‘Prometheus’ Review
** Potential Spoilers – I’ll always try never to spoil anything but if you want to go in fresh with no outside info or basic plot points then I suggest waiting til you’ve seen ‘Prometheus’ before reading the review **
Do you feel like embarking on a 2 hour journey as to whether or not God exists? How about spending 124 minutes watching some desperate characters scramble around a distant planet searching for the meaning of their existence…? If you do then Prometheus is going to be right up your alley.
I was a little unsure of what to expect when the movie started because I’m not the world’s biggest Alien quadrilogy fan and haven’t been anticipating Prometheus like I know some people have been but I definitely tried to keep an open mind and appreciate it as a sci-fi thriller helmed by a master director.
Prometheus tells the story of Dr Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) who locate a star map based on the cave drawings and sculptures of the ancient civilisations of Earth which they believe will lead them to the creators of mankind. Providing the cash and crew for the venture is Weyland Industries, headed by Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce) who has his own reasons for wanting to find out where the star map leads. Heading the crew is Captain Janek (Idris Elba) under the command of Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) and seemingly running everything in-between is android David (Michael Fassbender).
As the film opens you bear witness to some simply amazing visual effects, they are truly sensational. In fact, that would be one of Prometheus‘s strongest elements – truly stunning visual effects. From the landscape of a distant planet, to the holographic recordings captured in the mountain, to the dust storms and spacecraft’s, and finally the majority (not all) of aliens featured in the film.
I found the pacing to be pretty slow but I understand that patience is required because just like the original Alien, good things come to those who wait – well I mean the audience because nothing good happened to the crew of the Nostromo – so whenever I found myself starting to wander, I caught myself and thought “Patience, hang in there”. My patience was rewarded with the appearance of some aliens, some tense eyeball moments, and a scene that almost made me gag a lil bit…
One surprising aspect of the film was the inclusion of various religious themes – the big question of WHY. Why are we here? Who created us? Does there need to be a purpose? Couldn’t it all be a big nothing? Do humans need to believe in something? If you don’t believe in anything, does this make you a robot? Do there have to be answers to all questions?
It shouldn’t matter what your religious or non-religious views are, however you are going to walk out of the cinema with these themes on your mind and that’s one thing that I didn’t like. I’m not a religious person and have very little interest in watching what I thought was going to be a sci-fi thriller instead deliver a sermon on religious questions. One final thing on this topic, perhaps it’s because I’m an atheist that I didn’t enjoy the philosophical questions raised throughout the film, maybe those who are religious might have appreciated it more?
Or maybe Sir Ridley is getting to that age when some people with power and influence start getting a little preachy…
Ok, so religion and visual effects aside, let’s talk casting. The stand out role easily belongs to Michael Fassbender in the role of David, the android who elicits more empathy than the human characters. Perhaps that might be because all David does in the film is what he’s been programmed to do while the humans on the other hand make choices, and bad ones at that. The quirky and intense performance delivered by Fassbender ensured that all eyes were on him in every scene he was in.
To finalise my thoughts on Prometheus, what was the one key point I took away from the film? The one thing that I will mention to everyone who asks me about my thoughts on the movie?
Ahhh Charlize Theron. You only get more and more stunning the older you get, you’re simply amazing.
2.5 stars out of 5
12 Responses to “‘Prometheus’ Review”
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Your review is spot on big man – the movie was such a big let down in most areas – such high hopes dashed!
Charlize Theron is gorgeous & ultra talented!
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Thanks Wayne, glad you dug the review!
I’m glad to hear that I wasn’t the only one who was let down by the movie, I even went in with lower expectations too…
sosmywife says: I found Prometheus to be film with a real identity crisis, Scott I feel was just trying too hard here. What made Alien so good was its simple premise, a horror movie in space with monsters. It worked and was directed by someone without baggage who just wanted to make a scary film.
What we have now is an older Ridley Scott who has been around the block and seen and done a few things since those heady days back in 1979. It’s not enough now it would seem to just scare the crap out us but we need to explore what it all means and why. Honestly Mr Scott, it really doesn’t matter, I just want to be scared and thrilled please do the navel gazing in your own time. What the hell has religion got to do with it?
It just felt like a film that had spent a long time in the editing suite as the director wrestled with the story he set out to tell and the spiritual
search for existence he ended up with. There were lots things to like please don’t get me wrong, visually as you would expect from Ridley Scott it was stunning. There are a couple of very well executed set pieces, the incoming storm front and impressive crash scene were standouts but these stood out because the body of the film was mostly, unfortunately forgettable.
Scott’s original Alien kept you on the edge because of what you couldn’t see. Prometheus unfortunately has none of the same subtleties which is highlighted by the first and very last scenes that are completely unnecessary and proves my point. There are scenes the younger Scott who gave us Bladerunner a story that we are still trying to deconstruct 30 years later would just not have even contemplated.
2 out 5
Visually stunning but let down by a huge God complex.
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You know what, Matt?
That might be the first time in a long long time that we actually AGREE on a film
I agree with your thoughts, far too complex for it’s own good!
Okay I just saw the movie with my daughter. Ridley Scott did fantastic at retaining the classic Aliens style. I give it 2 huge thumbs up!
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Hey Mallory!
Thanks for stopping by and checking out the site, appreciate your comments!
Always interesting hearing other points of view, was there anything specific that you loved about the movie compared to the original films?
Melissa Bradley says: Oh no. I do not like epic religious/philosophy lessons as I am a recovering Catholic. I am still going to see this because I am a Scott fan and am compelled to witness his return to sci fi first hand. I know he’s working on a return to the world of Blade Runner and is trying to get Harrison Ford in so maybe he’ll do better with that project.
