Prometheus

WHAT’S DOIN

All I knew about Prometheus going in is that it takes place in the same universe as the Aliens franchise. Movie-goers are not rewarded with very many solid science fiction films, and after seeing the first full-length trailer I was hoping Prometheus would be that generation defining sci-fi movie that set the bar for any proceeding flicks, especially considering how filmmakers have unparalleled CG resources at their fingertips. I’ll take Prometheus over Avatar any day, but I’m still anxiously awaiting a big science fiction blockbuster that’s just as good, if not better, as sci-fi films I really enjoy, such as Gamer or Surrogates, which are complete movies that don’t depend on visual gimmicks to cover up shortcomings in the story.

GOOD TIMES

Prometheus is one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen on film. The plot actually keeps pace with the visuals until the very end when everything falls apart. The acting was also solid from top to bottom and, unlike in your average slasher or monster movie, I cared about the survival of most of the characters, excluding, of course, the ones you’re supposed to be rooting against.

NOT SO GOOD TIMES

*****SPOILERS*****

Nothing about Shaw’s (Noomi Rapace) pregnancy made any sense, nevermind the do-it-yourself surgery she performed. First, an octopus-like worm creature comes out of her belly after she sleeps with and is impregnated by an infected Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green). Then, that same creature grows to the size of a room, kills the remaining Engineer, and implants something in the Engineer’s body which it uses as an incubator. The result of the incubation is an Alien which seemingly ignores everything that is established by the Alien and Predator films, such as the existence of the Aliens on Earth for thousands of years, which begs the question as to why Prometheus was made in the same universe instead of creating an entirely new universe that allows for endless latitude.

Assuming for a second that the android, David (Michael Fassbender), wasn’t lying when he said there were other ships on the planet, what makes Shaw think that she can trust him after he just betrayed her? In order to get to this planet, the crew of Prometheus had to be in stasis for over two years and relied on David to run the ship until they reached their destination. The Engineers’ home planet is presumably further away than two years. If Shaw is going to stay awake for what could amount to decades, what is she going to eat during this time period? How does she survive the trip? And if she chooses stasis, what makes her think that Engineer stasis technology is compatible with humans, or that David wouldn’t wait until she was under and betray her again?

I don’t care how advanced of a being you are, you are not going to survive any stasis that lasts thousands of years. It would have made for a better story if the Prometheus crew never encountered a living Engineer and that it was their biological weapon that became a threat after one of the crew was infected.

*****SPOILERS*****

They must not teach lateral movement in the future.

RANDOM MUSINGS

I’m more interested in an exploration of Shaw’s journey than any Prometheus sequels or some sort of tie in with the Alien or Predator franchises. Also, I wonder if I’m the only person who thinks that Rapace looks just like one of the vampires from 30 Days of Night.