In another scene, a character has a quick abdominal surgery to remove the Alien fetus. Surprisingly, with the stapled cut, she walks and joins the intensity of the film again in no time. I believe that most people were disappointed just because they were comparing it to Alien. Prometheus doesn't have a subtle style, a rich story, it seriously forgets common sense in some scenarios, etc. There are far too many flaws to overlook. You feel like "Hey what was the point of all those intense emotional and thrilling moments if you yourself don't see the point?"
I guess you will enjoy Prometheus a little more if you stop comparing it to the almost-perfect-thriller Alien. It's a Prequel, so treat it as one. The flaws did disappoint me, really unexpected from a director like Ridley Scott. More blame goes to the poor screenplay. But I think movies are sometimes made just for monetary purposes, not for serious art or to satisfy a die-hard fan's nostalgia. Prometheus is one of them. Come on, film-making is a business too right? I will still forgive and forget the flaws and say that it was overall a marvelous experience. I still believe Scott is a brilliant movie-maker. Prometheus is a good start to the series and the film, judging by the conclusion, promises another adventure which I doubt won't be possible.
As for the performances, Sweden's "Girl with the Dragon tattoo" Noomi Rapace has the same strong femininity that Weaver showed in Alien. I have always been strangely attracted to these kind of women in movies who show great survival instincts without forgetting their emotions. Fassbender is the best thing about Prometheus, very powerful in his performance of the Android David. These two were the best in the entire ensemble.
In conclusion, there are flaws and some moments will leave you scratching your head. Yes, it isn't one of Scott's best but I don't think it's worst either. For now, just enjoy and try to take in all the "entertaining" stuff that this film very ingeniously provides as it's not only mysterious but also freaking scary at times!
So now one excitement ends, another begins. Pixar's Brave is releasing on 22nd so stay tuned. This year we are really anticipating a lot of good movies, I just hope none of them lets us down. Have a nice Day and take care. Hope you enjoy this film nevertheless. Thanks for reading.
Mithil Bhoras
P.S: World renowned American Critic Roger Ebert gave this film a perfect 4/4. Read what he says, it's quite interesting: rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20120606%2FREVIEWS%2F120609989
Visit my facebook page: www.facebook.com/filmsthemostbeautifulart
God, I was waiting so much for this film and that feeling was finally satiated. After Scott's classic sci-fi Alien, here comes a prequel that provides answers to some questions that were raised in the 1979 classic. This film gets a mixed review. Some say it's poor story but great visuals. Some say it's Scott's best and it has great visuals. Some say it was thrilling yet boring still visuals were great. My opinion is somewhat mixed... Don't worry, there are no spoilers here.
What is Prometheus? Wikipedia says: "Prometheus is a Titan, culture hero, and trickster figure who in Greek mythology is credited with the creation of man from clay and the theft of fire for human use, an act that enabled progress and civilization. He is known for his intelligence, and as a champion of mankind." In the film, scientists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discover clues on Earth that leads them to a half a billion away solar system where the "Engineers" of mankind themselves probably reside. The ship that takes them there is named Prometheus. It's a two year journey so the 16 crew members are kept in hibernation, guarded by an Android named David (Michael Fassbender). After they land, they discover extremely weird stuff which I won't reveal. What happens next is the search for answers, the truth, the truth about our creators which believe me really isn't so much satisfying.
Yep, everyone agrees that the film looks powerfully stunning thanks to the jaw-dropping visual effects equipped with a stunning cinematography and of course 3D. The film begins with a beautiful view of our Earth's geology but minus life. Here we see how we were engineered, how it all began. Another stunning element that adds up to the film is the ingenious electronic score. It's completely perfect for the experience. The sound design, being another important element in any sci-fi film, gets a perfect score from me. All in all, Ridley Scott's Prometheus deserves a standing ovation for the beautiful world that he has very realistically and smartly created just the way Alien and Blade Runner was.
Okay, now have a seat. Stunning visuals aren't going to save the film because instead of solving the questions (which it does) more questions arise like who created our Engineers? And the biggest one is: What happens next, dude? As many people said, the film has flaws. Yes, there are but I guess what they most probably meant by that was "This is another cliched sci-fi that was not expected from a Director like Scott". I guess they are right. Like for example the whole crew. Now there are 17 of them. When the film enters it's intense last hour, it looks like they were simply lining up for slaughter, getting killed one by one. It sort of felt like they were expendable or something. Scott really treats them that way and the film kind of makes special arrangements for the key characters. In another scene, a character has a quick abdominal surgery to remove the Alien fetus. Surprisingly, with the stapled cut, she walks and joins the intensity of the film again in no time. I believe that most people were disappointed just because they were comparing it to Alien. Prometheus doesn't have a subtle style, a rich story, it seriously forgets common sense in some scenarios, etc. There are far too many flaws to overlook. You feel like "Hey what was the point of all those intense emotional and thrilling moments if you yourself don't see the point?"
I guess you will enjoy Prometheus a little more if you stop comparing it to the almost-perfect-thriller Alien. It's a Prequel, so treat it as one. The flaws did disappoint me, really unexpected from a director like Ridley Scott. More blame goes to the poor screenplay. But I think movies are sometimes made just for monetary purposes, not for serious art or to satisfy a die-hard fan's nostalgia. Prometheus is one of them. Come on, film-making is a business too right? I will still forgive and forget the flaws and say that it was overall a marvelous experience. I still believe Scott is a brilliant movie-maker. Prometheus is a good start to the series and the film, judging by the conclusion, promises another adventure which I doubt won't be possible.
As for the performances, Sweden's "Girl with the Dragon tattoo" Noomi Rapace has the same strong femininity that Weaver showed in Alien. I have always been strangely attracted to these kind of women in movies who show great survival instincts without forgetting their emotions. Fassbender is the best thing about Prometheus, very powerful in his performance of the Android David. These two were the best in the entire ensemble.
In conclusion, there are flaws and some moments will leave you scratching your head. Yes, it isn't one of Scott's best but I don't think it's worst either. For now, just enjoy and try to take in all the "entertaining" stuff that this film very ingeniously provides as it's not only mysterious but also freaking scary at times!
So now one excitement ends, another begins. Pixar's Brave is releasing on 22nd so stay tuned. This year we are really anticipating a lot of good movies, I just hope none of them lets us down. Have a nice Day and take care. Hope you enjoy this film nevertheless. Thanks for reading.
Mithil Bhoras
P.S: World renowned American Critic Roger Ebert gave this film a perfect 4/4. Read what he says, it's quite interesting: rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20120606%2FREVIEWS%2F120609989
Visit my facebook page: www.facebook.com/filmsthemostbeautifulart
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Prometheus review
Posted : 11 years, 10 months ago on 14 June 2012 08:20
There are many errors, which strikes me most is that of abortion, octopus, which locked in a medical room without food in a couple of hours acquires the size of a squid abyssal magic indeed. And speaking of octopus-abortion, genetic engineering of these ĀØ ĀØ is milk, if you are infected with the black liquid that will become hiperfuerte, while even climb the walls, you can be in a stifling atmosphere, etc but if you fornicas son is an octopus, WTF! Then there is what the archaeologist who becomes a megacavernicola, but did not want to destroy humanity? If it looks like they want to make it loud! Then the engineer ĀØ ĀØ, my ship is destroyed and the first thing I do is ... search to the last survivor of those who have missed out to kill him instead of looking for another vessel of which there are hundreds, yes sir! The lack of ideas by scott makes ALL the bugs enter through the mouth, a sort of reminder of the facehugger but tiresome.
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