Tag Archives: film review

New Bond: Skyfall Picture

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Honda Announced as the Choice of 007 for Skyfall

Honda (UK) is delighted to announce its partnership with the upcoming James Bond film, Skyfall, and today unveiled the actual Honda machines used in the film, at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.

Honda’s CRF250R motorcycle proved to be the machine of choice by the 007 film’s action vehicles and stunt crew teams. These motorbikes were modified for the opening sequence of the 23rd James Bond film which was shot in Istanbul and Adana, Turkey earlier this year.

Twenty CRF250R machines were provided in total, to be adapted and ‘dressed’ appropriately into two native style motorbikes. One is a Turkish police bike that henchman, Patrice (Ola Rapace), seizes after a policeman crashes, the other is a Turkish merchant’s bike that James Bond (Daniel Craig) uses to pursue Patrice through the streets. Both bikes feature extensive modifications courtesy of Chris Corbould’s award-winning Special Effects team.

Two CRF450R motorbikes were further chosen for use as HD camera filming machines, as only a motorbike could easily enable the camera crew to keep up with the chase scene and follow the various stunts.

Stunt Co-ordinator for Skyfall, Gary Powell, commented, “We needed a highly versatile and quality off-road motorbike that could be easily modified, without compromising performance or safety, for the opening sequence of Skyfall. Honda’s CRFs are probably the best off-roaders out there so it’s great that we’ve been able to partner with Honda as the bikes, whilst heavily modified, were superb to work with.”

Honda (UK) Corporate Communications Manager, Fiona Cole, said, “We’re delighted to be a partner for Skyfall and are very much looking forward to seeing our Honda CRFs in action in the film and rolling out some great associated activities we’ve got planned from October when the film is released. We like to try and do things differently at Honda, including finding innovative, yet relevant ways to showcase our diverse products, whilst also really engaging with our customers. It’s great to not only have Honda machines chosen as the choice of Bond, but also to be working with such a longstanding film franchise.”

The Skyfall ‘Police’ and ‘Street Merchant’s’ bikes, alongside the unmodified and original Honda CRF250R, were unveiled today at the famous National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, which is currently hosting the BOND IN MOTION exhibition until 31 December 2012. The exhibition, the largest of its kind, celebrates 50 years of the James Bond films and showcases 50 of the best-loved and most iconic Bond vehicles.

To mark the occasion, Honda (UK) is offering twenty pairs of tickets to the BOND IN MOTION exhibition at Beaulieu, to lucky winners who enter Honda’s exclusive competition on its Twitter feed (@Honda_UK) before midnight on Sunday 22 July. Further activities surrounding Honda (UK)’s association with Skyfall will be announced over the coming months on www.honda.co.uk, Facebook/HondaCarsUK and Twitter @Honda_UK.

To see the versatile Honda CRF250Rs in action on screen and to enjoy the latest Bond adventure, head to see Skyfall in cinemas from 26 October.

Man on a Ledge | Film Review

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Man on a Ledge is a smart, fast-paced thriller. It is very much a ‘cinema’ film, and by that I mean one of those films you watch just for pure entertainment.

An ex-cop (Sam Worthington) is jailed for a crime he says he didn’t do and manages to escape from prison. He later threatens to jump to his death from a Manhattan hotel. He asks for a female police psychologist (Elizabeth Banks) who tries to stop him jumping. As the film unwinds we see that things are not as straightforward as they seemed. The plot has lots of twists to keep you entertained.

I really liked Elizabeth Banks’ performance. She known as a strong comedic actress but is equally good in this thriller.

A lot of this movie was filmed on a real ledge, a brave move by Sam Worthington who suffers from vertigo. Jamie Bell plays Worthington’s brother. Bell is fantastic in the film and so is Mandy Gonzalez as his girlfriend.

Ed Harris is as amazing as ever as the villain of the piece. I really don’t want to give too much of the film away but it really is worth a watch. Rent or buy for a good night in.

