Prometheus (2012) starring Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, Idris Elba, Guy Pearce, Logan Marshall-Green directed by Ridley Scott Movie Review

Prometheus (2012)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Michael Fassbender in Prometheus (2012)

Rapace before Ripley

Archaeologists Dr Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and her partner Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) uncover in the Isle of Skye ancient cave drawings which depict not only humans worshiping a much larger life form but also images of a planet in the sky. And these are not the only ones as across the planet other similar cave drawings have been unearthed. Through the sponsorship of Weyland Corps, represented by Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) and David (Michael Fassbender), a robot fixated with "Lawrence of Arabia", and with an odd ball crew they journey aboard Prometheus for two years to reach a far off moon. Whilst they find evidence of another life form they also appear to find evidence that it is a dead life form. But maybe things are not as dead as they seem.

Watching "Prometheus" reminded me of being a child on Christmas day as every time Ridley Scott served up another fancy special effect it was like opening another present. And then every time I spotted a familiar face it was like when one of my favourite movies would be shown on TV. And yes I enjoyed "Prometheus" for this reason, I did get the wow factor at the created scenery of the planet whilst the way flying bots are launched to scan the tunnels did seriously impress me, it was imaginative. And on top of that the casting with Idris Elba playing a cool captain is exactly what I wanted and enjoyed.

Idris Elba in Prometheus (2012)

For those reasons I can understand why many love "Prometheus" because it is cool with its visual trickery and casting choices. I can also understand why it was watched by many who would not normally bother with this sort of sci-fi. Basically a slick marketing campaign making it an event movie outside of the story leads to increased viewing. It is something which director James Cameron is a master of and now so is Ridley Scott as over time the drip fed information which was given on Scott not only doing sci-fi again but with it linking to "Alien" was enough to make people feel like they had to see this movie and on the big screen in its full 3D glory.

But here is the thing as whilst technology has moved on and so have actors the actual storyline to "Prometheus" doesn't seem to have. Maybe it is just me as we have a group of explorers who are a mixed bunch just like you find in many a space movie. You have a robot which was a cliche used long before "Alien", you have typical moments of danger, ulterior motives and a lot more which is simply familiar. Maybe this was the intention, to use the comfortably familiar to then tie back to "Alien" whilst leaving more things open. But in doing so it makes "Prometheus" a movie dominated by look rather than by story which works for a modern audience but not so much for me who enjoyed the horror of "Alien" and wanted something close to that.

What this all boils down to "Prometheus" was not the movie I hoped it would be but as a modern, effect heavy crowd pleaser I can understand why many love it. But despite not being the great movie I hoped for it is still entertaining and easy to watch for those who are general movie fans.


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