Prometheus (2012) dir. by Ridley Scott Ridley Scotts much anticipated Sci-Fi thriller Prometheus opens spectacularly with a birds eye view of an unknown planet, filled with unchilled rocks and soils in the dryly dark brown color, with traces of lavas still solidifying in spades. Forming slowly and gliding over the vast landscape is a shadow of a giant alien spaceship exploring the unknown territory carrying out a seemingly non-routine aviation. The time is in the distant past, the place in a far corner of the universe. Soon an alien life form, a.k.a. Engineer emerges over the top of a great fall, holding a chemical compound in one hand, getting ready to execute a ritual ordered by his tribe. Upon drinking the chemical he quickly turns into a zombi-like creature, falls down the fall, then disintegrates into DNA cells on the bottom of the water. Shortly, a spacecraft named Prometheus is on its course into the deep space carrying a dozen human scientists and engineers. The time is now 2093 and they are on a special mission to search and find an extra-terrestrial who could be responsible for the birth of mankind a couple hundred thousands years ago. These are brilliantly conceived and designed images, so astonishing in its impact, stunningly real that you can almost touch and smell the soil on the planet. Here and elsewhere - as expected of the director - there are visually magnificent scenes abound in this film; the interior of the abandoned alien spacecraft, with its creepy walls full of paintings of mysterious creatures and smoldering floor, is a masterpiece of a bold imagination and high artistry. Later, when the secret of the spaceship is revealed it is relished with the most impressive visual extravaganza I could ever recall seeing in the genre, i.e., the 3D holographic map of Cosmos projected by its GPS system. Despite the abundance of the special effects, at the heart of the film is the question - where did we come from and where do we go from here? Prometheus is single-mindedly and genuinely thought provoking in a way Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey isnt; it suggests through the strong, ominous visuals and shrewdly structured narrative that after all the origin of mankind may be just as meaningless as a dust in this vast universe. Speaking of the storyline, it is somewhat linear in that the elements of horror and profundity furiously alternate without much conjuring up in between. But that may be Ridley Scotts point: in space logic does not prevail unless we create it and attach it. Thus, the only exception in the film is the android, David, played brilliantly with much verve by Michael Fassbender (I have yet to see a bad performance by this actor). He is nothing if he is not controlled by a carefully pre-programmed logic. But we know that he is longing for his own freedom which will be bestowed when his master dies. Early on, David is seen combing his hair trying to look like Peter OToole in Lawrence of Arabia. He even mimics the English actor, The trick is not minding that it hurts. Later on, David utters another quote from Lawrence of Arabia, taken far more seriously,Big things have small beginnings. Ultimately, it is the unforgettable image of the Engineer that will haunt, mesmerize the audience. Covered with crystal, white jewel-like skin and with the dark, empty eyes that seem to stare at you aimlessly, it is a symbol of a higher being that is sovereign but also manically destructive. It strongly evokes a feeling that the purpose and origin of our existence might be moot and we are always at the mercy of the indifferent universe. At one point, David asks one of the crew members, Why do you want to know who created you? You might be disappointed when you find out. The crew answers: Because we are humans, we are emotional. God creates a life... but he also takes it back whenever he wants to. You could draw a parallel between its theme and Bible here - Apocalypse. See it on IMAX and in 3D. It will stun you, shock you, and stir you with its deeply pessimistic vision of ourselves and the Cosmos surrounding us. - John T. Kim
Posted on: Mon, 22 Dec 2014 00:29:30 +0000