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“Recovering Catholic”, I like that!
Now as I can see, everyone I have spoken to seems to have a different view of ‘Prometheus’ so I can’t wait to hear yours about it. I didn’t like the preachy overtones however it may have just been my interpretation. But then again that’s the fun part of movie reviewing
While I enjoyed the spectacle of the film, the acting performances and the general theme of the film. What I did not enjoy was the script by Lindelof. His decision to move the plot forward by turning the crew of the Prometheus into a modern day McHale’s Navy was very off putting.
I still think people should see the film and in 3D Imax if possible but the script was a real let down.
also your gravatar picture leaves a lot to be desired
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I think you hit the nail on the head that the script let the movie down, it was definitely the weakest part of the film. However given that it was penned by someone heavily involved with LOST then it makes a little more sense…
I don’t think I could watch it again, once was enough for me.
I kinda like my gravatar pic
InTheFrame1 says: I pretty much ignored the religious questions and had very low expectations, but Prometheus surprised me. My review is up if you want to know more.
I’m curious:
For those who were expecting something amazing, what was missing in Prometheus? If I gave you $100 million, how would you fix it so that it matches your expectations?
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Thanks for the comment Steve. I tried to ignore the religious overtones because I feel that everyone should be able to express themselves plus it lends credence to certain characters, but what I disliked was the on-going references to religion, particularly in that scene between Rapace and Fassbender towards the end of the film.
As for your question, I don’t think I could have made a better visually stunning film than Prometheus however I feel that the real let-down was the script. A better script was required to match the rest of the film.
Leave a Reply
Your review is spot on big man – the movie was such a big let down in most areas – such high hopes dashed!
Charlize Theron is gorgeous & ultra talented!
Thanks Wayne, glad you dug the review!
I’m glad to hear that I wasn’t the only one who was let down by the movie, I even went in with lower expectations too…
I found Prometheus to be film with a real identity crisis, Scott I feel was just trying too hard here. What made Alien so good was its simple premise, a horror movie in space with monsters. It worked and was directed by someone without baggage who just wanted to make a scary film.
What we have now is an older Ridley Scott who has been around the block and seen and done a few things since those heady days back in 1979. It’s not enough now it would seem to just scare the crap out us but we need to explore what it all means and why. Honestly Mr Scott, it really doesn’t matter, I just want to be scared and thrilled please do the navel gazing in your own time. What the hell has religion got to do with it?
It just felt like a film that had spent a long time in the editing suite as the director wrestled with the story he set out to tell and the spiritual
search for existence he ended up with. There were lots things to like please don’t get me wrong, visually as you would expect from Ridley Scott it was stunning. There are a couple of very well executed set pieces, the incoming storm front and impressive crash scene were standouts but these stood out because the body of the film was mostly, unfortunately forgettable.
Scott’s original Alien kept you on the edge because of what you couldn’t see. Prometheus unfortunately has none of the same subtleties which is highlighted by the first and very last scenes that are completely unnecessary and proves my point. There are scenes the younger Scott who gave us Bladerunner a story that we are still trying to deconstruct 30 years later would just not have even contemplated.
2 out 5
Visually stunning but let down by a huge God complex.
You know what, Matt?
That might be the first time in a long long time that we actually AGREE on a film
I agree with your thoughts, far too complex for it’s own good!
Okay I just saw the movie with my daughter. Ridley Scott did fantastic at retaining the classic Aliens style. I give it 2 huge thumbs up!
Hey Mallory!
Thanks for stopping by and checking out the site, appreciate your comments!
Always interesting hearing other points of view, was there anything specific that you loved about the movie compared to the original films?
Oh no. I do not like epic religious/philosophy lessons as I am a recovering Catholic. I am still going to see this because I am a Scott fan and am compelled to witness his return to sci fi first hand. I know he’s working on a return to the world of Blade Runner and is trying to get Harrison Ford in so maybe he’ll do better with that project.
“Recovering Catholic”, I like that!
Now as I can see, everyone I have spoken to seems to have a different view of ‘Prometheus’ so I can’t wait to hear yours about it. I didn’t like the preachy overtones however it may have just been my interpretation. But then again that’s the fun part of movie reviewing
While I enjoyed the spectacle of the film, the acting performances and the general theme of the film. What I did not enjoy was the script by Lindelof. His decision to move the plot forward by turning the crew of the Prometheus into a modern day McHale’s Navy was very off putting.
I still think people should see the film and in 3D Imax if possible but the script was a real let down.
also your gravatar picture leaves a lot to be desired
I think you hit the nail on the head that the script let the movie down, it was definitely the weakest part of the film. However given that it was penned by someone heavily involved with LOST then it makes a little more sense…
I don’t think I could watch it again, once was enough for me.
I kinda like my gravatar pic
I pretty much ignored the religious questions and had very low expectations, but Prometheus surprised me. My review is up if you want to know more.
I’m curious:
For those who were expecting something amazing, what was missing in Prometheus? If I gave you $100 million, how would you fix it so that it matches your expectations?
Thanks for the comment Steve. I tried to ignore the religious overtones because I feel that everyone should be able to express themselves plus it lends credence to certain characters, but what I disliked was the on-going references to religion, particularly in that scene between Rapace and Fassbender towards the end of the film.
As for your question, I don’t think I could have made a better visually stunning film than Prometheus however I feel that the real let-down was the script. A better script was required to match the rest of the film.