Prometheus - Review Roundup

2012-06-08T21:08:52Z

A handful of the Xenopedia community, who for whatever reason were lucky enough to see Prometheus before its American release, had some terrible words for the film in a blog post poetically titled "Getting over the horror of Prometheus" (Spoiler Alert!)

I found their comments helpful, but very perplexing after scouring the web and not finding one film critic who hated the movie as much as our guys. Of course I value the opinions of Xenopedians far more than those of film critics, but it made me realize that it's all about perspective. Xenopedians have a lot more invested in the film as die-hard Ridley Scott/Alien fans, and even the smallest disappointing element will feel like an abomination. Meanwhile, the critics are watching so many crappy films that Prometheus' special effects are enough to declare it above average, regardless of the fact that most of them said the writing and direction of the story are awful. For them, shiny 3-D and beautiful set-design can eclipse the canon-abuse that makes our blood boil.

After you see the film this weekend, come back and read some of the pros' opinions before adding your own review, just to gain some perspective. If I could get a hold of Ebert, I'd tell him to visit the Wiki for the same reasons. One aspect remains consistent across every critic's review, and that's the unanimous praise for Michael Fassbender's performance as the android David. If any Xenopedians come in and say, "I HATED THAT GUY!", then I will truly be perplexed.

Enjoy!

1 Loved it
2 Thought it was okay
3 Hated it
4 Wikian Reviews

Loved it

Roger Ebert - Chicago Sun-Times

Score: 4 out of 4 stars
Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" is a magnificent science-fiction film, all the more intriguing because it raises questions about the origin of human life and doesn't have the answers. It's in the classic tradition of golden age sci-fi, echoing Scott's "Alien" (1979), but creating a world of its own. I'm a pushover for material like this; it's a seamless blend of story, special effects and pitch-perfect casting, filmed in sane, effective 3-D that doesn't distract. Read More...

Peter Travers - Rolling Stone

Score: 3 out of 4 stars
The ending isn't squishy scary or deeply satisfying. Bummer. Otherwise, Prometheus – especially in its spellbinding first hour – kicks ass so hard and often that it's impossible not to be thrilled by it. For starters, the look of the film is an enveloping amazement, with director Ridley Scott using 3D with the fierce finesse of a master. Scott gives us a world to get lost in. Read More...

Mark Kermode - BBC

Score: 7.5 out of 10

Thought it was okay

A.O. Scott - New York Times

But the virtuosity on display makes the weakness of the story — the screenplay is by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof — all the more frustrating. I’ll avoid spoilers here, but “Prometheus” kind of spoils itself with twists and reversals that pull the movie away from its lofty, mind-blowing potential. Geeks and dreamers will hold onto scraps of splendor and wish for more. There are no revelations, only what are called, in the cynical jargon of commercial storytelling, “reveals,” bits of momentarily surprising information bereft of meaning or resonance. Read More...

Ann Hornaday - Washington Post

Score: 2 out of 4 stars

So the biggest surprise about “Prometheus” might be just how unoriginal it is, given Scott’s track record as a genre game-changer. Visually impressive and featuring one or two breakout performances, this anticlimactic exercise too often plays as though it has been cobbled together from archetypes, imagery and tropes from countless other movies. Read More...

Peter Bradshaw - The Guardian

Score: 3 out of 5 stars

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. Read More...

Mick LaSalle - SF Chronicle

Score: 2 out of 4
"Prometheus" has the integrity of a serious and sincere attempt, but ultimately it won't please anybody. Those going into it expecting a fast, crowd-pleasing sci-fi action thriller will be disappointed - "Prometheus" is not that kind of movie. Its ambitions are in another direction, to be a brooding and penetrating contemplation of the origins of humanity and the nature of existence. [Read More...

Kenneth Turan - L.A. Times

Score: 3 out of 5

Part philosophical treatise, part pulp fiction, part pure horror show, Ridley Scott's"Prometheus" ends up with less to say than it thinks it does. Though more involving than much of this year's summer blockbuster competition, by the standards set by its wizardly director it's something of a disappointment. Read More...

Dana Stevens - Slate

Unfortunately, nothing that happens for the rest of Prometheus equals or, for that matter, explains its striking prologue. Co-scripted by Damon Lindelof of Lost, this film shares that series’ love for nested mythologies and involute philosophical riddles. Prometheus is more interested in piling on big questions than in answering them. It’s deep without being particularly smart, although the dazzling design and special effects keep you from noticing that basic flaw until at least an hour in. Read More...

Joe Morgenstern - WSJ

The same too-muchness afflicts the action, which is disorganized or preposterous when it isn't frenzied, what with scientists wandering off heedlessly and touching stuff with reckless abandon. (They should have watched a video of "Alien" for lessons in how to behave.) The climax is spectacular, yet the movie's high point—which may also be the low point, depending on your squeamishness level—is a ruthlessly clever sequence that the most ardent pro-life advocate might find justified in principle, though appalling in fact. Read More...

Hated it

So far as we could find, no critics gave Prometheus an extremely negative review. If any unfavorable reviews appear, they'll be added to this section.

Wikian Reviews

Now it's time for Wikians to review the film. If you've already seen it, post your thoughts in the comments or post your own blog!

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New Prometheus Videos

2012-05-16T08:38:38Z

New TV spot

Added by Porterfield

Whether or not Prometheus qualifies as a prequel to Alien has been a subject of great intrigue for the past couple of months. Director Ridley Scott has done little to placate the fury of the flummoxed fanboy, coming up with different responses every time he is asked the straightforward yes-or-no question.

Luckily for us, Damon Lindelof, who rewrote Jon Spaihts' original prequel script, thus making the matter more vague, has managed to set things fairly straight: "If your definition [of a prequel] is: this is a series of events that precedes an existing movie, then, yes. This series of events that happens in Prometheus precedes the series of events that occurs in Alien. However, one of the other definitions is that the ending of the prequel leads you right up to the beginning of the preceding movie." is what he told Entertainment Weekly, so apparently Prometheus does not lead right up to Alien.

I guess what this means is that it is a prequel, but we probably should leave room for another film or two to fill in the gap before Alien. Regardless of future films, there are very concrete connections between Prometheus and Alien, which you will realize when you watch the new made-for-television trailer above. It gives us a quick glimpse of Noomi Rapace screaming "Get it out of me!" while her stomach bulges, an obvious correlation to John Hurt's gut-busting scene in the original film. The original teaser trailer might have lead one to believe otherwise, but now we know what's really important: Alien fans should love Prometheus.

Bonus Video: First online clip from the film - "Prometheus has landed"

PollEdit

Viewing full clips of a film before it's released isn't for everyone, but the way trailers are getting edited these days, the end result- spoilage- is almost unavoidable. After seeing the Prometheus trailer before Avengers, I got to thinking...

Porterfield's blog