It's a Thesis, After All

Rating: 8/10 (3 March 2013)

Upon leaving the theatre for Prometheus, a young girl asked her guardian if there'll be another one. It took all my will power NOT to say: "Yeah, like 30 years ago."
I'm coming late to dinner, so to speak, by finally sitting down and writing my thoughts out on this Alien prequel (and YES, it is an absolute prequel; don't let anyone attempt to change your mind.) At first, my delay was welcomed – it allowed the experience to sink in. Also, it probably also didn't help I was on holiday in Las Vegas and the last thing I wanted to do was do something that made me think.
But, as the days numbered (now) three, probably too much has sunk in. Such as the pros and cons. Above all else, and this opinion hasn't altered, the movie was gorgeous, breathtaking, even. In Director Ridley Scott's long sci-fi career, it's as if he's taken all his ups and downs and produced the nearest to perfect cinematography – well, directed, that is – in his films. The first two-thirds, or so, were absolutely amazing. And I didn't even see it on IMAX, which I should have; I saw it on a screen probably built in the 1970s at some rinky-dink UA on-strip movie theatre off the beaten path.
What also didn't change in my mind since I saw it opening day, was the acting of both female leads with Charlize Theron as the best of the two. Though Noomi Rapace did good, I believed Theron just ate up every scene and I thought she had the most depth. Michael Fassbender was okay in his android role – no spoiler there, the original Alien's AH-HA surprise, "one of these (crew members) doesn't belong" was not a factor here. I didn't have so much of a problem with him, as I did with how convoluted his character was written. And that brings me to the negatives.
While the writing, for the most part, was very well done, it did have its moments of awkwardness since it tried to take on too much and introduced tons of avenues. And unless this was written in Lord of the Rings fashion – which it very well could've been, it couldn't possibly have solved, explained or given conclusion to half of the ideas.
Director Scott isn't shy of slow-burning his movies to almost a halt at times. With the exception of my favorite of his, Thelma & Louise, his movies are at a snail's pace. Knowing that, I allowed the movie to draw me in and for the first half or so, it did that in spades. I was enthralled with the cinematography, a huge plus for my movie-going experience. However, once the sights were done and the stories went in 5 different directions, the movie slowed and it was almost torture to get to the inevitable and much desired Alien-tie-ins. Of course, you'll have to wade through several endings to get there.
The movie, without giving too much of the sixteen or so story lines away, is about the discoveries of a god-worshiping symbol found in multiple, non-connected civilizations roughly 80+ years from now. Taking that, some greedy guy's money (oh, I wonder how that will turn out) and a trip to another planet and we have further questions with what went down in that obviously civilized alien planet.
One huge thing that separates this movie and the original 1979 Alien film apart was the writing, the script that I all-but complain about above. The first movie (which I did revisit just last night – I had too, this movie MAKES you want to watch that original Ripley Raid again) was enormously straight-forward sci-fi-suspense-horror. There was not a real shred of originality or depth – even in 1979, but the execution, acting, mood and graphics was what made it so special. Here, in Prometheus, the questions, somewhat answers in the screenplay made Alien look like an infant. This was an adult movie with real profundity.
Now, I say I all-but complained about the writing, and that was not my intention; I was just kind of disappointed on how it just branched out a little too much in the final act and that was sadly it's undoing as it had such a great two-thirds of growth slightly squandered in the finale.
That said, it's a movie to see. It's not only for true Alien fans, as I am, but it's absolutely amazing on how it can stand on its own without having to ensure you see any of the other ones. In fact, it might be a fun trip if one were to see them all, in order, beginning with Prometheus, without ever seeing the originals.
I highly recommend this. Further, don't make my mistake of seeing it on an ancient screen that probably cost less than the monitor I'm using to type this; see it on IMAX. And finally, despite my reservations listed above, it's still an overall exciting, increasing suspenseful (as well as gruesome towards the end) and again, beautifully made film that I wish at VERY LEAST gets a nomination for best cinematography.
Oh, and by the way, to answer that kid's comment more accurately following my screening and after my re-watching of the original Alien, I would say there has to be at least one more movie in-between this prequel and the 30-years-later storyline of Alien. Unless, they'll just want to call the minor inconsistencies just basic overlooked flaws.