The Origin of Species

I can't tell you how long it's been since I last paid full price for a ticket, queued up and waited with antici…pation to see a movie on opening day, but that's exactly what I did last night for Prometheus. (And I wish to extend my utmost appreciation to Ben for accompanying me, as I don't think this was on his "must see" list.) Of all the summer movies that were announced, this was the one film I have been most looking forward to, and now that I've seen it, one of the very few in recent years that I want to experience for a second time.

To be honest, before I saw the film I wondered if it would it be a stroke of genius from the man who brought us the original Alien, Blade Runner and Gladiator, or would it be—as so many films have been of late—a total mind fuck, leaving me feeling like someone had reached in and plucked ten dollars out of my pocket?

At the end of the movie last night I walked out of the theater thinking, "Meh. 7 or 8 out of 10 on the live-up-to-its-hype scale," but the more I've thought about it since (and it is one of those films that stays with you long after you've seen it), I now think—despite some glaring plot holes—it was the one of the best sci-fi films I've seen in the last ten years.

The story was engaging and made you think. The acting was decent. I cared about the fate of the characters. The cinematography was sumptuous. I wanted to see more. The score was amazing; it's all I've been listening to for the last week.

Like all good movies of this type, Prometheus raises more questions than it will ever be able to answer. But the answers it does provide to some long-standing questions about the universe of Alien—like who the Space Jockey was and where the Xenomorph actually originated—are satisfying. Ultimately it allows you to form your own interpretations, probably the best thing any piece of art can do.

WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD!

The biggest complaint I have with the film is with the editing. While I understand the filmmakers are constrained by time limits, I think too much was left on the cutting room floor. Early on in the film I found the transition between the discovery of the cave paintings and the arrival of Prometheus at LV-223 especially jarring. I would've loved to have seen more interaction between Weyland and the two lead scientists and what they said or did to convince Weyland Corporation to finance the expedition.

There are countless theories as to who the Engineers really were, and I confess I have no definitive ideas to add to the discussion. Was the Engineer who appeared at the beginning of the film a rogue, who created humanity against the wishes of his brethren (à la the real Prometheus from Greek mythology), or was he simply performing his role as an Engineer.  Were they truly the creators of mankind, and if so, why had they been planning on returning to earth and wiping us out before those plans were sidelined by whatever they were running from in the hologram? (A creature we never saw; one of those plot holes that demand explanation.)

What is the black goo? Is it something the Engineers created, or did it create the Engineers? Did the goo change the worms into the Hammerpede, and what ultimately happened to that creature after it had entered the biologist's body? Why did the goo affect the individuals who encountered it so differently?

Naturally, there is quite a bit of buzz about this film on the Internet. A writer on one site raised some obvious questions, but ultimately I think the most thought-provoking discussion of the deeper meaning of Prometheus can be found here.

Ridley Scott's explanation of how humanity came to be—even though entirely fictitious—makes about as much sense as any other, and is a topic I hope to explore in a subsequent post.

All I know for certain at this point is that I will be seeing Prometheus again, and will be eagerly awaiting the Director's Cut…