Prometheus

So I took myself off to see Prometheus recently to kill a couple of hours. Ever since this film was announced early in 2011 I’ve kept it on my radar and permanently attached to my “to do” list for June 2012.
My hopes were high as all of the trailers and viral videos for the film that had been sent out to the interweb had been disturbingly good. These seemed to have totally captured the essence of the “Alien” franchise and were very much in keeping with the Haunted House in space feeling the first film had over thirty years ago.  But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. The first big question that needs to be addressed is does this film even qualify as an “Alien” prequel?
Both Twentieth Century Fox and its director have been very cagey and reluctant to go on record saying that it was a prequel. The most committal statement that could be gleaned from the man with the megaphone was that “It takes place in the same universe as Alien”.
Well I am pleased to report that the film does indeed grab the prequel moniker with both hands and runs with it, quite literally in some places.

The story of Prometheus at its heart is simple. People find map. People follow map. Map leads to danger. The map in question comes in the form of an ancient pictogram (just think early A to Z star charts and you wouldn’t be too wide of the mark). One of many that has been found around the world, all showing the same image. These other images come from various other cultures that seemingly had no prior contact with each other but nonetheless all show the same thing. The people in question, Noomi Rapace and Logan Marshall-Green, then convince a passing Trillionaire, Guy Pearce, that he should send an expedition off into deep space to find whoever or whatever left these illustrations dotted all over the place.

Jumping forward two and a bit years the explorers awaken from stasis on a ship, the aforementioned Prometheus, to find themselves surrounded by a very odd group that seems to have been put together for no other reason than someone wanted to try and break the world record for a team self-destructing in under thirty six hours. 
This motley crew is a very eclectic bunch and also has the odd stereotype thrown in for good measure. Who’d of thought that a deep space mission set to discover the origins of mankind would have required an angry Scotsman with a mohican and head tattoo’s. Maybe someone should drop NASA a line and let them know that in order for the International Space Station to be a success they should start advertising in Job Centres north of Hadrian ’s Wall. 
The saving grace in this group and possibly the entire film has to be David, played by Michael Fassbender. His performance as the company android is chilling and played with emotional detachment of a serial killer. His line “Big things have small beginnings” is delivered in a very unsettling but calm way. David never shouts, raises his voice or becomes angry but trust me when I tell you this. You wouldn’t want him as your babysitter. 

Prometheus marks the now “Sir” Ridley Scott’s return into the Sci Fi genre for the first time in thirty years, having previously made the now uber classics Alien and Blade Runner. This third film could be regarded as him completing his hat trick however without Fassbender this motion picture could well be regarded as an own goal.
Although in many ways this is unfair towards Scott. Most people, myself included, went into this film carrying a lot of Alien “baggage” with them. Sir Ridley was never going to be able to please of the people all of the time.  That said the film does have some spectacular visuals and a few twists and turns that should keep the viewing audience guessing.

My problem and main disappointment with the film is the last twenty minutes. If you’re yet to see this film my advice would be take a stop watch and leave at around the 105 minute mark if you want your memory of this film to be a happy one.
Up until then it is a tight, compact and well written film and genuinely does hold your interest and at times has you on the edge of your seat. However for some reason the last twenty minutes of script and plot seems to have been handed over to a department at Fox that must used the “roll a six to start” method for getting things done.  It really is that bad that as and when the film is released on Blu ray & DVD I may just go through the last part of the movie frame by frame to see if the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse do actually appear in it briefly.

I’ll finish by saying this. Do go and see this film. Make sure you watch Alien before you do as you will get more from it but please don’t go in expecting a masterpiece. It does have some great brush strokes and texture but wouldn’t look out of place in a finger painting gallery either.

Twitter Review:
Rolling over a few feet will save you from a falling spaceship. Running in a straight line will not. Prometheus needs work.
#Disappointed

Useful links:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1446714/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIJeQNyZ6VE&feature=relmfu
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GROrp3XBRrE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWmbqH_z7jM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9PNTIZeJzY&feature=relmfu