A teenage horror flick lacking in intelligence and originality.

Rating: 3/10 (5 June 2012)

I had read the reviews of this film prior to viewing it and understood they were mixed. What I had expected to see from a Ridley Scott film, however, was an intelligent film. Certain reputable British newspapers had alluded to this - the plot was considered perhaps contrived but nevertheless it was generally viewed as an 'intelligent sci-fi flick'.
This perception is wrong. It is an unintelligent teenage horror action movie!
Whereas in the original 'Alien' realistic characterization is attempted such that all characters are in fact believable, in Prometheus, the characters are shallow and unbelievable. The male love interest of Rapace's character is unlikeable and we feel nothing when he is burned alive in spite of the slow-mo animation informing us that 'this is significant, this is mournful!'. Really, we don't care at all about him!
Most characters are inconsistent. We have a geologist and another scientist who are left behind on the apparently terraformed artefact who are at one point scared out of their wits at the possibility that there may be an alien lifeform in their vicinity and at the next point are cooing over a 'cute' alien snake creature. I mean WTF!?!!? Why this inconsistency? Why would they not run? The film descends into farce at this point and you start laughing at the ridiculous turn of events thereafter rather than being held in awe and suspense as was the case for 'Alien'.
Most characters come across as desperately unprofessional in spite of being apparently hand-picked for what must be the most important mission in the history of man. The scientists abandon their oxygenated helmets once they are 'confident' there is a breathable atmosphere in the alien artefact. Irrespective of this risk, surely they might be concerned about alien bacteria and other potentially harmful gases in the environment? Why would they take that risk? Why are they so blase about touching foreign alien substances 'goo' and then even operating on a reinvigorated alien head in the spaceship without quarantine procedures without wearing masks. It's teenage horror flick stuff. The original Alien made some attempt to be realistic in this respect with Ripley making stringent attempts to enforce quarantine procedures etc.
The dialogue is, in general, bland. The genre of film confused - is it a comedy? is it a serious thriller? is it a tongue-in-cheek action film?
Finally, the film is unoriginal. It is a bit like 'Alien vs Predator' - scientists go on a random expedition to the middle of nowhere because they see a few cave paintings. Right!?!? They uncover some aliens, there is a lot of gory deaths and at the end we learn absolutely nothing of interest.
What a waste of money and time!