Stunning Sci-Fi filled with subtle symbolism

Rating: 9/10 (5 August 2012)

I went to see Prometheus with mixed feelings, to be honest. It wasn't because of the bad reviews the movie seemed to receive from the Internet community (fun fact - most of the professional critics said that the movie was good) because I realize that those who complain are always the loudest. My biggest concern was that Scott's newest accomplishment could fit into the trend that Alien franchise has taken recently, making it a typical Hollywood B-grade action movie without any thought-provoking moments.
And now, after seeing Prometheus twice, I can gladly and with firm certainty paraphrase Elizabeth Shaw's words: I was wrong. I was so wrong.
Prometheus delivers on almost every level. I won't be getting into detail about the visual effects cause everyone already said they were stunning. Instead I'd like to focus on a few areas that for me personally are the most important parts of any movie.
First of all, the script. People say it's the biggest weakness of the film because of the many plot-holes or what they believe to be silly solutions to different problems. Those people are, however, forgetting about some things:
1. Prometheus was from the very beginning considered to be a TRILOGY. The script covers THREE FILMS. Scott said himself that if the movie makes enough money for the Studio to be happy, he will direct the next installment. This is why the Prometheus open-ending and various unanswered questions were a necessity that only adds on to the suspense.
2. If you've ever seen the first Alien or Blade Runner you know how much attention does Scott actually pay to the development of director's cut. Over 30 minutes (!!!) of the movie was cut out due to the limits imposed by the studio. Those 30 minutes of the film will most likely be added to the DVD edition, so keep an eye out for it.
3. The subtlety of the symbolism. The script is FILLED with subtexts that people ignore for some reason. I found the whole concept of the movie to be based on the idea of religion and how it describes the origins of life in the Universe - the script develops that idea in great detail. The amount of symbols in the film is staggering and I'm sure I'll be noticing more and more of them every time I watch it. Do people honestly didn't notice the name of the moon Prometheus landed on? LV 223 - it's also a passage from the Bible that essentially states humanity will be in trouble if we try to find our maker. Also, remember the exact day that Prometheus landed (24 December)? Or Holloway's pose when he sacrificed himself? Or the murals in the cavern? Or an escape pod that Vickers gets in that looks like an Egyptian sarcophagus? Or an "immaculate" conception? Or Holloway's words "the god does not build in straight lines" referring most likely to Nazca? Or a snake in the Alien complex? Or HUNDREDS of other little details? Realizing that those things are there brings the movie to a whole new dimension.
Next thing I'd like to mention is acting. Rapace and Marshall-Green were alright. Theron was very good. Elba was BRILLIANT. I'm not gonna say anything about Pearce cause he's been in my top 3 actors for years and I'd be biased. Fassbender, however... HOLY S**T. Even if the movie was terrible it would be worth watching only for Fassbender's performance. I've seen him in Shame, I've seen him in Inglorious Basterds, I've seen him in 300, but what he did in Prometheus is literally bringing acting to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL. He's SENSATIONAL and I believe there's an Academy Award already waiting for him.
One final thing I'd like to mention is an INCREDIBLE way that Prometheus was delivered to the movie theaters. The viral campaign including the short movies about Peter Weyland, David and Shaw was intense and broadened the experience of watching the film immensely. If you don't know yet, Weyland Industries has a legit site where you can go and read more about the company and it's products, learn about the corporate timeline (which might answer some of your questions), read investors info and even apply for the job at Weyland Industries, where you'll need to pass some agility training and intelligence tests. The mysterious "what is 10-11-12" campaign is also an incredibly smart marketing move that makes you think and actually immerse into the film's Universe even more.
As I said, I've seen it twice and it still resonates with me. Brilliant film that you'll grow to love the more you think about it.
9/10.