"Prometheus" is a masterstroke of modern science fiction cinema. Under the direction of Ridley Scott, who is returning to the genre after 27 years, it may not reach the iconic status still held by his "Alien" but it certainly plays around in the same territory to great effect. There has been much speculation throughout the development of "Prometheus" about its status as a prequel to Scott's 1979 masterpiece. While there are connecting threads, those looking for a definitive answer may not come away satisfied; indeed, "Prometheus" raises many more questions than it addresses. While that may sound like a frustrating prospect, it's exactly the point. When dealing with the origins of mankind, don't we always have more questions than answers?
"Prometheus" opens with an intriguing and startling prologue, much different from how "Alien" begins. There are sweeping shots of desolate but beautiful landscape, only these are not of our earth. Immediately following these shots is an event I will not even attempt to describe or analyze, as it will become the source of endless online speculation and discussion until the sequel. Next we meet Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green), who are exploring a mysterious cave off the coast of Scotland. Here they find ancient drawings depicting a humanoid figure pointing to the stars, which they view as an invitation and possible source of life on earth. She wears her father's cross around her neck, a sign of her faith in devine creation. He speculates more on evidence and depends on what he can see. Together, along with fifteen others, they embark on the starship Prometheus to travel to a distant moon that can sustain life and orbits a planet depicted in the cave drawings.
To describe everything they find when they arrive would be to lessen the impact of the mysteries and surprises of the narrative. I should mention some key players, including a cold corporate drone named Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), a fierce Captain (Idris Elba) and a protocol android called David (Michael Fassbender in a fascinating performance) who maintains the ship while the team is in stasis sleep. Each of these characters is vital to the audiences' ability to interpret the themes at play here. The brilliance of the screenplay, by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof, is that it stays relatively ambiguous while exploring the age-old concepts of faith versus science. To be sure, each viewpoint is represented, but neither is forced or even advocated for. Instead, at certain points in the plot, characters that fall on one side of the coin or the other are given an opportunity to express their ideas, and we can see the logic in both.
Science may look for the 'how' in everything, but faith does not require the 'how', or even the 'why' a lot of the time. What both have in common, I believe, is a lack of definitive answers. Some have criticized "Prometheus" for unraveling in the third act and not providing enough answers to its many penetrating questions. But this is precisely why the film is so terrifying; in the never-ending quest to find out why we exist and what our true origins are, the fear of the unknown unravels us. As "Prometheus" progresses, it is that fear and careless pursuit of the truth that catches the entire team off guard. Perhaps the ships's captain, Janek, has the best position; during one vital conversation, he explains that he doesn't care where he comes from. He just flies the ship.
Given the big gap between Ridley Scott's last outing with sci-fi ("Blade Runner" and "Legend"), it is incredible how comfortably he seems to slip back into the genre. "Prometheus" may just be the most thoughtful space adventure in years and fans of the "Alien" series, as well as newcomers, will find something to enjoy. A warning to the squeamish, however, that there is a middle act Caesarean section that is the the most graphic depiction this side of "Breaking Dawn Part 1." The context for why it must happen will not be revealed by me, but if you are familiar with this universe, you may very well guess. There are many other scenes of disturbing brutality that demonstrate the flexibility of the MPAA rating system. While some of the violence pushes the line of what you might find in a PG-13 movie, the R rating is a soft one.
I hope that the mixed reviews for "Prometheus" will balance out in time and show it for what it is: a deeply introspective sci-fi adventure that explores the very nature of mankind. The slogans for the film could not have been more spot-on. Ridley Scott settles easily in a return to form here, working off a mature and calculating script by Damon Lindelof. If you find yourself feeling frustrated at the end, fear not. I truly believe it to be intended this way. Besides, all of the characters don't get their answers by the end either. Need I remind you how the film opens? Looking back on that scene, perhaps what it means is that nobody will ever understand the 'why', even if they have the 'how.' That perplexity could drive anyone mad, including the ones we would assume to have all the answers. Now there's something to think about.