It’s hard to believe that it’s been more than 30 years since Ridley Scott brought us the space-horror film of all space-horror films; ‘Alien’. The film shot both Ridley Scott and, the then relatively unknown actress, Sigourney Weaver to international stardom. What made ‘Alien’ epic was that it was not just a cheesy space monster movie, rather a deep and dark vision of the future. It was multi-layered, tension-filled, and provided total suspension of disbelief. A completely fleshed out universe that mirrored every nightmare about what we thought might be out there.
Over the last three decades a number of sequels have been spawned (chose that word on purpose). James Cameron helmed the first sequel;‘Aliens’. While a fantastic film in it’s own right, it started down the path of steering away from complex story telling to becoming an action franchise. Each film was less satisfying until they just became ways to think of unique ways for the Aliens to kill people. When all that was exhausted, they started to team up with other monster franchises (Aliens vs Predators) and truly came close to becoming a B-movie endeavor. We almost forget what an epic film started the whole ball rolling.
Ridley Scott returns to the franchise and re-explores the universe of 'Alien’ in the prequel, ‘Prometheus’. Scott is a well known epic creator (Blade Runner, Gladiator), but while this has the scope and depth of an epic, I don’t believe it will attain that status. That is not to say that I didn’t truly respect this film and think it is among his best work, it’s just that it’s not going to resonate with the audiences like the others did (maybe cult status??). This is not a movie to be watched on the TV screen. For full impact, one needs to see it on the big screen. The sound and alien vistas are of a scope that only a theater can do justice.
The film is set in 2089 (we finally have a time context). Archeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) discover a series of cave paintings that indicate the various arrivals of extraterrestrial beings throughout the course of human history. Comparing the paintings to other cave paintings found throughout the world, they find that they are exact matches. They are convinced that the paintings are an invitation by aliens to come find them when we are ready. The two archeologists find a bankroll for their trillion dollar effort from the enigmatic company, Weyland Industries.
Jump forward two years later and the Weyland Industries space ship, Prometheus arrives with it’s crew in suspended sleep. They are watched over by the hyper intelligent android, David (played to eerie perfection by my current favorite actor, Michael Fassbender). Charlize Theron plays the company representative and team leader Meredith Vickers with icy beauty. Idris Elba (also rapidly becoming my favorite actor) plays Janet the crusty ship captain. While the motives for coming may vary, they all believe that they are going to find the answers to the birth of humanity. Shaw and Halloway are convinced that an alien race they refer to as ‘The Engineers’ created humanity and deposited them on earth.
The planet (technically a moon) where they arrive seems barren with the exception of one enormous cavernous man made artifact. As the team begins to explore the ancient chambers they slowly start to piece together a puzzle that is nothing what they expected. Instead of finding the wondrous beginnings of man, they discover a blue print for the extermination of all life. They begin to realize that the giant chamber is not completely devoid of life and the true horror of what is planned becomes clear and the fight for their lives begin.
What I truly enjoyed about this film is that it expanded our knowledge and Scott’s vision of the universe he gave us in the original ‘Alien’, yet did not really answer any questions we had. In fact, if anything, it raised even more questions and left many things up to our interpretation as we discovered pieces of the puzzle with the crew. While there is nothing more satisfying than a big explosive ending where all the bad guys are blown up and the heroes go riding into the sunset, there is something to be said for a film that has no easy answers and has you leaving the theater wondering exactly what happened. I won’t do a spoiler and say if we even see the Aliens so recognizable from the series in this prequel, but I will say that if it’s possible to have the Alien universe clearer yet more muddled at the same time, this film accomplishes it. This is a powerful film that has plenty of action, but isn’t an action film.
So many great actors were assembled for this and give such exceptional performances that I hope this will gain in prestige as time goes on. Fassbender’s interpretation of the android David channels the same eerie feeling of Hal from ‘2001: a Space Odyssey’. Idris Elba demonstrates yet again his talent for specialized accents and portrays the world weary captain perfectly. Charlize Theron and Guy Pierce (unrecognizable as Peter Weyland) play the evil one-percenter corporate executives with imperial arrogance. Noomi Rapace, the Swedish actress, proves that she isn’t just a one hit wonder (‘Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’). Her Dr Shaw is a worthy successor to Sigourney Weaver’s iconic Ripley.
Go to this film expecting a powerful epic level film that challenges you and provides no easy answers. Perfect for after-the-movie coffee house discussion. The tension is excruciating and the gore is unsettling, just like the original ‘Alien’, but this film stands on its’ own and should be appreciated apart from the movie that inspired it. Another great masterpiece from Ridley Scott. A true visionary.
I give this film **** (mostly out of respect)
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