Ridley Scott‘s “Prometheus” demands to be seen. A precisely crafted piece of science-fiction, it requires active reflection on the part of the audience and will disappoint if taken in at face value. Scott has made a movie meant for theaters and the format in which it was made, 3-D.

Whether you love it or hate it, “Prometheus” will spark passionate conversation, and that alone merits a trip to the movie theater.

Here are our five spoiler-free reasons to see “Prometheus.”

The 3-D
Let’s get this out of the way since, while the 3-D does have an overall positive effect on the film, there’s too much else going on here to linger on it. See “Prometheus” in 3-D. This is coming from a fierce opponent of the technology. Scott masterfully shot the film digitally with 3-D cameras, instead of resorting to post-conversion, and did so deliberately, creating some of the most rapturous images the technology has ever produced. We’re talking about material on par with and occasionally topping the best uses of 3-D and comparable to Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo.”

Ridley’s Return
The very first images of “Prometheus” complete two difficult tasks in a matter seconds. First, they silence those skeptical about the use of 3-D. Then, the scenes prove beyond a doubt that Ridley Scott, the visionary that dreamt up some of science-fiction’s longest lasting images, has not lost his touch. Though the overall effect of “Prometheus” will divide the audience right down the middle, Scott clearly and almost defiantly reclaims his place as a master of the genre. The film’s shortcomings (shaky story and character details) are so easily overlooked and even forgotten when a director is working at the level that Scott’s on here.

The Scares
Scott’s achievements in “Prometheus” go far beyond the aesthetics. His steadied hand for scene construction makes the movie one of the most compulsively watchable films in recent memory. One scene, in particular, will certainly stand out for fans as the film’s most gruesome, yet it will linger in the mind of the audience for hours, days and weeks afterward not just because of the content but because of how masterfully Scott composed the scene. Any hack director can project a grisly image on the screen, but it takes a talent like Scott to make it stay with you and unsettle you.

The Fassbender
Michael Fassbender’s excellence in “Prometheus” is the film’s least surprising element. Of course, he turns in a nuanced, scene-stealing turn as David, the crew’s android assistant. We could have put money on him delivering the film’s best lines in his own unique way. There’s a reason Fassbender has gone from an anonymous set of abs in “300″ to one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood. No matter what the role, he commits in a way that is always entertaining and—predictably—always surprising.

The Ideas
The boldness of “Prometheus” does not limit itself to style, scale, or R-rated material. In the tradition of Scott’s own “Blade Runner,” “Prometheus” is epic, ideas-driven science-fiction of a bygone era. Questions are posed, explored, but not necessarily answered, a quality which many have faulted “Prometheus” for possessing. We’re already seeing critics and bloggers antagonizing co-writer and “Lost” co-creator Damon Lindelof because of the lack of definitive answers, an ironic complaint, considering the central themes of the film. Like “Blade Runner” and its ambiguity surrounding the nature of Deckard, part of the appeal of “Prometheus” rests on the void left by unanswered questions, which exists to deliberately deepen the entertainment, not to detract from it.

What did you think of “Prometheus”? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter!

FROM MTV SPLASH PAGE: “Cowboys & Aliens” gallops into theaters this weekend chased by an armada of gold seeking monsters from space. On the surface, all the ingredients are in place for an all-out wall-to-wall actioner for the books: the director of “Iron Man,” the stars of “James Bond” and “Indiana Jones,” and a seemingly impossible mash-up of genres. Nothing could possibly go wrong there, right?

Make no mistake, there’s a lot to juggle in “Cowboys,” and Jon Favreau’s task is not an enviable one — so how did he hold up under the pressure? Your mileage may vary, but for this movies writer, I walked away quite pleased with the wild, wild west’s suddenly slick space-born sheen.

Check out five reasons you should see “Cowboys” below!

