Prometheus (20th Century Fox)

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Ridley Scott made a name for himself as a director thanks to 1979’s Alien. The movie spawned three sequels and countless imitators along with the Alien Vs. Predator movies.

Now Scott returns to not only reinvigorate the series, but add a new perspective to the original by exploring more of the world from the original. The new film Prometheus can be seen as either as a prequel or a spin-off to Alien though it takes place decades before the events of the original.

In the late 21st-century, archaeologists Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and her boyfriend Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green) found cave drawings around the world that contain similar space drawings.

They then join a scientific crew on board the ship Prometheus to find the planet that was in the drawings. Once there, the crew, which is monitored by Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), enters a strange pyramid, which led to a discovery of mysterious alien life forms.

However, the crew’s android member David (Michael Fassbender) has his own motive with the life forms. This leads to total terror that turns a scientific discovery to a fight for survival.

If you’re a fan of Alien, then you will get some of the references that connect this film to the original. However, this film can also stand on its own especially if you never saw Alien. While its action packed, it mirrors the original’s feeling of dread and paranoia especially character motives that are revealed as the film progresses. Though not as scary as Alien, it delivers plenty of chills, which will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

The film has a nice well-rounded cast including Theron once again providing a stellar performance much like last week’s Snow White and the Huntsman. Rapace is at her strongest playing the female heroine much like Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley from the series. Some of the scenes she does on her own provide some intense moments that show off her skills as an actress.

The best performance of the bunch goes to Fassbender, who provides a good performance as an android much like Ian Holm and Lance Henriksen in the series. The only weak spot in the whole film is Guy Pearce in old-age makeup playing Weyland Company founder Charles Weyland.

While Pearce isn’t too bad, his character could’ve been played by Henriksen who played a similar Weyland character in 2004’s Alien Vs. Predator, which would’ve made a lot of sense for fans of the series.

Though it’s not as great as Alien, Prometheus can stand on its own as one of the most thrilling sci-fi films in recent years. Whether or not you’re a fan of the original, this film can still keep you entertained for two hours.

THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for sci-fi violence including some intense images, and brief language)

THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.5 Stars (Out of Four)