Very Interesting review by someone who NEVER saw [i]Alien[/i] (spoiler-free)

[size=5][b]Note:[/b] This review has been marked "spoiler-free". Any spoilers posted will be removed (the entire post).[/size] -----------------------------------------------------------------I found the following review rather encouraging considering the reviewer claims to have never seen [i]Alien[/i].....I find that so interesting as it seems to me that a vague sense is emerging as to why the slow stream of reviews have been so discordant... ....I get the feeling that some dislike what [i]Prometheus[/i] has to offer as a result of the fact that they were EXPECTING, despite all of the evidence and Directorial sign waving to the contrary, [i]Alien 5[/i] in a far TOO literal sense....they wanted, expected and felt OWED answers to certain questions and what they are apparently getting is what they felt they deserved......This review seems to suggest that in not having seen the original [i]Alien[/i], he lacked the attention to details we rabid fans would look for and he was able to ex[erience [i]Prometheus[/i] for what it is rather than what some would expect it to be...which seems healthier and far more interesting if you ask me.... Anyway....I'm reserving judgement for June 8th and I hope all of you will as well....Here's the link to the review and the body of it as well.... [url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-05-30/prometheus-is-hard-to-talk-about,-but-a-thrill-to-watch]Prometheus is hard to talk about, but a thrill to watch[/url] Ridley Scott's new film looks great, is full of fantastic ideas and doesn't require any knowledge of Alien to be thoroughly enjoyable, says Tom Cole Written ByTom Cole 10:40 PM, 30 May 2012 Before we begin, a quick confession: I’ve never seen Alien. And while I’m sure it’s just as good as everyone says, it’s one of those films that’s never quite made it off my “to-watch” list, which bothered me slightly before going in to Prometheus. After all, this film’s Alien’s kinda-sorta prequel. Would I even understand what I‘d be seeing up on the screen? Happily though, it turns out that you’ve absolutely no need to be familiar with either Ripley or the xenomorphs to thoroughly enjoy Ridley Scott’s big-budget space opera, which is released on Friday and works perfectly well as a standalone feature. Though the problem with Prometheus is that it’s quite a difficult film to talk about in a way that won’t spoil other people’s fun. It’s a bit like Cabin in the Woods in that it’s jam-packed with whacking great plot twists, revelations and conceptual breakthroughs , all of which are much too good to have spelt out before you see it. For make no mistake, this is a very enjoyable film indeed. I have to confess that I’m not sure it quite warranted the extended drip-drip hype campaign we’ve all followed/endured for the past few months, but it’s a damn fine movie nonetheless. To give the barest possible summary of the plot, it’s about a crew of scientists and engineers brought together at the end of the 21st century by an aged billionaire and dispatched into the far-flung reaches of space, aboard the film’s titular spaceship, the Prometheus, to investigate a distant solar system depicted in various ancient cultural artefacts found on Earth. Could the secrets of these stars shed some light on the mysterious origins - and possibly creators - of mankind? Well, yes, as it turns out. And how! The first thing to note about Prometheus is just how visually stunning it is. In fact it’s the only film I’ve ever seen that truly benefits from the 3D treatment and, if you can get a ticket, seeing this on an IMAX screen is an experience I’d thoroughly recommend. From its sweeping panoramic shots of Earth’s natural wonders to its elaborate gore scenes, Prometheus looks just as good as you’d expect a film that cost $130m to do. Even its CGI, so often a bugbear in modern cinema, is almost flawless, with only one scene lingering in my memory that looked even slightly ropey. And conceptually, this film’s great fun. Though the basis of the plot could have come straight out of the pages of Ancient Astronaut theorist Erich Von Danniken, there’s some serious stuff thrown in too, and the film poses any number of questions about God, faith, existence, death and even our very understanding of reality. While it doesn’t answer every question it asks, it’s thoroughly intriguing and I daresay you’ll find yourself turning the film’s many stimulating plot points over in your mind long after you leave the cinema. Its cast are superb too, with Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba and especially Charlize Theron turning in nuanced and thoroughly multidimensional performances throughout the film. In fact Theron is so effective in Prometheus that I felt rather weary afterwards, having spent the best part of two hours hating her on-screen character with every fibre of my being. If there’s one complaint that could be levelled at Prometheus, though, it’s in its pacing. Far from sluggish, the film starts speedily and just gets faster and faster, ending up positively manic. Indeed, a number of its concluding scenes flashing past almost before you’ve had time to register them. However this 124-minute film was so engrossing it felt to me as though it had only been on for about 70 minutes by the time the credits rolled. In short, this is a film that’s both intelligent and full of action, packed with both abstract concepts and fierce emotions. It looks great, sounds superb and is, all in all, a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend two hours. I’ve no doubt it’s got the potential to please sci-fi afficionados and general viewers alike. In fact, now that I’ve seen it, I’m tempted to see if Alien’s on TV before I turn in for the night. After all, I can't wait to see what happens next...