I’m not convinced by the whole “it’s sci-fi, stop expecting it to be well written” defence of Prometheus.
A sci-fi (or horror etc for that matter) film should only really require you to suspend your disbelief once and that’s to accept the overall premise of the story. Everything else which happens should have an internal logic and consistency which makes sense within that premise. Additionally, where possible the film should also try and be original and if not then at least avoid the usual tired cliches of the genre.
Where Prometheus failed was by being both cliché ridden from the word go, the “jocks V nerds” tension at the start being the first sign the film wasn’t going to be amazing, and also requiring you to suspend your disbelief at the actions of the cretinous main characters. The “stroking the alien snake” being a prime example. (Not a euphemism ?by the way)
The shitness of Prometheus was, for me, on a basic film making level and not as a result of any inconsistencies within the Alien universe as an entire series.
It would be great if more people made films where the main characters weren’t total knobs prone to petty arguments and utter stupidity but who still got messed up by the alien/ghost/axe weilding murderer despite making the “right” decisions.