The Man With No Memory
No matter what role or movie he’s in, Daniel Craig is one of the most reliably watchable actors in the business. But he takes his badass quota up a few notches in playing Jake Lonergan, a man who wakes up in the desert with a wound on his side, without a memory in his head and a whole lot of questions. Don’t expect him to ask nicely, either: Jake’s just as likely to punch you in the groin as he is to shut you up with one look from that cool, icy gaze. Lonergan is one of the great Daniel Craig roles, and it’s a character I’d love to see explored further somewhere down the line.

Read the full review at MTV Splash Page!

“Super 8” isn’t a perfect movie — really, no movie is — but for my money, it’s pretty darn close. J.J. Abrams has lovingly crafted the exact kind of summer blockbuster you wish you could see more often these days : plenty of action, one hell of a train crash (trust me, the trailers and commercials don’t do the real disaster justice), and a whole lot of heart.

There’s a lot of mystery surrounding the new Amblin Entertainment movie, yes, so I’ll do my best not to spoil any of the big surprises for you. But for now, I don’t think it’s spoiling anything to say this: cheesy as it sounds, “Super 8″ really is (wait for it) super great. Check out five reasons you need to see this movie past the jump.

The Nostalgia Factor
The comparisons to “E.T.,” “The Goonies” and other Spielberg-approved movies of yesteryear are more than fair. From plot and premise to performances and execution to its very heart and soul, “Super 8″ feels like a movie that was made 30 years ago, today, if that makes sense. This is a deeply personal effort for Abrams, who’s quite clearly digging back to his childhood roots as a filmmaker and coming back out of the hole with some great new stuff. By necessity, “Super 8″ is a movie that’s always looking back — but it doesn’t do so at the expense of barreling forward.

The Kids
The kids of “Super 8″ absolutely steal the show. Joel Courtney is perfect as doe-eyed protagonist Joe Lamb, delivering a character that’s one part Mikey Walsh, one part Elliot, and several parts of… well, himself. He’s a great character surrounded by equally memorable children, the kinds of kids I expect many of you found yourselves hanging around with in grade school. (Or maybe that’s just me.) Oh, and Elle Fanning — if you don’t fall in love with her (in the non-creepy way) during the train scene, well, perhaps you just don’t have a heart. The young lady has a fantastic career ahead of herself.

Kyle Chandler
Though the kids are the central focus of “Super 8,” this is also the story of Jack Lamb, the deputy with the weight of his town and his family on his shoulders (perhaps in that order, at least to start) played by Kyle Chandler, late of the excellent “Friday Night Lights.” While the story doesn’t always serve the character — indeed, his arc is probably the one I found most problematic — the nuanced performance that Chandler gives as Jack is really something to behold. To put it crudely, Chandler acts the crap out of “Super 8.” If this guy isn’t a consistent big-screen leading man over the next several years, then Hollywood casting agents simply aren’t doing their jobs right.

The Monster
No, I’m not going to tell you what it is. No, I’m not going to tell you what it wants. While I’m not sure that the complete veil of secrecy shrouded over the “Super 8″ antagonist is entirely necessary, there’s no question that this thing works best in bits and pieces — not just in terms of marketing, but within the movie itself. That said, when you do see what’s plaguing this quaint Ohio town… well, for me, it did not disappoint.

The Credits
Trust me, I do not say this lightly: “Super 8″ has the best credits sequence I’ve ever seen in any movie. Stick around. You do not want to miss it. If you really need to know why, watch the video below — the cast will explain everything. But it goes without saying… SPOILERS ahead!

Tell us what you think of “Super 8″ in the comments section and on Twitter!

After a midseason move from Thursday to Friday nights, fans of Fox’s critically acclaimed but criminally under-viewed “Fringe” were understandably worried about the fate of the show. But ratings have held strong in its move to a time slot that’s traditionally viewed as a death sentence, so much so that “Fringe” is now officially coming back for a 22-episode fourth season.

This is very good news, in case you were wondering, and after the jump, we’re sharing the top five reasons that the “Fringe” renewal is putting a smile on our faces.

Getting So Much Better All The Time
“Fringe” went through some serious highs and lows during season one, less so in season two. But in season three, the show has finally hit its stride. Every subsequent episode of the current season keeps getting better and better, expertly blending mythological advancement with compelling mystery-of-the-week storytelling. Without a doubt, there has never been a better time to be a “Fringe” fan than right now.

