Underrated and Well Worth Watching

Rating: 8/10 (17 October 2016)

I saw Prometheus in IMAX in 2012 upon its release, and recently re-watched it after reading quite a bit of analysis, both positive and negative, on IMDb and elsewhere. This film is a unique and underrated effort from one of the greatest living American auteurs, thematically rich and visually stunning. It stands on its own as a good sci-fi/horror film.
Much of the criticisms I've read have to do with disappointment from Alien fans that this is not a good Alien film, or that it raises as many questions (or more) as it answers regarding the Alien canon and origins of the Xenomorph. Three words: Get over it! Or if you cannot get over it, then just let it be and allow others to enjoy the movie for what it is.
So what is it, then? Prometheus is good sci-fi/horror that challenges viewers to think about origins of humankind and to discern on faith and evolutionary history. It does not spoon-feed the story to the audience, and in fact, there is enough escalating horror in the events of the movie that precious little time is spent dwelling on the devastating personal toll they take on the main character, Shaw. And even when things seem at their darkest, there is a spiritual resiliency in this character that pushes us through the climax and onto something else, something new and unknown, toward the future.
The visual effects are stunning. Ridley Scott eschewed CGI as much as possible for all but the space travel sequences, and the result is some seriously hellish mechanical effects that were squirm-inducing at the very least and eye-popping at best. Scott is working at the height of his creative powers in this kind of world, and every dollar spent bears out on the screen.
If you are looking for a really cool Alien movie, this film is not for you. But those with an open mind and an appreciation for Scott's work in general should put this on their list of must-sees.