The irrumation of sci-fi cinema.

Rating: 3/10 (11 June 2012)

Prometheus goes wrong (often abjectly) on so many levels, one almost feels compelled to extol Scott on the success of, what seems like, his way of raising a middle finger to the audience. The problem is, the director's latest foray into the Alien universe is almost certainly an earnest exercise.
From dialogue to casting. From inexplicably irrational character motivations to movie monsters a 10-year-old looks to have conceived. From preschool philosophy ham - fistedly spoon fed to the viewer, to a mine field of plot holes that render the entire story an incoherent mess. Prometheus is such a confluence of poor film -making elements, it is difficult, if not impossible, to find a substantive redeeming aspect to predicate praise upon.
Corralled by a script that looks written on toilet paper (in a single sitting) - and under the extreme adversity that was this lesson in 'How Not To 101' in film -making - Fassbender's performance is admirable. The special effects and CG renders are serviceable, to very nice in parts. (Though, this is not Avatar -level avant garde, technically.) The "international" trailer was masterfully paced and harked back to thought -provoking cinema not witnessed in this genre since The Matrix. At the same time, the trailers spoil pretty much the entire film; as are the promotional tools' wont, of late.
Other than the aforementioned superficial (backhanded?) plaudits, it is at a dire risk to one's integrity to endorse anything else Prometheus has to offer. The film is the veritable quintessence of dumbed down sci-fi; pandering to Generation Dope by repeatedly and unashamedly stooping to the most insultingly clichéd filmic tropes.
There is little-to-nothing here for the epicurean viewer. Fans (not fanboys) of Scott's more laudable past works will be gravely disappointed. Only the video game -reared, tween demographic will feel they derived a worthwhile two hours of entertainment from Prometheus. A sad indictment, indeed.
Verdict: Based on a seminal sci-fi license, a film that promised existential depth and exposition, delivered nothing short of HD diarrhoea. 3/10