A patchwork of steadily fraying idea

Rating: 5/10 (16 September 2018)

As a long time fan of the Aliens franchise (yes, even the maligned parts 3 and 4), I looked forward to Prometheus's release with a great expectation - and whilst I'm not going to say I was disappointed, I was left fairly perplexed and underwhelmed.
The film starts with a promising expedition on the Isle of Skye, which soon takes a detour to the far depths of outer space to trace the origins of an ancient civilization - a civilization which may have visited Earth, but perhaps had some input in humankind's development...
What follows is an impressively special effects (and coincidence) laden exploration of a long dead world, with irrational and unpredictable behaviour from hardened mercenaries and experienced crew; security and quarantine protocols breached or rigidly adhered to when plot demands; blind hysterics at the first sight of old bones, jubilation when the same character (!) encounters a live and hostile alien; the high tech survey team gets lost mapping the spacecraft for no real reason; guns left lying around; and a supposedly rational scientist whose behaviour frankly defies any sort of credibility.
The problem with Prometheus is that doesn't know if it's a deep, philosphical space opera in the manner of 2001, or a gritty action thriller like, well, Aliens; and like a lot reboots that tries to please new fans, as well as appeal to established ones, Prometheus fails on both counts with a script that feels simultaneously underdeveloped and overwritten.
Praise goes to Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba and Michael Fassbender (especially Fassbender) for credible performances that keep the lopsided mess afloat. Those who criticise Charlize Theron for a phoned in performance (likewise Guy Pearce in a nothing cameo) have some justification, but they may also want to reflect that her character is only a reflection of a deeply flawed concept whose lofty ideals have simply not been given time to adequately gel.