Prometheus

Year: 2012
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Charlize Theron, Logan Marshall-Green, Guy Pearce


Plot: An expedition to a distant planet to find mankind's origins turns ugly when they discover something more sinister.


Review: Prometheus has been widely anticipated because everyone wants to know whether it's a prequel to Alien or not. The answer is not quite, but it is set in that same universe, especially since the company funding this expedition is the Weyland Corporation, the same one from the Alien films.

Ridley Scott is known for two things as far as his work is concerned: details and great casting. Like most of his previous efforts, he scores on both fronts again here. The amount of detail that went into the construction of the Prometheus spaceship to the planet and its mysterious structure is incredible. It's gorgeous and scary at the same time, looking at the vastness and darkness at every corner. The aliens we eventually see in the film are also impressively done. As a viewer, you could almost feel yourself being in the crew's shoes, experiencing everything they are, being scared and awed all at once.

And of course, there is the great cast. Noomi Rapace acquits herself well here as Shaw, the scientist that leads the expedition. She is different from Ellen Ripley of the Alien films, being far more vulnerable and yet tough as well. Michael Fassbender however is the one who steals the show as the android David, who has a sinister agenda. Fassbender impresses as a character who really seems like the good guy, but probably is the one you shouldn't trust completely. Charlize Theron does better here than Snow White & The Huntsman, playing a cold bitch representing the company. Idris Elba fills the ship captain's role and does so very well indeed. Look out for a near unrecognisable Guy Pearce as Weyland himself.

Basically, Prometheus is a space thriller not unlike the first Alien film Scott made back in 1979. But here, he is more focused on mystery and intrigue rather than straightforward space horror. He paces the film well, never allowing it to remain stagnant for too long and keeping the viewers guessing with what's happening next. But I have to admit, there are still many questions left unanswered, and it feels like there ought to be one more story to be told before they get to the Alien timeline.

I thoroughly enjoyed Prometheus, and am thankful Scott didn't hold back on anything except certain questions left behind. The visuals, the mystery, the gore ( the surgery scene is awesome) all adds up to one hell of a film. (4.5/5)