While certainly not without its flaws (like inconsistent characterizations and a frustratingly obtuse mythology), Ridley Scott’s “Prometheus” is nevertheless a worthy prequel to 1979’s “Alien.” It manages to expand the internal universe while also respecting what has come before, and even though it often stubbornly refuses to explain itself and earns the ire of its audience, there’s enough here to satisfy series fans willing to go along for the ride, and the acting is uniformly strong. Watch for a brutally intense alien birth scene courtesy of Noomi Rapace, who channels Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley throughout the movie’s best scene.
Rating: ★★★★ (out of 5)
