Over the holiday weekend, Sony Pictures will debut a new, original film of the space-adventure type: Passengers.
Videos by ComicBook.com
Passengers stars Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence as a couple of strangers trapped on the Avalon space ship as it cruises from earth to a new planet being cultivated for human life. They have 90 years until they arrive at their destination with no way of putting themselves back into hibernation pods. It’s a hopeless and claustrophic situation.
While Passengers has received mostly negative and mixed reviews, Comicbook.com’s review rated the film quite highly on a 10-scale, calling it a “brave mix of sci-fi and romance.”
On the following slides, we run through reasons why you should suit up for an outer space adventure in a theater near you this weekend with Passengers.
Mix of Genres
Passengers may not be incredibly unique in its space-adventure elements but where it does manage to acquire the msot originality is in its method of blending a science fiction film with heavy elements of twisted romance.
First and foremost, the film appears to be a sci-fi popcorn flick as trailers advertise it to be the survival efforts of two characters trapped hopelessly on a space ship, cruising through emptiness for the rest of their lives. However, the film adds depth when it introduces a questionable love story between those two trapped faces.ย
The relationship between the two characters will be the most popular topic of conversation after viewings for reasons we’ll leave aside as to keep your experience spoiler free. It is a though-provokingly constructed dynamic which prompts our next slide…
Self-Reflection
The relationship between Pratt’s Jim Preston and Larwence’s Aurora Lane is one which will prompty controversy but also self-reflection.
To skirt spoilers, we’ll say that the spawning of their friendship is the result of choices made by pure desparation. Keeping those reasons a secret placesย one character’s morality into questionable territory while the other has little choice or reason to do anything but overlook it.ย
How the relationship plays out between the two characters will prompt conversations and inner monologues from moviegoers wondering what they would do in such a situation, likely reluctant to disclose their true opinion.ย
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Pratt + Lawrence
Few stars in Hollywood are hotter than Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence right now.ย
Pratt, who broke out in 2014’s Guardians of the Galaxy after becoming a beloved character on Parks and Rec, has emerged as one of the most recognizable and beloved faces over the past couple of years. Lawrence, known best for her iconic role in the Hunger Games films, has been featured in several films around the holidays which often garner a handful of acclaim such as Silver Linings Playbook.
The two actors on screen together creates a bit of steamy chemistry for both dramatic sequences and fun moments.
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Your Opinion
While many critics are taking jabs at Passengers with only a few others offering praise, Passengers is a film for which moviegoers should form their own opinions. The aspects which have received negative remarks are the same ones which will leave friends and family in debate.
Forming your own opinion matters.
Passengers is a fun film. It takes the audience to a claustrophobic outer space and offers thought-provoking moments of human nature. Whether or not you enjoy the film is something only you can tell. While Rogue One: A Star Wars Story certainly offers a similar one-off space adventure story, it’s Passengers which will leave you with something to talk about and possibly wanting more of.
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