“Every king has his reign, and then he dies. It’s inevitable.” ~ Meredith Vickers
As Prometheus begins, we are moved, like a bird, through
clouds, over a beautiful landscape—a terrain with rivers and mountains
leveling off to geography that seems too familiar to be alien. The
planet has everything to sustain life as we know it today on Earth—or so
it seems. Could it be Earth? Of course, it could. Is it for sure?
We have no way of knowing…yet. Is it in the present, or is it millions,
or perhaps billions of years in the past or future? There is no way to
tell. Just as we become comfortable with what looks so familiar, we
see the shadow of something large overhead. (Could it be a spaceship?)
A humanoid figure appears, and…suddenly things are no longer anything
we know on Earth.
Next, the year is 2089. Archaeologist couple Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and her boyfriend Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green)
discover a 35,000 year old cave painting dating a full millennium
before other such discoveries. Yes, similar paintings have been found
from cultures spanning thousands of years and thousands of miles apart.
They all show a large human (or so it appears) pointing skyward to the
same place. Could the paintings be a connected? Could they be, as Dr.
Shaw believes, an “invitation”?
The science exploratory vessel
Prometheus, with its crew of 17, emerges from the vastness of space,
somewhere, in what is now the Earth year 2093. After two and a half
years of travel, the Prometheus has finally come within range of
LV-223—a moon orbiting a planet in the solar system depicted in the
paintings of the ancients. Could this moon hold the answers to the
mysteries of our origins? Could it be our salvation? Or, could it hold
the seeds of our destruction?
Within the space of fifteen minutes, Prometheus has introduced its
viewer to no less than three worlds—one that could be Earth (in some
earlier or later time), one that is Earth, and another that is
definitely no world we know. Regardless of the true setting of each, it
is certain that they must all have something crucial in common. What
this is we have yet to know. Or, at best, we have yet to know the clues
to make our best guess. Yes, already, within these first few minutes, Prometheus has done what only the best of science fiction films ever do; it has
created the strongest and most compelling sense of wonder and desire to
know more. Yes, our “disbelief” has been more than temporarily
“suspended.” After three viewing of the movie myself, my disbelief is
still suspended. I’d bet my 1979 Kenner Alien that the humanoid figure I
saw in 3D, next to the waterfall, was really there—or so my memory
tries to tell me.
I could go on and on with this narrative, until I tell you the whole story, but I won’t do that. Prometheus is far too awesome to be ruined by any serious spoilers. So, I’ll only reveal what could be conIsidered at least minor spoilers—necessary only for the purposes of the review. Why will they be even minor? I’ll explain that more later. (I’ll do a piece by piece analysis of Prometheus at another time; my thoughts on Prometheus have only just begun.)
I must admit that Prometheus was, for me, the most wished-for and then highly-anticipated movie in my lifetime—after the 1979 release of Alien. I had the highest hopes that under the skillful, dedicated watch of Sir Ridley Scott
himself, that this movie would preserve and strengthen the integrity of
the iconic story we all know, building the mythos even further. Yes, I
am happy to say that 33 years of waiting finally produced everything I
had hoped for and then topped it with even more. With the largest of
predecessors to measure up to (namely Alien), it did so with
all the stealth and force of its trademark xenomorph. The story is
rich, deep, and thoughtful like the best of science-fiction should be,
giving anyone much to think about long after the movie’s over.
Why
is there so much to think about? If you’re actually asking that
question right now, you probably haven’t seen the movie. You probably
should stop reading this right now, and go see the movie—before I reveal
even so much as a minor spoiler. Yes, Prometheus is one of
those rare movies that can’t even be talked about, in any purposeful
way, without revealing what could be too much. It’s a movie where every
detail and every point for discussion is better seen and heard first on
screen, free from the influence of anything even I may have to say.
Yes, even me!
