Searching for the origins of life in ‘Prometheus’

Prometheus, the new sci-fi thriller from director Ridley Scott, is one of the most imaginative, enthralling blockbusters to hit movie theaters in years. A stand-alone prequel to Scott’s Alien, the film couples effective characterization with a simple, albeit engaging storyline to produce a two-hour cinematic experience that will likely be the highlight of the summer season.

Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) have found evidence of humanity’s origins. By piecing together puzzles found in cave drawings, the couple believes they have the map to find “God,” and they intend to see their theories become truth.

Bankrolling their expedition to a far-off star system is Peter Weyland (Guy Pearce), an old man with too much money and an unending fascination with the meaning of life. Along for the ride is a motley crew of team members, none of them terribly interesting or memorable.

Their ship, dubbed the Prometheus, travels all the way across the universe to the alien coordinates, but it takes time — so much time that the entire crew is put to sleep for years. Helping them with the trans-slumber journey are David (Michael Fassbender), an unusual robot with a few tricks up his mechanical sleeves, and Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), the owner of the ship.

What the team finds on the distant reaches of this distant planet are frightening, intense and too good to spoil. Rest assured, there’s plenty of slimy alien action and near-death experiences to keep fans satisfied for two hours.

What Scott and his two screenwriters (Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof) do so well is exactly why Alien has withstood the test of time. Rather than jumping into the bloodshed, they begin to methodically unravel the mystery. There’s a real evolution to the plot and characters, and nothing is jammed down our throats. Instead, we become sucked into the storyline, forever attached to its peculiarities and twists of fate. This makes the shocking conclusion that much more shocking and satisfying.

To call Prometheus a prequel to Alien is a fib, if not a lie. The 2012 film feels, looks and genuinely stands as its own creation. There are certainly foreshadows to the Ripley characters and what will happen next, but Spaihts and Lindelof keep the action focused on their own story. They don’t fit the puzzle pieces perfectly together; rather, they reinvent the puzzle.

Some of the images of the film will stick with viewers for days. There’s some great beauty here, especially with the new technologies introduced onboard the Prometheus. Everything looks smart, slick and real, as if this could actually happen in 75 years.

Of the actors, Fassbender and Rapace stand out as brilliant additions. Fassbender plays David with a removed oddity, always smiling, but maybe scheming as well. Rapace is our heroine, a woman tasked with the unenviable job of keeping the mission on track and everyone alive. Theron has several nice moments as well, and it’s nice to see her playing against type.

The spécial effete are dazzling, mostly because they’re simplified. There’s a lot of CGI, to be sure, but it’s not excessively used like so many other blockbuster films. Every part of the visual tapestry serves the greater story.

There are probably just as many question marks once the end credits roll as there are when the movie begins. This doesn’t make Prometheus confusing or dissatisfying. Instead, it all comes off like powerful cinema, like the type of movie that sidesteps resolution in favor of something deeper, something darker, something much more terrifying.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Prometheus

• 2012

• Directed by Ridley Scott

• Written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof

• Starring Noomi Rapace, Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Logan Marshall-Green and Idris Elba

• Running time: 124 minutes

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

• Rating: