They get it right

Rating: 8/10 (4 June 2012)

The much hyped return of Ridley Scott returning to the helm as director of an Alien film has arrived with the release of Prometheus.
Set in the latter part of the twenty first century this sees a team of explorers discovering a vital archaeological clue to the origins of mankind which then drives them on a journey into outer space where they hope to find the answers to the creation of the universe and our own origins... they soon uncover something terrifying with destructive consequences to our continued existence.
I am a huge Alien fan so I was eager to see this. After two hours of captivating cinematography, vast and impressive sets, frantic action and (literally) gut wrenching horror my verdict is they got it right.
Sterile spacesuits and equipment are neatly juxtaposed with the organic planet and its strange subterranean world. The tension and suspense are well crafted and sustained and as soon as the team of engineers and explorers are attacked the action is non-stop and heart-pounding stuff right up to the dramatic finale.
All the actors can take a well deserved bow here for portraying everyone as edgy, grumpy, quirky people i.e. totally believable.
Despite its huge themes and plot concerning extra-terrestrials it is very human at its core. If we did not care about the expedition team then this would not work as well.
Noomi Rapace as Elizabeth Shaw makes an excellent heroine and there are some truly fraught scenes involving her which a lesser actress may have struggled to pull off.
Acting kudos should also go to Michael Fassbender as David the android granddad of Ash and Bishop. His innocence, curiosity and lack of real human emotion and compassion make him endearing and chilling in equal measure.
Charlize Theron as the ice-cold Meredith Vickers and Guy Pearce as Peter Weyland (a decrepit Dr Evil look-alike in a Nehru outfit) also manage to lift this above the average.
Audiences know this is basically your haunted house bumping people off one by one story; the original Alien was a remake or re-imagining of the 1950s feature It Came from Outer Space. But this one is so well executed you are still on the edge of your seat wondering who (if anyone) will survive.
It also looks stunning. Much has been made of the actual sets and locations being used rather than green screens and CGI and it has made a huge difference. You really feel the team have found and are exploring another organic world with unusual fauna and flora.
Go and see this and be thoroughly entertained and impressed, for Ridley Scott has got it right again.