It’s the beginning . . . of everything.
Swift shot: H.R. Giger is back. Hopefully this isn’t a spoiler . . . yes, this series is related to Alien. Now that we have that out of the way, my biggest beef with this film was too many questions left unanswered, granted that was by intelligent design, but it left me wanting to know a lot more.
Mythology tells us Prometheus was a trickster who returned fire to humans, defying Zeus and was severely punished for his crimes. In fact, a quick search says he was lashed to a rock and had his liver eaten every day by an eagle. Naturally, his liver was restored to him, daily, I am guessing around lunch time, so that his suffering would be epic. See, Zeus didn’t want humanity pursuing science, because we would become too dangerous and unpredictable. To his credit, he was right. We set off on the USCSS Prometheus, a noble ship searching for the most basic question for man, who created us? (You can check out some specs for the ship here at the Project Prometheus site). In a way, we are orphans of the universe, always searching for our father and mother – kinda sad, really.
If you are willing to explore this film with an open mind, and a curious soul, and aren’t the type to so fastidiously grasp to your personal theology, you might just like the film and story. If you are close-minded and offended on a weekly basis, or if you are that idiot who complained that the Hey Kool-aid Man needed shorts, this one isn’t for you, because it will challenge your faith throughout. Personally, I liked it, I recently read “Chariots of the Gods,” and even mentioning that doesn’t give away some of the more intricate twists of the film. So, fret not, you should be surprised and entertained.
The film opens in a pretty incredible way, with an expansive scene showing a massive waterfall and some strange powder-skinned humanoid drinking ink-like liquid from a vial. This vial holds the key to humanity, but there are so many questions to answer . . . again, too many questions. From there we are thrust into the future, 2089 and the Isle of Skye, Scotland where we meet Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) two scientists digging in the caves for answers that probably should remain mysteries. Still, like Dr. Frankenstein, they are so focused on the pursuit of science, that they neglect reason. Shaw is a passionate believer in faith, she lost her parents when she was young, and the only way to face each day is that hope that she will see them again . . . in paradise. I thought that was a nice touch in a film with a less than Christian theme, having a strong character that is actually not just a quicksand Jesus. To her credit, even when her faith is tested in ways no woman could ever fathom, she never gives up her pursuit. That is what made her such a compelling character to me.
Charlie is also driven to find answers, but his is a more egoistical pursuit. The only one able to foot the bill for this fool’s errand is Weyland industries, their patriarch, Peter Weyland has long since left the stage when the ship is finally ready to go, but he manages to launch the expedition nevertheless. Shaw and Holloway are initially told they are in charge, but the bitch in the painted on pantsuit helms the ship, Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) who has a few secrets of her own. She isn’t a robot, but her ship has packed one for the long journey, David (Michael Fassbender) who keeps things humming while the crew sleeps. He also is a bit of a moviephile and we get treated to one of his favorite films as we watch him kill time . . . before things get interesting. Weyland Industries has prepared for all possible contingencies, but their motley crew is hardly hand-picked upper-crust echelon types. Some of the supposed geniuses on board left me waiting for a few of them to meet their maker, you know, in the biblical sense. But, they packed some pretty cool kit, especially liked the introduction of the PUPs.
Again, no spoiler, they arrive at the mysterious planet of origin. The movie would have been pretty long-winded and boring if they didn’t get there, and once there they encounter quite a few nasty surprises. And, like idiots, they essentially start poking things with sticks, which always works out well in sci-fi films . . . NOT. Still, the whole film is essentially about us poking God with a stick . . . but how do you think God handles being poked? You’ll have to see Prometheus to find out. And, as I mentioned, this does tie in to Alien, and there is a very, very gut-wrenching scene that I think will be years before someone can top with just how excruciating it is to watch and feel as well. When Alien first came out, it was all about, “Did you see that thing pop out of his chest?!!” This film will, no doubt, leave the ladies disturbed. Don’t want to reveal more than that here.
With plenty of intellectual mind-fucking, Prometheus will keep you on the edge of your seat, compelled to find answers . . . but, sadly you may be left with just more questions. Still, I highly recommend it to anyone who loved the original Alien films or anyone else who feels like orphans, constantly searching out an intergalactic hug from whomever created us.
[Spoiler Alert here – – – read no further until AFTER you have seen the film – – – the Brits toyed around with biological agents in WWII on Gruinard Island (not just coincidentally in Scotland). The island was off-limits for decades, because they learned, anyone can create life, but not everyone can control it. I think this is what Shaw will discover, when she gets to their planet. It’s why the engineers decided we had to be exterminated. We are the WMDs of their failed biological weapons lab . . . along with some other very nasty critters, of course.]
