Prometheus

Plot: Scientists Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Hathoway (Logan Marshall-Green) find astronomical clues in archeological digs, and build a spaceship to go to the indicated planet. A crew of 17 fly there on a ship called Prometheus, where they quickly find buildings made by the aliens, whom they call "The Engineers." Turns out there are other creepy aliens living there too, and soon the crew starts dying. Meanwhile robot crewman David (Michael Fassbender) pursues his own agenda, which lead to plot twists at the end. [imdb link]    [photos]

Review: This was intense. I knew it would be scary, and it was.

Once they get to alien planet, it suddenly gets suspenseful, dark and creepy. These aliens have so many ways to kill you, and no one is trust-worthy on the human crew. The humans are nearly as creepy as the aliens.

Noomi Rapace had a great range of expressions, and was a good heroine. I loved the surgery scene. Very creepy and yes intense, plus it just kept going ratcheting up the anxiety.

Prometheus is burdened with the Alien backstory so they had to explain the odd life-cycle of the alien, and introduce "The Engineers." This was cumbersome, but the basis assumptions in science-fiction films are usually stretches, and it is not fair too complain too much. It seems like these aliens have too many ways to kill you.

 I would have liked a climatic battle with Vickers (Charlize Theron.) however. 

Shaw is trying to find God on this space mission. David the robot questioning Shaw about her faith -- especially her cross necklace. In the end, she takes back the cross saying that this was what she chose to believe, and then making a promise that sets up the sequel. The writers don't say much more about the meaning of life than that, but I suppose it is not fair to ask them to. It appears the sequel will have the same theme.

The creatures are always creepy and realistic. There is one exceptional scene with a 3D computer animation that explains "The Engineer" plan that is worth the price of the 3D glasses. There are several "holographic" sequences.  The alien base is rendered well, but it feels a little stilted, and you can't see the scenery that well.  The humans are creepy too. The music is unexceptional. 

Cast: Noomi Repace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron, 

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Rating:   2.5+ stars

More: Noomi Rapace had one scene where she flared one nostril to show how agitated she was; clear acting technique. 

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Even more: They handled the detail of how the aliens could be parasites in people with DNA testing in this movie. Typically you'd expect parasites to need to co-evolve with their hosts in order be compatible enough. They figured out an answer in this movie. 


Yet more: How many movies before the alien creatures make it to Earth?  


It just keeps coming: Now check out this 2 minute animated version. Spoilers, but probably too  rapid to understand.