In 2089 on the Isle of Skye, scientists Elizabeth Shaw, NOOMI RAPACE, and Charlie Holloway, LOGAN MARSHALL-GREEN discover cave paintings identical to those already discovered in many different parts of the world - they depict a man reaching out to a strange constellation of stars. Three years later Shaw and Holloway are among the crew of Scientific Exploratory Vessel Prometheus, heading for the planet closest to the stars depicted in the drawings. Also on board are Captain Janek, IDRIS ELBA, the powerful representative of Weyland Corp, Meredith Vickers, CHARLIZE THERON, and David, MICHAEL FASSBENDER, a suave, all-intelligent android who models himself after Peter O'Toole in LAWRENCE OF ARABIA. Prometheus lands on the planet, and in a vast cavern the scientists make some strange, unsettling, discoveries.

There's been a huge amount of hype about Ridley Scott's long-awaited prequel to his 1979 classic, ALIEN, and the result isn't quite justified. On many levels, PROMETHEUS is a great sci-fi movie; it looks wonderful, the visual effects are amazing (some were done by Weta Workshop in NZ, others in Australia at Fuel VFX in the Sydney suburb of Newtown) and there are some unforgettable scenes, one involving Noomi Rapace and some abdominal surgery. But the screenplay, by Jon Spaihts and David Linderlof, falters, failing to develop some key characters and story strands, and, in the end, it's a touch frustrating. Still, a Ridley Scott sci-fi thriller is something to get excited about, and PROMETHEUS has enough tension and jolts to the system to make it well worth seeing. The cast is a good one, with Guy Pearce, under tons of makeup, making the all-powerful Weyland an interesting character and Michael Fassbender very creepy as the all-knowing android with a strange sense of humour.

ABC - At The Movies
Copyright ABC - At The Movies

Be careful what you wish for, especially if it involves figuring out who invented humankind. That's the warning at the heart of Prometheus, a visual feast of a sci-fi movie.

Ridley Scott's third venture into science-fiction, after Alien in 1979 and Blade Runner in 1982, won't become a genre benchmark like those classics, but it does supply enough visual spectacle, tense action and sticky, slithery monster attacks to hit the spot with thrill-seeking audiences.

The striking opening sequence (shot in Iceland) reveals a scientist discovering ancient cave paintings indicating the likely arrival on Earth of extraterrestrials many thousands of years ago. Such evidence points to the source as a moon in a small solar system a vast distance away, but not out of reach of a trillion-dollar spacecraft built by Weyland Industries.

The buildup and arrival are the best part of the film, suggesting a sense of inquiry and genuine sort of thoughtfulness that promise a truly weighty slice of speculative fiction.
This project started life as an intended prequel to “Alien” but morphed into something else. Unfortunately, the closer it comes to a climax, the more you feel the elements being lined up to set the stage for a sequel to this film, most of all in a coda that feels like a craven teaser trailer for the next installment.

Scott doubles his Alien pleasure with not just one but two strong female roles (Charlize Theron & Noomi Rapace – the original “Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”) while the other actors are mostly cannon fodder, save for an unrecognizable Guy Pearce in a late-on role.

Technically, PROMETHEUS is magnificent, but this visually stunning return to science-fiction by Ridley Scott caters too much to audience expectations when more imaginative boldness would have taken it further. [EDITED]


Hollywood Reporter
Copyright Hollywood Reporter