Out-of-this-world

As a fan of sci-fi, there is no doubt in my mind that Alien is one the best films of the genre, and I continued to admire the director Ridley Scott after only recently watching his classic Blade Runner.

Not content with resting on his laurels, Scott has added another great movie to his catalogue. Not only is Prometheus his first dabble in science fiction since 1982, but it clearly shows where the director’s strengths lie.

Drawing the curtain on the 33-year-old mystery of Alien, what the movie has to offer is brilliant, unforgettable and grotesque.

It’s the year 2093, and a starship named Prometheus is on a search for the creators of human life on a distant planet after scientist Elizabeth Shaw (Rapace) and her friend Charlie Holloway (Marshall-Green) discover etchings from ancient civilisations that direct them there.

They are joined by the basketball-playing android David (Fassbender), a cold and heartless Merideth Vickers (Theron) and a host of other crew members (who don’t really matter).

After waking from a two-year sleep, they arrive on a faraway planet where they attempt to meet the ‘engineers’ of human civilisation. They explore a giant maze of underground tunnels and come to realise everything they discover contradicts what mankind has taught them about their origins. Scott may have made the audience wait for the action to begin, but when it comes, it’s excellent.

The main reason why this movie worked so well is the way Scott uses 3D visual effects with the skill of a master. Right away, the viewer is shown breathtaking stereoscopic images across beautiful landscapes.

Scott refused to show his audiences an alien in the trailer, leaving to our imagination what they may look like, but immediately gives viewers a glimpse of the creatures in the first five minutes … and they’re not what you expect! A toned and muscled Greek titan as an alien was a major let down, but not to worry, Scott doesn’t fail to bring in some old-school creepy creatures with tentacles flying at your face in the third act.

As the team’s caretaker, Fassbender’s elegant and lean android, outshined the other performances and was the most fascinating and memorable role. He is the first character we are introduced to and the only we will remember. He owned every scene he was in, as well as ironically providing a likeable magnetic screen presence regardless of being a robot.

As a heroine, Rapace did a satisfactory job of creating a strong female lead, but you can’t help but compare her to Alien’s Sigourney Weaver, who definitely created an iconic alien buster with her Ellen Ripley character.

Having said this, Rapace was involved in a DIY surgery scene that I will never forget. This is where Scott definitely pushed the limit of discomfort.

The film is perfectly designed with beautiful cinematography.

With the help of modern technology, the sleek futuristic interior of the Prometheus ship, in contrast to the dark rubble of the alien tombs, provides a visual masterpiece.

Scott’s return to science fiction shows spectators what extraterrestrial fear can feel like in the hands of a true creative.

Prometheus may not be as awesome as Alien, but it definitely comes close, giving viewers a world to get lost in.

*Showing in Dana Cineplex