Assignment 17- Shelby Amato

Film Review: Passengers

Stars: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Passengers had massive cinematic potential. The premise, ordinary people stranded for a lifetime aboard a crowded ship traveling lightyears through space but with no one to talk to opens up a dark, exciting, and thought provoking commentary on how technology will progress while basic human nature remains constant. This alone carried the movie towards 3 stars despite bland and predictable plot twists and a feeble ending. The main character, saved from entire disgust only by Chris Pratt's impressive performance, struggles through morally repugnant coping mechanisms like murder (effectively), deceit, stalking, and remarkably shallow self-hatred. His sole companion begins blissfully naive, then unconvincingly, (and unhelpfully) brutally violent, and finally acts with a shining forgiveness that serves less to convince the audience of her inner good, and more to convict her in stupidity. The movie progresses with a strong pace, but does little to truly surprise in terms of plot. For this reason, the ending fell flat- idealism where none should have been. This said, where it concerns cinematography, the shocking visual displays without a hint of cheesiness were masterful (see: the antigravity pool scene). The set designs, costume, and soundtrack were gorgeous. All in all, the fate of the movie depends on your preferences towards visual entertainment versus sanctity of plot and characterization. If you are like me, and enjoy passionate debate over hypotheticals, philosophies, and concept, you can appreciate the movie for what it was: a good idea.