Not a patch on Alien. But what is?

Rating: 7/10 (5 June 2012)

"In space nobody can hear you scream" proclaimed the poster for Alien.
Even before you stepped into the cinema back in 1979 you knew, you'd read, you'd heard that you were going to be wincing with fear and disgust. When John Hurt's chest was ripped open by a baby monster you did scream. It was, and still is, a monumental movie.
Fast forward 33 years and the "cinema event of the year" arrives with reel after reel of preview film but little in the way of proper reviews. No talk about what the content was. I feared it was a studio ploy. Keeping the film away from the critics because it wasn't that good. And then, right at the last minute the reviews appeared. "Hmmm" that was the general consensus. So I went to my local multiplex in a state of anxiety. Could it possibly live up to the hype? Right let's get one thing out of the way right from the off. 3D does not make movies better, arguably the opposite, as directors strive to create set ups that allow them to show off the technique. The only 3D movie I've seen that even remotely benefits from the exercise is Avatar. Prometheus just doesn't need it.
By now you'll know the basic premise of the movie. Say what they like, but it IS a prequel to Alien and the obsession Ridley Scott has with the creation of man, religion, Darwinism and all such borders on the insane. It makes for some laboured moments and overblown plotting. The movie overall is too long (a common mistake these days) and lacks both pace, at times, and screams.
This simply does not scare you like Alien did, but apart from those criticisms it is a fine theatrical experience. It looks astounding, it has good central performances from Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender and adequate back up from the rest (although Kate Dickie is hopelessly miscast).
It's a good film. Just not a patch on Alien. There's an obvious sequel standing in the wings but I guess we'll have to see how this fares at the box office before taking the plunge because this ain't a cheap exercise ($120m - which incidentally is only half what Avengers Assembled cost)