Man on a Ledge is pure entertainment. It is just a fun film which has the benefit of having brilliant actors in it. The acting really is top notch.

The Dark Knight Rises {Film Review}

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*WARNING! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!*

 

Since 2005, Christopher Nolan rebooted the Caped Crusader as we all thought he was long gone with Batman Begins. No one had expectations when the director of Memento was on-board but he delivered one of the biggest surprises and created a film that many other comic book hero films will try to imitate. Then he raised the expectations even higher with the announcement of a sequel and he delivered The Dark Knight in 2008. Continuing to bring maturity and intellectual story-telling but also made an impact to many filmmakers. Now Batman has risen from the darkness and finally has a new challenge, not only from new villains but also Christopher Nolan announcing it will be the conclusion to The Dark Knight Trilogy. Many argue there hasn’t yet been a great comic book hero trilogy and the third in the series always tends to not live up to its predecessors (X-Men, Spider-Man etc.) I can safely say this isn’t that case and will say early that this is the best comic book hero trilogy to date!

 

The story is set eight years after the events of The Dark Knight, Bruce Wayne hanging up his mantle as Batman and keeping away from the spot-light since. Until the terrorist known as Bane enters the stage and plans to bring destruction and chaos to Gotham City. Meanwhile, Bruce interacts with Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman, though never referenced by that name), a cat-burglar but an anti-hero who only helps her own (survival of the fittest). Bruce sees this as an opportunity to go back as the dark knight and come face-to-face with Bane but things go worse than expected (A LOT worse!).

There’s only so much I can reveal the story but it is better to experience it on the big screen. Wally Pfister’s cinematography and Nathan Crowely’s production design really amps the scale, you feel the anarchy Bane delivers from the many set-pieces this film delivers (if you thought the hallway fight scene in Inception was mind-blowing, Nolan really tops that from the opening sequence which could mistake it as a Bond opening). Hans Zimmer’s music is a more bombastic score, further bringing the thundering emotion of Bane’s menacing speeches and actions. Everything about the production in this film is top-notch, do you expect anything less with a Christopher Nolan film? I will say the film is bold and daring to go to places most filmmakers would not even think twice on going, all credit goes to not only Chris Nolan but co-writers David S. Goyer and Jonathan Nolan. Though people will find obvious references to Occupy Wall Street, especially Bane’s motivation on punishing the wealthy and supporting the people (even releasing the prisoners of Gotham to have the city to their own will). The story really does come to full-circle, whatever happened in Begins or Knight comes to full affect in Rises. With all the gloom and doom in this film, Nolan doesn’t forget to bring some humour into this film as he had done from his previous films. The story’s events comes from these three Batman comic book story arcs; The Dark Knight Returns, Knightfall and No Man’s Land.

 

Christian Bale really does shine as he delves deeper to his emotional struggles in this movie, you can feel the suffering and pain he has to go through. Which makes his journey to rise from the ground and come out soaring! Like his father says to him in Batman Begins “why do we fall, Bruce? So that we can learn to pick ourselves up!”, a line that runs through his motivation to save the city and its citizens. Tom Hardy brings a brute menace to Bane and finally brings justice to the character that was ruined in Batman & Robin. He may have the muscles and brawn to show but it’s his tactical thinking that makes him even more threatening. He may lack the sinister edge of Heath Ledger’s Joker but that doesn’t detract the type of villainy he delivers. You honestly worry about Batman, as Bane just brushes off everything Batman throws at him from fists to various techs from his utility belt. Anne Hathaway is terrific as Selina Kyle / Catwoman, she has her own code which is she looks for her own self and doesn’t get involved with anyone else. Though the chemistry between Bruce and Selina is quite electric, both exchanging quips and sassy comebacks but it evolves to something more intimate. Seeing the both of them work together is probably my favourite scenes from the whole film and I honestly think (controversy incoming) Hathaway does portray Catwoman more faithfully than Michelle Pfeiffer did in Batman Returns. The rest of the supporting cast continue to bring the best of their characters; Michael Caine makes an emotionally strong performance as Alfred, fearing the loss of Bruce and not wanting to go through the pain again as he lost Bruce’s parents (a powerful scene where Alfred confesses to Bruce that he wished he never came back). Gary Oldman continues to be the best Jim Gordon, growing to stand being a strong character and is actually exciting he can take care of himself despite his age. Morgan Freeman is the ever charming Lucius Fox, he too continues to grow such a strong supporting character.

