Prometheus (I) (2012)

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

Director:

Ridley Scott

Writers:

Jon Spaihts, Damon Lindelof,

Stars:

Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Noomi Rapace	...	Elizabeth Shaw
Michael Fassbender	...	David
Charlize Theron	...	Meredith Vickers
Idris Elba	...	Janek
Guy Pearce	...	Peter Weyland
Logan Marshall-Green	...	Charlie Holloway
Sean Harris	...	Fifield
Rafe Spall	...	Millburn
Emun Elliott	...	Chance
Benedict Wong	...	Ravel
Kate Dickie	...	Ford
Branwell Donaghey	...	Mercenary 1
Vladimir 'Furdo' Furdik	...	Mercenary 2 (as Vladimir Furdik)
C.C. Smiff	...	Mercenary 3
Shane Steyn	...	Mercenary 4

Storyline

This film is set in 2093 and takes place in the same universe as the 'Alien' movies. A group of explorers, including some archaeologists, are on an "undisclosed" mission. They arrive at a planet millions of miles away from Earth. The team spot what they believe to be signs of civilization. They go to investigate and find more than just signs, they find conclusive evidence. But some of them have an ulterior motive for being there, including the Weyland Corporation. They believe that this is where the human race actually came from. Things soon turn from excitement to survival once inside their discovery.

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Plot Keywords:

alien | explorer | scientist | survival | planet | 

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Taglines:

We came from them. They will come for us.

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Genres:

Adventure | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sci-fi violence including some intense images, and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Scottish Gaelic

Release Date:

8 June 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Untitled Alien Prequel

Filming Locations:

UK

Box Office

Budget:

$130,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$51,050,101 (USA) (8 June 2012)

Gross:

$126,464,904 (USA) (14 September 2012)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox, Dune Entertainment, Scott Free Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Designer H.R. Giger, who worked on the original design of the Xenomorph Alien, was brought in to assist in reverse-engineering the design of the Aliens in the film.

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Goofs

The CO2 concentration of 3% is still not the lethal for the human being. Only after 7% the suffocation and unconsciousness begin.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Elizabeth Shaw: Get Charlie.

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Crazy Credits

The end of the credits read "Brought to you by Weyland Corporation - Building better worlds. Since 10/11/12"

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Connections

Featured in The Oscars Red Carpet Live (2013)

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Soundtracks

"'O Come All Ye Faithful"
Traditional

User Reviews

Nails scraping down the blackboard of your brain. Unbelievable characters; sloppy plotting; lousy pacing

A film needs only do a few things: have characters who you can believe in (that is, the human ones behave like humans would); have a plot which makes sense as it unfolds (even if you have to experience it backwards, or in layers - think of two famous Christopher Nolan films); have pacing which makes it enjoyable to experience.

Prometheus does none of these. The humans, when they face a crisis or something unknown, don't behave as you'd expect people to do - warily and with some sense of self-preservation. They're either ridiculously trusting, or they just plow in without reflection - has none of them ever seen a horror movie, even in this far-off future? They make John Hurt's character in the original Alien look like a model of rectitude and careful scientific approach.

The characters are poorly developed: there are too many, and you don't get an idea of who they are, what they want or what their motivations are. Again, contrast with the original Alien, where the (small) crew all have clearly identified personalities, aims, wants, interactions, etc.

The plot is insensible; literally it numbs you. Not every point needs make sense as you watch, but you shouldn't be saying "wait, what? That makes no sense" five minutes after any key scene.

The science is total rubbish. If you've any knowledge of biology or evolution, you won't enjoy this; scene after scene will be like nails scraping down the blackboard of your brain.

And finally, the pacing is lousy. There's no point where you feel that the characters are trying to pool their knowledge, or that they're trying to get control of what's happening. Instead, it tries to throw things at you all over the place in order to shock. (Again, compare to the original Alien, where the characters continually get together to try to figure out what to do next as each plan falls apart.) When things happen relentlessly but you don't understand why, you're just left bemused.

Compare the pacing and plot in Ridley Scott's Gladiator (where you have fights, and then the pauses in between during which the plot develops, and which explain the importance of each coming fight) and you realise what it looks like when done well.

This film has pulled in megabucks, partly through a marketing splurge which drew lots of people in - I know it did me (I watched it in 3D Imax).

However, within about half an hour I was ready to walk out; I only stayed because I nursed some faint belief that it would get better, or redeem itself. It didn't. Save yourself. Rent Alien.