Looking forward to the sequel

Rating: Null/10 (21 June 2012)

I saw each of the four "Alien" films as they were released: the first (1979) and second (1986) were classic in different ways, the third (1992) was something of a disappointment, while the fourth (1997) was satisfactory. So - after 15 years with no further additions to the franchise - I was excited about the prospect of original director Ridley Scott (now 74) revisiting the territory with what started as a prequel and has turned into more of a spin-off. I saw it at London's BFI cinema in IMAX and 3D on the largest screen in Britain, so it was a totally immersive experience.
The starting point of the story is a scene from the original movie: that huge Space Jockey sitting at the controls of his spaceship with a gaping hole in his body - who was he and what was he doing there? "Prometheus" is a satisfying film in offering us some - sometimes surprising - answers while setting us up for the next stage of the "Alien" journey. It neatly reprises some classic elements of the franchise - such as the half- naked heroine who shows great initiative and bravery (Noomi Rapace from "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo") and the android with ambiguous intentions ( a brilliant Michael Fasbender) - but there some exciting new features, most notably the world of the life form represented by that enigmatic Space Jockey, and some dramatic sequences, most memorably an emergency medical operation.
It is not as scary as the original or as exciting as the first sequel but it will thrill "Alien" fans with a genuine development of the narrative. Nice touches include a clip from "Lawrence Of Arabia" (my all-time favourite film) and the appearance of Charlize Theron (somewhat underused). But I could have done without the crucifix idea.