If you’re still reading, let’s get back on course to our destination—here, the goal of discussing why Prometheus is a movie not to miss. The first major reason is that Prometheus
is a movie for fans in the know as much as it is for the casual movie
watcher who knows nothing of the story. From the moment we get our
first glimpses inside Prometheus (the scientific exploratory vessel
itself) we are treated to visions of welcome nostalgia. The Prometheus
is not some unexplained departure from the style of spaceships like
Nostromo—not a rogue design from another time and place; instead, it is a
welcome and logical predecessor of what we know. It has the
now-classic, interior walls (appearing cushioned with rectangular tiles)
and passageways we’ve seen before—complete with airlocks at various
points along the way. It’s neither too technical nor underdone for its
time; it’s just right. Also, we have that slow buildup of setting
aboard the ship; the camera pans through hallways, taking its time, as
it shows us exactly where we are. Nothing is hurried. Yes, the viewer
is comfortable, from the beginning (especially as a fan), that this is,
indeed, the right place. Of all the different things that someone could
have done, alas Sir Ridley did it right! To use the cliché, he didn't
fix what wasn't broken.
Next, we are introduced to David (Michael Fassbender)—the
latest in Weyland Industries' android technology. He maintains the
ship while the crew is in stasis, waiting for their destination (yes,
just like in the original Alien). Unlike androids after him
(Ash and Bishop), David is more human-like in his ability to be creative
as well as malicious—working for or against his creators. In the end,
is David another Ash? Or, is he more like a neutral Bishop, incapable
of even the concept of harming a human? While I won’t tell you the
answer, I’ll say that the process is, again, logical and satisfying,
fitting well with the Alien plot we know.
The Prometheus crew is another group who are best described as real
people. Like the crew of the Nostromo, the Prometheus crew is exactly
like those you would to find anywhere—whether on a spaceship billions of
miles away or shopping in your local Walmart. Most—with the exception
of Dr. Shaw and Charlie Holloway—are there to earn a paycheck and not
for small talk or forming friendships (again, just like in the original
Alien). Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace), Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green),
on the other hand, have a passion for the mission. As Charlie says,
after arriving on LV-223, “It’s Christmas, and I want to open my
presents!” They are there regardless of the paycheck. David (Michael Fassbender),
as mentioned earlier, is an android, ambiguous in his position as a
threat, protector, maintenance man, or all of the above. Meredith
Vickers (the beautiful Charlize Theron)
is the overbearing woman in charge, asserting more power than she
actually has, ruling mostly by the front she presents. The captain (Idris Elba)
is the perfect space cowboy figure, willing to do whatever it takes to
protect his fellow humans back home—even if it means sacrificing
himself. The elderly Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce) is perfect as the cold, calculating, fatally-selfish billionaire businessman he needs to be. Ford (Kate Dickie), Milburn (Rafe Spall), Fifield (Sean Harris), Chance (Emun Elliot), and Ravel (Benedict Wong) are the standard crewmembers, but far from standard in their performances. As in Alien,
each crewmember, no matter how potentially generic, stands out with a
unique personality, driven by the skill of the actors themselves. Yes,
the acting, all around, is truly outstanding; a ten-rocket, Space Jockey
salute has been launched for that alone!
Speaking of acting, no review of Prometheus could be complete
without a separate paragraph about the stellar performance of Noomi
Rapace as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw. Noomi’s previous fame was mostly grounded
in her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest. Of course, the U.S. remake of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo brought more attention to the originals, and, of course, more attention to Noomi Rapace. However, Noomi’s performance in Prometheus
has given her a well-deserved, permanent place on the pedestal of
iconic movie characters. Is Elizabeth (under Noomi’s acting skill) just
a character? Or, is she perhaps another sci-fi movie heroine, rivaling
even her counterpart in another time—yes, even Ellen Ripley?