 

Is it perfect? No but neither was The Avengers and I enjoyed the hell out of it. The surprise twists won’t surprise most comic book fans but I also blame the media on releasing a few images online that really should have been left offline. Bruce’s reason on exiling himself from the world for such a long time because of the death of Rachel Dawes is a bit hard to swallow but is a minor nit-pick that doesn’t affect the overall film. Zimmer’s score is great to listen to and gets your adrenaline going but it is a bit too thundering at places (and sometimes partially hard to listen when characters are talking). I think many people (including the YouTube community) will start to make fun of Bane’s voice, though I never had a problem understanding him from trailers and didn’t have a problem understanding him in the film. The ending may split opinions, as some may find it being something really bold and broad but then leads to something completely different. Also a reference towards the character of John Blake felt a bit forced and didn’t work in my opinion.

 

As much I really do enjoy this Batman series immensely, I am glad Christopher Nolan has finished with the series and will be moving forward to make more films in the same vein as Memento or Inception where his strengths as a story-teller really does show! Though for now, he’ll be producing Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel in 2013 with Henry Cavill as Kal-El / Clark Kent / Superman.

 

Overall; this film is fantastic, a satisfying conclusion to The Dark Knight Trilogy. Despite the minor faults this movie has, it still delivers an epic blockbuster not only just from the scale but also in emotion. Thank you Mr. Nolan, you made an honourable farewell to one of the greatest iconic heroes of our time.

 

4 out of 5

The Amazing Spider-Man {Film Review}

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*WARNING! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!*

Five years since Spider-Man 3, the last of Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy and now we have The Amazing Spider-Man. The proposed new Spider-Man series that was originally going to be the fourth Spider-Man movie but both Sam Raimi and Tobey Maguire dropped out and Marvel decided to reboot it. We now have Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker / Spider-Man, Martin Sheen and Sally Field as Uncle Ben and Aunt May but we have now a few characters that were introduced in the previous movies; Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy, Denis Leary as Captain Stacy and Rhys Ifans as Dr. Curt Connors / The Lizard. The weird choice was giving Marc Webb the director’s chair, his only previous credits was 500 Days of Summer, he has dealt with drama and comedy but action was something he’s diving in first time.

This movie takes us back once again to the origins of Spider-Man, except it takes us to a different way that doesn’t all feel deja vu. We’re actually introduced to Peter’s parents, they leave him to his aunt and uncle. Though his parents die from a plane accident and Peter grows up during his childhood and teenage years orphaned. He eventually comes across his dad’s belongings in a briefcase, inside he finds some papers and a photo of his dad and Dr. Connors. So he goes to OsCorp (pretending to be one of the interns) and meets Dr. Connors. Though he goes off to a restricted area and eventually gets bitten by the inevitable spider. Thus slowly becoming the web-slinger we all know and love (cue montage on having some hijinks and learning some new acrobatic skills). Meanwhile, Peter solves the algorithm his dad started and shows it to Connors and that leads to Connors using that algorithm to create a serum to regenerate limbs.

