15 Most Disappointing Films Of The Decade (So Far)

12. Prometheus

In many corners films can't come more disappointing that Prometheus. Confused, illogical and reluctant to even come close to answering its questions, it left xenomorph fans seriously wanting. The thing is, it's only disappointing if you go in expecting a straight Alien prequel. And that's not really what Prometheus is.

Oh, it started out as that. The whole project was going to directly explain the xenomorph's genesis and how the derelict got to LV-426, something Ridley Scott happily told the rabid press. But at some point during production (before Damon Lindelof came on board) the focus shifted to something less defined - an exploration of the big questions about creation (something Scott had already flirted with previously on a failed Alien 5). In that regard, Prometheus, while not a total success, hits most of its marks.

And it's not like Scott hid this change in direction - he kept telling the fans this film merely had "Alien's DNA" - but that could do nothing to stop the hype train he'd created. The problem, then, is less to do with disappointment than misaligned expectations.

Or it would, if the film had made the distinction clear; the advertising campaign leaned heavily on the Alien connection and the film itself shared enough iconography, including a shoe-horned in coda featuring a proto-xenomorph (dubbed a Deacon by the production crew), to make the intent muddled. Finger's crossed the still-planned sequel balances things better.