When it comes to science fiction movies I’ve got the feeling that there are way too little good ones out each year, so when I heard that Ridley Scott, who’s known for great movies like Bladerunner and Alien would be releasing a new sci fi movie I couldn’t wait to see it. I managed to dodge all news and trailers about the movie, so I went in blank and without expectations. Did Prometheus manage to quench my thirst for good sci fi?
Prometheus will most likely be compared a lot to Alien as the setup for this movie is roughly the same. A crew aboard the Prometheus awake from hibernation near an unknown planet to discover if there is anything to be found. Of course they do run into something and have to survive. I really didn’t mind the similarities. A big part of this story is the question humanity has about its existence. How were we created or where do we come from? Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green, although I thought it was Tom Hardy) are a couple who have been doing research for years and lead the mission. At least that’s the idea, but more seems to be going on. Just like in Alien there is an android named David (Michael Fassbender) who seems to have his own agenda.
What Prometheus offers is the type of space adventure I really enjoy. It has a lot of mystery, but also offers some answers to those mysteries. If you like your scares then Prometheus definitely delivers with a couple of very memorable scenes. I also like the fact that Elizabeth Shaw is searching for answers about our existence even though she is religious.
Fassbender again shows what a great actor he is, impressing in every scen he is in, but Rapace is excellent as well. There were some actors who had too little to do (Charlize Theron) or were strangely cast (Guy Pearce), but that’s nitcpicking.
So is Prometheus another sci fi classic? I don’t think it is. The plot could have been a bit tighter and when the end credits roll some questions are left unanswered. I am looking forward to the sequel to get the answers though. The world created looks stunning and the characters are very interesting.
Definitely looking forward to a sequel. But I too have a lot of questions that need answering.
As I’m listening to podcasts and reading other reviews it’s one of the most discussed movies out this year and heard a lot of various theories.
Very refreshing to see a positive review! Thanks matey
A lot of people were expecting too much I think, seen a lot of negative talk about it.
It’s strange. Whenever I read a post that tears this into pieces I nod and agree about everything. And yet: my experience of the movie is different. For all the flaws and inconsistencies I loved it!
Yeah, I can understand the criticism, but just like you I loved it too!
What Jessica said. It is a hugely flawed film in some respects, but in others, it’s a brilliant sci-fi flick. Looking forward to a rewatch when it’s out on blu-ray.
I’m actually thinking about rewatching it in the cinema and I never feel the need to do so! 🙂
There are a few implausible moments by the “brilliant” scientists, but it sure was a great ride, and brainy also in a tacit kind of way. I gave it 7.6 in my monthly recap. I think it was an advantage I had not watched Alien movies for some years…my rating may have been lower if I had done recently.
Good observation about “searching for answers about our existence even though she is religious”, you can do both ( :
The extended version Ridley is hinting out for the dvd may answer a few questions, if not, the sequel, maybe ( :
Yeah, there are some implausible moments like taking off the helmet or wanting to be friendly with something you don’t know what it is. Yeah, heard that Ridley Scott mention that one of the ideas originally was that it would also be about religion and Jesus being one of the architects.
I did actually think Prometheus failed to deliver the scares beyond one stand out sequence. There were the odd moments of tension but it was never sustained. That, and some lazy plotting, were the main flaws of a film that ultimately I did enjoy.
It has to do with expectations though. I wasn’t expecting a movie full of scares, so the few moments it did have were powerful. It has its flaws, but I don’t mind.
Not a new classic, but its some good scifi. Yeah I agree with that 😀
Thanks!
Wow… after reading your review I definitely didn’t expect you to score Prometheus at a 9. I’m not a huge fan of Ridley Scott in the first place and I am yet to see Alien but I was looking forward to seeing Prometheus as I am a fan of the sci-fi genre in general. I was disappointed largely by what I was confronted with; little character development, poor motivations, questions left unanswered. I couldn’t help but feel like I had been let down and missed something while I was watching.
Well, I always score immeidately after seeing something. That score stays, no matter what I write about it. It really stand for how much I enjoyed it.
You have not seen Alien? Go see it, I’m pretty sure you will like it!
I tried watching Alien last night but my copy of the film decided that it was going to start skipping, I couldn’t believe it! I’m on the lookout for a new copy though, really want to see it!
That sucks! Hope you will be able to see it soon.
Certain parts of Prometheus were excellent, such as those involving the enigmatic Engineers. The story telling should have been tighter, though.
Yeah, it could have been tighter, but I love it still…
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I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who thought that Holloway was Tom Hardy! Even though I knew Tom Hardy wasn’t in it, I had a hard time convincing myself! Not as bad as my wife though, she thought Rapace looked like Cher!
Hahaha, I heard more people thinking that. Cher? Hadn’t heard that one yet!
I quite enjoyed it too. And I usually avoid sci-fi horror. Prometheus has such good marketing. I love Rooney Mara’s character and Fassbender, although it’s not the best role I’ve seen of him.
Whoops I mean Noomi Rapace
🙂 Although I don’t mind sci-fi horror, I don’t watch normal horror. Probably because I find the setting interesting.
Glad to see someone else who really liked this film. After posting my review, I felt that I was going to see a lot of other positive reviews. There’s been a pretty mixed opinion but I really liked it.
Yeah, it seems to be the movie of the moment people love to attack, but I stand by my score and can’t wait to watch it again.
I’m with ya. I would like to see it again on the big screen. Just too much going on though.