Prospect

Modern science fiction films are, mostly, not really science fiction at all. Most of it is really space-fantasy, with laser cannons, explosions, space craft zipping around, fantastic monsters/aliens, etc. None of that is found in "Prospect." This film is grounded in a gritty reality that is extremely believable, more so than in any science fiction film I can remember seeing. In the novel world, stories that stick to some semblance of known scientific fact are known as "hard" sci-fi. Now, to be fair, there isn't a lot of science on display in "Prospect" - it's mostly action, but I will take what I can get! In case you can't tell, I've very much in favour of there being more films like this out there.

I very grudgingly rate this a 7 instead of an 8 or higher mostly for technical / production reasons, that are perhaps in turn due to budget compromises. Special effects, music, and perhaps a bit of the acting was a little b-movie at times. But I quickly got over it and was sucked into the story.

Also Star Wars writers take note: the main female character "Cee" is someone that the audience really roots for by the end of the film. Why? Because instead of being all knowing and all powerful right from the start, her character develops. Some of the characterization was a little lean, and I felt another 10 minutes of screen time devoted to fleshing out the father would have really helped the film, but these are minor nitpicks. Give us more films like this, please!

Simple, believable, and without unnecessary fluff, the story draws you into this young girls challenges while coming of age. As if reading an early science fiction short, you are provided just enough information to move the story along, and are left to your imagination to characterize the individuals and draw your own moral implications from their actions. In this age of high budget, force fed conclusions and extravagant special effects....some trust has been placed in the audience. I like that.

As you can see by the reviews posted so far, this little gem polarises the audience.

One share of the Reviews is 7-10, the other 1-3. Almost nothing in between.

Probably this his to to with the expections.

Well, if you're looking for some fast-paced space battle pew pew laser action this isn't the movie you want to watch. This isn't a movie about aliens or about high-tech spacecraft. It's a movie about a few people in a difficult situation.

Made using simple means but with love to the detail. Retro in the best sense. Slow but thrilling. Good acting.

To give away too much of the plot would be a shame. So just watch and enjoy. (Or don't watch if you only like movies with tons of explosions and lengthy chases.)

A minimalist sci-fi film, you're just thrown into it without an introduction to this future's world, but it isn't complicated so you catch on. Follows a girl and her dad. Not a lot of special effects, but even with the low budget it still had some beautiful scenery. Space and planets don't seem so alien like so it has familiar feel to it, even the technology doesn't seem far off. It feels like what would've happened if we properly figured out space travel in the 80's especially when you look at the marred tech; Space X has fancier ships just for a quick run to orbit present-day. It's not story or plot heavy but has good narration to keep you interested, wouldn't say it's slow paced but it's in no rush; could've easily been 30min longer or shorter.

Reminds me of a more recent movie, Vesper. They both tell a story of no consequence, based in a vast universe but focusing on only a small part of it. The events that occur, good or bad, won't change anything in the grand scheme of things so stakes are high only for the characters the story focuses on. Usually a story that would be a side plot, filler episode in a sci-fi series, or one off movie in an already established franchise. In a way the premise also reminds me of Gold.

It's definitely not a movie for everyone, especially those who look for the grandiose when it comes to sci-fi. It won't blow your mind away, doesn't leave a huge impression but I still think it's a nice, very little indie sci-fi film.

I found this movie to be a true diamond in the rough, though I had zero knowledge of it prior to seeing it so I wasn't expecting anything one way or the other. I'd definitely recommend everyone experiencing this film the same way, because I can see how it might create unreasonable or inaccurate expectations.

It's a slow burner. Which plays very, very well into the suspenseful undertones. You wont see much in the way of flashy FX or over-the-top action typical in your average Hollywood films. You will, however, be greeted with a well-paced movie that doesn't trip over itself or try to barrage you with a deluge of lore. And you'll also be greeted with solid acting coupled with an intriguing setting. It's also very easy on the eyes, I absolutely loved the color filtering they applied. It's not overpowering but is just 'off-center' enough to stoke that otherworldly feel.

I've seen an absurd number of films. The great ones in my mind are the ones that have stood out, the ones I still remember, the ones I'd be more than happy to watch again. This is one of those films.