Though somewhat of a disappointment Prometheus is still grand and ambitious science-fiction.

Rating: 6/10 (24 September 2012)

Prometheus is something to behold. It's an ambitious science-fiction film. It's been a long time since we've seen a good Alien film. What Prometheus does, however, is something different since it's a sort of prequel to Alien (1979). One may not even call it a prequel because it's barely related to the other films in the franchise. Ridley Scott (the old Englishman who gave us classics like Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise) returned to direct and it's obvious that he made an effort. The special effects look fantastic. The cinematography by Dariusz Wolski is beautiful. Even the actors do a good job, Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender being the standouts. The action scenes, when they are there, are exciting. But, it's just too bad that the script by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof is so poor. It's filled with unimaginative dialogue, and it raises questions to which it gives no answers. In addition, the characters aren't well developed. So, there is very little substance for an ambitious premise. Still, Scott delivers some of his best work in years. There are few things here on the level of his old films but some scenes are genuinely breathtaking. Considering this it really hurts that the script is poor because just about everything else about Prometheus is good. If the script was good as well we may have had a good, if not great, science-fiction epic. As it is Prometheus is somewhat of a disappointment. It's structured a lot like the previous Alien films though it doesn't improve on them. Another thing worth mentioning is that the designs, of the aliens and the technology, are very impressive. I should mention that for me it became obvious that the script is poor when Shaw and Holloway were talking about ancient civilizations. Clearly the screenwriters don't know about Carroll Quigley's theory of civilizations, the best work on the subject out there. Despite this, Prometheus is definitely a film worth seeing. I doubt that it will scare you but it will certainly amaze you.