Oh, and let's not forgot to go back and stress the importance of the
acting talents of Charlize Theron (as Meredith Vickers) and Michael
Fassbender (as David). Without the stellar performances of these two
seasoned professionals, I'm not sure where Prometheus would be
on the rocket meter today—even with all else it has going for it. They
were truly perfect in their roles, giving the movie an impact it could
not have achieved otherwise. Charlize Theron is the paragon of a
fully-in charge wannabe, insecure knowing she's not, with all the
necessary ability to put up an effective façade; the fascist force of
her performance is almost robotic, actually giving the captain, Janek,
(Idris Elba) cause, if not for other reasons :), to acuse her of being
an android. (He actually gets quite a treat for voicing this suspicion,
as well.) Michael Fassbender (as David) is, quite simply, the perfect
android. First, his natural appearance and features are exactly as ideal
as anyone would expect for an android. He also perfectly portrays
David as apathetic, yet empathetic in an eerie but comforting way, as
only his expert talents could do—and as anyone would expect an android
to be. I cannot think of another actor who could have played the part
as well. Fassbender's performance as David offered many of the movie's
brightest highlights, and his character was, by far, the most compelling
and interesting to watch.
How are the special effects? They are simply out-of-this-world
awesome! (Yes, the "out-of-this world" metaphor works appropriately and
accurately here, for sure!) Everything was real enough that I, for
one, felt like I was there—all three times (and counting) that I’ve seen
the movie so far. Oh, and don’t even think about seeing Prometheus in 2D. Lose the budget for a day, and shell out the extra few bucks to see this one in not just 3D, but IMAX 3D! Prometheus
was made for 3D, and every little bit of it shows! The scene with
David in the pilot’s deck of the alien ship interacting with holograms
is enough of a reason to go 3D. There’s nothing like being able to
reach out and grab a few of those planets that float past your head in
the theater. Oh, and there are lots of other reasons for 3D, but I’d
have to tell you too many details to talk about it. Normally, I don’t
make sure recommendations that make you spend more money, but I will
here. Spend the extra money!
“What about the sound?” Well, let’s just say that my seat vibrated in
the theater as the Prometheus landed. It was the closest thing to being
there, other than well…being there. While those thrusters pounded the
ground and the engine roared for the landing, I was feeling like I
needed to get out of my seat to make room—and keep from being blown
away! Awesome, Sir Scott! Awesome!
“What about the action, drama, and edge-of-your seat suspense—is there
plenty of it?” you say. Dr. Shaw’s experience (or should I say
nerve-shredding trauma) in the surgery machine alone is enough to say
“Hell yes!” to the first question. Could this scene rival the famous
chestbursting scene in the original Alien? I'd say it at least
comes in a close second. The surgery was bad enough; but being trapped
in a sealed pod with a kicking, screaming xenomorph is double, triple,
or even quadruple bad! Here, David's Peter O'Toole quote from Lawrence of Arabia comes back to mind, at least in how difficult it is to really do it—“The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts.” Yeah, right!
Other instances of body-violating trauma only add more icing to the
cake. (Yes, only in an Alien film could you say that, and not sound
demented.) If this movie doesn’t get your adrenaline pumping, check
your pulse; you’re probably dead. “Is it easy enough for a non-Alien geek like me (no not actually me, of course) to enjoy Prometheus?” Absolutely yes! Alien
lovers in the know (as well as couples without an alien on the agenda)
will be anywhere from enlightened to entertained—whichever is preferred
or possible. Melting space helmets, molecular acid, and worms in the
eyes (yes, you read that right) are just a few of the things to keep
your heart rate up for more than two hours, for sure!
“Oh, and what’s this Prometheus title have to do with it all?”
That makes, I think, one of the more mysterious and obvious of
metaphors. In case you don’t know, Prometheus was the Greek god who
first created humans by molding them out of clay; he later also stole
fire from the gods, giving it to humans—an act enabling progress and
civilization. For these crimes, Prometheus was punished most severely.
Now, by telling you that, I’ve likely revealed nothing, and…more
likely…created even more curiosity. That’s good! I’ll leave it there!
But, like Elizabeth below, be careful looking for answers!
