Ridley Scott does 2001: A Space Odyssey

Rating: 8/10 (7 June 2012)

Prometheus is the return of Ridley Scott to the sci-fi genre and the Alien Series and hype has been building for months. But a backlash has already has formed and people have stated there negative feelings against it. Is it the cast of the hype being too much or hater just wanting to hate? Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) are two scientists who discover a star map in the ruins of civilisations that had no way of contacting each other. With the support of Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), the CEO of the Weyland Corp. they are funded to go on a scientific exploration to the moon LV-223 to find what Shaw and Holloway call the "Engineers". On the voyage are the company representative Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), pilot Janek (Idris Elba), biologist Milburn (Rafe Spall), geologist Fifield (Sean Harris) and most importantly the android David (Michael Fassbender). But it turns out there is danger involving the discovery of this life form and of course to anyone who knows the Alien series anything to do with the Weyland Corp. can not be trusted.
There is no denying that Prometheus is a very ambitious sci-fi film, focusing on story and ideas not just action, horror and set-pieces. The theme of corporate manipulation continues as the Weyland Corp use people to achieve their own ends, but there is something even bigger themes as it seems that Scott was trying to make a 2001: A Space Odyssey style epic as humanity tries to find its makers. It even starts like 2001: A Space Odyssey, started in Earth's past to some creature starts life on Earth and a mission find the source of message into outer space. But the take in Prometheus is much darker then it was in 2001: A Space Odyssey which was a much more hopeful film. There are themes of science being crossed with faith and theology, what would happen if humans did meet our makers and what would happen if are what we find is not what we want.
Scott knows how to make worlds, whether it is a historical or sci-fi: that is why Blade Runner and Alien are still so revered. He continues with the tradition of the Alien series of the action set in one location, this time a strange shine, but also expands on the universe of Alien, making it even gritty world as we see a group of people explore the very edge of what we know. There are great set designs and vehicles and Scott uses physical effects and CGI to great effect and helps you get soaked into this grim environment. It is a great looking film, with strong action and a whine inducing scene in the middle.
The cast is great, the roles are filled with great actors, from Fassbender and Rapace to even the likes of Kate Dickie from Red Road in a small role. Fassbender was the big highlight as the cold, emotionless android as he has an agenda. He starts off like Sam Bell from Moon, a character who is alone and has to keep himself busy, researching languages and whilst acting as the caretaker. And I wonder if there is an injoke calling him David as a reference to A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Rapace is a strong lead as woman of science and faith, a strong female character in what is a trait of Scott films and Alien films. She grows a character. Even thought Elba had a small role he was also a really strong member of the cast as the pilot, with plenty of characters and traits to enjoy. It is great he is getting a lot work. Marshall-Green has not been in many films he to was a good lead and worked well with Rapace. Theron too had a badass moment early on as she does push up when she awakes from cryogenic status and is a very professional and cool character. She is much more substance then she was in Snow White and the Huntsman.
The big problem with Prometheus is the written. Damon Lindelof of Lost re-wrote the film and the film has a more episodic style as each twist and event happen and more and more questions are raised. There are questions left unanswered, like David doing some actions and how he would know if something would do a certain action. There are some holes like a biologist wants to run away from an alien rather then examine it: it would be a biologist's dream, the discovery of a life time. There is also obvious sequel baiting but considering the money the film has made the sequel will happen. The final problem is the casting of Guy Pearce, playing a old, dying man and I don't see why an older actor was not cast.
Prometheus is a very interesting and compelling film, which has a lot of ideas. It is attempting to be a smart, more dramatic piece of work and not just a action or horror piece.
On a final note, except for a few moments, the 3D is not essential to the film.