Prometheus (DVD REVIEW)
Prometheus
DVD
Review by Kam Williams
Archaeologists
Encounter Alien Life Forms in Outer Space Horror Flick
Dateline:
Scotland,
2089. While spelunking along the shores of the Isle of
Skye, archaeologists Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) and
Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) discover an ancient painting etched into the
ceiling of an abandoned cave. The uncanny researchers immediately discern that
the primitive picture is an invitation from aliens to visit a moon located in a
remote constellation that might very well have been the birthplace of humanity.
Fast-forward
a few years and we find the curious couple already en route to LV-233 on a
daring expedition to find proof that people were created not by God but
genetically engineered by sentient beings from another galaxy. It is unclear
how unearthing such evidence will affect the faith of Dr. Shaw, a devout
Christian who always wears a cross that was a gift from her late father
(Patrick Shaw).
As
the spaceship Prometheus approaches its destination, Captain Janek (Idris Elba)
and his crew of sixteen are roused from a cryogenic state of hibernation by a
doting, concrete blond android named David (Michael Fassbender). Upon landing,
however, command of the operation is assumed by Meredith Vickers (Charlize
Theron), a coldhearted, corporate executive employed by Weyland Corporation
whose late CEO (Guy Pearce) underwrote the trillion-dollar mission.
The
trip is just a job to the jaded Vickers who is skeptical about what she refers
to as “the scribbling of dirty little savages in caves.” In fact, she orders
the disembarking explorers to refrain from making any direct contact with
aliens.
Of
course, contact with alien life forms is precisely the point of Prometheus, a
high body-count, horror flick directed by three-time, Oscar-nominee Ridley
Scott (for Gladiator, Black Hawk Down and Thelma & Louise). At this
juncture, the picture proceeds to divide its time between raising probing
philosophical questions about the intersection of science, religion and ethics,
and gratuitous graphic depictions of body invasion, mutation, and gruesome
vivisection.
Although
initially conceived as a prequel to Alien (1979), also directed by Scott, the
movie was ultimately released as a stand alone adventure. Regardless, this
riveting, visually-captivating and thought-provoking sci-fi is well-enough
executed to recommend for avid sci-fi fans, even if the heavy-handed,
faith-based symbolism (“Where’s my cross?” and “After all this, you still
believe!”) gets to be a bit much.
A thinly-veiled intro to the Alien franchise
revising that classic’s tagline to suggest: In space, no one can hear you
scream, except perhaps God.
Very Good (3 Stars)
Rated R for intense violence and brief
profanity.
Running time: 124
minutes
Distributor: 20th
Century Fox Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Deleted
scenes and more.
To see a trailer for
Prometheus, visit:
1 comment:
I don’t know why people were criticizing this movie for not being a prequel to Alien because I think it was. It is not a prequel to the events that take place in Alien, but rather an explanation of the universe in which Alien takes place. This is a much bigger and bolder project that I am very glad they opted for instead of a more direct prequel. I loved this movie when I saw it in theaters, and I was really excited when a coworker at DISH told me it was coming out on DVD. I like to see what they offer as special features before I buy a movie, so I rented it through my Blockbuster @Home account. I was amazed at how good the special features were in this first release, and I am definitely going to go out and buy it. I really recommend watching the commentary with the director and writer because they answer a lot of questions about plot holes and their intentions with the movie.
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