Prometheus Reviews

[deezelboy]

Reviews are starting to come in for Prometheus. Excerpts below:

Like Blake’s work, Prometheus is a pick’n’mix bag of religious and mythological titbits, and it’s an undeniably muddled project. Yet while it lacks Alien’s ferocious simplicity and focus, Scott’s determination to see his often loopy ideas through gives his film a single-minded vigour rarely found in pictures of this scale.

4/5
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/9303129/Prometheus-review.html

Ridley Scott has counter-evolved his 1979 classic Alien into something more grandiose, more elaborate – but less interesting. In place of scariness there is wonderment; in place of tension there is hugely ambitious design; in place of unforgettable shocks there are reminders of the original's unforgettable shocks. There are also some shrewd and witty touches, and one terrifically creepy performance from Michael Fassbender, who steals the film with the chilling, parasitic relentlessness of that first gut-bound alien. The original took place in space, where no one can hear you scream; in this film, no one can hear you scream above the deafening, kettle drum-bothering orchestral score.

...

It is a muddled, intricate, spectacular film, but more or less in control of all its craziness and is very watchable. It lacks the central killer punch of Alien: it doesn't have its satirical brilliance and its tough, rationalist attack on human agency and guilt. But there's a driving narrative impulse, and, however silly, a kind of idealism, a sense that it's exciting to make contact with whatever's out there.
3/5
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2012/may/30/prometheus-review

...a visual feast of a 3D sci-fi movie that has trouble combining its high-minded notions about the origins of the species and its   Alien  -based obligation to deliver oozy gross-out moments. Ridley Scott's third venture into science fiction, after   Alien   in 1979 and Blade Runner in 1982, won't become a genre benchmark like those classics despite its equivalent seriousness and ambition, but it does supply enough visual spectacle, tense action and sticky, slithery monster attacks to hit the spot with thrill-seeking audiences worldwide.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/prometheus-review-ridley-scott-charlize-theron-michael-fassbender-330414

Ultimately, Prometheus is intelligent, imaginative and thrilling sci-fi, but it won’t be all things to everyone – a shame, but an unavoidable consequence of revisiting such revered territory.

While fans hoping for another sci-fi classic to burst out of Ridley Scott’s chest will be disappointed, there is still much to recommend from this flawed yet frequently breathless spectacle.

4/5
http://www.joe.ie/entertainment/film/review-prometheus-0025365-1

...let's be thankful that Scott's return to sci-fi is by no means an unmitigated disaster -- it's visually stunning, well-paced, icky, intense and even thoughtful at times. In fact, It's one of the most satisfying huge-budget studio genre movie to hit theaters in years. But unfortunately, none of the visual pizazz and nausea-inducing special effects can mask the well-trodden ground that the plot covers or the fact that the script becomes noticeably clunky during the second half. These problems don't sink the film, but they're incredibly frustrating because Scott lays the groundwork for something much more intense and thought-provoking than he actually delivers.

http://twitchfilm.com/reviews/2012/05/review-prometheus.php

Slightly frustratingly, everything was here for Scott’s movie to evolve to another level. Expectations could blow a hole in Prometheus’ hull, but as it is, we have a superior sci-fi blockbuster that’s visually spectacular, tense and hugely entertaining.

4/5
http://www.lovefilm.com/reviews/Prometheus

Alien’s trump card was the element of surprise, but many of Prometheus’s story twists are obvious from miles away. That’s not entirely the filmmakers’ fault – off the back of a saturation promotional campaign, so much Prometheus footage has been released online that many key plot points are easily guessable. Even so, that doesn’t excuse the repeated use of “hit the nail on the head” signposting to make sure we really, definitely, absolutely understand what’s going on – at one point the script stops just short of saying, “You see that advanced piece of technology there? That may well come in handy later…”

Prometheus’s biggest problem is that it frequently leaves itself open to parody. As Lindelof’s history as a Lost writer starts to reveal itself, the movie asks far more questions than it answers – and sadly they’re not questions you’re desperate for answers to. Plenty is left open for a sequel, but the ending makes any potential follow-up seem inherently ridiculous – the most interesting thing about the climax is an internet meme in the making. (Look out for the zip-up bag.)

