Great premise; disappointing execution

Rating: 6/10 (10 October 2012)

Prometheus is a fantastically made flick; some truly great dialog; fine acting; superb effects; from a mythic aspect, a damn sight better than most high-toned sci-fi.
But I found myself, at one point, sort of shouting at the screen, "What are you *doing*?!?!" And what were they doing? Is there absolutely no way they could have continued exploring the carefully groomed thematic premise, without sidelining the whole wondrous business by falling back on a stinger involving a bio-weapon bestiary? I guess that's my point: It's the tone. A good story has to manage the tone. The flick was doing very, very well, having settled on a tone involving a major step forward in the unraveling of the greatest mystery; the mystery of where we come from.
But then there's this abrupt plot shift; an arbitrary-seeming looming danger. After a while, characters make the connection, and let us in on why the danger is there. OK. And the story sort of sews everything up at the end, as the hero whizzes off to further research this surprising and unexpected fillip in the story.
But that doesn't change the fact that the effect, as the abrupt shift presents itself, is one of being slapped in the face and not treated like a discerning consumer of narrative.
You kind of have to see it to understand. I'm not saying that the story "let me down" by daring to shift gears. I love narrative that runs off the rails, if it's done well: I love the Coen Brothers' work. I'm saying that, in the context set up by the first third of the work, the introduction of scary little monsters really takes a steaming dump on something delicate and tantalizing. It did not make it more tantalizing, or artfully change the tone of the interest.
It's interesting to note places where the writers thought they could plop in lines that would ameliorate the weirdness of the tone shift.
Anyway.... I guess I have to say that, for all the fire and passion the producers invested in making this technically incredible artifact--and for all the obvious passion and clear-headedness they invested in the even-tempered and engaging first third--the net product is severely wanting. You should probably skip it.