Friday, December 23, 2011

Prometheus Trailer

In space no one can hear you scream.

I rarely take time to express an opinion on film trailers. One of the last ones I actually took time to reflect briefly upon was James Cameron's Avatar. I wasn't anticipating much then based on the upcoming visual experience. Mind you, sitting in the theatre was a much different experience and the film generally delivered, but the latest from Ridley Scott, Prometheus [2012], promises so much more for this fan of true science fiction.

The return of director Ridley Scott for Prometheus has arrived in the form of a trailer and I must say I am over the moon in anticipation and the kind of giddy excitement I recalled experiencing when I saw the trailer for James Cameron's Aliens back in the day.

I cannot recall the last time a trailer thrilled me quite as much as the latest from Ridley Scott. If nothing else, Scott is always visually impressive generating taut suspense and atmospheric thriller after thriller, but as we know today he has always been so much more. I am an unabashed fan of the man's work and judging by the offering here I am going to love this film. It is pure science fiction drug to me.

Prometheus may or may not be the sequel people expected or had been waiting for, but in truth it looks like it reaches far beyond expectations. There's of course that sense of haunting eeriness that the tag line of Alien promised in 1979, that no one could hear you scream, and yet it looks to embrace the thrill of Aliens and horror of Event Horizon in a completely refreshing Scott Free package all its own.

Throw in sexy Charlize Theron, Guy Pearce and Michael Inglorious Bastards Fassbender and it has the cocktail ingredients for something truly special.

Seeing this trailer was a bit like Welcome to Ridley's World and a return to how quality science fiction should be done.

If the promise of Prometheus is anything like its trailer, for me personally, Prometheus will be hands down one of the best science fiction films made in years. It looks incredible and incredibly frightening. I, for one, cannot wait for June 2012.

7 comments:

le0pard13 said...

I'll comment with the same word I used on another blog talking about this same trailer: tantalizing. Can't wait.

Fritz "Doc" Freakenstein said...

Sci-Fi Fanatic!

I too consider myself to be a “fan of true science fiction” and this year’s crop of science fiction films, from the standpoint of actual “science” fiction, has been disappointing. Ever the optimist, I’m hopeful that next year’s films will be better. The trailer for Prometheus has me looking forward to the film more now, than from just the hints that the photographs and descriptions of the film that were previously available. The trailer does indeed demonstrate visual similarities to Alien – particularly the scenes on the alien planet – and it seems clear that it is about origins of the aliens from the movie to which this film is being hinted at as being a prequel to.

According to an article in the December 23 issue of The Independent, Prometheus is the first of two films. This first film is set 30 years before the 1979 original, so with no room for Sigourney Weaver's Ripley, the prequel will explore the origins of the deadly aliens. In a quote from Ridley Scott himself, "The film will be really tough, really nasty. It's the dark side of the moon. We are talking about gods and engineers. Engineers of space. And were the aliens designed as a form of biological warfare? Or biology that would go in and clean up a planet?"

I could see Prometheus not just as a prequel to the Alien films, but an entirely new series of films dealing with the advanced aliens that created them and… something more?

SFF said...

Absolutely tantalizing!

I will say that I have not read much about it and have generally stayed away from information. IT tends to ruin the fun for me.

So my post is strictly on the visual information presented and it blew me away.

Though it is very much in keeping with everything you have noted here Doc.

It's an astounding looking piece of science fiction and even your mention of two films excites me.

Scott continues to push the boundary of expectations.

Richard Bellamy said...

I'm looking forward to this movie more than I looked forward to 99% of the movies released in 2011. Bring it on, Ridley Scott!

SFF said...

Amen!

Honestly, when you think of the slough of films that have come and gone passing as science fiction it's been pretty dismal.

District 9 was the last science fiction film I was truly moved by off the top of my head.

But Prometheus looks like a true science fiction odyssey.

Richard Bellamy said...

It's not a biggie, but I enjoyed elements of The Darkest Hour and its twist on the alien-invasion genre. Did you see it?

SFF said...

Hey Hokahey!

I have not seen the Darkest Hour and the trailer didn't interest me at all I'm afraid.

It sounds like you took something of quality from it and that's always good to hear, but to be honest it just didn't do it for me.

Thanks for the head's up though. Maybe I'll give it a shot down the road.

Sff- happy new year!