Just Let Go

Rating: 8/10 (15 August 2012)

There are a few things i've learned from all the "games" around this movie. Michael Fassbender has made the film Gods furious (don't ask me why), Ridley Scott is also trying stuff, and viral videos or many extended trailers are bad for your mental health and judgment. So, blow away the fog of prejudice that's fallen over Hollywood, pay attention to the film and find out whether you like it or not, whether it's related to Alien or NOT.
One of the first few premier screenings of Prometheus was in 3D. Still, i don't think that any other film can be as great in 3D as Avatar. Most of the times, during watching, i was taking off the glasses to rest my eyes. It was like watching a 2D movie with an unnecessary filter. My expectations were high, due to the visual effects that were introduced in the trailers, but it appeared that one can pleasantly watch it in 2D (so keep that money for an extra cup of your favorite beverage).
The story is simple. A team of scientist funded by a big technological corporation (Weyland Industries) are setting a course to a distant planet in search of the origins of mankind, based on the "writings" of a cave wall and considering it as a message from the creators of humanity.
The "actual" cast is rather limited. Michael Fassbender performs very accurate as the android who escorts the team to -originaly- help the scientists and plays an important role through-out the film. The other important character is Noomi Rapace's Elizabeth Shaw. I think the film makers wanted a new version of Sigourney Weaver's Ellen Ripley, but no! The rest of the cast is mostly supportive, like Charlize Theron, Logan Marshall-Green and Idris Elba. They're all very good actors but this movie didn't seem like a chance for them to rise up a bit more. Everyone else seemed dispensable and their actions predictable enough to figure out for yourself on "who stays till the end".
The visual effects are quite rewarding with some really great photography and a few of Ridley Scott's cinematic tricks and camera takes. There are some flaws, if you watch carefully. I see it as a game like Spot The Differences or What's Wrong With This Picture! That's interesting.
Truth is, i was never interested in the Alien movies (even though i'm a huge sci-fi fan). I know their story but none of it got me to follow religiously and blindly Ridley Scott's work -there are other films for that-. Here's the good news: You don't have to have seen Alien to watch Prometheus. If you've ever heard of it, that's good but not essential.
Overall, it's a great sci-fi film, worth watching, makes the difference between all those remakes and comic book based films that are laying around lately. Could be called original (could be) and definitely needs (will be) a sequel.