Prometheus Review - I just watched it today in 3D

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 7:02 pm

Even though I said I'd never watch another 3D movie again, I changed my mind when I read that Ridley Scott filmed this movie as a 3D film from the start (unlike all the lame 2D to 3D conversions) and the sets were all designed to maximize the cinematic feel of 3D.

Well it works. You SHOULD see this movie just to see only the 2nd example of 3D in a movie done RIGHT. Avatar being the first example, but I think Prometheus actually did it better.

The 3D was never in-your-face. It just made it look like you were looking at a real life scene. I usually get a headache from watching 3D, but I had no problem with it. Just like Avatar, after the first 15 minutes you don't even notice the 3D is there. It's certainly adding to the realism, but it's not obvious. There are NO gratuitous 3D scenes staged specifically to scare you (like having something fly at you out of the screen).

The CGI was some of the best I've ever seen, avoiding the "cartoonishness" you often see in a lot of other flicks lately.

The film also very much captures the gloomy, gritty feel of the first Alien movie. There are some really well done, even awe inspiring scenes in the film. Which only makes the disappointment with the plot all that more agonizing.

No spoilers, but as most reviews already said, the first half of the movie - heck the first 2/3, was actually good. There was a huge buildup towards some incredible revelation about our origins, but then the whole thing devolves into a couple of unrelated scare-fests that really don't have a lot to do with the actual plot. The characters all also seem very disconnected from reality - they don't act like I would expect real people to do so in real life - especially when people die or when they're in danger. The Captain and most of the crew are just cardboard cutouts with no depth. I'm not sure if it's bad acting, bad directing, or both.

There was SO MUCH potential that it makes me want to cry. There are some very cool tie-ins with the original film, that are never really explored properly.

Overall, I felt something was missing. Maybe it should have been longer. Maybe it was intended to be longer, and the studio forced Ridley Scott to shorten it. I hope that there's a Director's cut someday that fixes whatever was missing.

The plot gets very schizophrenic at the end. There's a great story that's about to be told and then it almost seems like someone else took over the editing towards the end and slapped in all the bullet points the studio executives wanted in order to tie the movie into the first one and, and it comes off awkward. It also leaves major inexplicable holes in the plot. At the end, like me, you're going to ask yourself why most of the characters in the film did what they did, because it sometimes makes absolutely no sense. A major event occurs, and then it's ignored and forgotten like it never happened.

One of my biggest gripes is that - as far as I'm concerned - they altered something integral that contradicts the first Alien film. I don't want to spoil it, so maybe we can discuss it in a spoiler thread. I'd like to know if anyone else agrees with me.

This movie was like the movie "Sunshine": awesome and full of promise for the first 2/3 and then it just gets lost at the end.

There WAS some stellar acting: Michael Fassbender who plays the ship's android was excellent, as were Charlize Theron who plays a great corporate executive bitch, and Noomi Rapace who plays the lead scientist and does a nice job of channeling Sigourney Weaver.

So ultimately I give it a 6 out of 10. I'm not even sure I'd want to see it again unless it's a Director's cut that HOPEFULLY fills in the blanks.

I do think it's worth seeing in 3D in a good theater. It's entertaining and action packed, so you're not throwing your money away. You WILL probably enjoy it - up until the credits roll and you're left sitting there wondering what you missed.

You may even like it if you ignore the fact that it's a prequel to Alien and just watch it as a stand alone film.

wvjohn · Post by **wvjohn** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:09 pm

thankl - been looking forward to this - didn't realize there was a real 3d version

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:11 pm

My son and I are going tomorrow to see it in 3D. Can't wait.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 2:00 am

Saw it tonight & I feel that it's a good fit for the series. I haven't watched the others in probably 20 years, so they are kind of vague in my mind now. They always kind of devolved into scare-fests as I recall though.

I saw it in 3D as well & I agree that other than Avitar, it's the only one I appreciated in 3D. Though, I think it would be just as good without.

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:18 am

Oh I agree, even Avatar is an excellent movie in 2D (I saw it in 3D in the theater and 2D at home on BluRay). 3D is really over-hyped. It's a nice ADDITION when done properly, but it's not necessary.

darcy · Post by **darcy** » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:53 pm

late to the party as usual w/all this movie viewing, ~ but DVD is supposed to come in today's mail; so, even though we won't be seeing it in a movie theatre, we can @ least check it out : )