Freelance writer. Melbourne based cinephile. Fond of food.
Event: -
33 years after thrilling audiences with Alien, Ridley Scott returns to the franchise - kind of.
Prometheus owes a debt to its predecessor in several ways. Alien revolutionised the look of sci-fi films, showing a grimy, bleak future that departed from the shiny, sleek world of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Star Wars. Prometheus shares that design DNA, as well as other obvious connections, like the Aliens themselves, a spaceship of humans in over their heads, and an android crew member, this time played by Michael Fassbender, looking like David Bowie's robot son.
The first 90 minutes is highly satisfying. There's tension, characters that bristle against each other, hidden agendas, subterfuge, and all this before the menace of what's outside the ship begins to make its presence felt.
A cosmopolitan cast provides humour and drama and is by no means overshadowed by the stunning visual effects. Its curious though that Guy Pearce should portray such an elderly man. Surely they could've saved on the latex and used a real old-timer. Peter O'Toole would've been perfect considering the Lawrence of Arabia references.
Sadly, the film's virtues are undone in the final half hour, which delivers an overblown and ridiculous denouement. Its a real shame.
Ultimately there's enough here to recommend Prometheus. For the most part its dazzling, suspenseful and a wee bit scary. Maybe Scott can do one of his famous Director's Cuts and give us an alternative ending.
Why? The first 90 minutes is highly satisfying. There's tension, characters that bristle against each other, hidden agendas, subterfuge, and all this before the menace of what's outside the ship begins to make its presence felt.
