Prometheus is a film with a large scope. It's journey is one from life to death. In the opening sequence we watch as one of the superior beings drinks a liquid that completely breaks down every cell in his body. Thus we see a specimen of life be broken down into dust and death. This is the journey that the crew of the Prometheus go on. We watch as Shaw and her colleagues make major discoveries that point them to a planet in deep space. This creates an excitement that they have discovered potentially the links to our origins as a species on Earth. But as the journey moves forward we watch as the hope for finding the beginnings of life are replaced with the fear of coming face to face with a species that seeks to destroy the human race.
Thus, this film explores how we imbue our own beliefs upon what we discover, and how we will partner with people that do not share our vision nor beliefs in order to come even one step closer to discovering what is beyond our current understanding. Thus, we learn their is a price that is paid for this kind of knowledge, that there are very clear limits to what we can learn before we must pay this price. In the end, Shaw and Weyland were both looking for life, but Weyland was searching to become immortal while Shaw desired the eternal. Weyland focused on what's ahead so he would not get left behind and Shaw desired to find the origin so she may connect with those that are gone and neither end up with what they have given everything to find.
