Prometheus

*****
Dir. Ridley Scott
Ever since the classic 1979 film Alien, Ridley Scott has revolutionized the science fiction genre in cinema. Prometheus combines the essence of the Alien saga with stirring 21st century special effects. Set in 2093, the crew of Prometheus ventures into the far reaches of space to explore the origins of mankind. The members of this expedition include Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace), an advanced robotic organism named David (Michael Fassbender), the ship's Captain Janek (Idris Elba), Shaw's boyfriend Dr. Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green), and the stern and secretive Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron).

Before I get into what I liked, I feel obligated to inform readers about the controversial messages expressed through the film. As with many sci-fi stories, it puts heavy emphasis on evolutionary themes. As a Christian, I despise evolution altogether. Furthermore, I don't like that it's being presented in schools and through the media as fact and not theory. The film depicts the origins of humanity as being spawned from an alien civilization, and questions creation at many points. Hence, I would advise you to be cautious of this going in.

Nevertheless, Scott and screenwriters Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof provide viewers with a unique and compelling story line that intrigues sci-fi fans in particular. The foundations of the plot are connected to Alien, but I wouldn't call the film a prequel. It's centered mainly around the species which the crew encounters, and what they come to discover about the human race. With graphic images and brutally violent encounters between the humans and extraterrestrials, the picture is horrific to say the least, making the original look like a walk in the park. Scott does a great job of pacing the story, despite the ending being a bit rushed; and cinematographer Dariusz Wolski is remarkable in creating this dark, otherworldly atmosphere. I had the pleasure of seeing it in IMAX 3-D, which I would say enhances the viewing experience effectively. It being shot with 3-D cameras, you can actually feel the floor vibrating when the ship takes off. Hence, despite my disagreements with some of the themes presented, I thought the film was very intriguing and certainly a visual spectacle.