Prometheus is a bit mess of themes and plot points not helped by some poor editing choices (this should have been Terry Rawling's gig), but it's an admiral mess that attempts to open the Alien series up to a much bigger sci-fi canvas than it is used to. The series has been stuck in a formula of attempting to ape the action and pacing of James Cameron's Aliens for the last few instalments (since Alien Resurrection graced our screen at least) and any potential expansion of the universe has been merely hinted at rather than properly explored.
When making Alien, Ridley Scott and writer Dan O' Bannon originally intended for the universe to be much bigger but unfortunately the constrictive budget held him back from exploration beyond bare essential. This forced them to cut back, even bringing the unfinished fossilised Space Jockey set in to question (a battle Scott fortunatly won). Paul WS Anderson's Alien vs Predator may have shamelessly ripped off a few of these lost story elements (resulting in a begrudging story credit for Dan O'Bannon) but they were wasted on poor direction and a story more interested in WWF style alien on alien wrestling. With Prometheus Scott has finally managed to take the series to the places he wanted resulting in a film that, much like 2001, tackles the relationship between men and their makers amongst many other things (like who the Space Jockey was, why was he transporting those eggs and what they were originally intended for). And now the door has been left swinging in the wind, wide open for any kind of imaginative or ghastly sci-fi tale or landscape.
Where Prometheus fails is in it's single mindedness of it's main characters (not to mention the stupidity that some display in serving the plot). And though the film attempts to provide moments between the cannon fodder when it simply doesn't need them, it does well in providing the series most interesting character since Ripley bowed out in Alien 3. Micheal Fassbender's David is a revelation. One part Bishop, two parts Ash and a mystery throughout. A pleasure to watch. Unfortunately like many characters in the film, the editing betrays him and we're left with a couple of half developed sub-plots (like the relationship he has with Shaw). The film reeks of the feeling that much like Kingdom of Heaven, there's a great film bubbling under the surface somewhere.
It's because of this I feel like Prometheus ends as half a film with half developed relationships. Not only does it ask more questions than it answers (which isn't necessarily a bad thing when done properly... and it is mostly) it ends as if part one of an ongoing tale rather than a self contained narrative. I've also grew to feel that the parting shot felt like a poorly judged fan service despite recognising potential for the beastie given the execution. The big problem is that Scott and the writing staff had built the creature up to be the film's big bad, hinting at the kind of devastation it rained down on the race of Engineers 2000 years before but instead the creature is given just a scant few seconds to shine. Another halfway developed sub-plot waiting to be expanded in the inevitable sequel.
That said I loved pretty much every scene with the Engineers, I appreciated that the film didn't always pander down to explain each plot point (though that could have been used once in a while) and it was probably the most spectacular Imax experience I've ever had. It's flawed but pure sci-fi and demands a second viewing if only to make some sense out of the smaller details. Overall though it's a good solid sci-fi film in my opinion and I can safety say that I really do look forward to the places we can go in the universe. Now I can't remember the last time I felt that about a film related to the Alien series.
7.5/10
