Where have I been? I've been at the Summer Science Program for the last month and a half, tracking asteroids and hanging out with an international group of friends at CU Boulder. You can read a little more about my experience here!
(Originally written Jul. 2021.)
(2016) dir. Morten Tyldum Rated: PG13
As I was scrolling through the entertainment options available on a flight to Japan, I saw a poster for a sci-fi film - the picturesque faces of Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence displayed at the top and bottom and “SOS’ written in Morse code. I was initially hesitant about it; it seemed like another basic sci-fi “stranded” story. However, after looking through the other mediocre-looking options available and seeing the stars’ names on the poster, I decided to give it a try. Falling into Hollywood’s classic trap, I know.
The two leads’ performances at the start were rather lackluster - I could tell that they weren’t exactly passionate about the story - but as the plot progressed, I was pleasantly surprised by the gripping emotions the two conveyed with only each other(and one polite android bartender, of course) to interact with. The same can be said for dialogue; I think as the pre-conflict(or post-conflict, in this story’s case) exposition wrapped up, there was room for more personal moments between Pratt and Lawrence, and that’s where the film’s premise shines. The story was much more engaging, compared to something like, say, Prometheus (which I also watched on a flight last year), which was an incomprehensible, confusing mess. Don’t come at me, Alien fans! The first one was great, though.
One thing I think the film did well was portray loneliness, isolation, and the human need for company. For example, The Martian, a recent space sci-fi, was another “stranded” type of film. Although both the film and novel were excellent, I felt that the film was a bit too busy explaining the science and Watney’s physical situation to fully explore Watney’s isolation of over a year and a half. In contrast, Passengers gave Pratt ample screen time to explore the pastimes and mental state of his lonely character. And drinking with what could be said was his sole companion until Lawrence’s character was introduced, Arthur the Android bartender. Arthur’s replies and mannerisms are just off enough for Pratt’s character to be forced to recognize that the AI is not a real human(similar to the relationship between Wade and Max the virtual avatar in the novel Ready Player One).
Let’s talk about CGI. They were decent enough when it came to the interior spaceship scenes; the design of the Avalon had a classic sci-fi ship look, with sleek curves and minimalist designs. A pleasure to the eyes for sure, but nothing new.
The spacewalk sequences were definitely not on par with some of the better space operas of the last decade - think Gravity or Interstellar. The whole time, I felt like I was staring at Chris Pratt sobbing and gazing at a high-definition space wallpaper in front of him. I firmly believe that if the green screen effects were better, the overall quality of the film would’ve improved tenfold.
On a side note, I was listening to music while eating the plane breakfast, and “Space Oddity” by David Bowie came on. I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the film and the song - in the atmosphere, story, and homesick mood, they matched very well. It could be a perfect theme song for the movie. David Bowie has a knack for making it into the end credits of sci-fi movies, as seen in The Martian with “Starman”. Something about his otherworldly nature appeals to the setting, I suppose.
SPOILER ALERT
Why was there only one deep scanner on the whole ship? It’s carrying 5000 travelers, plus a few hundred crew, for more than a hundred years; even though the passengers would only be awakened a month before landing, you’d figure as a quadrillion-dollar-company(“a million billions!” as explained eloquently by Lawrence’s character), it wouldn’t hurt to have a few more of the medical equipment lying around. I liked the ending and the characters’ fate; I just wish the writers had approached it in a different, more rational way. The whole “hibernation capsules have never malfunctioned in thousands of journeys” bit at the beginning felt like a lame excuse to hinder the characters as well. Low score for the Homestead Company in terms of customer service and care.
End Score:
6/10
コメント