31 Days of
Drafts and Darkness: VOL 2!
"Prometheus" (2012)
When the announcement that Ridley Scott, director of the
sci-fi/horror classic "Alien" was returning to the franchise as
director, people went nuts. After all, at this point, the two latest Alien
movies saw them take on the Predator in plotlines more suited for action
figures than on-screen icons. This was a chance to bring the series back to
formula.
"Alien" is a claustrophobic, eerie film. While
James Cameron's sequel kicked up the action levels, the original worked
quietly. It wanted to slowly play at your fears before striking. Thus, the
utter surprise of shockers like the first chest-burster scene or attack in the
vents. There was only one creature in "Alien", but it was terrifying
enough to carry the whole damn movie all by itself.
"Prometheus" had a lot of horror-hype to live up to. Ridley
Scott, however, had bigger things in mind.
Only a pseudo-prequel to "Alien",
"Prometheus" most certainly takes place in the same universe. Though
it lacks Xenomorphs, the Wayland Yutani Corp. is still up to shady practices.
And H.R. Giger's fingerprints are all over the art direction. "Prometheus"
is less about the lore specifically behind the aliens and more about overall
nature of its entire universe. The spiny buggers are in the mix, sure, but
they're only one of countless species and worlds.
Walk in expecting a true "Alien" successor, and
you may be disappointed. "Prometheus" seems to set bigger sights than pure horror. There is horrific material, but also much in the way of
exploration and philosophy.
The Plot:
We begin our tale shortly before the year 2100. Doctor's
Elizabeth Shaw and Charlie Holloway have spent their careers (and most of their
marriage) researching the origin of human life. Their investigations into the
painting and artifacts of ancient cultures lead them to believe a single alien
race essentially seeded Earth with mankind. Called "Engineers", these
figures appear in the artwork of numerous cultures throughout history. The recent discovery of an ancient cave in Scotland holds yet more
intrigue. Though its etchings are faint, they seem to indicate coordinates.
Among the stars.
A massive expedition is assembled, funded by the
uber-wealthy Wayland Yutani corporation. The aging company president - Peter
Weyland - is nearing the end of his days and wishes to learn about the true
nature of human life. Dr. Shaw and Holloway seem to be on to something, so he
funds the trillion-dollar journey into space. While the crew sleeps in stasis,
their needs (and memories) are taken care of by David, an android.
Upon arrival at the alien planet, our team of explorers and
biologists discover an immense structure. Bio-organic in appearance, it is
obviously not of our world and bears the mark of the Engineers. Understandably
thrilled, the scientists delve deeper into the labyrinthian network of tunnels,
finding little trace of life. But plenty of death. It seems the Engineers were
here at some point, but something went very, very wrong.
And that something has now found our crew.
The Flavor:
Though it has bigger things in mind, "Prometheus"
feels very much like an Alien film. Stylistically, the bizarre alien
architecture contrasts to the dirty, industrial look of the human technology
much in the same way. The flesh-meets-metal dynamic of the older films is less
extreme, but it's there. When nasty creatures begin to appear, they're not
Xenomorphs. But you could certainly see them as close cousins.
In terms of tone, "Prometheus" shares much of the
ominous feeling held by its predecessors. While you watch, you're constantly on
alert for something to go wrong. Perhaps it because we're used to the
franchise? We're accustomed to things not going smoothly in this universe.
There's an ever-present sense of incoming danger. Of man getting in over his head.
And possibly having to pay the price for it.
And yes, plenty of messy ordeals befall our crew.
But there's something else there, too. The ever-present
dread of "Alien" isn't the only tone "Prometheus" runs on.
There are great moments of peril, even horror, but the feel is more centered on
exploration and curiosity than it is pure fright. Plenty of screen time is
spent marveling over alien landscapes and technology. These scenes inspire wonder,
even awe. The sense of the unknown isn't utterly hopeless. There are plenty of
threats lurking in the dark, but there could be something else there, too.
My only complaint about "Prometheus" is that it
doesn't really get the time or scope it needs to address all the questions it
raises. The film has a lot of big ideas. After all, we are talking about the
creation (and sometimes, destruction) of all life. Once the cast arrives and
really begins exploring, things take off at a break-neck pace. The action kicks
into overdrive and the plot never slows down to reflect on what all their discoveries mean. Because of that, character's frequently make, well, hasty
decisions. For example, I'm pretty sure the appropriate response to finding a
pulsing tentacle isn't to poke at it.
This is a film that has some big ideas, but needs more time
to develop them. If there ever were a film that I'd recommend extending out to
three hours or more, "Prometheus" would be it. It's an impressive and
thought-provoking journey. It just needs time in-between the later action and
horror for us to absorb the implications of what's going on. Without that, it
comes off as confusing.
Still, I heartily recommend "Prometheus", for
while it rushes through the big ideas, it still has them. I feel it just needs
to spend more time with them.
And a Power Loader vs. Queen fight wouldn't hurt either, but
that's just the fan-boy in me talking.
Best Paired with:
This is no casual viewing. Sit down to watch
"Prometheus" with a group or significant other that'll listen and
observe everything that's happening. You may find yourself pausing the film on
occasion to catch up on plot detail. Despite the rushing,
"Prometheus" is still a high-quality, very well-acted science fiction
movie with effective horror elements.
On that note, let's address those elements. This is a
Halloween list after all. The scares aren't numerous, but will jump at you from
time to time. Much of the nastiness comes from exotic infection or attacks by
alien organisms. These can be quite gory, but there are only a few truly gross
instances. Those who dislike gore can avert their eyes and be right back in the
action after a second or two.
Accompanying Brew:
Dark. Brooding. Deep. Ponderous. Gotta be some kind of
Imperial Stout, am I right?
Name: Resurrection
Brewery: Backlash
Where Brewed: Holyoke, MA
ABV: 9.5%
Style: Coffee Imperial Stout
Color: Beyond the
'light-shall-not-permeate' level. When I held this baby up to a light, the room
actually got darker.
Aroma: The scent is a blend of rich, deep aromas. Heavy
tones of coffee, sweetness, and roasted malts play on the nose.
Taste: Your introduction to this brew's flavor profile comes
from the combo of roasted malt and sweetness. When it first hits the tongue,
you simultaneously pick up the deep roast from the malt and the signature
sharpness higher ABV beers bring to the table. There's a sweetness, yes, but
it's got a bite. As the brew washes over the tongue, the coffee makes its grand
entrance. This is no background note. Resurrection's coffee flavor is robust
and rich, filling the entire mouth and saturating the taste buds. It's almost
as if you took a sip of fine espresso. Delicious.
Aftertaste: Later into each sip, a slight bitterness from
the hops appears. It first wipes away the sweetness of the brew, then joins
forces with the roasted malt and coffee flavors to bring a variety of bitter
notes to the finish.
Body: Velvet-smooth, like taking a sip of melted chocolate.
Resurrection has only slight carbonation, but the effect serves to make the brew
go down like silk. The body is heavy and strong, but you'd never know it while
drinking.
Pair: Decadent, this
is a brew to pair up with something dark. Rich chocolate cakes and other
desserts would sing alongside this beer. Just remember, while silky, the brew
is still heavy and strong, so drink slowly.
No comments:
Post a Comment