PASSENGERS movie review

Passengers is a science fiction/adventure movie about space vessel Avalon travelling to a new planet in a total of 120 years. Since it is impossible for an average human to stay alive that long, they developed a hibernation process to make a person asleep in most of the duration of interstellar travel.

 

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

But things go wrong when Jim, a passenger, woke up when his pod was opened ninety years ahead of schedule. With the crew still in stasis, he has to figure out how he will get back to sleep or make contact with anyone who can help him.

It was clear that the story took place in a future where interstellar travel is now possible and they are already taking passengers. But it was not given what year in the future. But we know for sure that fashion is current based on what Jim and Aurora wore.

The science behind the interstellar travel is well researched. It is not as futuristic as Star Trek but it is the next possible step. The interstellar travel showed in the movie was the same description showed in science documentaries. Avalon is a slow space vessel but it can surely get to its destination according to the experts.

Avalon appears like a solar barge with a protective force field that surrounds it with energy combusting within the shield that makes the ship moves. The hibernation process is also possible time is slower in space but it also needs to slow the body function to a point that it is only asleep.

The future that this movie showed is the time Earth is overpopulated and they already discovered a planet outside the Solar System. This also means that they already charted some parts of the galaxy outside the System.

The conflict of the story begins when Jim woke up. His only struggle is isolation while the crew and the rest of the passengers are still in stasis. I compared Jim’s situation to Robinson Crusoe. Just like Crusoe, Jim’s island is the Avalon. This will test Jim’s decision making especially the logical ones. Will he make the right choices? It’s up to you, the movie patron to decide.

I am curious on using the name Avalon for the ship. Avalon is the last resting place of King Arthur. Like the legendary king, Avalon is also mythical. No one knows where the location is but it originates from old Welsh and Briton tales. The ship Avalon seems like bringing the people to a new resting place.

It won’t be long till we achieve this technology and look for potential planets for expansion. Passengers show how it may look like out there. The target audience are from teenagers and higher but it will be surely watched by twenty-something and above especially those who like sci-fi.

For the cast, Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence seem to be fit for the role. I like how Miss Lawrence’s character Aurora fitted with Jim in the story. Both of them show their limitation in this situation. It seems fitting that the android bartender is named Arthur which connects to Avalon. Played well by Michael Sheen, I am impressed with the special effect made for the character. This also shows the difference between robots and androids.

Also starring Lawrence Fishburne and Andy Garcia. Passengers is the best movie to the start the year 2017 and I highly recommend it. It also has action packed scenes. Opens January 4 in the Philippines and distributed by Columbia Pictures. For more geeky and quality movie reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.