Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (June 13, 2012)
Art & Entertainment Archaeologists Search for Birthplace of Humanity in Sci-Fi Horror Dateline: Scotland, 2089. While spelunking along the shores of the Isle of Skye, archaeologists Char- lie Holloway (Logan Marshall- Green) and Dr. Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) discover an ancient painting etched into the ceiling of an abandoned cave. The uncanny researchers immediately discern that the primitive picture is an invitation from aliens to visit a moon located in a remote constel- lation that might very well have been the birthplace of humanity. Fast-forward a few years and we find the curious couple already en route to LV-233 on a daring expe- dition to find proof that people were created not by God but genetically engineered by sentient K AM ’ S C APSULES Movie Reviews by Kam Williams beings from another galaxy. It is unclear how unearthing such evi- dence will affect the faith of Dr. Shaw, a devout Christian who always wears a cross that was a gift from her late father (Patrick Shaw). As the spaceship Prometheus approaches its destination, Cap- tain Janek (Idris Elba) and his crew of sixteen are roused from a cryogenic state of hibernation by a doting, concrete blond android named David (Michael Fass- bender). Upon landing, however, command of the operation is assumed by Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), a coldhearted, corporate executive employed by Weyland Corpora- tion whose late CEO (Guy Pearce) underwrote the trillion- dollar mission. The trip is just a job to the jaded Vickers who is skeptical about what she refers to as “the scrib- Idris Elba co-stars in ‘Prometheus’ bling of dirty little savages in caves.” In fact, she orders the dis- embarking explorers to refrain from making any direct contact “Gladiator,” “Black Hawk Down” and “Thelma & Louise”). At this juncture, the picture proceeds to divide its time between raising probing philosophical questions about the intersection of science, religion and ethics, and gratuitous graphic depictions of body invasion, mutation, and gruesome vivisection. Although initially conceived as a prequel to “Alien” (1979), also directed by Scott, the movie was ultimately released as a stand alone adventure. Regardless, this riveting, visually-captivating and thought-provoking sci-fi is well- enough executed to recommend ‘In space, no one can hear you scream, except perhaps God’ with aliens. Of course, contact with alien life forms is precisely the point of “Prometheus,” a high body-count horror flick directed by three-time Oscar-nominee Ridley Scott (for for avid sci-fi fans, even if the heavy-handed, faith-based sym- bolism (“Where’s my cross?” and “After all this, you still believe!”) gets to be a bit much. A thinly-veiled intro to the “Alien” franchise revising that classic’s tagline to suggest: In space, no one can hear you scream, except perhaps God. Very Good IIII Rated R for intense vio- lence and brief profanity. Running time: 123 min- utes Distributor: 20th Century Fox ONLINE Scan our QR code with your app. theskannermobile.com Page 10 The Portland Skanner June 13, 2012
