Movie Review: Prometheus

Director Ridley Scott is known for many things in the world of entertainment, but his greatest mark is on the world of science fiction. Known for such classics as Alien and Blade Runner, he returns after a long time away to his specialty in the feature film Prometheus. I attended a recent screening at the IMAX theater in Jordan's Furniture of Natick, and wanted to briefly share my thoughts on the experience.

The story, set in the near future, is fairly straight-forward—a couple of archeologists/scientists (played by Noomi Rapace and Logan Marshall Green) find a number of identical cave markings that originated from different geographic locations and time periods of humanity. They believe that these discoveries are actually a map to those that created humans. A mysterious company gets on board with their findings, and funds a multi-billion dollar expedition for the spaceship Prometheus to take a crew deep into space, hoping to answer the age-old question “where did we come from?”

Without spoiling anything, it's fairly obvious if you've seen any advertising for this film that this mission does not go off without a hitch. Getting to the faraway planet is simple, surviving there is another story.

The film is strongest when it is relying on it's actors and it's visuals. This is one of the rare cases where paying to see it in 3D is totally worth the surcharge. Charlize Theron is also brilliant and creepy as the mission leader who has a few secrets of her own. Where the film stumbles a bit is in originality. While I was captivated from beginning to end (which is to be commended), I kept waiting for greater plot revelations. Maybe Ridley Scott was afraid of offending any one religious group, but every time this movie approached a great thematic discussion, it quickly retrieved back into standard summer movie action fare. It's top notch summer movie action fare, but just not exactly what I was hoping for from this director in this movie. I also found it a little preposterous that when the spaceship enters the atmosphere of this faraway planet for the first time, it takes just a couple of minutes to find exactly what they (think they?) are looking for.

That being said, it's still worth seeing, especially in an IMAX theater. I was so impressed with the sound system and seats at the Jordan's theater, it is totally worth the extra twenty minute drive to Natick. And the price is actually cheaper than other theaters - $10 for a 3D matinee ticket! Prometheus is certainly worth that price.

As far as the content goes, this is one of the cleanest R rated movies I've seen. The last hour does have a lot of action style violence (including one very disturbing surgery scene), but avoids gratuitous sex and excessive harsh profanity. I personally think those 13 and up could handle this film, but of course, that is a family to family decision.

All in all, I am glad I took the trip on Prometheus and would recommend it overall. I would give it a 7 out of 10 if you see it in 3D, probably a 6 without, and it might not play well at all if you wait for DVD.

Did you see it? What did you think? Let me know in the comments.