In Ridley Scott’s head, the answer to the origin of humankind is best explained through aliens and other-worldly beings. They, if you don’t already know, exist in moons far, far away.
Or do they?
The quest for that very answer sets the plot of Prometheus, Scott’s return to science-fiction after 1982’s Blade Runner, which is also the name of a privately-funded space ship hurtling towards a newly-discovered moon in the year 2089.
Once there, the space ship and its human inhabitants find a world more advanced and far more slimy than they (or us) would imagine. But instead of discovering the origins of the species, they end up fighting to save the Earth from annihilation.
Of course, saying any more would be tantamount to giving away far too much of the plot. This, after all is a film for which hype was built around just how little was revealed. The teasers, viral clips, trailers and ‘leaked’ scripts have successfully created the anticipation. Will it be an Alien prequel? Or a new film that’s as genre-defining, considering this is Scott’s first sci-fi movie in 30 years?
The answer to the second question is “no”. While Scott (Gladiator, Thelma & Louise) builds a visual spectacle and a taut script — the opening sequence is breathtaking — he leaves so many loose ends that you feel underserved by the time the credits role. It’s one of those classic shortcomings, particular of films that have such a complicated plot that it ends up looking like the director rushed through the final moments.
But credit where it’s due: The first 40 minutes of Pormetheus, where the crew lands on the foreign moon, is Scott gold. The director slowly and steadily rises the tension, as the cast peel off the plot layer by tensed layer as you wait in anticipation. Visually stunning, it’s apparent no effort has been spared in created this new universe. And when the scares come, they don’t catch you unawares but you find yourself curling up in your seat – watch out for the self-inflicted cesarean scene.
Michael Fassbender as the android David is one of the film’s highlights. Devoid of emotions, he is mischievous one minute and menacing the next. Guy Pearce as the aging billionaire looking for the proverbial fountain of youth is effective, while Charlize Theron as the no-nonsense executive travelling with the crew is cast in an underserving yet memorable role. But the stand-out performances go to The OC star Logan Marshall-Green and particularly Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, both of whom play love interests and archeologists whose findings are the purpose of the trip.
So is this the Alien prequel every one has been waiting for? Scott has denied it is. But I’d say wait until the end to find out.
