Sometimes to Create, One Must First Destroy

Movie: Prometheus
Actor From Previous Movie: Charlize Theron (Imperator Furiosa, Vickers)
Where to Watch: DVD

9 times out of 10 if you ask someone about Prometheus they will say it's terrible. At least in my experience. Prequels are generally considered even worse than sequels, which are already viewed so poorly. Being the prequel to Alien, it had alot to live up to and most people feel it failed. I, however, would defend Prometheus with my life. That's extreme, but I have a really unexpected affection for the movie and I would consider it one of my favorite science-fiction movies.

I'll admit the movie has flaws. And I can totally understand why people wouldn't like it. It's very long. It feels very long. It's boring. The plot doesn't really carry the movie like it should. The writing isn't particularly funny or clever. The largely European cast could be a turn-off for many. Altogether it's set up like a blockbuster without any of the actual enjoyable qualities of a blockbuster.

So why do I love it so much? One thing I appreciate is how the movie looks. Alot of time went into making this other world believable. Or more accurately, making Iceland look like another world. But science fiction comes with the possibility of taking the audience somewhere they've never been. Between the high tech gadgetry of the ship and the foreign landscapes of the planet, watching Prometheus is like going on an adventure. It's more understated than, say, Star Wars or Star Trek. This isn't necessarily better for that reason, it's just different and I personally love it. The music in the movie helps set the mood for creepy space exploration. The acting is really good, which you don't usually see in science fiction. Vickers and Shaw both stand out, but in my opinion, the robot David is one of the most interesting characters in the whole movie. He's weird, ominous, and obsessed with Lawrence of Arabia. Sign me up. And spoiler alert: it's always great to see a Fassbender character get decapitated.

If anything, Prometheus is probably a "guilty pleasure." I don't think it's award worthy. I don't even think it's objectively great, and I would hesitate to recommend it to anyone. But I love it and I cannot wait for the sequel coming out next year!!!

Bechdel Assessment: Pass. Vickers and Shaw discuss the mission.