Prometheus is already one of the year’s most talked-about movies. It’s set to stay that way – but unfortunately having fanboys pick holes in it rather than debate its grand ambitions is probably not what the filmmakers intended.

3/5
http://www.sfx.co.uk/2012/05/31/prometheus-review/

Scott's far from resting on his laurels - there are fresh, audacious moments of body horror, coupled with consistently breathtaking visuals and a streak of wry, knowing humour. But there's no getting away from the total lack of any cumulative sense of dread, nor from the essential emptiness at the film's core. Like Fassbender's discomforting robot, Prometheus is stunning to look at and initially intriguing, but in the end fatally lacking a soul.

3/5
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/review/a384564/prometheus-review-ridley-scott-returns-to-his-alien-sci-fi-roots.html

[beckmen]

Not exactly rave reviews, and it seems the script might not be as smart and deep as the actors seemed to indicate. Meh, I'll wait for the Blu-ray.

As if!

[BishopIII]

Some of the reviews written by fans seem more positive. In any case, it's looking infinitely better than either of the AvP films (not surprising, coming from Riddles). Bugger it, either way, I'm gonna see it with my brother, tomorrow at 9PM! I shall form my own opinions then. Can't fucking wait! 

[beckmen]

Well, it does seem like it'll be the best-reviewed film of the franchise since 1986...

[BishopIII]

Yeah, one reviewer claimed that it was his second favourite after Alien! I reckon it's not going to disappoint, unless someone is expecting a LOTR-style epic movie! No doubt, some will take a look, and dislike it, but that's life. There are people around (many, in fact) who absolutely loathe Aliens, and love Alien, even though both are brilliant films (many more loathe Alien3, but, IMHO, it's a great movie). At the end of the day, it's all subjective. More reviewers simply resented the Alien connection, which is a bit stupid, seeing as it has its origins in an Alien prequel idea, and thus wouldn't have existed without that connection.

[Company Man]

I'll wait until one of US does one...

Still watchin' it though. Why?

CAUSE I AM GROWN!!!

[PredBabe]

I've been feeling pretty uncertain about this movie once they started playing different trailers for it on TV... Some of the TV spots just looked a bit meh.

Glad to see it's getting some pretty good reviews though.

[Company Man]

I ain't seen a preview yet on TV...

Oh wait, I beeeeeeeen away......

[Nas]

Some more reviews...

Not as frightening as Alien, not as thrilling as Aliens, but a 3D sci-fi blockbuster that's easily the saga's most spectacular entry.

Total Film   4/5
http://www.totalfilm.com/reviews/cinema/prometheus-1?ns_campaign=reviews&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=totalfilm&ns_linkname=0&ns_fee=0

Prometheus lacks the genuinely shocking scares of “Alien,” which were novel at the time, it does contain enough tense-ridden and action-full sequences to please the hardcore fans who favor the second chapter, James Cameron’s “Aliens,” over Scott’s 1979 original.

Emanuel Levy   A-     http://www.emanuellevy.com/review/prometheus-2/

As a piece of speculative fiction, Prometheus falls well short of greatness, but it shows abundant visual panache and, as a horror flick, delivers plenty of nasty shocks. Technically, the film is a triumph.

Daily Mail   3/5  http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2153001/Prometheus-film-review-Depth-alien-concept-Ridley.html

Buffeted by a lack of suspense, threadbare characters, and a very poor script, the stunning visuals, gloopy madness, and sterling Fassbenderiness can't prevent Prometheus feeling like Alien's poor relation.

Empire Magazine   3/5  http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=137119

Ridley Scott's sort-of Alien prequel has stunning visual effects, gorgeous production design, a couple of terrific set pieces and superb performances from Rapace and Fassbender, but it also suffers from an uneven, frequently dull script, a lack of characterisation and a plot that completely falls apart under close inspection.

ViewLondon   3/5    http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/films/prometheus-film-review-44769.html

No amount of fanfare can prepare you for the exquisite visual riches of Prometheus. Scott has crafted something spectacular but hollow. It isn’t a patch on the two movies that made the franchise. It has more in common with Danny Boyle’s Sunshine and Paul Anderson’s Event Horizon than previous Alien movies, and even those comparisons don’t always flatter it.