One of the major things I love about Prometheus (from an Alien
geek’s perspective) is seen as the ship approaches the surface of
LV-223—the alien planet (or moon, as it is). The dome-shaped structures
on the planet are a sight to behold. True lovers of the original H.R.
Giger concept art (for Alien) will make no mistake in
recognizing these. They are none other than the “Egg Silos,” as seen in
the Giger’s surrealistic designs for the 1979 classic. Also everywhere
are Giger’s trademark biomechanical designs—lifeforms and structures
fusing organic and mechanical elements into dark and dangerous, but
oddly beautiful surrealism. In Prometheus, Giger’s art comes
to life as well as ever before. Oh, and how refreshing this is for me—a
true and dedicated fan—to see the story, after 30 years, getting back
to its origins! Yes, the Prometheus has landed, and Giger is onboard!
Another of the countless things I like about Prometheus is the
course of action by the crew, after the ship lands on LV-223. In the
spirit of the original, and in the style of 50’s sci-fi, the crew wastes
no time in suiting up to go out and face the frontier ahead. Complete
with bubble-helmeted space suits and lofty expectations, they explore
without even the thought of needing a weapon—except for that one
stubborn wise guy, packing force no matter what the others say. Yes,
there’s always one in every group, whether or not it ever really
matters.
"What do they find, once on the alien world?" Ah, now that’s where I
have to start creating my own plot holes. Let’s just say that it’s a
nonstop adventure/thriller/sci-fi spectacle to rival the best of
anything you’ve seen before. Will there be aliens? Will there be
facehuggers that violate your body, gestating within you, before they
burst forth, discarding your body, leaving you wasted, mutilated, and
dead? Who are the “Engineers,” and where did they come from? What's
that big face statue? Do they worship a god as well? Will there be
Space Jockeys (not from Space Jockey Reviews, of course :)) in the
cockpits of not-yet derelict ships, ready to unleash their cargo on
other worlds—perhaps even our own? I could go on and on with more
questions than you’ll ever imagine—that is, until you’ve seen the
movie! I could even attempt to answer some of these questions, based on
what I've seen, but I won't—at least not in this review. Yes, there’s a
lot more I could talk about here; I could go on for pages and pages,
nearly depleting my website’s inode limits, and still not be done.
There’s just that much to talk about! However, I I’ve decided to save
that for another time, sparing everyone the thrill that awaits them in a
theater (or should I say spaceship) nearby.
A final obvious question relates to the original. Is Prometheus as good (or, I should say, as awesome) as its predecessor—Alien?
No. However, before you consider that an insult or point of criticism,
let me remind you that I never expected that it would be. The original
Alien is my all-time favorite movie. Nothing can touch it in
its perfection—in all the ways it did everything just right. The
suspense, originality, special effects, acting, characters, on and on
were beyond comparison. But, that's not to say that others—such as Prometheus—cannot still be awesome.
Yes, Prometheus is, even in competition with Alien,
an awesome movie all around; even the word “awesome,” for me, doesn’t
quite give it full credit. (I’d almost need to invent better, perhaps
more alien words to describe Prometheus and Alien.) In the end, one of the greatest, most awesome things about Prometheus
is that it didn’t answer all of the questions; better yet, it posed
even more questions. Director Ridley Scott, I believe, realized that
the uniqueness of Alien (1979) was based largely in the
mysteries it left behind—all of the tidbits of clues and mountains of
questions it left for us to think about, talk about, and wonder about
for decades thereafter. I am one of those lucky fans who began
wondering all those years ago; today, I am one of those fans who happily
wonders still.
Starring Noomi Rapace, Charlize
Theron, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan
Marshall-Green, Sean Harris, Rafe Spall, Emun Elliot, Benedict Wong,
Kate Dickie, Patrick Wilson, and Lucy Hutchinson, Directed by Ridley Scott, Produced by Ridley Scott and Tony Scott, Cinematography by Dariusz Wolski, Original Music by Mark Streitenfeld, Edited by Pietro Scalia, Casting by Nina Gold and Avy Kaufman, Production Design by Arthur Max
