Prometheus

Posted On 5 October 2012

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So, watched Prometheus and frankly didn’t enjoy it.  Now, my hubby didn’t mind it and perhaps if you want a bit of sci-fi (but I do mean a bit) mingled with a bit of horror and a lot of special effects then this could be for you – did I just dis my hubby?  Well, not really, you know we’re not joined at the hip after all and I might like the occasional soppy movie but he never does – so there you go!!  Normality restored.

Back to Prometheus.  What is that all about.  I don’t really write a lot of negative reviews for anything and the reason is because if I’m not enjoying something I stop reading/watching and then, frankly, I don’t think it’s fair to review something that you haven’t completed.  After all, it might have redeemed itself in the last half, then the last third, then the last quarter, then the last eighth… you see where I’m going with that?

I have so many objections to this movie that I can hardly begin to note them.  Okay, the special effects are excellent – but frankly I’ve come to expect that special effects will be in this day and age.  The problem is, I can’t enjoy a film that’s purely about special FX and very little else to recommend it.  What about a bit of character development.  We have a crew.  There seems to be little love lost between any of them, they don’t know each other, there are no friendships (except between the two doctors).  It just makes it difficult to like anyone really.  Next, why on earth would a trillion pound expedition to outer space be funded on the flimsy evidence of a few cave drawings.  You know, it’s like modern art, you can interpret it however the hell you want but it doesn’t mean you have to travel the universe or, more to the point, how did these two doctors manage to convince anyone of this expedition.  They don’t seem to have a convincing argument at all.

Now, down to the really little niggles.  What on earth was with that total mimicry of Alien all about (and, I am thinking of one particular scene which you will know what I’m referring to if you’ve seen this)?  Yes, I know the connection thank you very much – but, I don’t want to see exactly the same type of scene repeated .  The surgery – ridiculous in the extreme.  The running about jumping, fighting, etc, after the surgery – even more ridiculous – okay, I see, it’s sci-fi so I’m not supposed to question that but frankly I just do.  What, major surgery and then a few staples and off to the gym – you try it!  And, what, no reaction from anybody else!  Covered in blood, look like shit, yeah.

I was really thinking about it.  I was thinking was there much of a story and then I was trying to compare it to Alien and see if there was much more of a story there – and maybe there isn’t.  But, comparatively.  Alien – not any major special effects really, and yet scary.  You cared about the characters, you’d never really seen anything like it before, there were friendships that just were portrayed so easily, all the darkness and dripping water and just plain out creepy – not to mention when the alien makes it’s first appearance courtesy of John Hurt’s chest was phenomenal – I don’t know whether the acting was just brilliant in that scene or whether they genuinely didn’t know what was happening (which is what I’ve read about) but it was the business.  Now, Prometheus.  Feels like it’s just trying to live off the reputation of the original and the way we all love it.  A bunch of characters who you couldn’t care less about.  A bunch of scientists who seem to know less about science than a two year old child.  I could go on.

The thing is, this review is so negative that I can’t believe it.  I really didn’t hate the movie at all.  I just thought it was incredibly disappointing.   And, I had questions.   For example, how did that geologist guy manage to get lost – other than it was a good plot device – after all he was the one who seemed to have big ideas and gadgets about plotting the place.  Why was an expedition planned on the flimsy evidence of a couple of doctors.  Why did Charlize Theron have the most ridiculous role in the entire history of film, why was Guy Pearce starring as an old man – I assumed there was going to be some sort of miraculous rolling back of the years otherwise why use him – but no – so why not just use an older actor??

I’m just going to stop now and step away, because, I think I should.

Now, you may like this movie, and my criticisms are not meant for you personally.  I like lots of films that other people don’t and I stick by my own personal taste.  However, this just didn’t do it for me and in fact sort of annoyed me.

Oh well,

Go and see it anyway.  It’s not a bad film (I suppose). I didn’t hate it.   It just didn’t live up to my expectations.  And, also, even if I hadn’t had expectations I think it would have been lacking.

I’m including this as one of my RIP entries – get yourselves over to Stainless Steel Droppings and get involved with his RIP event.