Flawed, but spellbinding

Rating: 7/10 (31 May 2012)

I was fortunate enough to grab seats to see Prometheus in IMAX 3D at the Metrocentre in Gateshead for the opening midnight screening last night.This is the first feature film I have seen in IMAX 3D, and I should start by saying that the 3D was actually a lot less obtrusive than in other recent releases films. It may not have added much to the experience, it didn't bother me either. From a technical aspect this is one of the best Sci-Fi films I have seen in a long time, with stunning visuals many of which were shot in stark, earthly landscapes such as Iceland and the Isle of Skye, but which both Ridley Scott and cinematographer Dariusz Wolski manage to make seem brilliantly ethereal and extraterrestrial. All other technical aspects of the film are wonderful.
As far as the story, script and acting goes, most initial reviews that I have read seem incredibly divided, but I was largely impressed. I think Rapace and Fassbender were both highly commendable in their respective roles as the curious, eager scientist with a strong survival instinct and the mild-mannered, mysterious and yet unpredictable and slightly sinister android. Theron and Elba are satisfying in their roles as the icy corporate overseer and droll ship's captain, but the rest of the cast were largely forgettable as cannon fodder. While it certainly lacks the characterisation and naturalistic feel which Alien had, I believe the two films set out to achieve very different things and do them very well; Alien was a much more low-key, personal thriller which focused on character development to create tension, whereas Prometheus focuses on grandeur and spectacle to create awe and adventure. From a story point of view, there are a couple of moments which retrospectively don't make sense, but I found most of these easy to overlook at the time and they really don't bother me too much.
I would also go so far as to say that Prometheus works better as a horror film than Alien did; Alien never repulsed me especially as I knew what was coming due to heavy exposure, but the horror in Prometheus, while strongly reminiscent of the subliminal themes of sex, fear of pregnancy and rape which were strongly implied in Alien (albeit shown in a more overt way in this film), was done in a fresh and surprisingly disturbing way which did repulse me, and I don't say that very often about horror films. I feel that the horror in Alien, while iconic, is not nearly as agonising as it is in Prometheus, as the characters suffer for a short period of time in Alien.
Finally from a philosophical point of view, many have complained that Prometheus raises more questions than it does answer them. I think it, along with a little prior knowledge of the Alien franchise and what Scott originally intended it to be, allows the viewer to construct their own thoughts and conclusions whilst leaving a little open for debate and contemplation should another film be created. For instance, the question which keeps coming up is "why?". Well I have my own answers which I was able to make based on what I saw and what I already knew had been speculated about the origins of the Space Jokeys and the mythology of the Alien franchise in general. Furthermore, as a fan of the original Alien, I felt extremely satisfied by how they tied in a lot of the elements to the original film, and am willing to see how Scott chooses to expand on this story, as there are lot of ways it can be done.
On the whole, not a film for everyone, and it will divide opinions, but I really liked it. Is it as groundbreaking as Bladerunner or Alien or any of the classic Sci-Fi epics? No, but I do think that it will be remembered as one of the best Sci-Fi films of its time, and easily as Scott's best film since Gladiator. I gave it 9/10 initially due to the sheer enormity and breathtaking beauty of the world which Scott created. Having had time to ponder some of the flaws, which are evident but did not bother me as much as in other films, I will give it 8/10 (maybe 8.5 if I'm feeling generous), but I would still highly recommend it and put it in the list of best films of 2012 (so far).