So a couple of people have asked why I liked Prometheus so much when it had so many story and plot based problems as a film. I could go into an incredibly long and detailed analysis of the movie and compare it to the previous films in the series, but I won't. There are so many other movies that I could apply the same principle of critique and analysis to, but I won't. The long and short of it is, I don't always have all the time in the world to talk about every single movie I see and have seen. That's not the point of this blog anyway. The point is to discuss whatever I feel like discussing, raising broad, generalized points about given genres and themes and ideas as explored in a variety of different artistic mediums, primarily films. I can afford to pick and choose so I do. There isn't really all that much regarding Prometheus that I am that interested in picking apart or analyzing, so I won't. I shall, however, address the matter of my liking it.
Prometheus isn't a fantastic, fantabulous, mind-blowing cinematic event. It's not on the same level of brilliance as Alien or even Aliens, but it's still a solid enough science fiction film. There are concepts and themes and characters that are, for the most part compelling enough. It is an adequately great film. It has some issues to be sure in terms of structure and it attempts to introduce one too many extraneous and superfluous subplots that ultimately go nowhere in terms of the overall story. This is not the fault of Ridley Scott or the actors or the production crew. Sitting through the film for the first time left me fulfilled on a purely visceral and visual and filmic level. The writing is the issue. Damon Lindelof isn't much of a screenwriter. He strikes me as one of those creative minds that has so many good intentions and generally solid abilities, but has no idea how to apply them into a cohesive whole script-wise. I have many many issues with Lost, probably his most famous and popular of babies. One of my main criticisms against that show is in its ultimate execution as a literal TV show. The concept of melding characters with larger than life fantasy-sci-fi storylines and a variety of dark themes is largely appealing. But the final result leaves me very wanting in most regards. What is even the ultimate point of the show? It doesn't have a consistent enough exploration of any of its themes or ideas to give off a clear perspective on life or people or anything really. Prometheus is the same way in terms of writing.
There are so many characters and ideas and themes rambling about in the course of the film that it becomes nearly impossible to discern one, overall point of it all. Everything just kind of happens without much propulsion or rhyme or reason or push to go from one scene to the next. There is a lack of narrative flow or dramatic movement. And it's all pretty much on Lindelof's head.
But beyond that there is still much to admire about the movie. Scott's direction, the production design, the music, the acting, and the effects are all superb. I admire ambition. And Prometheus is ambitious. Does it always succeed in that regard? Certainly not. But for me, sometimes having mediocrity or confusion in certain departments of the overall film doesn't always mean it becomes inherently bad or just good or just really good. Warren Beatty's Dick Tracy movie is not well written at all. But it's wildly enjoyable and the design and look of the movie carries all of the weaknesses of the script. The same goes here for me.
Prometheus raises a bunch of plot-oriented questions and issues that aren't fully explored from a thematic or dramatic perspective, and it's been said some of those problems and queries will be answered or further defined in a potential sequel. One that will hopefully be helmed by Scott again and perhaps not written by Lindelof this time. I enjoy movies that don't give you all the solutions to their problems in neat little packages, but sometimes that's a tough line to toe across. Lindelof isn't up to the challenge obviously, and his script falters because of his lack of genuine talent, but there is enough on the page that is clearly realized and brought to life on the screen by Scott for us as an audience to admire.
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