Viewed in
2012
Formats
IMAX 3D
Premise
Ridley Scott returns to his science-fiction roots with a futuristic tale of a spaceship exploring a deserted planet in search of clues of human origins, only to uncover something more sinister.
Loved
Intense suspense, questions raised, Ridley Scott legacy.
Liked
Pretty much everything else.
Disliked
Guy Pearce scenes.
Thoughts
In this surprisingly divisive movie, I'm in the camp of really digging it.
If this were a sports team, it'd have no great individual players, but a team greater than the sum of its parts. With pacing/directing as MVP of this exciting experience. The setup third moved, and the suspense ratcheted up exponentially. Director Ridley Scott succeeded in creating nerve-wracking scenes; it was equally terrifying waiting for the horror and during the gory horror.
Overall, the acting was strong, especially creepy Michael Fassbender, and Noomi Rapace as the perky hero with guts. The special effects were well-integrated, from the epic spaceships to the way too intimate blood and guts that made me want to cover your eyes but not look away. The 3D experience was very immersive that added to the depth of that universe without being gimmicky or too dark. More proof that 3D can be an excellent tool in the hands of a master.
The biggest contention has been the plot. I think it was meant to have too many questions and not enough answers, and I liked it that way. Personally, I was bummed that I didn't watch this with a bunch of brainy friends. I would've very much enjoyed eavesdropping on them arguing their vast interpretations, whether it was a fascinating open-ended experience or just a load of poorly planned hogwash. Am I still completely bewildered at certain plot points? Yes. But I feel like there was a rhyme and reason that made sense in this type of movie.
Now, it was far from perfect. The human origin reveal was confusing and underwhelming. The start of the third act felt too rushed. Charlize Theron was underutilized. But my biggest beef was the Guy Pearce scenes. They were unnecessary to the story, and worse yet, his old man makeup was horribly distracting. Pearce already looked similar to Brad Pitt, so it felt like Benjamin Button had inserted himself into the film. Why couldn't they hire an old dude, like old man du jour Christopher Plummer? Or better yet, Sir Ian Holm?
Obviously, one can't help but to compare this with Scott's space/horror classic, Alien. There were a lot of similarities in setting, pace, tone, theme, creepiness, and sheer terror. It was familiar yet refreshing. Alien had purer suspense, cooler cinematography, and a more kick-ass female lead. Prometheus had more ambitious themes, history, and simply put, was more interesting.
In this internet age, it was a pity that spoilers already reached my eyes beforehand. I wish I could travel to another multiverse where they managed to keep things bottled up J.J. Abrams-style (though someone would've spilled the beans before the weekend was over anyway). As much as I enjoyed watching it, I was kind of distracted throughout the film, constantly looking for the spoilers. Thankfully, when they happened, they were still as exhilarating as I anticipated.
Prometheus should be equally enjoyable for people simply looking for a scary fun time, or for those demanding sci-fi stories that incite debate and interpretations.
