Review: Where the Screams Began (Prometheus)

Space. A cold, empty vacuum where an incident occurred many millenniums ago. There are those who believe that human existence is nothing more than an isolated accident and those who feel that it was an act of a higher power. The primary offender of Prometheus is Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace). Shaw refuses to believe that this grand universe is empty and without purpose. In exploring space, she seeks comfort. Whatever the crew of Prometheus will find, it will reconstruct the currently held view of the universe. In leading a crew to explore a planet with signs of intelligent beings, Shaw will test her theory.

Creation has been a running theme in the Alien franchise and one that is opened up for debate more in Ridley Scott's ventures than the other films. Offspring allows man to live on forever. What Scott proposes with Alien and Prometheus is that while immortality gleams with promise and answers soothe all wounds, some things are better left alone. This sentiment is echoed in establishing shots where humans are remarkably small onscreen (the shot of Prometheus outside of L.V. 223 being the most obvious of the shots). Not only are we small, but ultimately, unimportant.

The search for answers has often gone unrewarded in human history and the few answers we do have only initiate more questions. If there is a creator, society would be best served without knowing the intents of the act that resulted in our existence. Vickers and Janek (a capable and lived-in Charlize Theron and Idris Elba) are comfortable in the knowledge they possess. They may be company men (the plight of every crew in the Alien franchise), but they have a fierce determination to live.

Despite the inclinations of most, Weyland Industries ignores those instincts and creates inorganic life. With Shaw and crew chasing the promise of purposeful creation, ironically, when David (Michael Fassbender, phenomenal once again) asks about his creation, the response is a curt “because we could.” Man was created and man created David. That level of ignorance regarding David drives most of the drama in Prometheus. There is a primal sense of danger that lurks beneath David's seemingly docile surface. Whatever Shaw's inner curiosities bring about are multiplied threefold by the resident android of the ship. The relationship between creator and created is a delicate one, and the film is at its best when focusing on that interplay.

The confines of the ship are remarkable. It is difficult to discern where the practical sets end and the computer effects begin. Scott is known for his work with technology and he outdoes himself here. Prometheus doesn't just lend itself to fans of science fiction, but the film's effectiveness in creating dread is enough for most fans of the horror genre to head to theatres as well.

The film's downfalls are typical of the genre that it operates in. Characters are developed quickly and thinly, but the main cast of Fassbender, Rapace, Elba and Theron make more than enough for the consequences to matter to the audience.

Yet where the film really succeeds is in generating questions that last with the viewer long after the credits fade. The majority of viewers may not care for the message, but it will undoubtedly serve as a source of debate.

***/****

The Best of the Decade

Over the last ten years, the cinema has given us a great deal to be thankful for: a rebirth of the Batman franchise, a series of examinations of what it means to live in this particular decade, and a mass of character studies whether they be animated or popcorn thrillers. As much as I have enjoyed the offerings, a list must be culled together for the end of the year. Except this year is different, this year ten films must be selected from hundreds. Below are some of the best of the aughts. Enjoy! 10) There Will Be Blood Paul Thomas Anderson's magnum opus, a scathing look at extremism in America and the evils of greed and profiteering from religion. It also features the best performance of the decade with Daniel Day-Lewis as oil-man Daniel Plainview. 9) Up A beautiful tale that entrances all ages, Up managed to captivate children and tell a tale that adults cherish as well. 8) The Dark Knight Maybe just a comic book film, but it is the best comic book film

Paprika vs. Inception

Months before Inception hit the theaters forums were alive with rumors that Christopher Nolan either accidentally or intentionally stole some details from another film, the Japanese anime Paprika. The biggest point of comparison for some bloggers and forum runners was the fact that both of the films featured a device that allowed a person, or people, to travel into another’s dreams and delve into their subconscious. Minor points of comparison include scenes in Paprika where the character Paprika breaks through a mirrored wall by holding her hand to it, as well as a scene where a police detective falls his way down a hallway. Claims have been made that Inception abounds with imagery similar to or exactly like the anime movie, but with the recent release of the film on DVD and Blu-Ray, and with Paprika available for several years now, an examination of the two plots can be made more fully. Let us begin with the primary claim— Inception stole the idea of a dream

Armond White or: How I Learned to Stop Caring and Ignore the Troll

Whether it is his glowing review of Norbit , his thrashing of Toy Story 3 , or just his general pompousness, you are aware of Armond White. His dismissal of Toy Story 3 came at a convenient time when the film was sitting pretty with a perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes. "But Toy Story 3 is so besotted with brand names and product-placement that it stops being about the innocent pleasures of imagination—the usefulness of toys—and strictly celebrates consumerism." A claim that could have been taken at face value had he not followed it with this sentiment " Transformers 2 already explored the same plot to greater thrill and opulence." I am sure if one were inclined to interview Michael Bay at his most enlightened he would have never crafted an answer that insightful regarding hidden parables in his Transformers vehicle. White was at his most incensed when forced to sit down and type out his thoughts regarding Precious , but praised Norbit for its reflection o

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