Ridley Scott might actually be Prometheus. Prometheus stole fire from the gods and brought it to the common folk. Ridley Scott obviously hijacked his divine science fiction ideas and generously gave them to us. He aims for great heights again with Prometheus, and while he doesn’t quite hit the heights of Alien, he does catch fire with this ambitious, horrific pleasure of a film. It is the best thought-provoking original movie since Inception.
In 2091, scientists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discover cave drawings which could possibly show the origins of human life. Fast forward two years later, when the ship Prometheus and its crew including Shaw, Holloway, the grunt captain (Idris Elba), some engineers, Peter O’Toole’s Android (Michael Fassbender) and the corporate employee (Charlize Theron) are carrying out the orders of the Weyland Corporation (run by a very old Guy Pearce). They all hope to come back with some answers for where humanity originated from, but, unfortunately, they learn some very different answers.
If this movie sounds ambitious, it is because it is. The plot does a great job weaving in little truths that each of the characters discover so as solve a few questions while raising others. In fact, one of the minor flaws of the movie is doesn’t solve all of the questions it raises by the end. It is only a minor flaw because most of our questions are answered. Fortunately too, the movie doesn’t get too heavy handed with its questions because it has just as equally compelling of a horror/thriller story as a science fiction story.
The palpable dread and atmosphere created by the science fiction questions is extremely well manifested in the horror elements. There are some terrifically executed sequences, including one akin to the alien birth in the first Alien. Also like Alien, the android adds another layer of potential sabotage that permeates throughout the entire movie. Many of these sequences are done with special effects, and for the most part the CGI is not only impressive, it is on par with some of the best CGI in the movies today.
The acting is solid across the board. Rapace’s Shaw provides a strong heroine that Ellen Ripley can be proud to become. The plot focuses around things that Shaw believes, and her slow change from optimism to horror is well executed by Rapace. Her background also shows why she would want to fight back against the forces against her. The rest of the characters, most importantly, are more than just one dimensional archetypes. They make logical decisions as characters and as actors each does a good job of providing depth to what could have been cardboard cutout profiles. Particularly good are Idris Elba, who gives some subtle moments to the captain in limited screen time and Logan Marshall-Green, who provides nice chemistry and counterbalance to Noomi Rapace.
Prometheus is a good enough movie to stand on its own two legs. When weaved into the Alien franchise, it is the best entry since Aliens, and just as ambitious as Alien. Ridley Scott’s first movie had the tagline “In space, no one can hear you scream.” Well from Earth, Mr. Scott, everyone should hear the applause that you deserve for giving us Prometheus. I look forward to your next sci-fi adventure, which I hope I don’t have to wait 30 years for.