Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, a rag-tag group of scientists and military personnel take off on an adventure through space care of a company called Weyland Industries, and after emerging from their cryogenic pods have NO idea what kind of mess they’re about to get into and wind up facing an extraterrestrial threat that tears their crew apart one by one and has the potential to destroy all mankind as they know it. Now ordinarily a recycled plotline is something that draws yawns, groans and poor box office numbers. In the case of Ridley Scott, and his latest venture into the Alien mythos, that’s EXACTLY the formula his devoted fans like myself, crave, want and need.
Now before you go thinking this is your Mama Ripley’s classic Xenomorphic sci-fi flick, think again. Prometheus begins with a creature that was only briefly shown in the original film, the Mala’Kak, also known as the Space Jockey, who pre-dawn of man seemingly manipulates himself to create the blueprints that eventually create human beings. Jumping forward, the rest of the film picks up in 2089 when Doctors Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) find the remains of ancient pictograms that bare striking resemblance to other civilizations in later times at different locations, all of which seem to be “inviting” those that find it to take a journey amongst the stars to “meet their makers.” Like the Greek myth of the same name, the theme is about challenging the Gods, our creators and the repercussions of defying them.
Jumping ahead four years, the crew of the ship headed by Vickers (Charlize Theron), are awoken from cryogenic sleep by the android David (Michael Fassbender), anticipating answers to fundamental questions that have plagued man since its beginning. What they find is unlike anything they could have ever imagined. What they find is not only the beginning of mankind, but also a means to an end.
The writers of the film (Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof) under Scott’s direction, proceed to weave a tale that not only encapsulates everything you expect an Alien prequel to be, but way more in the process. Capturing stunning 3-D visuals, psychological and emotional connections that keep you glued to your seat, and beyond grateful that we are safe back home here on good ol’ planet Earth… Or ARE we?
Rated R, Prometheus opens nationwide 6/8/12
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