“Newly familiar” would be the oxymoronic phrase I would use to describe the exciting new movie, Prometheus. The film feels like the old school science fiction/horror movies we love, but still individualizes itself enough to stand alone, with only minor issues.
Consider, for a moment, the classics of this genre. Predator. The Thing. And of course, the film to which Prometheus is a kind-of prequel: Alien.
Consider, for a moment, the classics of this genre. Predator. The Thing. And of course, the film to which Prometheus is a kind-of prequel: Alien.
There’s a formula to these films that works. A minimalist approach, which never reveals too much too soon. A menace unknown, creating a mounting tension in the film that threatens to break even the bravest of viewers. Prometheus develops a similar atmosphere.
There were multiple times in the film, and one scene in particular, when I looked around the theater for assurance that I wasn’t the only one with gasped breath, knuckles white from gripping the armrests. I wasn’t. You know you’ve engaged an audience when they want to cover their eyes, but peer through their fingers anyways, because they so strongly want to know what happens.
The plot, too, is familiar. A space team, questioning if humanity may have originated in the stars, slowly begins to realize, as casualties mount and the size of their party dwindles, that they are in danger from alien life. The members of the space team are those we have come to expect: an eager scientist, a mysterious A.I. robot, a daring captain, and a calculating business executive. All the ingredients for a classic are there.
There were multiple times in the film, and one scene in particular, when I looked around the theater for assurance that I wasn’t the only one with gasped breath, knuckles white from gripping the armrests. I wasn’t. You know you’ve engaged an audience when they want to cover their eyes, but peer through their fingers anyways, because they so strongly want to know what happens.
The plot, too, is familiar. A space team, questioning if humanity may have originated in the stars, slowly begins to realize, as casualties mount and the size of their party dwindles, that they are in danger from alien life. The members of the space team are those we have come to expect: an eager scientist, a mysterious A.I. robot, a daring captain, and a calculating business executive. All the ingredients for a classic are there.
Yet, Prometheus is much more than a rehash of old movies. Visually, it is able to accomplish more than those films ever could. Yes, that is largely a product of advanced technology, but there are also the performances. Compelling turns from Michael Fassbender (X-Men: First Class), Noomi Rapace (Sherlock Holmes 2), and Charlize Theron (Snow White and the Huntsman) are riveting to watch. Each character is markedly different and on their own unique path in the story.
Thematically, Prometheus also digs much deeper into the heart of humanity’s convictions and insecurities about our own origins and mortality than any other recent film I can think of. The movie manages to be deep and thought-provoking, without being pompously in-your-face with its philosophizing. The journey of Rapace’s character epitomizes this inner-turmoil we all face. How much adversity can her faith overcome?
It seems many critics are attacking the film’s ending for being too vague; for not answering in the third act, the grand questions it introduced and pondered in the first and second acts. Except that the film did answer those questions, just not perhaps in the way the critics wanted it to. They wanted Prometheus to give them the answers, when the whole message of the film is that truth is a choice (something I myself contemplated on the blog a while back).
Director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien) is a talented director and stylistically creates a unique environment for Prometheus. This is especially important since 99% of the film takes place either on the ship or in a cave. The film establishes a careful balance for the setting and the creatures encountered, so that they can be viewed and understood in this film alone, but also, for those who are familiar with the series, as part of the Alien universe. If you’ve never seen an Alien movie in your life, shame on you, but you should still understand and enjoy Prometheus just fine. Alien fans will just enjoy it a little more.
The main issue I take with the film is that, while it does create and build tension, the threat does not come from one source (a Predator, or an Alien, or a Thing), but rather from a number of sources, none of which ever really take center stage. There is tension, since every situation could unexpectedly become deadly, but it is an unfocused tension. The audience doesn’t know what to be afraid of. Everything? No, we should be able to identify one major threat above all others, one primary obstacle to fear and ultimately overcome. But Prometheus never truly gives us that ultimate adversary.
Two other, small issues are (1) the fact that they hired Guy Pearce (Memento), a young guy, to play an old man. There was no reason to not hire an older actor and I thought the make-up and prosthetics really stood out in an otherwise visually seamless film. And (2) the last scene of the film completely disrupted the balance struck in the rest of the movie between being a stand-alone film and being a part of the Alien franchise. I absolutely hated the last 60 seconds. It was totally unnecessary and not a good way to end the film.
Yet, overall Prometheus is a thrilling movie, with gripping action and fascinating character moments. It builds off of science fiction/horror history, but takes the genre in new directions. Prometheus is “newly familiar.” Only time (and probably a couple more viewings) will tell if it simply put together all the right pieces from old films to trick us into thinking it was original, or if it truly is the classic it feels like. My guess is the latter.
The Final Word: Go buy a ticket.
Thematically, Prometheus also digs much deeper into the heart of humanity’s convictions and insecurities about our own origins and mortality than any other recent film I can think of. The movie manages to be deep and thought-provoking, without being pompously in-your-face with its philosophizing. The journey of Rapace’s character epitomizes this inner-turmoil we all face. How much adversity can her faith overcome?
It seems many critics are attacking the film’s ending for being too vague; for not answering in the third act, the grand questions it introduced and pondered in the first and second acts. Except that the film did answer those questions, just not perhaps in the way the critics wanted it to. They wanted Prometheus to give them the answers, when the whole message of the film is that truth is a choice (something I myself contemplated on the blog a while back).
Director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Alien) is a talented director and stylistically creates a unique environment for Prometheus. This is especially important since 99% of the film takes place either on the ship or in a cave. The film establishes a careful balance for the setting and the creatures encountered, so that they can be viewed and understood in this film alone, but also, for those who are familiar with the series, as part of the Alien universe. If you’ve never seen an Alien movie in your life, shame on you, but you should still understand and enjoy Prometheus just fine. Alien fans will just enjoy it a little more.
The main issue I take with the film is that, while it does create and build tension, the threat does not come from one source (a Predator, or an Alien, or a Thing), but rather from a number of sources, none of which ever really take center stage. There is tension, since every situation could unexpectedly become deadly, but it is an unfocused tension. The audience doesn’t know what to be afraid of. Everything? No, we should be able to identify one major threat above all others, one primary obstacle to fear and ultimately overcome. But Prometheus never truly gives us that ultimate adversary.
Two other, small issues are (1) the fact that they hired Guy Pearce (Memento), a young guy, to play an old man. There was no reason to not hire an older actor and I thought the make-up and prosthetics really stood out in an otherwise visually seamless film. And (2) the last scene of the film completely disrupted the balance struck in the rest of the movie between being a stand-alone film and being a part of the Alien franchise. I absolutely hated the last 60 seconds. It was totally unnecessary and not a good way to end the film.
Yet, overall Prometheus is a thrilling movie, with gripping action and fascinating character moments. It builds off of science fiction/horror history, but takes the genre in new directions. Prometheus is “newly familiar.” Only time (and probably a couple more viewings) will tell if it simply put together all the right pieces from old films to trick us into thinking it was original, or if it truly is the classic it feels like. My guess is the latter.
The Final Word: Go buy a ticket.
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