When filmmaker Ridley Scott returns to the evolution of sci-fi suspense,
Prometheus is the natural selection to show us the creation of horror and the horror of creation.

by Matt Sernaker and Kevin Gaussoin, Editors

The official synopsis says “Ridley Scott, director of Alien and Blade Runner, returns to the genre he helped define.  With Prometheus, he creates a groundbreaking original mythology, in which a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a thrilling journey to the darkest corners of the universe.  There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.”

During the creation of this movie, Ridley Scott originally said that Prometheus was going to be a prequel to Alien. Later on, he started saying that while it would be set in the same universe, it ultimately would be a totally separate entity and would setup a new series of adventures. So after seeing the movie, it is easy to understand both statements. This story can definitely act as the first installment in a new series of movies that can exist independently from previous films, as well as take place in the Alien universe. I don’t know why the marketing for this movie seems to deliberately obfuscate that fact, but there you go: prequel. Luckily for us, this prequel has no pod races or Gungans like Star Wars: Episode I, but it does have dangerous space vehicles and bizarre alien races. This story contains in homage, but doesn’t strictly lean on, many of the classic tropes we’ve come to love in the original Alien Quadrilogy, many of which have bled out into other media: Heroine in panties? Check. “Kill it with fire!” Check. Corporate conspiracy? Check. White people ruin everything? Check.

Prometheus stars Noomi Rapace (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) as Dr. Elizabeth Shaw, a scientist who has discovered that alien life has visited Earth throughout time, and want has invited humanity to come to the stars and hang out with them…or something like that. Logan Marshall-Green (who played Trey Atwood in The O.C….a fact that you were dying to know) also leads as Dr. Charlie Halloway, Shaw’s partner in crime (so to speak) in this alien adventure. The two end up getting funding from the Weyland Foundation (sound familiar?) and are treated to a holographic introduction from Peter Weyland himself (Guy Pearce, Lockout), explaining his intentions for funding such an important mission. To help the crew achieve their goals, he has sent along Magneto (Michael Fassbender), Aeon Flux (Charlize Theron), and Hemidall (Idris Elba). Pretty awesome team to help you find some aliens huh?

Prometheus arrives at a time in Earth’s history when we are looking to still looking to the skies for answers, but no longer expecting higher beings as much as we once did. This is a story about exploration, and trying to determine where humanity fits into the grand scheme of things in the universe. Without question, the movie is beautifully shot and artfully rendered. The 3D is well done and worth the trouble.  In fact at one point I was so immersed in the 3D that I shifted in my seat to try and see around a character in the foreground. HR Geiger fans will delight in seeing many easter eggs of his heretofore non-Alien artwork now blended seamlessly into this universe.

It’s important to note that while Prometheus is created by Ridley Scott, it’s co-written by Damon Lindelof, so Lost fans will be quick to recall that his stories aren’t known for delivering all the answers. Still, the movie may deliver more questions than answers, but like Lost and Alien before it, it delivers all the suspense, horror, aliens, and action that we might expect.

Prometheus is a story that you need to experience on the big screen (and hopefully in a 3D format). The stunning visuals in the opening sequence alone are worth the additional cost for the 3D component. While there are some obvious tributes to past cinematic works, the film works very hard to stand on its own as a more artistic approach to science fiction storytelling. Prometheus sets the stage for some big possibilities…

ComicsOnline gives Prometheus 4.5 out of 5 horrific origins

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