REVIEW: Prometheus

Ridley Scott returns to his Sci-Fi roots in one of the most highly anticipated films this year, but is it all it's cracked up to be?


The initial problem that Scott faces is that he's shot himself in the foot by creating a film in his Alien universe, which got fanboys and the general moviegoing audience very, very excited. There's always high hopes for a Ridley Scott film (often dashed) but this time it really did set a precedent.

So let's begin by saying do not expect this to be an Alien film because it isn't. At all. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, when the film finished I was a bit surprised by the route it had gone down. Rarely was I at the edge of my seat or biting my fingernails, instead I was watching wide eyed and trying to absorb everything - where Alien was simple, Prometheus is hugely and unnecessarily complicated.

This is mainly due to the fact that Damon Lindelof, of Lost fame, is the scribe and a lot of people have been fuming about how he is all ideas and no actual content or context, which I have to agree with. Just because something looks interesting with all different bits, it doesn't mean that when you start putting it together (as people always do) that the result is something you actually like. Prometheus is full of good things, just not necessarily things that work well together.

In case you don't know, the idea is that the film takes place before Alien etc. (I imagine it doesn't even want to include AvP prequel stories!) where a couple of doctors discover a map to a planet where they believe they will meet their makers. As they land on the planet, things start to turn a bit sour. The overarching theme is the idea of the big questions in life, who we are and where we come from, but also a chicken and egg theology that tries it's best to keep some faux-intelligentsia that Lindelof likes to think he's a pro at. Much like Lost, he thinks he understands the audience but he doesn't, he takes advantage of trust and it's something that he will come up against time and again. What I love about the film, I also hate and though Lindelof is full of big ideas, I can't help but feel that he doesn't have the methodology to pull them off.

In any case, the set design and general production is impressive and the 3D iMax that I watched it in was incredible and for that alone, it was definitely worth the watch. However, what was also hugely impressive was the cast. Fassbender proves he is an acting heavyweight by pulling the film together and I would say is the central character to the piece rather than Rapace, who has to put on an English accent (why not just use someone English?). Charlize Theron does her bit but is somewhat useless, as is Idris Elba as the cool pilot and to be honest, everyone else who just become a bit of fodder. Essentially, the acting is great but the characters are not fleshed out at all which is a huge downfall.

Also, looking back, the story kind of makes sense, but not really. There is a lot of plotholes which I'm sure will be widely discussed for a while but it's made up of great set pieces. This isn't really a monster movie, in fact it's not a horror at all, or even a chiller, it's a Sci-Fi film that would rather have a huge orchestral action score than a small, lingering, 'less-is-more' approach that defined Alien. If you're willing to take that onboard, sit through some pretty incredible 3D or if you want to see something that you know you'll enjoy then go to your cinema and see it. But it's not genre-defining, it's not scary, it's not original, it's not Alien, but I liked it nonetheless.

Rating: 7/10

REVIEW: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

Fincher puts his own spin on the popular novel not that long after the Swedish film was released. Was it worth doing? How much different is it?


I have to confess I haven't read the books. Instead, I watched all the Swedish films back to back and have to say I enjoyed the first one, but was disappointed with the latter two. The main reason I liked Dragon Tattoo was because of the story, something lacking in Fire and Hornet. Fincher has made a good choice in wishing to direct this first one, but being wary to sign on to direct the next two, for good reason.

In case you don't know, the film is about a journalist asked to solve a case of a girl that has been missing for decades, meanwhile a young researcher is having her own troubles until she is brought in to help the journalist. There's a lot more to it, but that's it in a nutshell.

People have said they can't see anyone playing Lisbeth since Noomi Rapace played her (who is now in Sherlock Holmes 2 and the much anticipated Prometheus), but I have to say I enjoyed Rooney Mara's performance a whole lot more. Rapace was cold, isolated, with only mere moments of any kind of humanity. Though this makes her seem multidimensional as a character on paper, as a performance it lacks a certain quality which Mara has been able to invoke. She is strong, yet innocent, and where people could believe Rapace was a strong yet vulnerable woman, Mara takes it to another level where you don't even need to believe it, she just is.


She also looks a lot better, it's not strange to think that Rooney is attractive and yet slightly boyish and Fincher has brought out something that is memorable, to the point where an Academy Award nomination wouldn't be out of the question. That's not to take anything away from Craig, who is a damn sight better than his Swedish equivalent and makes the role his own. The other periphery actors also do an amazing job, Stellan Skarsgard (one of my favourite actors) making a noteworthy performance. But it is Rooney who steals the show.

No-one could also fault Trent Reznor's score which adds a subtle yet sinister depth to each scene and for what has to be arguably Fincher's most commercial piece of work, he still manages to toe the line of popular acceptability and integrity that comes with experience. He hasn't done anything crazy, in fact it feels sometimes the story is strong enough for him to step back and let it unfold, yet it is his subtle signatures with lighting, framing, colour and his incredible storytelling ability that makes sure this is one for everyone. Even the amazing title sequence which made my jaw drop was a bit strange, almost like a Bond opening, but still showed that Fincher isn't afraid to do things a little different.

The only problems were that sometimes it felt a little drawn out and there's still points, much like the Swedish one, where I'm left scratching my head but too engrossed in what's happening to care. Also, same with Swedish one, I also felt that Lisbeth's story that continues over the top of the main narrative seems at times surreal in that it might be establishing her character, but deviates from the main plot, no matter how relevant it might be in the future plotlines.

It's one of the few times that a Hollywood remake of a foreign film pays off and it's done with great style. It's a good story that will keep you hooked and Mara is just mesmerising in what I think is the ultimate take on Lisbeth Salander, by far the most interesting character of the lot. Definitely worth a look-see.

Rating: 8/10

NEWS: Alien Prequel Takes A Different Path ...

Alien prequel takes another turn as Ridley Scott ditches it to make an original Sci-Fi horror.


We've all been waiting for more details on Ridley Scott's Alien prequel, well now we've got it but it might not be what people want ...

A direct prequel will now be replaced with a film called Prometheus which will be out March 9th 2012. Noomi Rapace (from Girl With The Dragon Tattoo) is set to star in it and Charlize Theron and Angelina Jolie are fighting it out for the main role. I have to admit neither of them impress me, but Jolie is a much worse actress (apart from maybe in The Changeling but still). Lost's Damon Lindelhof has taken over the script and it will be in 3D, but also HR Giger has announced that he's on board so you never know, it might not be a straight-forward Alien film but it might make some good Sci-Fi Horror nonetheless.