Entertainment

If there's anyone who knows how to direct an amazing sci-fi film, it's director Ridley Scott. It's been quite some time since the amazingness of Alien and Blade Runner, and now Scott's back in the mix with his latest film -- a prequel to his Alien blockbuster no less -- Prometheus, debuting in theaters nationwide today.

The film features the talents of Charlize Theron, Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba, and Michael Fassbender, and follows a team of explorers on a mission to discover the origins of mankind. Their journey leads them to some of the darkest corners of the universe, where they fight terrifying action-packed battles to save the future of the human race. Sounds all sorts of fancy, no? But will this movie satisfy sci-fi newbies and Alien fans alike?

See what the critics think in their Prometheus reviews, here:

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly:

Prometheus elicits Alien memories for viewers who have them, but works on its own, too, as a model of a contemporary (and, as is the contempo mode, long-winded) sci-fi horror pic.

Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies:

This is a remarkably scary and eye-popping headrush of a movie, an experience that offers a maximum adrenaline boost at the same time as it engages your intelligence. Don't miss it.

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: 

Ridley Scott's Prometheus is a magnificent science-fiction film, all the more intriguing because it raises questions about the origin of human life and doesn't have the answers.

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone:

Prometheus -- especially in its spellbinding first hour -- kicks ass so hard and often that it's impossible not to be thrilled by it ... Scott -- returning to sci-fi for the first time since 1982's iconic Blade Runner -- shows you what cosmic terror can feel like in the hands of a true visionary. Buckle up.

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times:

Anyone who is unfamiliar with Alien need not worry — Prometheus stands on its own.

Spellbinding first hour? Eye-popping headrush of a movie? I could be into that. Still undecided? Check out the Prometheus trailer, here:

Are you planning on seeing Prometheus? Are you a fan of the original Alien films?

Image via prometheus-movie.com