mtiller12

Disappointed is an understatement here. As noted in several other reviews the visuals are fantastic but the script itself is an absolute mess.

Yes Fassbender is great as David but that alone does not save this film. The rest of the cast aren't so great although its difficult to blame them considering how little they are given to work with. The majority of the crew are underdeveloped, two dimensional and at times down right unlikable. As I found myself hating the majority of the characters I never once cared for their well being which led to a complete lack of tension or interest. Some of the dialogue is so poor that I actually laughed and the 'twists' are predictable and presented in melodramatic fashion.

The themes and concepts are also underdeveloped with the majority of questions going unanswered. Prometheus attempts to cover too much in a short amount of time without ever really committing to anything. Ideas of faith and motherhood appear to be thrown in to give the appearance of depth that just isn't there. Although you have to admire the film for attempting to deal with these ideas in a summer blockbuster context it just does not work.

The thing i hated the most is the ending which is insulting and a desperate attempt to appeal to the fans. A really bad apology for the mess of a film that came before. Prometheus is a flat and uninvolving picture that never achieves the tension or excitement suggested by the trailers. Its sole purpose appears to be setting up a new franchise and is so committed to this that it fails to be a self sufficient film. Despite Mr Scotts attempts to distance the film from the Alien series it is absolutely reliant on that franchise to keep the audience even remotely interested and looks set to be even more reliant on sequels to justify its existence.

"The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" was Sergio Leone's third film in the Dollar trilogy and is easily the best. Taking place around the Civil War, the film revolves around three men, The Good in Blondie (Clint Eastwood), The Bad in Angel Eyes (Lee Van Cleef) and The Ugly in Tuco (Eli Wallach). All three men have knowledge about a grave of gold and the uneasy alliances formed to achieve their goal in retrieving the cash is what the film is about. "Once Upon a Time in the West" is sometimes touted as the pinacle in Leone's career but this film is where he will be remembered. Nearly every scene in this film is a classic and defines everything about Leone's skills, talents and his style of directing and story telling. Cinematography is excellent with gritty locations and vast green landscapes capturing the screen. Performances are perfect with Wallach leading the way, playing a character who is not just the film's comic point but a complete character and not just someone to laugh at to loosen tension. Eastwood's Man With No Name (he adopts Blondie) shows new depth to his acting and his delivery never falters, playing a character now iconic. Lastly Van Cleef plays Angel Eyes in one of the best villain turns in history. Memorable, slick and chilling he is a person you struggle to hold your nerve around, Cleef holds the character together and with little screen time shows what an effect he can have on an audience. Characters in a Leone film are people you will never forget, lines, stances, the eyes. Characters very core are not left exposed and stay with you. Morricone is genius in music and his most memorable score is here, I think "Once Upon a Time in America" is his best score but this is his most unforgettable and has the greatest theme in any picture. Morricone is a man on par with Leone for excellence and does the film credit. Now onto the greatest achievment, the directing. Sergio Leone made in total about seven films, this stands as his best in his field. Some directors take in favour style over substance or vice versa, Leone takes both into maximum consideration and is why his films are unique. What you see is as important as what you hear, this applies to viewers who dislike his observing technique. Leone respects the viewer and entices them in every scene to be a part of the action on screen. "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" has that great quality, the acting is perfect, the writing is perfect, the cinematography, sets, sound, editing and directing I can honestly say this film does not lack and is cinimatically perfect.

Groundhog Day is the best comedy of the 90's and I feel was overlooked at the Oscars in a way. The story is that of Phil Connors (Bill Murray) who has arrived in a small town to cover the Groundhog festival with his producer Rita (Andie McDowell) and camera man Larry (Chris Elliot). But when he must stay in the town for the night, he wakes up at in the previous day and it does so, again and again. This movie has the ultimate gag of all time with the concept of living a day for the rest of your life, it is used with great effect and Harold Ramis the director sets up very neat scenarios and does a time warp of the situations he is in but in different days. Bill Murray is in his prime here and Phil Connors is one of his best characters and his portrayl deserved perhaps a nomination, if Kline got one for A Fish Called Wanda then Murray should have recieved one. The sarcasm of Phil is great and the first cover of the festival is some of the most funny sarcasm I have ever seen. It is a shame that Murray doesn't sometimes write his characters dialogue, because he can handle the use of sarcasm to the best comedic possibilities. There is one scene in the movie which he improvised, Ned comes up to him and instead of being a wise ass he hugs him, Ned is shaken and while hugging, Murray comes up with... "I don't know where you're heading, but, can you call in work sick." Ned obliges politley and runs away, Murray is right on par here in some of his best work. McDowell and Elliot are good too providing solid support but the movie truly belongs to Murray. The two category's this should have been nominated for at the Academy was Best Screenplay and Best Actor, overlooked without a doubt. This film is a very intelligent film, it has such spiritual foundations that it is feel good and also you come away with something new to your life. If you want an intelligent, romantic, fun, hilarious movie, with the best Bill Murray sarcasm, than watch Groundhog Day. When you watch you will want to watch it again, and again, and again...