Prometheus

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Prometheus.

Directed by Ridley Scott.

Written by Jon Spaiths & Damon Lindelof.

Review #159

MPAA Rating: R for sci-fi violence including some intense images, and brief language.

Runtime: 124 min

Cast

Noomi Rapace ...Elizabeth Shaw

Michael Fassbender ...David

Charlize Theron ...Meredith Vickers

Idris Elba ...Janek

Guy Pearce ...Peter Weyland

Logan Marshall-Green ...Charlie Holloway

Sean Harris ...Fifield


When you think of science fiction, there a few names that should instantly pop into your head. Phillip K. Dick, Gene Rodenberry, George Lucas and James Cameron. All impressive people in the genre but the man who redefined it was Ridley Scott. He took a simple premise and transformed it into one of the greatest sci fi/horror films of all time.

Alien was revolutionary in so many ways. It provided a fresh take on the monster movie by relocating the victims to outer space. But more importantly it masterfully layered some very intriguing and clever story elements that went ay beyond the scares and screams. After Ridley's take. Cameron went the balls out action route which was a brilliant move. Scott's Alien was psychological and thrilling. Cameron's Aliens took that blueprint and just expanded on a massive scale.

The wide success of both films declared the xenomorphs as a bankable franchise. The problem was the last 2 sequels were substandard. So fast forward 20 plus years since Ridley stepped behind the camera to make Alien. The geek world was full of buzz and excitement. Then there were rumblings that his return to sci fi was also a return to the Alien franchise. Then the buzz got even bigger when the film was going to be a prequel to the Alien franchise. That theory was quickly shot down as just fanboy dreams. Then Ridley made the mistake of mentioning that Prometheus takes place in the world that Alien came from and also contains "strands of DNA" within the Alien universe. You combine that with a set of trailers that showcase very clear cut "characters" from Alien. The perception that this was not a prequel was going to be hard to discount.

It's really a shame that Prometheus wasn't a prequel to Alien. If it was then perhaps I wouldn't be calling this the WORST film I've seen this summer and possibly this year!

Plot

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.  

Let me clarify my previous comment about Prometheus being the worst film I've seen this year. My feelings about this train wreck have nothing to do with the bait and switch that was pulled. I'm referring to the film being a prequel to Alien. That has been a major point of contention with many who have seen this film. They were sold a bad bill of goods and I can't say I blame them. However you were warned several times by Ridley himself that it wasn't a straight up prequel. The problem is that the film was marketed as one. This really pissed people off. I was able to take my Alien blinders off and take this in on it's own merit.

It still didn't do any good.

My problem with Prometheus and it's a big one is how insanely STUPID this movie actually is. The initial premise is pretty interesting. Some geeks figure out who created us and go to the place where it supposedly happened. The film SUCKS immediately after that. I'm not going into what exactly happens that makes this movie so god awful. What I will do is explain what character flaw just drove me insane. The main premise to Prometheus and it's main character Shaw is science vs faith. A scientist who has a very strong belief in god sets out to find the "aliens" that created us.

Right there you lost me.

I'm not saying that someone who's dedicated their life to science can't have a belief in religion. But Shaw contradicts herself in so many ways here that the parts that were making sense get devoured among the rest of the moronic plot devices. Her character is a byproduct of the laziest writing I have come across in a while. I should have known better going in knowing that Damon Lindelof was a co writer of the screenplay. For you Lost fans you know who that is. He's one of the co creators of that amazing show. He's also one of the men responsible for SCREWING up the end of that amazing show. Just like the rest of the crew he came up with amazing ideas for that show but had no way to follow them through or finish them off so instead he pulled one of the greatest cons in TV history. The Lost finale had nothing to do with the show or the mythology at all. The finale was an emotional experience that was an amazing 2 hours to watch. But it failed miserably in concluding a journey that we spent 7 years taking.

The point is that Lindelof and the other idiot who wrote this mess did exactly the same thing here. Some truly great ideas were developed here but the execution and explanation was non existent. You can't do that. You can't have a great idea without seeing it all the way through to it's conclusion. That's why so many movies and TV shows fail. The most disappointing part with Prometheus is that I truly believe that the answers and conclusions were there. They just weren't written into the script. You combine that with some of sci fi's DUMBEST characters you have yourself a hot mess of a movie.

I don't want to write about this crap anymore. I'm pissed off enough as it is. Why Ridley? Why did you come back and make this garbage?

WHY???????

On the 5 star scale. Prometheus gets 0 stars with a resounding. "For The Love Of God Stay Home!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is Snow White and The Huntsman.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"