The story works well for newcomers but also makes it fresh for those who are already familiar with the character (from comics, movies etc.). Andrew Garfield really does play the character well and gets the classic prankster Spider-Man some already know (the scene where he plays around with a car thief). It also displays Peter Parker’s smarts, where we get to see him creating the classic web-shooters (though how does he get a hold of those web cartridges?). What’s also great about Garfield’s portrayal is there is a difference between Peter Parker and Spider-Man; Peter Parker is more reserved but not afraid to stand up for himself, whilst Spider-Man is wacky and gets his enemies off-guard by making wise-cracks. Gwen Stacy finally gets more meat to the character, as she was poorly written in Spider-Man 3. Emma Stone plays the character strong willed and not being a damsel in distress (which is a nice change considering Mary Jane Watson kept getting saved in every movie). The chemistry between Garfield and Stone is actually really great, they couldn’t do better awkward hallway talk then they just did. This is all credit to director Marc Webb, as mentioned earlier, he succeeded on making the chemistry between Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel affecting and charming in 500 Days. Rhys Ifans does the character of Dr. Connors well but he really isn’t explored enough to really feel sorry for him and be the tragic character the movie is trying to imply. His character seemed to be side-lined, more focusing on Parker’s evolution on being Spider-Man and his relationship with Gwen. The supporting characters you know little to nothing about, except Martin Sheen and Sally Field play their characters respectively and actually make an impact. Aunt May is under-played and is actually better than Rosemary Harris’s version, you actually feel for her being overly protective for Peter.

The action sequences were very well done, it was very easy to watch and I wasn’t confused what was going on. The stand-out action scene was where Spider-Man and The Lizard are fighting in the High School (although it could’ve had some build-up) and features a great Stan Lee cameo (barely a surprise he has a cameo in the film). I was interested with the direction on having Spider-Man’s POV when he’s web-slinging. As much as the performances and chemistry between the characters were great, some of the technical aspects were a bit flat. The orchestral score by James Horner (Aliens, Titanic and Avatar) really is forgettable, especially when compared to Danny Elfman’s score from the first two Spider-Man movies. It all feels very generic and doesn’t really stand out from the other superhero movies. Even some scenes could work without music, such as Peter Parker finding his father’s briefcase or even when he’s humiliating Flash Thompson (who’s more fleshed out this time around than being the typical bully). The film also felt all too rushed, it did not feel like 2 hours and 17 minutes long. Usually that’s a good thing but this film could’ve been better being longer. Uncle Ben’s death felt too rushed, it didn’t all feel enough to let it all sink in.

Though some plot points and events that come off being ridiculous to the point on not being able to suspend your disbelief and not making much sense; the machine that shoots a chemical cloud that both Richard Parker and Dr. Connors was working on but was shut down because the military deemed it dangerous. So it was left at OsCorp behind a glass door? The police firing at Spider-Man, even though he was unarmed apart from having web-shooters? The most ridiculously laughable scene involved a bunch of crane operators helping Spider-Man to swing to OsCorp tower. I can honestly say that I already claim that scene to win The Most Cheesiest Scene of the Year! It’s almost as bad and cheesy as the citizens of New York throwing stuff at Green Goblin in Spider-Man and a forced 9/11 reference when one of the citizens says “you mess with Spidey, you mess with New York!”. A couple plot points are brought up and suddenly disappear, such as Peter Parker trying to find Uncle Ben’s killer. Is he going to eventually find him or has he just given up?

Overall; it is an enjoyable start to the new Spider-Man series and really am interested where they will go from there. Great performances from the cast but it all feels a bit underwhelming from the plot feeling rushed and the incredibly bad cheesy moment. More like The Average Spider-Man.

3 out of 5

What To Expect When You’re Expecting | Film Review

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I wanted to see something a bit different when I went to see this film and the stellar cast had me excited. The film is based on a self-help book by the same name by Heidi Murkoff.

The film has five couples all “expecting”. Elizabeth Banks has always been a wonderful and strong comedic actress and this film is no exception. She is proof that women can be beautiful and funny if casting directors give them a chance. Jennifer Lopez’s character and storyline is real and touching. She adopts with her husband after spending the 401K money on IVF. Cameron Diaz plays a celebrity fitness guru who wins Dancing With The Stars and get’s pregnant by her dance partner, played by Glee star Matthew Morrison. Diaz character is strong-willed and likes having it her own way.

