Prometheus

Prometheus is an eminently rewatchable film that provides new layers of meaning with each repeat visit. How often does a master filmmaker get to revisit their original oeuvre and recreate an even bigger world around and about it? The myth of the engineers and their world changing experimentation is absolutely romantic, compelling and terrifying at the same time. It hurts even more to see how badly utilized this new mythos was in the follow up Covenant. The true mark of success that Ridley Scott achieved was igniting years of debate around the origin and nature of the engineers and their creations. Deep connections to established historical finds on earth make this origin story even more personal - the myth of alien astronauts, benevolent or cruel giants from the stars with incredible, magical technology - creators and destroyers of worlds. Getting back to the film itself - such gorgeous cinematography and production values. I recently rewatched in 4k format and developed a greater appreciation for small clues hitherto unseen - for example navigation hologram destinations in a reactivated ship of mass destruction. David is himself a conundrum and a polarizing figure. Was his programming to blame, or the algorithmic output of his treatment at the hand of cruel masters. The android is a central theme in the alien mythos, an expression of creation and self awareness. The only criticism I have of Prometheus and the sequel Covenant is the proliferation of human stupidity. Predecessor films did not showcase human hubris and blundering to such a great extent - protagonists always took calculated risks. If anything the buffoonery of crews almost seems to justify their fate and reduces sympathy accordingly. Ridley Scott may still have time to catapult his mythos to legendarium, if his subsequent sequels after Covenant retain purity of spirit with his expanded universe. I for one look forward to seeing more of this wondrous unravelling and exposition.

Prometheus, directed by Ridley Scott, marks a bold return to the universe that once introduced us to the Alien saga - but rather than retracing familiar steps, this film dares to expand the lore in mysterious and unexpected directions.

From the very beginning, the film impresses with a strong cast and exceptional visual design. The cold, desolate environments are nothing short of majestic, especially one breathtaking sequence by a waterfall that sets a powerful tone. The creature and set designs are equally striking - minimalist yet eerie, with a blend of organic and monumental aesthetics that evoke ancient sculpture and alien otherness.

The story itself dives into deep philosophical questions: Where do we come from? What is our purpose? Yet, it does so through the lens of sci-fi suspense and mounting dread. There's a lingering sense of tension and disorientation as the narrative unfolds across an alien world that is both beautiful and terrifying.

One of the film's strongest elements is its atmosphere. Whether exploring ancient cave paintings on Earth or high-tech corridors aboard a spaceship, Prometheus maintains a sleek and immersive visual identity. The use of lighting, camera movement, and sound design enhances the sense of unease and wonder - keeping viewers on edge and engaged.

While the characters vary in emotional depth, the performances are generally strong, with standout moments from key cast members. There are clear thematic parallels to previous films in the franchise, but Prometheus still carves its own path, especially in its exploration of creation, technology, and the ethics of discovery.

That said, the narrative occasionally struggles with cohesion. Timelines, motivations, and scientific logic can feel murky - and some character decisions stretch credibility. The film also seems more interested in opening questions than answering them, which can be either intriguing or frustrating, depending on the viewer.

In the end, Prometheus is a gripping and visually mesmerizing experience. It may not deliver the narrative clarity or emotional depth some might expect, but it excels in building a rich, atmospheric world that invites exploration and speculation. Fans of Ridley Scott's visionary style - and those who enjoy cerebral science fiction - will likely find it a worthwhile journey, even if not a fully satisfying one.

Don't get me wrong. It's gorgeous to look at, and I'm definitely going to go and see it again. It's really impressive.

But... It's stuffed with scenes without any payoff. Again and again it sets stuff up and then just... walks away from it.

In at least one unforgivably stupid scene, someone *literally* just walks away from an antagonist and leaves it there. And then doesn't tell anyone about it. Some of it's really effective. There are some scenes that are absolutely gripping. But so much of it doesn't make any sense...

Having said all that I think it's very clear that what I just saw was Prometheus part 1. It's very definitely supposed to have a sequel and I will certainly go to see the sequel. I think both movies taken together might score a 10.

But this movie by itself doesn't.

I just rewatched Prometheus after watching previously the four Alien movies and I enjoyed more than the first time. The reason is because the extended version of 2 hours 31 minutes it's far better that the theatrical cut. More answers are shown and overall the movie script is better. So, if you want to give it a second chance to this, go for it. You won't regret.

It is hard to say too much about Prometheus without spoiling it. First of all, those expecting to see the original Aliens are not seeing this movie for all the right reasons. Yes, it is part of the Alien universe and set before the first movie, but it doesn't feature those Aliens and instead tells a brand new story of merging the two worlds together.

With Ridley Scott back to directing, Prometheus used the similar setup of making researchers explore an alien world, only this time there is a longer setup and more suspense driven to events unfolding. The ship in this movie is very reminiscent of the one in Alien, although it is different in design and has some new interesting gadgets and pieces of technology we haven't seen before. There's no denying that there are things people will pick up relating to Alien, and I'm really glad they didn't tone down the violence for 12/PG-13 rated audiences. Either way, you can watch Prometheus first before the other Alien movies.

On the acting side of things, I found Michael Fassbender's Android character David to be the standout for the movie. I also liked the protagonist Noomi Rapace and the supporting cast of Logan Marshall-Green, Charlize Theron, and Idris Elba. All strong performances, but perhaps if there's only one small complaint I could think of, is that maybe the supporting characters didn't get enough development time. Thankfully, Scott and the team keep the movie going at a very good pace with emotional depth at the right moments.

Overall, Prometheus on first viewing was what I expected, a movie using it's original base movie Alien as a structure to produce a new story with new characters/lifeforms to lead up to other Alien story lines. It is highly likely the references will become more obvious in sequels to this, but Prometheus manages to bring a story that works as a standalone but also a prequel at the same time, which is good for all viewing audiences, and I think Scott was trying to bring the grisly/dark atmosphere movies of Alien without being too in your face, which I thought was the right direction for this movie.