While the film was two hours of solid visual eye candy, and boasted some of the best unobtrusive 3D I have ever seen on the big screen, it left much to be desired when it came to  more questions than providing answers to the them regarding the mysteries the script unearthed. It’s great that we will have the bonus features to some light shed on certain things like more of the who and what of the Engineers’ back story, and perhaps some extra tidbits on the Xenomorphs role in things, but foremost these things should be seen in the theater to make the film as strong as possible and to stand on its own if a sequel never arrives.

I’ll make no bones about  it, I will be first in line to Prometheus 2. Ridley Scott and company did a fine job of making good on the promise that any logistical follow up to Prometheus would not be 1979’s Alien, but rather another chapter that furthers along the new story they set up, which runs parallel to the exploits of Ellen Ripley. However, as a stand-alone film, Prometheus leaves way too much unanswered regarding the core issues that demand explanation for the theater going audience to leave satisfied. They may have just as well stuck an end credits title card informing us that if the theatrical cut wasn’t satisfactory, we just need wait a few months for the Blu-ray for a little more, and then join together in prayer for a sequel for all the remaining answers.

While extras on the Blu-ray are both welcome and awesome, it’s just unfortunate that they had answers waiting in the wings the whole time for a post release epilogue, instead of making the theatrical version as coherent as it could be and to stand better on its own. It would have been pretty disheartening a few months ago to have the cast and filmmakers deflect questions while promoting the film with “Yes, there is an answer to that. But it will not be in the film, but rather on the Blu-ray bonus disc.”

Bryan Singer had grand plans for the sequel to 2006’s Superman Returns centered on Brainiac and the unpopular Super-Kid offspring of Kal-El and Lois Lane. But perhaps by putting too many eggs in the basket assuming he had a second film to make all the threads pay off, it weakened its position as a self-contained story. That train of thought allows less focus on delivering a stand alone film than one that has the benefit of one or two sequels to flesh out its grand scheme.To much surprise at the time, Superman Returns was not the super blockbuster it was hoped for, (a sad state of the union when making over $391million worldwide doesn’t warrant a follow up), and Warner Bros. went with another reboot over a sequel.

When Prometheus is released tomorrow for home viewing, we will have the chance to see exactly how much was left on the cutting room floor, and whether some of it would have been better served left in to flesh out the film more. But I’d rather have less questions and more answers in a theatrical cut than to have them left over for Blu-ray special features.

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Scott, who directed classics including Alien, Blade Runner, Legend, and Gladiator, has unleashed upon audiences a slick high concept sci-fi thriller, and with no if’s and’s or but’s is firmly grounded in the same Alien universe that he introduced us to in 1979. As for the burning question of how the hell does it connect to the Alien series? Well, ”big things have small beginnings,” says Michael Fassbender as the android David. But more on that and him later.

Following a breathtaking 3D pre-‘Dawn Of Man’ prologue of a doomed alien humanoid bestowing Earth with the gift of DNA (whether its an intentional gift of life or not is the first of many questions), we jump thousands of years into the future and are are introduced to Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Dr. Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green). The pair are archeologists who discover similar ancient cave paintings all over the world which point them to the stars on a quest to the possible home planet of our ‘creators.’

On the Prometheus, a trillion dollar space vessel funded and owned by Weyland Industries (remember “The Company” in Aliens?), Shaw and Holloway travel to LV-223  (not to be confused with LV-426, the barren planet seen in Alien & Aliens) along with bitch-in-space corporate suit Merideth Vickers (Charlize Theron), android David (Fassbender), gruff ship pilot Janek (Idris Elba), and a bunch of nameless other crew members along for the ride who will make many qualified piss poor decisions throughout the journey.

Once there, they discover a strange alien temple of sorts, things are quickly deemed as not quite what they hoped for, and all hell breaks loose the closer they get to uncovering the true nature of man’s origins. Deadly creatures. Check. Dark creepy corridors. Check. Squirm worthy horror moments. Check. Intriguing sci-fi concepts. Without question.

As a stand alone concept, Prometheus moves along swimmingly for the first hour while waving a tense and constant “what happens next?” flag. But as grand as the concept of discovering “God” is (Shaw wears a cross to remind us of the Heavenly higher beings), and finding the answers to questions like “Why are we here?”, can there ever be a satisfying answer to these mysteries?

Prometheus will offer a different experience for those expecting and seeking that Alien tie-in and those for whom all the references and familiar bio-mechanical H.R. Giger xenomorph imagery just fly right over their heads. But among the many high brow concepts of creation and how mankind fits into the grand scheme of things in the universe, the film starts to lose focus when its limited by the plot points it needs to hit by warming up the seat for Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley and the crew of the Nostromo.

