A mess and a half.

Rating: 3/10 (7 June 2012)

Let's forget for a moment that this film came with all the baggage of being an Alien prequel of sorts, along with the knowledge that it isn't really one either but a standalone attempt at something original. Forget for just a moment that this was directed by Ridley Scott. After watching Prometheus I had no choice but to forget these things because I had to judge it for what it was it really was; a remake of Mission To Mars.......and that film sucked. I was gob-smacked when I realised, halfway through this mess, that its strongest influence was that torturous celluloid skid-mark. It even has a horribly misjudged score.
The positives: The visuals are, for the most part, great. Good job by anyone in that department. Ummm......err.....nope, that's it.
The negatives: It's not entertaining, a major crime for a film to commit. The script is absolutely awful and can be held responsible for nearly all of this films shortcomings. Decent pacing almost entirely absent, inept, cliché-ridden (and awesomely stupid) dialogue that makes you cringe......it's just bad. Editing is all over the place, which is either a reflection of the script or just bad editing, I may never know for sure. Want to care about characters? Tough luck. Empathy has to be earned. The really good films do this in a variety of ways but this isn't one of those films. Like to be frustrated? Good, you're in for a treat (the editing will be your best friend). Anger may well follow so take some precautions. Big ideas? Oh please, it's just the same old, tired questions that have been around for ever: Why are we here? Where do we come from? Who made us? Is there a God? Blah, blah, blah. I find it more interesting that we don't know the answers to those questions anyway but Prometheus asks them......and then forgets that it did and vanishes up it's crack into the void (where it finds kinship with The Fountain and they live happily ever after). After watching Reason and her close friend Logic being raped for two hours the ending broke my heart and all I could see was Tim Robbins floating in space with a frozen head.
I love Alien 3. The majority doesn't but, with the longer cut available, I think that David Fincher crafted a unique, memorable and stylish space-horror out of a complete mess and horrible working conditions. That takes considerable talent. Ridley Scott and company had time, space, freedom and access to all the latest toys.....and we get this.
It's a crime. Someone needs to go to jail (at the very least for those horribly misleading trailers).
Wait a minute! It's me isn't it *facepalm*. I'm just unable to appreciate what I saw.....too stupid I guess. I mean, it's not like the trailers were desperate or anything so it's my fault for having any kind of expectation at all. Boy, do I feel stupid. I must not have an open mind, that's it. My mistake.