Chris Rock is on top form as the leader of the ‘dudes group’. The dudes group is a support team for men with children. I really liked this film. The cast is superb and it is both funny and real at the same time. The story of a series of couples who are ‘expecting’ is one I have not seen done in a film before.

This film is positive about men and women. The characters are strong and I really liked the script. The film is funny and entertaining. A few of the cast were previously in Bridesmaids and some of that humour is there.

This film is a great night out at the cinema. Entertaining and funny. I liked how it was pro-men too. Chris Rocks says at the end: “When I was young, I used to think I was happy – but now I know I’m happy. Exhausted, but happy.”

Director: Kirk Jones. Cast: Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock.

Cosmopolis | Film Review

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Canadian director David Cronenberg is still perhaps best known for his extreme horror cinema of the 1980’s such as Scanners, Videodrome and The Fly where the line between graphic body horror and examinations of his characters psychology. In recent years the psychological aspects of his work have come more to the fore and some may say it appears more conventional, most notably his recent works with Viggo Mortensen. Now he unites with young superstar Robert Pattinson for an adaptation of Don Delillo’s 2003 novel Cosmopolis. Expectations are high not just for the auteur’s new work but also but many are keen to see if Pattinson has the acting chops to pull of such an awaited film in the critical community. Cosmopolis certainly cannot be described as conventional but there may not be a lot of overly positive things to say about it…

Pattinson plays Eric Packer, a 28 year old financier working for ‘The Complex’ with millions at his disposal and divorced from society, who decides on a whim to travel across New York City, in his hi-tech, sound proof stretch limousine for a haircut. His security officer warns him that the arrival of the President, resultant crowds of protesters and a possible threat against his life make such a journey a potential hazard. Packer is resolute on his decision and what sounds like a simple journey spirals into a surreal odyssey as he cruises through an urban landscape populated by angst ridden colleagues, his distant wife, financial doomsayers, revolutionary protesters and a cream pie wielding anarchist. No, really.

Cronenberg’s direction is astonishingly precise to the point of extreme alienation. Taking place almost entirely within Packer’s science fiction like limo, his camera rarely has room to manoeuvre and instead we slowly glide across the cold, metallic surfaces that constitute this character’s life. CGI backstreet projection in these scenes creates a heightened sense of artificiality that mirrors Packer’s attitude to life. There are echoes of American Psycho in the fetishist style the camera roves over his material wealth. When we venture outside the limo hired from tampa charter buses, there is still an achingly claustrophobic feel to the urban environment. It’s a director at the height of their technical skills and yet it is in the cold, distant approach that Cronenberg observes the drama is that Cosmopolis makes its major stumble; the lack of emotional and visceral connection.

It is the dialogue that drives Cosmopolis, adapted by Cronenberg himself. Practically every scene is dialogue driven with characters spieling into lengthy, philosophical monologues about the world of finance, yuppie culture and in some circumstances whatever seems to come into their heads (‘Why do they call them airports?’). These lines are delivered with a very precise rhythm and arcane structure that very quickly becomes impenetrable despite occasional flashes of brilliance. There is little fault in the performance. Robert Pattinson could be blamed of making a very deliberate attempt to distance himself from the Twilight crowd, but his performance itself is fine. The camera is clearly drawn to his handsome features, he has cold and detached down to a tee and even performs gamely in a wince inducing medical examination scene, which closely recalls the director’s back catalogue of body horror. However Packer is such an empty ‘vessel’ that it’s impossible to drum up any sympathy at all for him. Where is he going? What does he want? What does he think? Questions are constantly answered but rarely answered. At one point he is directly quoted St Augustine; ‘I have become an enigma to myself, and therein lies my sickness.’ The problem is that the enigma never reveals itself and the sickness is never understood. It all becomes lost as he ventures from one bizarre set piece to another. I truly don’t think the problem is with Pattinson’s performance but rather through Cronenberg’s writing and direction of him.

