Prometheus

"The film contains no shortage of freaky and exciting set-pieces, but it was the implications that really made this special for me. I wish more films had this level of ambition, along with the artistry to execute it. As far as I’m concerned, Ridley Scott is doing some of the best work of his career here."

"Remains earthbound in narrative terms, forever hinting at the existence of a higher intelligence without evincing much of its own."

"It might not pack the unbearable menace or blazing horror of the saga's first two movies, but it utterly eclipses the last two. It's exciting, tense and fully impregnated for sequels."

"Ridley Scott has counter-evolved his 1979 classic Alien into something more grandiose, more elaborate – but less interesting."

"Scott is to be praised for the sheer level of invention in Prometheus, even if he doesn't keep it all under control."

"A magnificent film... It's in the classic tradition of golden age sci-fi, echoing Scott's "Alien", but creating a world of its own."

"Where Prometheus falls short is that, with the exception of one sequence, the action comes across as silly and weak."

"This really isn't an Alien movie; it's a lumbering, if visually impressive, space exploration epic which eventually turns into an Alien movie."

"An awe-inspiring, mind-gouging, eye-blazing spectacle of high-pitched disappointment."

"Although Ridley Scott's 3D visual feast is no classic, the oozing alien tentacles hit all the right sci-fi horror notes."

"Buffeted by a lack of suspense, threadbare characters, and a very poor script, the stunning visuals, gloopy madness, and sterling Fassbenderiness can't prevent Prometheus feeling like Alien's poor relation."

"Prometheus is grand to look at, but it lacks the brutal simplicity and rigour of its forebears. It's too long winded to pass as a horror, and too daft to really be anything else."