What was that?

Rating: 1/10 (1 January 2013)

We watched this on the recommendation of a friend's teenage daughter who, fortunately loaned us the DVD so that we have no financial investment in this at all. I've loved many a Ridley Scott movie and was prepared to forgive him the descent into "3D" because I assumed that there would be some fine scenery and an entertaining story.
First, let me say that the costume and set design are first rate. Absolutely what I expected and hoped for with Mr. Scott having a basically unlimited budget. Visually, a very entertaining movie with no overwrought "for 3D" effects, or at least none that were too glaring. Of course, after about half-way through the file I pretty much stopped paying attention, so there might have been something towards the end that wasn't good; I wouldn't know.
As to the acting of the movie; what a waste of some very talented people. The writing was so awful and the characters so shallow that it would have been difficult for even these talented people to shine. Most of the cast seemed to be at home in the shallow depth of the flat characters presented in the story. More's the pity for them. The promise of any excellence in acting is not possible given the poor dialog, vapid story-line and constant switching from one distraction to the next as the movie (I wouldn't say story) progresses.
The story line was non-existent. The outline of a possible idea for a story seemed to be about all there was. The outline was stuffed with one stupidity after another. When the characters pronounce otherwise earth-like atmosphere to be toxic because of 3% CO2, I had my first over-suspending of disbelief. Then followed one after another as the characters performed a never ending series of literally unbelievable actions, most of which in addition seemed rather random and disconnected from the main story outline.
What an awful disappointment. I really expected better of Ridley Scott. It seems a terrible shame that there is apparently an inverse ratio between the expanse of visual possibilities in film and the depth of the stories presented. Imagine how wonderful a good story might be if it were enhanced with some beautiful surroundings.