The supporting cast are left to fare little better. Juliette Binoche and Samantha Morton pop up briefly into the limo to discuss Packer’s situation yet are not afforded rounded characters to flesh out. Sarah Gadon is alluring as Packer’s distant wife yet again there is such a sense of distance between them that it seems like their relationship is taking place on either side of a massive piece of perplex. You could argue that it’s the point yet no empathy still results in no emotional connection. Thankfully Mathieu Amalric is bursting at the seams with dangerous glee as a seemingly demented celebrity anarchist whilst the great Paul Giamatti very nearly steals the whole show as a disgruntled former employee of ‘The Complex’ who harbours an obsessive grudge against Packer. His ranting speech towards the end of the film makes him the closest thing to a recognisable human being we can see with the final shot and lines of dialogue hinting at how Cosmopolis could have been a devastating account of our contemporary attitude to material wealth and the Wall Street elite. Unfortunately it’s too little too late.

Cosmopolis is not terrible by any standard, but given the subject matter and the calibre of talent it can’t help but rank as a major disappointment and one of Cronenberg’s least satisfying films. Pattinson may have proved he has the chops but he’s going to need to find something more resolute to prove to everyone he is the real deal after all.

A Dangerous Method | Film Review

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This film about the birth of psychoanalysis is a triumph. An intelligent and though-provoking film with wonderful performances by Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen and Keira Knightley. Fassbender plays Jung when he was 29 and just married to a wealthy women called Emma. He was working at a hospital in Zurich in 1904 when he met Sabina Spielrein, an 18-year-old Russian Jew who is admitted in a deeply distressed condition.

Jung is attracted and fascinated by Sabina and after Freud sends him Otto Gross, (Vincent Cassel), as a patient, Jung comes under his influence and enters into an unprofessional relationship with Sabina. Gross was himself a psychiatrist in his 20s and suffered from dementia praecox (as schizophrenia was then known).

Jung cures Sabina with the “talking cure”, or psychoanalysis, then being used in Vienna by the 48-year-old Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), a well-established but highly controversial figure.

Sigmund Freud thought of Carl Jung as his natural heir, but relationships between the two men became strained.

This film is a very good historical film from David Cronenberg. I believe this film is the best Cronenberg has ever made.

Freud sees himself as the father that Jung wishes to destroy. Jung believes that psychoanalysis may save the world.

As the film ends Jung tells Sabina about dreams of the apocalypse. This film ends just before the first world war so Jung was accurate about an apocalypse. The legacy of Freud and Jung is evident in the film. They still affect not only psychoanalysis but our everyday lives. Sabina becomes a celebrated psychologist in the Soviet Union, but, sadly, becomes an early victim of the holocaust along with her two daughters.

A Dangerous Method is available on DVD and Digital Download from June 25th.

Prometheus {Film Review}

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*WARNING! MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

 

It has been nearly 33 years since Ridley Scott came to the spot-light and scared audiences worldwide with Alien (1979). It was a science fiction/horror film that felt real; in-terms of the characters who were portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Ian Holm etc. The film was the complete opposite to Star Wars (1977), it was dark and grimy (Ridley Scott used The Texas Chain Saw Massacre as an influence on how he wanted to treat the film). Now Sir Ridley returns to sci-fi in 2012 with Prometheus.

The story is about two scientists, Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green), who go off on an expedition (the ship called Prometheus) to discover the creation of mankind, lead by Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron) who represents Weyland Corp. Once they arrive on the distant planet, they soon discover a dark secret and everything soon goes downhill. It has been known as the Alien prequel but Ridley Scott decided to make it into an original science fiction film during pre-production. It does feature what we all know about the Alien franchise; derelict ship, android and Weyland Corp. but that’s where all ties from Alien stop. The story is very similar to H.P. Lovecraft’s At The Mountains of Madness (1936), in terms with its premise and twist. The film deals with the themes of creation and faith, though this is a story that has been itching Ridley since 1979; the origins of the Space Jockey. Whilst the themes are executed very well and the opening scene certainly delivers a bizarre but beautiful glimpse of what could be viewed as the creation of life.

