Great sci-fi

Rating: 8/10 (17 June 2012)

I would like to start by saying that first and foremost, I enjoyed the film. The acting was great and the special effects were truly excellent.
It has been a long time for some answers about the titular "space jockey" from Alien. I was pleased with the way so many answers were given and yet so many more were created. That's good sci-fi.
Other reviewers on here have mentioned how dumb the scientists are in the film and to be honest I have to agree. YES the atmosphere is breathable BUT you are on an alien planet that you know nothing about! Common sense people! I wish the film could have been longer too, since there are far too many human characters which makes it hard to be emotionally involved with any of them. Other than the lead Elisabeth Shaw, I didn't know much about anyone else. It was slightly frustrating, since three pilots do an incredibly courageous act at the end of the film and I couldn't care as much as I should have done, as I knew so little about them. But Fassbender stole the show. He was as good as Ian Holme's 'Ash' in Alien. If not better. He had this wonderful look of politeness whilst at the same time, utter hatred. This made him a total scene-stealer.
But why oh why was Guy Pearce hired to pretend to be old? Why not get an actor more of the age that was required of the character? The problem was that because it was so clearly a younger man being made-up to look like an old man, it broke my immersion in the film somewhat. I would be surprised if nobody else noticed this.
I wish there had been a greater element of horror too. But I don't think that was so much Scott's intention. I think I expected some scares from a xenomorph ancestor. I was treated to a face hugger the size of Andre the Giant though, so can't complain really.
So after seeing Prometheus I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone who either loves the Alien franchise or good sci-fi. The film has it's flaws but it is great fun. I find it highly unlikely that there won't be a Special Edition Blu-ray with hours of additional footage which will help flesh out the characters better. When that happens, add an extra point to the score. I can let the idiocy of the scientists and the casting of Guy Pearce slide when the film is very much greater than the sum of it's parts.
I can't wait for the sequel.