Michael Fassbender plays the calculating android David in a standout performance. The presence of a robotic character is of no surprise here. Ian Holm, Lance Henriksen, and Winona Ryder are all illustrious android alumni from the Alien films. The unique cold, creepy charisma Fassbender brings to David’s childlike sense of wonder and quest for absolute knowledge at any cost would put the logical Mr. Spock and evil HAL 9000 both to shame. Early scenes that set up his lonely existence watching Peter O’ Toole in Lawrence Of Arabia add more depth to him than most of the other human characters will see in the entire film. He pulls off an amazing turn as the film’s ultimate anti-hero.

Charlize Theron does well here in both her space age power suits and form fitting cat suits as she twists here evil corporate mustache as the no-nonsense Weyland heavy. Noomi Rapace impresses as the God-fearing archeologist whose faith is tested when confronted with the possibility of meeting her extraterrestrial creators, dubbed the ‘Engineers.’ She’s given a lot to do and follows a fine line of strong female leads for Ridley Scott.

Scott conceived and shot the film in 3D, and the results are not only pleasing (especially for the gorgeous exotic landscape shots), but at times amazing. Sir Ridley proves that in right hands, the now-tired 3D bandwagon can still be a force to be reckoned with in the big screen experience. The added dimension is subtle and never intrusive to the senses, and sucks you in as a natural part of the visuals. There was a conscious effort to not deliver another film that pops out at you every time something suddenly jerks which tends to add nauseating motion blur. Also for a movie with so much set in places with minimal light, the film looked great and showed little sign of the darker picture associated with 3D projection.

The post Film Review – PROMETHEUS appeared first on Nerdy Rotten Scoundrel.

20th Century Fox has released a new viral video to help hype up the highly anticipated Ridley Scott directed Alien-universe set Prometheus. 

Following up on the first clever spot featuring Guy Pearce in a faux TED Talk conference set in 2023 as Peter Weyland (a character whose influence is a driving force in the Alien series), this second video focuses on David, the android character played by Michael Fassbender. Androids in space are a staple in the series, Ian Holm played the artificial Ash in Alien, and Lance Henriksen portrayed Bishop in Aliens. It’s no surprise that there would be another human companion featured in Prometheus to give their use additional historical background in the context of the series.

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Official Synopsis:

“Ridley Scott, director of Alien and Blade Runner, returns to the genre he helped define. With Prometheus, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.”

Prometheus is set to hit theaters in 3-D on June 8th, and stars Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Noomi Rappace, Guy Pearce, and Patrick Wilson.

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With 92 days and counting left to theatrical release, 20th Century Fox unleashed an amazing new image from Prometheus, the upcoming prequel to the Alien series.

Following last week’s debut of a clever incognito teaser video featuring Guy Pearce as Peter Weyland (owner of the company that sent Sigourney Weaver and company into space in 1979’s Alien & 1986’s Aliens), the new picture reveals a galactic map of the cosmos being displayed in a tech room that bears the heavy influence of the familiar designs (pay close attention to the walls) seen in the previous films. That signature biomechanical look was designed by Swiss artist H.R. Giger and became synonymous with the deadly Xenomorph creatures and the overall aesthetic of the franchise.

Also to note, there is a human right smack in the middle of the globe observing the light show, and in the foreground is what appears to be a rather large chair. All hints so far point to an ancient alien race being introduced that are quite a few times larger than humanity. Rumored to be called the Engineers, as they are responsible for the creating life on Earth millions of years ago. Endless speculation and internet discussions have been running rampant regarding the plot since ties to Alien surfaced, but it looks to be running with a very high concept storyline that has the potential to outshine the straightforward narrative of the films that take place after it.

Fox’s official synopsis of the film:

“Ridley Scott, director of Alien and Blade Runner, returns to the genre he helped define. With PROMETHEUS, he creates a groundbreaking mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.”

In addition, AMC announced that a new full length trailer for the film will make its online debut following a Q&A with Ridley Scott at WonderCon in Anaheim next weekend.

“On Saturday, March 17th at 4 p.m. PST/ 7 p.m. EST, legendary director Ridley Scott will premiere the first full trailer for one of 2012’s most anticipated films, Prometheus, at the AMC Downtown Disney in Anaheim, CA. This invite-only premiere will follow a 30 minutes Q&A session with the iconic director conducted by Prometheus writer/producer Damon Lindelof (Co-creator, Executive Producer and Writer of TV’s Lost).”

 Prometheus is set to hit theatres in 3-D on June 8th, and stars Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Noomi Rappace, Guy Pearce, and Patrick Wilson.

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