Noomi Rapace, from Millennium trilogy fame as Lisbeth Salander, plays an interesting character that you follow and really get involved with. You feel her struggle as her faith is challenged when she slowly discovers about our creators (or engineers as they’re called) and wanting to find out why they created us. It certainly is a nice change that both Scott and Rapace didn’t try to create another Ripley and made sure the character stood out. Charlize Theron plays Meredith as cold as you expect when a Weyland employee is involved. She plays the character as very calculative, dry but also very straight-forward as you’d expect someone who’s company is funding a trillion dollar expedition. The standout performance in this film (and has everyone talking about) is Michael Fassbender as David the android and he steals every scene he’s in. His presence is captivating and makes you equally as fascinated and curious with the Space Jockeys as he is. The scene where he’s walking around and monitoring the ship and crew is probably my favourite scene in the whole movie, where there is barely any dialogue involved except where he watches Peter O’Toole in Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

This film is definitely going to get technical awards, especially for Production Design, Costume Design, Visual Effects and Sound. The whole film is exceptionally well made and it definitely shows where the money went and a lot of effort was put to make the best-looking science fiction film. The cinematography is absolutely gorgeous; every frame is beautifully lit and shot. Ridley Scott’s eye to detail on every part of the production is mind-blowing. Even where there were scenes were live actors were interacting with digital creatures looked seamless. Ridley shot the film in 3D and this film features the best use of 3D (along with Hugo, TRON: Legacy and Avatar). The common problem with 3D films is when a scene is dark, you’re focusing on the 3D than the scene itself and becomes incredibly distracting. This film, however, did not have those issues and would even recommend on seeing this film in 3D.

As much there were positive aspects in this film, it is not perfect unfortunately. Most of the supporting characters were not all memorable, especially anyone that wasn’t put top billing. They were all basically meat waiting to be put into the grinder and that’s where there’s the lack of tension/suspense. Unlike Alien where you got to know all the crew members and you actually cared for most of them whether they will die or not. The scene where Dallas (Tom Skerritt) goes through the ventilation shafts to find the xenomorph was one of the most frightening experiences I’ve had in film. Here, most of the scares are jump-scares, that’s a cliché the majority of horrors fall onto and it doesn’t work. It’s the anticipation of the horror; the tension building up and thus makes it scary. So when you see characters that are getting killed off when you barely had time to get to know them, you’re asking yourself “who cares?” The pacing and story is a bit muddled once the Prometheus crew lands on the planet and start discovering the Space Jockey’s ship. It all feels too quick and things start happening before the next set piece begins. I cannot help but feel there’s an extended version somewhere in the cutting room floor. It also leaves a few questions unanswered and I can see why some people may find that incredibly frustrating and especially so when it leaves it open for a sequel (or sequel-baiting). Some of the crew members weren’t entirely smart, they in fact made some pretty stupid decisions. For example; Rafe Spall’s character sees a snake like alien creature, his first instinct to do is slowly approach it and touch it whilst this creature makes a snarling hissing sound. That’s like going up to try touch a rattlesnake, even when it’s rattling its tail and hissing at you at the same time. Also the surgical pod in Meredith Vickers’ room didn’t make much sense, as it can only operate on male patients (why couldn’t it be able to operate on both sexes?). The music by Marc Streitenfeld (American Gangster and Robin Hood) is good but not as memorable compared to Jerry Goldsmith’s score for Alien. Where most of his tracks in the film work (the opening scene), some scenes I felt that could have been a lot stronger without it (David monitoring the ship).

Overall; an interesting science fiction film, that deals with themes that are bold and quite daring with the story and scope. I give Scott and his production team +A for delivering a beautiful looking film. Although it’s a film that has quite a few flaws and hoping there will be an extended director’s cut in the works!

3 out of 5