I love movies. I love the wonderful stories brought to life on the big screen that bring pause to a person’s hectic life for a few hours. For a few hours, I can immerse myself in another story, another life, another world. It’s just like a book, except that annoying people generally don’t interrupt in the middle of a movie. Generally. So, one of my favorite relaxation activities is to go watch movies. During this holiday season I have seen three movies so far: "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," "Passengers," and "Sing." All three were worth their time and interesting in different ways. Seeing as I have a previous article specifically on "Rogue One," this article will be about "Passengers."
“Passengers” was a dive into a science fiction world in which having colony planets and being in suspended animation for decades is a reality. Jim Preston is the main focus in the beginning of the movie. His state of suspended animation is interrupted 90 years too early when an asteroid collides with the Avalon (the spaceship they are passengers aboard). At first, Jim attempts to figure out how his sleeping pod malfunctioned and how to return to his suspended animation. Every system and manual unearthed on the Avalon states that the suspended animation pods cannot fail. Obviously that is not the case. For a while, Jim entertains himself with the innumerable attractions and luxuries offered aboard the Avalon. However, boredom and loneliness start to set in and we see Jim slowly degrade. One day Jim discovers spacesuits and ventures outside into space itself. Space becomes a metaphor for Jim’s emotional crisis during this time. Space is cold, unfeeling, empty, and utterly inhuman. It is the antithesis of everything Jim craves and desires, and yet his only fleeting escape from the confines of the Avalon. He is stuck in a terrible paradox. Following this emotional realization, Jim ponders suicide, which is a terrifying thought for any person.
It would be intriguing to explore the psychological implications of a human being alone for an entire year. Human beings are naturally social creatures, so that much time alone would be akin to psychological torture. His decision to wake up Aurora and subject her to a similar situation is understandable. Being stuck in an inescapable situation with another (who seems to be your perfect partner) is much better than being alone. On the other hand, I understand Aurora’s rage and venom towards Jim for forcing her into a seemingly hopeless situation. I would have been interested to see more about Aurora and Jim’s psychological states during the entirety of the movie. The various high stress situations both characters were faced with must have taken a psychological toll on them. Especially considering that the Avalon is malfunctioning and on it’s way to be completely destroyed. Movie miracles are movie miracles though. A member of the crew awakens allowing our characters access into more of the ship, even though he dies so the characters still have to fix the Avalon themselves (Deus Ex Machina!). Somehow, Jim Preston knows how to fix the computer of fusion reactor and operate various parts of a highly advanced spaceship. I understand Jim is an engineer; however, it does not seem realistic for him to simply be aboard the Avalon as basically a second-class passenger if he could be a part of the crew. Jim and Aurora manage to fix the ship and neither one of them dies, so it’s going fairly well. At this point, we are told that the infirmary pod can be used to return one of them into suspended animation. Then, the story wraps up much too quickly for my taste and explains that they chose to create their own life together and make the best of their situation. Although it might have been nice to finish the story with a perfect happy ending by finding a way to return both Jim and Aurora to suspended animation so they could live together on Homestead II, the actual ending is more realistic. It leaves the watcher with the sentiment that one should make the best of their situation regardless of the perceived hopelessness of the situation. Hope prevails, and life grows in even the harshest environments.
