Bad bad script

Rating: 3/10 (2 June 2012)

This is a film that should command high expectations, as Ridley Scott has directed two of the most prolific and groundbreaking science fiction films in movie history.
I must say that I'm really disappointed that Scott chose to go ahead and direct a prequel to a classic movie with this kind of flawed and incoherent manuscript. The film is packed with improbable science fiction, holes to the story, genre confusion, improbable action, one-dimensional characters, cliché dialogue and pseudo philosophical nonsense that brings much lesser directors to mind.
The script introduces halfheartedly some 'deep' ideas about the origin of Man, but has in general low regard for the intelligence of the audience. Ridley Scott tries to cover the mess up with beautiful well crafted cinematography, movie-buff hints to earlier films, and some well functioning individual scenes revolving around the eminent Michael Fassbender (who plays a robot). This potentially interesting storyline brings subject matter from Alien, Blade Runner and 2001 Space Odyssey to mind, and should have been allowed to unfold in stead of this extravaganza of half cooked and half executed ideas that leaves the audience cold.
At almost every point where Alien and Blade Runner excels, the film falls flat. No true to story logic, no tense atmosphere, no character development, no grit, no paranoia, no suspense and no sense of 'emptiness of space' that worked so well in the first Alien film. The only point where the film excels is in the visuals and special effect department. All is top notch, as expected. Besides from this, Ridley Scott seems to have forgotten everything.
I know, it's a hard verdict. But at the end of the day this movie will, sorry to say, not stick in the memory.
1 star for cinematography and special effects
1 star for the Michael Fassbender character
1 star for some interesting individual scenes