Dazzling, impressive, unique...it stands out as its own but it's not a classic

Rating: 9/10 (9 June 2012)

I anticipated that "Prometheus" was going to be about the xenomorphs that we had seen in the Alien series. Yes, there is a tie in (for this is the prequel), yet "Prometheus" is not so much about the origin of the xenomorphs. Instead, this film's central plot is the search for the origin of human life. In a similar tradition to Ridley Scott's 1979 "Alien" a group of explorers land on an unknown planet. They search for answers and uncover a mystery that is terrifying and it leads to a race for survival.
"Prometheus" is dazzling on the big screen with its awe inspiring special effects, exquisite set pieces, foreboding lighting, and graphic make up design. The story is interesting and it keeps the film going. We learn who our makers are; the movie clearly shows that life is no more than a genetic mutation. However, many questions are still unanswered and it leaves the audience anticipating a sequel. I will note that I have just re-watched the original "Alien" film and many dots are tied in now.
"Prometheus" is really a completely different film from "Alien" in regards to theme and plot. Even so, I cannot help but compare the two of them. The success in Scott's 1979 film is the terror of the monster, the long moments of silence that suddenly burst into violence, and the strong character developments of Ripley, Dallas, and Parker. "Prometheus" relies more on its visual style and unique story. This movie simply lacks the fear that we saw more than 30 years ago. In addition, the characters are not given enough time to flesh out. When most of them die, we merely nod our heads, expecting the imminent carnage.
I am not saying the cast is bad. In fact, they are good. Michael Fassbender gives a terrific performance as the android David. Idris Elba is particularly amusing as the ship's captain and Charlize Theron plays a good, unbecoming overseer of the expedition project. Noomi Rapace is a decent actress and she is okay as the lead scientist Shaw. However, she does not deliver the intensity that I have seen in Sigourney Weaver.
Though "Prometheus" does not have the horror and characters Scott has been able to deliver in the past, this sci-fi adventure is still impressive. It hurts me that so many people in my theater scoffed at this movie. Then again, most of them were teenagers who do not understand that there are other sci-fi films that do not involve death rays and stuff getting blown up. This feature has left something for me to think aboutin a good way.