Movie Review: Prometheus

Prometheus

Release: 08 June 2012
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Logan Marshall-Green, Charlize Theron and Michael Fassbender
Director: Ridley Scott
Genre: Action, SciFi, Horror
Length: 124 min.
Rating: R

Tagline:
The search for our beginning could lead to our end.

Basic Premise:
Multiple civilizations spread over centuries that have never come in contact all share the a common message that scientists Shaw and Holloway have traveled across the cosmos to uncover — the secret of humanity’s origins. But their discovery may uncover more than ever wanted to know.

Review:
For all those who were like me and thought this looked like an Alien rip-off, it’s not. They are related. This is a prequel. It’s subtle about it so the movies aren’t exactly in line with one another (matter of fact, it left room for a possible sequel), but you can tell this is an origin story.

IMDB, which is where I get the above info, classifies this as Action. I disagree with that categorization. There is action, but not enough to put it in that category. This is a SciFi Drama. The movie is cerebral with moments of action. Think Alien rather than Aliens and Alien 3. Lots of character and plot development before they start trying to freak you out and scare you.

After saying all of that, I liked the movie. It shed lots of light on the Alien franchise and offered a valid explanation for some things. Other things it kind of left hanging but again that might be for the sequel to the prequel to explain. However, it does have Phantom Menace syndrome in that you are left wondering why the technology is so much better in the prequel. Obviously the tech is better because we have more movie effects nowadays as compared to 1979 but from a movie continuity stand point it doesn’t make sense.

I saw this movie in IMAX 3D and felt it worth the price. The sound quality alone was worth the cost. Will you miss anything if you see the normal 2D version? Not really.

Parents, only take your kids to the movie if you had no issues showing them the other movies in the Alien franchise. It’s classified under horror for a reason. And it also has an R rating for a reason. There are a few f-bombs in this movie.

For everyone else, if you enjoyed Ridley Scott’s 1979 Alien or you just like the franchise then you’ll enjoy his latest installment. If you’re more of an action-packed James Cameron 1986 Aliens fan, you might get a little bored with this movie.