So close and yet so very, very far.

Rating: 3/10 (5 June 2012)

Greetings all.
I will attempt to write this in as polite and unbiased manner as I know how. My thoughts upon the film ending were simply "What the hell was that?" And now for the explanation. Firstly, I shall start with what redeeming features are present and the merits which were, so unfortunately, massively outweighed by faults.
The visuals were highly impressive, but so are most these days and thus I cannot allow much praise for that which I expect of any high budget movie. The opening sweeping scene however, was highly enjoyable complemented by the grandiose musical theme. In fact, generally the first half of this film was decent enough, it all goes to pot once they land on this planet and begin exploration, but I digress. From the cast I found Fassbender a believable, emotionless entity aside from that most seemed the stereotypical types you could spot as "alien" fodder from the outset. Without out giving too much away the Engineer species this motley crew seek were fairly uninspired in appearance and did little to increase the supposed tension.
In summary the opening, visuals and the score are the best parts. I can't say much for the sets as they seem to be primarily taken from a certain franchise we're convinced is not present here.
I have watched all the Alien films with varying degrees of satisfaction. But I came to this with relatively low expectations, as is my charge with modern cinema, so that I might be pleasantly surprised.
It becomes derivative and confused once it gets going. Some questionable actions of the crew alone caused me to admittedly scoff and huff in disbelief. To name a few instances, how can surgical staples hold stomach muscles together to be sufficiently athletic and mobile? Would a geologist that makes mapping equipment get so easily lost? Why would there be no armed escort into what one should logically assume is a hostile environment? I was left wanting more answers than I was given, unlike the characters who for the most part had an answer to everything with their child-like back and forth dialogue.
Disappointment is the order of the day here. Do not even attempt to comprehend what goes on, otherwise you might give yourself an aneurysm.
In even greater summary. First half good, second half overly bad - we're in dire territory.