Prometheus: Taking the "science" out of "science fiction"

Rating: 3/10 (14 June 2012)

Hey, do you have a basic understanding of evolution and see how smoothly we fit in with the species of this world (e.g. pentadactyl limb)? Forget it. A rough idea of where our medical science is and how it's progressing? Won't need that either. The ability to relate to characters that are well written? Unnecessary, there aren't any characters like that here!
The science is bad from the start (basic understanding of human/non- human DNA comparison seems absent, that or we're meant to swallow that HUGE coincidence) but the scientists are worse. I'd have thought that the average human knows that "finding a patch of breathable air in a cavern" does not mean "the whole place has breathable air" due to gas pockets and risk of airbourne infections, let alone the more physical dangers of exploring underground terrain (e.g. collapsing ceilings), yet NO ONE, not even the geologist/biologist duo, disagreed. Also, know something that any living thing with basic instincts should know? If a large snake-thing is rearing up to a good 2 feet, hissing and displaying its hood, DO NOT poke its face! Know who I'd least expect to ignore those warnings? A biologist in the dark who was already specifically trying to steer clear of alien lifeforms, which brings me onto my next point...
The "characters" are horribly erratic. It was when the biologist found ALIEN LIFE that he decided to leave. Uh, what? Isn't that WHY he went there? He seemed like such a friendly nerd when we first see him but quickly runs off with the guy who hates him. It gets worse. If someone saved you and your partner's life after the "greatest discovery of mankind" would you really get drunk alone and start slagging off your saviour? Also; you'd think that finding out that you were right all along, that your faith was justified and that "anyone can make life" wouldn't be the time to suddenly bring up and cry about fertility issues. Ergh. Why was a certain stowaway was kept secret anyway? Why did they decide finding 1 tomb-like structure meant that the species was extinct? Why did the researchers, getting no instant reaction to electricity, decide to further Taser their great and fragile discovery? Why, why, WHY would you pick death-by-fire over death-by-atmosphere? Or run forward instead of out of the path of the giant rolling wheel? ALL of these things could have been done better (e.g. fertility issues brought up by worried anticipation as they approach the planet, not introducing the unfortunate buddy pair as scientists who didn't like each other, not having a surprisingly-heavy-zombie scene at all). The whole film felt like the "plot points" were just messily shoved in as an afterthought ("oh, put some emotion in there, and some action here").
As for the technology... We're already starting to use digital microscopes, projectors/screens on a regular basis an lasers to close wounds; what was with the manual tasks, acrylic block iPhone and staples? Why doesn't the ship have a delicate enough autopilot to avoid that ending (and why does no one seem to value their lives)?
To finish my review: The 3D was pretty terrible too, plus this film had the most unbelievable dream sequence I've EVER seen. This is only getting 3 stars from me because I think the actors did okay with the scripts they were given, the effects were decent and the scenery striking, plus I liked the baby-to-the-rescue scene at the end.
Wait for the film on TV if you're curious, but I went with low expectations and was still surprised by how bad it was.