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Ever since the rumors about director Ridley Scott’s Prometheus started spreading like wildfire, the Internet has been abuzz with speculation about the film’s story—as well as its possible connection to Scott’s beloved sci-fi adventures like Alien and Blade Runner. After seeing it, though, you might still find yourself wondering what it’s all about.
After an important anthropological discovery offers evidence of the other-worldly origins of humanity, Doctors Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Halloway (Logan Marshall-Green) find a wealthy backer who’s willing to fund a mission to a distant planet that may be home to man’s creators.
Run by hard-nosed businesswoman Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) and manned by android David (Michael Fassbender), their ship, Prometheus, eventually lands on the target planet, where the scientists are disappointed to discover that the planet’s former inhabitants are long dead. As they continue to explore, however, they find themselves facing a threat that could kill the crew one by one—and perhaps even destroy the entire human race.
If there’s one thing to be said about Prometheus, it’s that it’s visually stunning. The effects, in fact, are nothing short of breathtaking. But this isn’t the action-packed sci-fi thrill ride that you might expect—at least not for quite a while. Instead, Scott takes audiences through a long and eerie build-up, in which the crew members explore the planet and deal with their disappointment after discovering that there aren’t any Engineers there, just waiting around to chat about the creation of man over a cup of coffee. Of course, things do pick up eventually, but it takes a while to get there—and it takes a rather perplexing path in the process.
Throughout the film, there are several moments that will have you scratching your head and wrinkling your brow. It’s no surprise that some have already started the debate about the various references and philosophies and mythologies used throughout the story—and if that’s your thing, you’re sure to have a field day here. But if you’re just looking for a fun outer-space adventure flick, you’ll probably get a little lost (and frustrated).
Still, even when you have no idea what’s going on, it’s all strangely mesmerizing anyway. The basic story, after all, is a fascinating one. As you watch, you’ll eagerly await the moment when the real action begins—and you’ll be interested to see how it all eventually plays out (especially in relation to Scott’s Alien).
Like many sci-fi flicks, though, Prometheus suffers from one pretty major flaw: the lack of development. The story is surprisingly slim for a two-hour movie—and the characters are little more than shadows. For instance, Theron, who plays it cool (make that cold) as Vickers, gets little or no explanation regarding her character, her presence on the ship, and her particular mission.
Even more frustrating, however, is the lack of story surrounding David, the android. Again, audiences get very little information about his past, his purpose, or his somewhat un-android-like behavior. Instead, we’re just supposed to accept that this suspiciously HAL-like character is just another unremarkable robot—who was built simply because robots are cool—and he’s there because he just happens to be the best guy to man the ship.
Other characters, too, are generally one-note—like Marshall-Green’s Dr. Halloway, who’s arrogant and obnoxious and anything but likeable. Fortunately, though, there’s also Rapace’s Dr. Shaw, a tough heroine who believes in her mission and will do anything to see it through—while protecting those around her in the process. In the world of Scott’s Alien, she’s perfectly Ripley-like—the kind of woman that you’d want on your side during an invasion.
Prometheus is certainly a fascinating outer-space adventure. The premise is intriguing, the heroine is engaging, and the effects alone are enough to make it worth seeing. But the various obscurities and the limited development are sure to frustrate those who prefer movies with a little less confusion and a little more character.
