Prometheus review round-up
The first reviews of Prometheus are starting to filter through. So what are they saying?
We've not seen Ridley Scott's eagerly-awaited Prometheus yet, but we'll hopefully correct that shortly. But the secretive project has now been screened for some critics in the US, and the first reviews are starting to seep through. Here's the verdict so far, and we'll keep this page updated. Thus far, good but not great appears to be the consensus...
Our own review should follow in the next 36 hours...
There are no overt spoilers in this post. As always, if you want to go in 100% cold, then look away, just to be on the safe side. Click on the links to external reviews, though, and you're on your own...
The Hollywood Reporter.
"A visually stunning return to science-fiction by Ridley Scott caters too much to audience expectations when more imaginative boldness would have taken it further."
Variety.
"Ridley Scott's first sci-fier in three decades since Blade Runner remains earthbound in narrative terms, forever hinting at the existence of a higher intelligence without evincing much of its own" ...
"Yet a key difference between this film and its predecessor is one of volume. Incongruously backed by an orchestral surge of a score, the film conspicuously lacks the long, drawn-out silences and sense of menace in close quarters that made Alien so elegantly unnerving. Prometheus is one chatty vessel, populated by stock wise-guy types who spout tired one-liners when they're not either cynically debunking or earnestly defending belief in a superior power."
Screen Daily.
"It has been three decades since Ridley Scott last dipped his directorial toe in science-fiction territory (with 1982’s Blade Runner), but with his fantasy epic Prometheus it is clear his striking sense of vision, drama and excitement fits perfectly with the genre and he has delivered a film that is already one of the most anticipated titles of the summer and should thrill, challenge and provoke audiences ready for his signature brand of intelligent and visceral film-making."
In addition, the embargo on French critics appears to have lifted, although our grasp of the language isn't, er, particularly strong. Still,the excellent AvP Galaxy has been keeping tabs on the reviews from France here, and at the time of writing, lists 19 positive reviews, nine mixed verdicts, and six negative.
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That's not particularly reassuring, it had seemed up until now that this would be one of the standout best films of 2012! Still, can't wait to see it, it might go down better with me.
There's only one review that counts and that's the DoG review which I'd be grateful if you could post after the weekend please as I'll be watching the movie on Friday in a big fat f*** off Imax. Thanks.
Well, the reviews aren't as positive as I would have liked, but I doubt any review could dissuade me from watching it. Now to persuade the wife...
Alien got pretty mixed reviews when it was released and Blade Runner was fairly well savaged...
I'm watching it tonight at a preview, trying not to listen to the hype and the early reviews. Just gonna sit there and see if my mind gets blown or not, I suspect it will.
Seems about right.
A lot of people have waaay overhyped this film.
It was never going to be the second coming
So The Hollywood Reporter complains that Prometheus is too much like Alien and Variety complains that it isn't like it enough.
Definitely a case of overhyping which you guy's at D.O.G are guilty of!
My mate works with Digital projectors and last night was asked to test screen the print at
2 AM, he asked me along as I was always banging on about it as Im a huge fan...
Well all I will say is I loved it... it was a bvit slow and not a tight as Alien but wow did this look georgous, everyhting from the ship interiors to the Alien ship awesome... dont go in expecting too much and you will be happy... but this is defo no Phantom Menace... thank god..or thank ourselves.. ha seen what I don there... you;ll see
I don't care about overhype or the critics. I cannot wait to see this. It comes out June 8th in Canada. like someone else said, the critics weren't impressed with bladerunner when it came out.
in a more general way, i'm just always happy when a sci-fi movie comes out that isn't simply an action movie dressed up in effects (not those aren't fun, but they sure don't scratch the sci-fi itch)
Agreed - I've yet to be let down by a Den of Geek review - these guys know what the people (geeks) really like
I pretty much decided a while ago that if you go in with expectations high, you'll probably be let down. Not that I think this is going to suck, I don't believe it will, I just think people need tp learn that (Avengers aside) films are rarely live up what you hope them to be (Phamton Menace) so why bot just relax and enjoy it on it's own merits.
