Prometheus

Let me tell you why I liked "Prometheus".  From the opening shot to the film's closing "Prometheus" follows the two most important rules of great science fiction:  First it is visually amazing; even the shots of Earth are wondrous and effective in establishing context for the story we are about to experience.  Secondly, and most importantly, questions are posed which force us as the audience to become involved with the decisions and consequences that occur onscreen.  These questions can be simple as; would take your helmet off on an alien planet?  Or deep; how would a scientific discovery affect your faith?  I went to see "Prometheus" with Rob, and I think that the initial premise of the story was too much for him to overcome; that humans were created by an alien race.  I can imagine that for many reading this review this would be a major hang-up and would distract from their enjoyment of the film.  Let me suggest that the movie isn't trying to preach one origin theory or another, rather the aliens, the space travel, the technology, and the scary monsters are all merely for entertainment value, while the substance of this film is in the questions.  In true science fiction form, there will always be far more questions than there are answers; answers are so disappointing and anti-climactic.  The main characters here are a scientist named Elizabeth Shaw (played by Noomi Rapace) and an android named David (played by Michael Fassbender).  Shaw is portrayed as a woman strongly clinging to her faith, regardless of events which might cause others to fall away.  This is a stroke of genius, because typically scientists are portrayed merely as cerebral, whereas a reasonable person must conclude that any belief system is ultimately based on faith.  Ridley Scott (the director) masterfully establishes Shaw as the center of this film; I was truly sympathetic to her plight and was rooting for her.  Typically movies treat the audience with a childlike disdain; either root for Tom Cruise or the other guy, who by the way is trying to initiate a Nuclear holocaust.  In "Prometheus" Scott allows us to choose who the "good guy" is by introducing us to the characters and asking the question, who's side would you be on?  As was true in her "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" role, Rapace is able to subtly play Shaw as both extremely brave and strong while being realistically fragile.  Her actions never seem like they are plot devices, rather she is a living, reasoning person in an extraordinary situation.  This is well contrasted against the David character, who builds upon Scott's fascination with androids and their unavoidable influence on humanity (and visa versa).  Scott's original "Alien" and of course "Blade Runner" ask moral questions about man creating beings in our own likeness.  "Prometheus" goes further, delving into the irony of men who are searching for answers about their creators, while so callously mistreating their own creations.  David could easily have been presented as an antagonist, yet Scott understands that a intricate android character is far more stimulating than an evil robot.  Early scenes where David is watching "Lawrence of Arabia" clue us in that this movie is aspiring to be far greater than some shallow sci-fi horror flick.  That being said, what would an Alien movie be without some scary aliens?  Here too Scott doesn't disappoint.  The alien creatures are imaginative and set the right tone for the part they play in this story.  The primary alien race which is focused on are familiar yet intimidating, making it possible to conclude that while they should be respected they might be friendly too.  Then there's the more mysterious creatures, the kind that are obviously up to no good.  Scott and his team of effects wizards once again prove that aliens don't have to be big and scary looking to be be deadly.  Personally I'm not a fan of the horror/creature genre, yet Scott uses techniques from that industry to create motivation and tension.  What better way to examine what a person's true character is than to put them in room with a maneating alien parasite?  The other effects were equally amazing; this film was shot in the newest high definition 3D digital format, and seeing it in IMAX is impressive.  The panoramic views and majestic interior shots benefit most from the 3D, and fortunately it never felt like a gimmick. Scott clearly knows how to utilize technology to compliment the story he is trying to tell; I think that all the great directors push the limits of filmmaking but never loose sight of what they are seeking to accomplish. The worst thing that can happen in a movie is breaking the illusion (with the one exception being "Ferris Bueller's Day Off").  I would hate to spoil anything for someone who has not yet seen the movie, so consider yourself warned.  The last ten minutes of the movie contain my only complaints, albeit rather minor ones:  Firstly there is the unnecessary double ending...  I would have preferred the first ending of the ship flying into the proverbial sunset, fade to black, the end.  I know that the second ending was meant for the fans (of which I am one), but it wasn't beneficial to the movie itself and somehow seemed out of place.  Secondly there is the possibility of a glaring continuity issue, if in fact this is the definitive prequel to "Alien".  A very central character isn't where he should be at the end of this movie considering where he is discovered in "Alien".  Because the movie never claims to be leading up to the beginning of "Alien" perhaps there is an explanation for this apparent oversight, so I can't complain too much.  I was reminded of the scene from "Empire" when Obi-Wan tells Luke that he was trained by Yoda, then in the prequels inexplicably Qui-Gon is Obi-Wan's master.  There is a hint of that feeling here at the end of "Prometheus", but I talked myself through it, and it's not that bad.  Overall the ending is satisfactory, and the film as a whole is one of the best I've seen in a long time.  Take that "Cowboys and Aliens"!