There’s More Than One Of Everything
The world of “Fringe” is filled with memorable characters, many of them sporting the same faces as each other. That’s because there are multiple universes at play here, with at least two different versions of every character (with a few notable exceptions). It keeps the show fresh for both the viewer and, presumably, the cast and crew, creating a show that always looks familiar but feels brand new.

Noble Causes
Two words: Walter Bishop. Yes, “Fringe” has a fantastic ensemble cast with few to zero areas of weakness, but John Noble is far and away the leader of the pack. His quirky scientist is easily one of the greatest characters currently on television, and getting to spend more time with good old Walter — and the menacing Walternate as well — is nothing but a good thing.

Doomsday Approaches
We’ll keep the spoilers at a minimum in case you’re behind on your “Fringe” viewing, but suffice it to say that the fit has hit the shan. Our heroes are on a collision course with a device equipped with world-ending capabilities, and by the time season four begins, it’s entirely possible that we’ll be down to one universe. But with a fourth season officially in the books, at least we know the world won’t be completely destroyed — or so we hope!

Friday Night Lights
DVR and online viewing venues are all good and dandy, but for “Fringe” fanatics, our Friday night plans are officially set in amber for the foreseeable future. We hope you’ll join us for the ride.

Tell us what you think of the “Fringe” renewal in the comments section and on Twitter!

“Paul” beams its way into theaters today. The road trip alien action comedy (oh yeah – it’s all of that and more) stars our favorite Brits Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as they happen upon a visitor from beyond (that’d be Paul, voiced by Seth Rogen) in the desert outside Area 51 while enjoying a post-Comic-Con RV tour of America’s storied UFO heartland.

Turns out that Paul’s fleeing from government officials – the most menacing of them being the mysterious and driven Agent Zoil (played by Jason Bateman). The sci-fi geeks eventually bond with Paul, becoming fellow fugitives when they accidentally kidnap naïve religious zealot Ruth Buggs (Kristen Wiig). Zoil’s clueless cronies Haggard (Bill Hader) and O’Reilly (Joe Lo Truglio) add to the uproarious mix, as does Jane Lynch in a cameo as a bartender that’ll have you jonesin’ to put sparklers in all your drinks.

We strongly endorse the side-splitting hilarity of “Paul” – it’s more than worth checking out this weekend, and here are five reasons why.

THE EPIC BRIT BROMANCE
Real-life best friends (and former roommates) Nick Frost and Simon Pegg have a storied cinematic history together. They first starred together in director Edgar Wright’s popular British TV show “Spaced,” and have since played besties in hit movies like “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.” Their on-screen pairing basically guarantees perfect comedic chemistry.

THE NERDTASTIC REFERENCES
Recognizing the endless tongue-in-cheek throwbacks to classic movies from your youth (think: “Star Wars,” “Close Encounters,” “Aliens”) will make you feel pleasantly smug. And you better believe there’s a Wilhelm scream hidden in there, too!

YOU LOVE ROAD TRIP FLICKS
“Paul” is essentially an action comedy on wheels – in the style of obvious favorite “Road Trip,” but with the heart of “Away We Go.” If you’re a fan of National Lampoon’s “Vacation,” “The Sure Thing,” “Bonnie and Clyde,” “The Chase,” “Thelma & Louise” or “Little Miss Sunshine,” “Paul” will be right up your alley, with a sci-fi twist in tow.

ACTION SCENES!
Though Greg Mottola (“Superbad,” “Adventureland”) isn’t traditionally thought of as an action director, he managed to squeeze a surprising amount of gunplay, car chases and explosions into “Paul.” And they’re hilarious fun to boot, mostly due to the wickedly on-point comedic timing of Jason Bateman and Bill Hader.

SETH ROGEN. AS AN ALIEN.
Imagine a CGI alien with Rogen’s voice, mannerisms and trademark slacker ‘tude. ‘Nuff said!

Tell us what you think of “Paul” in the comments section and on Twitter!