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Prometheus. Not A Musical.

If you've been following my recent threads on facebook, you know I have started obsessing over the release of the trailers for an upcoming sci-fi film. This summer, Prometheus arrives in theatres. I have had recurring nightmares about this movie for 30 years. How? Well, in case you haven't heard, Prometheus is the (maybe) prequel to Ridley Scott's 1979 gothic masterwork Alien. It was a brilliant character study and scary as hell for taking place in well-lit spaces. From the first time I saw Sigourney Weaver, H.R. Giger's titular monstrosity and the Space Jockey, my imagination was captured. The soundtrack featured Howard Hanson's Symphony No. 2, which the local classical station played with some deliciously creepy frequency; along with the evocative, skin-crawling score by Jerry Goldsmith.

The sequel, James Cameron's Aliens was a worthy one with as much black humor as but more action than the first. However, the intense bug hunt did little to build on the mythology of the original. I'll be merciful and disregard what followed. Now, here comes Mr. Scott again, abetted by LOST's Damon Lindelhof, to fulfill a void in the dreamscape of my adolescence.

The trailer for the new movie is staggering and I haven't felt this much anticipation for a film since the first installment of the Lord of the Rings in 2001. Fox is wisely releasing clever parallel trailers that may or may not contain entire scenes from the film, specifically this fun sequence featuring Guy Pearce as the narcissistic Peter Weyland (of Weyland-Utani) at TED 2023.

The cast for Prometheus is top notch: Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Idris Elba, Charlize Theron and Mr. Pearce. I have no real clue what the plot is about, but if the references to the legend of Prometheus and the opening of Pandora's box are as relevant as I think, we are in for a wild ride that will be as thoughtful as it is suspenseful. Mr. Pearce's Weyland certainly seems to be meddling in God's domain. Ms. Rapace's Shaw certainly seems to be lifting the lid on untold horrors for humankind. In Ancient Greece, no one can hear you scream; especially, if you are bound to a rock. Ridley Scott managed to make some interesting sociological statements and predictions with the original Alien and its dystopian cousin Blade Runner. Can't wait to see what he has gotten us into now.

I know this has nothing to do with music or my new LP; but this is the next most exciting thing arriving this summer after my album. See you at the movies.

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