Chaos Hour

Prometheus 3D Review

It's Finally Here But Will Prometheus Surpass Its Predecessor Of Sci-Fi Royalty?

Distributor: 20^th Century Fox

Studio: Scott Free/Brandywine Productions

Director: Ridley Scott

If you're a fan of the Alien movies, chances are you've been anticipating this film's release for quite some time now. No doubt, you've been yearning to finally know the true connection between Prometheus and Ridley Scott's original Alien movie. At last, the wait is over, although it was originally intended to be a direct prequel to the 1979 sci-fi classic Alien, Prometheus now has a story all of its own - but it is still set in the same universe as the other films.

So how does this one measure up and will it earn recognition as a formidable rival to the original popularity and success?

After a mysterious and intriguing opening sequence full of gorgeous sweeping camera shots, lush landscapes and immersive 3D effects, we fast-forward a little and find ourselves in the year 2093. We meet scientist Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) who discovers some remains of an ancient civilisation that strongly suggests alien life had a pivotal role in the creation of humanity. Armed with her partner and fellow scientist Charlie (Logan Marshall Green), a small team of misfit explorers and the generous funding from the Weyland Corporation, they set about exploring an unknown planet in search of answers. All under the watchful eyes of the no-messing, cold-as-ice Executive Vickers (Charlize Theron) and robot David (Michael Fassbender) but what they uncover could very well be the end to humanity as we know it.

If there is one thing that Prometheus really excels at, it's the stunning visual aspects of the film. Abundant with aesthetically pleasing features made up of both special and practical effects, they include awesome scenery and backdrops and great attention to details. This is especially true both on the ship and throughout the segments where the team explores the planet. To briefly touch on the use of the 3D effects, it was generally utilised well but there were moments where I genuinely forgot I was watching a 3D movie. Perhaps this was the desired effect, for it to be more subtle and integrated into the film, rather than a gimmick where various elements fly out at you.

It's just a shame that the same care given to the visuals, wasn't put into the characters of the story. Most of the characters go by unnoticed, with no depth or emotional connection with the audience whatsoever. This leads to an indifference whenever any of them get into any particularly sticky situations. Using two strong female leads is also an interesting approach that we don't often see within film making. Charlize Theron plays the frosty Executive Vickers from Weyland Corp and whilst she captured the essence of an authoritative woman that you don’t want to mess with quite nicely, she failed to create a lasting impression. Our heroine, scientist Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) doesn't quite live up to the role that Ripley laid out in the original Alien but she is still pretty darn resilient - Especially considering the amount of turmoil this young lady has thrown her way over the course of the film. She radiates a warmth and innocence that makes her the most believable and relatable character out of the entire cast.

That being said, there is one performance here that stands out head and shoulders above the rest and that was Michael Fassbender's portrayal as the disturbingly creepy robot David. David is utterly intrigued and captivated by humans and the endless possibilities around him and as a result, is constantly looking to stir things up with the crew. Fassbender is truly mesmerising in this role and delivers an eeriness to this character that truly makes you shudder. With the perfect blend of menace and charm, you'll struggle to find a character with more depth than David over the course of Prometheus.

Regarding the plot, it's something that can be appreciated by most people, from the most hard-core of fans to complete newbies to the franchise. This is due to the balance of the original movie tie-ins and original content. Which means you don't necessarily have to have any background knowledge from Alien to be able to enjoy it. Despite this however, the connections to the other Alien films can be very heavy which will subsequently offer a different experience, according to who is watching it. The casual moviegoer may become perplexed by the references and equally, Alien fans may become frustrated by the answers they are given to the questions they have held for over 30 years. This may provoke a second viewing of this movie or at the very least, some further discussion with other fans - Which of course this isn't necessarily a bad thing, just something to be aware of.

Although it can't be denied that Prometheus is nothing short of a spectacle, it degrades to a predictable tale far too quickly and subsequently fails to hold the attention of anyone who is not a hardcore fan of the series. That being said, the final scenes are nothing short of pure heart-thumping suspense and horror that will leave fans and newcomers alike at the very edge of their seat. Thus dispelling any fears one may have had about Ridley Scott's sci-fi horror well being dried out. The main problem with Prometheus is indeed the sense of brevity that is put on display. The pacing is erratic and creates an almost rushed sense to the film. You're unable to take in the little details, absorb the atmosphere and tense claustrophobia the original did so well or relate to the characters as the action was moved along so quickly, you simply don't get enough time to digest anything. You are left wondering whether this was intended to be a longer film that got chopped up to meet time constraints.

With all its faults and immense pressure upon it to deliver, Prometheus is still an ambitious visual marvel with an interesting core story that needs to be seen in the cinema to be truly appreciated. It's an experience I'd recommend to all Alien fans and anyone generally interested in sci-fi movies but you'll get the most out of this movie if you go into it with an open mind and are prepared to ask even more questions after the wild ride finally comes to an end.