How bad can it be.alien 3 was the worst and I still love it anything in this trilogy is going to rock!
"So The Hollywood Reporter complains that Prometheus is too much like Alien and Variety complains that it isn't like it enough."
Huh....talk about not being able to make up your mind.
Also, let's not forget....ALIEN wasn't exactly embraced warmly by the critics when it was released back in '79.
Yup. I'll go one further--BR, like many films from '82, was laid into heavily by the critics....who, ten years later, were singing its praises.
Certainly won't disagree with that. Even if I don't like a review that's posted at DoG, their reviews are still much, much better than many other sites.
Exactly. TPM was the first time I had seen that happen--the film was hyped up to such unrealistic levels that it was bound to be a let-down unless you lowered your expectations and went in with a clean slate. The funny thing was that it was not the studios or Lucas that did the hyping, but the fans and the Internet community at that time.
I'm tamping my expectations down for PROMETHEUS, but I will still go to see it, because it is Ridley Scott's return to science fiction, and it certainly looks interesting...but I've avoided spoilers and other details. I just want to see a film that will hold my attention and take me on a fantastic journey (yeah, sounds so cliche, but....).
Can't dispute anything you said. Spot on.
I'll never forget the critical mauling that BR got. And I suspect that the film got both barrels because it went beyond what the critics thought an SF film should be. Hell, they ripped 2001 a new one back in '68 too!
"It was never going to be the second coming."
No film ever is.
they where singing the praise of the newly released dir. cut version.. the one without Harrison Ford's narration.
I'm fluent in French, Simon, so if you or anyone else wants me to give you a hand translating those reviews, just give me a shout. :)
Since I've only just recently seen the first Alien film (I know, what rock have I been living under!?), that whole universe isn't ingrained in my subconscious as it would be for many others. In that way, I'm generally going into Prometheus on its merits as an individual film instead of comparing it to it's predecessors. From what I've seen in trailers and articles, it looks like a fantastic film whether you have prior Alien knowledge or not so I'm not going to be going into this with any sense of comparison in my head. I suppose I'm luckier than most that way...
It wasn't just Ford's narration they had a problem with. They--and I mean the critics--slammed the film for being basically all style, no substance. Ford's voice-over was a minor factor for them.
I was 17 when ALIEN was released. It got INCREDIBLE reviews, we queued at the Odeon, and we came away exhilarated after 2 hours of unbelievable tension.
Well, that was us.
I , for one, am hoping for a great film, dispite any critic. I love BR from the moment I saw it, regardless of the critics. On another note, although the first Alien was great I enjoyed the second even more.
Yes mate! Thank... who?!
If I'm let down by the Dark Knight Rises, like I was with Avengers, because I was so full of DoG's "epic" reviews, when it was about as deep as tony starks hair line, I WILL PAY ANONYMOUS TO TAKE DOWN THIS SITE!!!!
I hated Blade Runner, thought it was wishy washy cr*p!
So is the "alien universe" tag letting Prometheus down then? I haven't seen any Alien stuff either, so Prom will be my first. I thought Blade Runner was awful, I hope its better than that!
Yes but aren't we allowed to be excited by something? Shouldn't we be allowed to be geniunely amazed and rewarded for our anticipation?
I think it's become less related to the original films that was originally intended. But there seems to be a lot of focus on what it was in common with those films. I think having not seen any Alien stuff, it'll be easier to judge it on its own merits, rather than comparing it to films you've grown up watching, like so many others have.
still hugely different movies all the same.
No
Yes the rose tinted glasses always blur things. I don't see the appeal of Nintendo's mario lot, but past gamers love it. having never had a gameboy i don't have the nostalgia.
Having seen Alien & Aliens, I can safely say both films are superior, having seen Prom first. I just don't see what audience was being targeted, this film was designed to make money from past fans and new fans alike, but ended up pleasing neither. Just make a bloody proper sequel and be done with it!