'Prometheus'

( 20th Century Fox / December 6, 2012 )

What we were expecting: A fitting continuation of the sci-fi classic "Alien" franchise, brought to us by the original "Alien" director himself, Ridley Scott. The advance hype billed "Prometheus" as a smart, scary, R-rated sci-fi thriller that would take full advantage of the 3D format, showcase a strong cast including Michael Fassbender, Charlize Theron and Idris Elba, and someone tie-in to the original "Alien" mythology, without being a reboot, remake or direct sequel.

What we got instead: "Prometheus" wasn't a total creative bust -- it does have a terrific performance from Fassbender as devious android David, stunning cinematography, and a very sharp, very tense second act highlighted by Noomi Rapace's unforgettably nasty bit of self-surgery. But it's slow to start, finishes in a chaotic jumble of giant mutant monsters and crashing ships, and overall inspires more questions (like "Who thought this script was a good idea?") than answers about the origins of the "Alien" series. You could argue that at least "Prometheus" rescues the series from junk like "Aliens vs. Predator," but it's still a disappointment that never comes close to the best of the franchise.

-- Geoff Berkshire, Zap2it