SYNOPSIS: Ridley Scott, director of "Alien" and "Blade Runner," returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.


REVIEW: This movie would have been better off released as an intellectually inspired video game for the spiritually inclined. It seems to sit awkwardly between the eccentric genre of thrillers, arty subjectivity and patronizing philosophical seriousness. It is simply a hot mess with some visually interesting parts. Director Ridley Scott really dropped the ball on this one and if this was some virtually unknown director, I’d feel more inclined to be a little less critical; However, for the person whom we remember bringing us the mega-Sci-fi classic Alien (1979), I simply expect better and hold Scott to a much higher standard, than Prometheus. In other words, if names such as Ridley Scott, Charlize Theron, and Guy Pierce were not attached to this movie, I would have predicted this flick to be a “B” rated movie that went directly to DVD. Furthermore, the rumor of this flick being a prequel to the Alien, seems plausible (with lots of imbedded hints of the mega classic hit), but would certainly not do the classic hit any justice whatsoever. The plot line is boring and lacks creativity. As a matter of fact, I would go as far as to say, Prometheus is like taking the concept of a typical scary movie such as Paranormal Activity, and playing it out, in the caves of a dark musty planet, somewhere in deep space. It is utterly predictable with scenes that movie-going audiences are all familiar with, showing characters being sequentially killed off for making unreasonable decisions when in crisis situations.

Scott and the writers seem to have purposefully given the audience reason to believe that this movie is a culmination of many recent sci-fi hits. The scenes seem very much laced together to give some semblance of a plot line. Moreover, despite the talented line-up, the movie struggles to stay the course of keeping the audience’s interest and curiosity. Its intellectual portentousness seems to be a measly attempt appeal to a higher IQ thrill seeking audience, with lots to be lost in translation. 

However, what do make up for such short-comings are the movie’s beautifully orchestrated sceneries and visuals that are certainly entrancing, and arguably bettered by the decision to promote in 3D. The star-studded line up does lend itself to a better narrated dialog and stands to help the movie not be a complete and utterly flop. Theron is as stunning and composed as ever and plays the devious roll, flawlessly, while Idris Elba gives a great supporting nod along with Guy Pierce and a few other relatively lesser known supporting cast members.

Overall, I think most viewers that have become accustom to trendy creative sci-fi flicks will find this movie less than thought-provoking and certainly not out-of-this-world entertaining and may even see Ridley Scott as losing his “Sci-Fi luster,” with putting his name behind this movie. Additionally, though I found the visual aspects of the movie relatively impressive, I am certainly disappointed in the overall production and would give Prometheus three stars at best.

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