Ridley's Redux: Prometheus Unbound

It's been several days and I still keep running images from Prometheus through my mental movie screen. When you've been looking forward to a film this much for so long, there's a lot of potential for disappointment - especially when it's been hyped as fervently (and effectively) as Prometheus has been.

Now that the curtain has been pulled back, there've been all kinds of bizarre reactions, some arguing if it's really a prequel or not - were you awake?

Prometheus is the best science fiction film I've seen in ages - certainly since Avatar - probably since way before.

This is ambitious, epic stuff. Like the best sci-fi novels, Prometheus dares to take us into a future where we certainly still recognize ourselves, giving us a story that actually dares to be about something. 99% of directors would have phoned in the idea of an Alien prequel - not Ridley Scott. Given the choice of delivering a rip-roaring sci-fi audience crowd-pleaser or a film that actually challenges the audience with notions about our place in the cosmos, Ridley Scott chose to do both - and has pulled it off like a house on fire. Noomi Rapace shines as the most effective half of an archaeologist couple who've uncovered what seems to be evidence that mankind was visited by and possibly even created by extraterrestrial engineers. A trillion dollars later, the space vessel Prometheus is about to land on a planet that may hold all the answers to the origin of mankind - or may make asking such questions a very low priority.

The film is anchored by an amazing performance from Michael Fassbender as David, who's on his way to being the most memorable character of the year. A synthetic person, David is responsible for monitoring the ship and crew during the long cryosleep voyage to their ultimate destination. Like a butler with impeccable breeding, David amuses himself by mastering basketball and studying endless screenings of Lawrence of Arabia. Fassbender continues to be one of the most fascinating actors working today.

Once landing, there are sequences of grandeur and ultimately terror. The film echoes many moments from the original Alien - ship lands on planet; someone is exposed to something more than they realized; someone is told they can't come back aboard due to potential infection; someone loses their head - then there's a bravura sequence of genuine shock and suspense that will have audiences gripping their seats - Ridley may be 74, but scenes like this show he still directs with the vigor of someone a third his age.

Characters do behave stupidly - there are moments when removing your space helmet is always a bad idea. But I found myself so caught up in events with things moving along so quickly I barely had time to raise an eyebrow. Charlize Theron, Idris Elba and Guy Pearce are all fascinating in their own right. Though it's Fassbender who knocks it out of the park.

Prometheus seems destined to start a lot of arguments - I've been amazed at some of the negative reactions I've heard, to the point that I wonder if I saw the same film. There are themes at work here about faith, choice and the nature of man that are going to upset some people. But no one can say that Ridley Scott   recycled himself for a buck. He's created one of his most amazing films and revisited a universe beloved by fans in a fresh and exciting way. The production design and effects are jaw-dropping. There's one scene at the very end which I felt was out of place, like a hot dog served at the very end of a gourmet meal - but if you've been yearning for visionary, thoughtful science fiction that doesn't answer all your questions simply, take up the challenge and get to Prometheus. Ridley Scott has returned to science fiction - I hope you stay here a while, Ridley. From where I'm sitting, your eye has been greatly missed.