So I saw it yesterday. Historical day.
It's a major movie experience, an uncommon one. Every shot, every scene is this film bears the imprint of a master, there's no denying that. I was a bit annoyed by the 3D at first as it dones town the colours, but after a while you just don't care because you're so taken by the story and atmosphere... and you forget the Alien reference because you get something else entirely. What I like most is the subtle touches that make the distinction between an artist and a hack. I don't agree with people who say the characters are not likeable, Scott knows how to do that, he demonstrated it all through his work. Fassbender is magnetic once again, his performance will go down in history as one of the most memorable sci-fi characters ever. Rapace's acting is imbued with emotion. The writing is not as bas as some pretend, actually a few lines are likely to become classic stuff. Some scenes are quite intense and harrowing.
That being said...
It's been repeated over here countless times. The key word is frustration. There are several reasons to that.
The first is that there is virtually no surprise element. The most beautiful shots have been shown in all trailers and featurettes and clips, most of the time in glorious HD. Take the ship for example, there is scarcely any new external view. As to the most shocking horror parts, everybody's already well acquainted with them : the "snake" attacking Milburn, forcing its way down his throat, Fifield's bubble helmet melting and collapsing on his face. Enough has been exhibited of the medical pod scene to imagine what can be going on inside. I am puzzled by this marketing strategy consisting in releasing unduly spoiler-heavy commercials. I understand the necessity to lure audiences into theaters with powerful imagery, but it is a choice which may well backfire on Fox. Alien's trailer was a masterpiece, totally suggestive and unrevealing and yet utterly effective, couldn't the same approach have been adopted with Prometheus ? Anyway, there is nothing in the film, not a single twist that hasn't been figured out by someone around here.
Secondly, the so-called grand revelations Scott promised are totally missing from the film. It is obvious now that it is not a standalone movie, and its conclusion paves the way for Prometheus 2, which is bound to be tremendously epic, an even more drastic departure from Alien, and set in a far more spectacular location. Now we can better understand Fassbender's puzzling line : "Big things have small beginnings". How ironical.
Last but not least, the sci-fi fan in me cannot but regret the dirth of creatures in this would-be epic. I can't say that I'm disappointed by the Jockeys' appearance because it has been long-known that Scott had decided to make them human-like (still, those tall waxen-skinned eggheads I have a hard time accepting...), but I expected this choice to be tampered by the inclusion of various critters, a "veritable zoo" to quote the original Starbeast script... In lieu of which you have a bunch of worms, an eel, a guy who goes berserk because of an acid squirt in his face, and an octopus. And finally, concerning the big question : are there gonna be xenos or not ? The very last images provide you with an answer. That anticlimax was certainly intended as a wink, or a concession, to hardcore Alien fans. To me, it seemed as if Scott and co were giving them the finger.
In short, Prometheus is an important film that cannot be summarily dismissed as a pile of garbage. However, one would be hard pushed to say that it is an accomplished masterpiece. But then, Scott never made a perfect film. What matters is that his style and touch are unique. No one could have done it better than him. I sincerely hope this one is going to be hugely successful because I am definitely eager to see its sequel.
