Playing at a theater near you

I see that Ridley Scott's science fiction prequel to the film Alien, Prometheus, is now playing - I'll probably catch it soon. I've seen almost all of the series: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3, Alien Resurrection, and yes, I'll admit it, even Alien vs. Predator ;) My favorite of the bunch was Aliens - it seemed more science fiction than horror and had Michael Biehn, Lance Henriksen, and Bill Paxton in it

According to the Wikipedia page on Prometheus, it began as a straightforward prequel but then was modified to be more a stand alone film informed by a Chariots of the Gods theory of the origins of human life on this planet. I have to kind of laugh when I think of that idea ... that we were either planted here by aliens and/or that aliens gave early humans technical help. I know these themes are explored in Star Trek and Stargate but I always think of that conversation had in National Treasure when they find the incredible labyrinthian Revolutionary War era complex built under Trinity Wall Street church ...

Powell: How do a bunch of guys with hand tools build all this?
Ben: Same way they built the pyramids - and the Great Wall of China.
Riley: Yeah... the aliens helped them.

Still, the movie should be interesting - parts of it were filmed at the foot of the active Hekla volcano and at the Dettifoss waterfall, and it stars Noomi Rapace and Michael Fassbender. Roger Ebert wrote that the film was magnificent in his review, but the review in the NYT isn't as kind. Anyway, I'll report back after seeing the movie.