Matt Bochenski   3/5 http://www.littlewhitelies.co.uk/theatrical-reviews/prometheus-20646

The nonsense logic rather undermines the portentous tone of the whole thing but luckily, after a rather laboured first hour, the picture gets on with the business of scaring us. Scott stages some tense, slick and gruesome sequences...and there are some memorable deaths. The cast do well, especially Michael Fassbender as a rather droll android, David, who brings some much needed humour, and Idris Elba as the ship's alpha-male captain. Guy Pearce in dodgy old man make-up is less successful.

Daily Express   3/5  http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/323646/Prometheus-review-and-trailer/

Prometheus pales next to Alien. Shocks are predictable...Rapace anchors the film with an emotionally wrought performance that everyone else seems unable or unwilling to match.

Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/echo-reviews/2012/06/01/film-review-prometheus-15-100252-31089098/

[LargeLeader]

Everytime I read a review for Prometheus that praises the second film, I automatically disregard it.

[Faltskogian]

Strewth! That was quick...

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=8839 

[beckmen]

Hah, I just made a thread in the Blu-ray and DVD News section about that.

[pcth]

No spoilers here.

Just came home from the premier (in Finland)! Well, I went there with few friends of mine and they were all kind of disappointed. I think it was certainly entertaining and visually amazing (I'm not a fan of 3D, but in this film it worked as well!), but there were many stupid scenes/characters that partly ruined the film. And in the end, I feel it wasn't really going anywhere. But who knows.... this film might grow on me later. But I really doubt that, because it was too straightforward for kind of movie (unlike let's say Blade Runner).

Oh, and I didn't have any information or idea about the movie in beforehand, because I didn't wanna spoil anything before seeing it for the first time.

I'm really looking forward to hear what you guys have to say about this movie!

Conclusion, not as good as expected, but any alien fan should see this on a big screen. How often do you get to see Giger's shit on 3D?!

[BishopIII]

Not long been back from seeing it, and I must say that I wasn't disappointed! The visuals were stunning, and a few of the characters were pretty funny, and I found the story interesting. Theron and Fassbender were fantastic! The settings were amazing, although if this movie had one flaw, it would be that it didn't go into enough detail. Within that, however, lies a few mysteries that leave me wanting a sequel. The sets were brilliant, although it would have been nice to explore them further. 

[Necronom IV]

Saw it last night, enjoyed it, but would have to say it was good but not great. Was certainly flawed in a number of ways, especially with the occasional hollywood moments.

I prefer the Alien trilogy, but it's much better than A:R and well obviously a hundred times better than the AVP debacles.

It suffered from Alien3's widely acknowledged character issues - too many that we don't get to meet or feel sympathy for. Has some really misplaced Alien Resurrection unrealistic comic-book crew moments at the end (that was really jarring, with little believability and a total mood changer) and overall many of the crew come across as Event Horizon-quality hollywood stock-characters (and the captain's epiphany about the pyramid was a real WTF character moment - perhaps a lot got cut?). I know the original Alien is partly responsible for creating that ragtag space-crew cliche to some extent (but having done that much better), but to have it so apparent in a film that I'm sure many of us were hoping would be a total return to cerebral hard sci fi from Scott, it lacks some true depth.

I did enjoy most of it, really liked lots of the pyramid exploring, there were some nice creepy moments and imagery, David was brilliant and even liked the jockeys more than I thought I would given that they're not the mysterious biomechanical chair monsters anymore that I'd always imagined them to be. Not saying I'm fully happy with Prometheus's explanations of them, just that I didn't particularly dislike it as much as I thought I would. Not sure how I feel about the scene at the end, undecided on that, but overall it was enjoyable enough.

For me, if we're ranking it as an Alien film (and I think we have to, there's more than enough torch-passing), I'd grade it as such -

Alien - 9
Aliens - 8.5
Alien3 - 9
Alien Resurrection - 4
AVP - 1
AVPR - 0
Prometheus - 7

In short, it wasn't as good as I hoped it would be, but (after the last three) it was much better than I feared it could be.