Movie review: ‘Prometheus’ is terrific and terrifying

In case you're the kind of viewer who likes to know what to expect, all you need to know before watching “Prometheus” is the movie tagline: the search for our beginning could lead to our end. The plot is simple. A group of scientists set out for an undisclosed location to search for "engineers" who may have created the human race. Everyone has his/her own reason for being on the ship Prometheus, and the first few minutes of the film focuses on each person's agenda.

There's the archaeologist couple Elizabeth Shaw (Naomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green), who believe that their makers are somewhere out there. There's Janek, Prometheus' captain, and the ship pilots Chance and Ravel, who provide some of the comic relief throughout the movie. There's a botanist, Milburn, and a geologist, Fifield—two of the less enthusiastic members of the group. Charlize Theron plays the cold and controlling Meredith Vickers, who monitors the expedition, which is funded by her father's company, Weyland Corporation. And then there's David (Michael Fassbender), the ship's butler. David is supposed to be perfect, because he's an android created by multibillionaire Peter Weyland. Each character has his/her own story, and the audience can relate to some extent. There's jealousy, resentment, uncertainty, and a lot of other ugly feelings. Vickers is quite the wet blanket, and you automatically think she's the villain. Shaw is a believer, and the expedition could change everything. David, as it turns out, is more human than he should be. But this isn't a movie about feelings, and whatever connection you might begin to feel for the characters vanishes when things start to happen. At first, the suspense is quiet. The scenes are impressive and beautiful, as is Prometheus. Unless your 3D glasses keep falling off, you'll actually feel like you're floating through space. And then they start exploring, and it gets terrifying. There are all sorts of things to fear in this movie—slimy creatures, razor sharp teeth within more razor sharp teeth, dark tunnels, and of course, the unknown. It's the kind of movie where you're happy whenever someone dies because it means they won't have to suffer anymore. Part of you wants them to survive, but the part of you that knows things can only get worse wants them to die as soon as possible. Because there isn't any time to really get to know any of the characters, it becomes about the battle more than anything else. In fact, it's the android that's easiest to feel for. Throughout the film, the audience is reminded of the human aspect—from things like relationship issues to bigger things, like the search for man's beginnings. But these threads are easily forgotten, especially with the amazing visuals. There are some movies that simply aren't worth seeing at an IMAX theater, and “Prometheus” is not one of them. Shot entirely in 3D, the film is the sort of thing that has sci-fi fans gushing. Even audiences who aren't familiar with sci-fi can appreciate “Prometheus,” with its awesome special effects and incredible sets. The audience at 20th Century Fox's premiere was obviously impressed, gasping audibly and gushing over the movie as they walked out of the theater. While it won't give you any answers to life's big questions, “Prometheus” does not disappoint. — KG, GMA News ["Prometheus 3D," from 20th Century Fox and distributed by Warner Bros., opened June 7 in theaters nationwide. Photos courtesy of 20th Century Fox.]