Good & provocative film despite the complaints that may be fodder for future discussion

Rating: 10/10 (15 June 2012)

This is a compelling film that faced huge expectations that were probably not matched, but manges to deliver a compelling and engrossing experience. It is true that the film requires a certain suspension of disbelief, much like almost any other science fiction film, but also because there are a few flaws in the plotting, logic and characterizations. These flaws have seriously disgruntled some of the reviewers on IMDb and elsewhere and reduce the impact of the film. Despite those issues, I found the film to be gripping, provocative and visually fascinating. If you are a sci-fi fan, or a fan of the Alien series of films, there is really no question that this is an absolute must-see film.
There is some horrific material and some bizarre things happen, not all of them explained within the movie. This is both frustrating and entertaining, and the extent to which this pleases a viewer is a matter of personal taste. How much to you like being left with unresolved questions in a film?
The movie is not quite as suspenseful as Alien (which for many viewers was one of the most suspense filled movies of the last couple of decades), but it does deliver a continual does of mystery, suspense and awe the the fantastic scenery and environment.
This is not a film that truly provokes genuine philosophical or technical questions (which many viewer had hoped for), but it does raise some entertaining questions about the motives and basis for what's happening in the movie, and as such it pretty much begs for a sequel. Some of the motivation and story is also enriched by reflecting on the classic Greek myth of Prometheus and how it might relate to the story line.
Since watching the film I have vacillated between frustration, annoyance and satisfaction, but in retrospect it has provided more engagement and sustained entertainment than most films I have seen in the recent past, even though some of that engagement was due to hand-wringing about what seem like unrealistic choices.