Passengers

Passengers is a 2016 movie starring Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. The movie is partly a sci-fi space drama, partly an action movie, partly a romantic drama, and partly an ethical thought experiment. Pratt stars as Jim Preston, a mechanical engineer aboard a spaceship called The Avalon, traveling from Earth to a new, habitable planet 60 light-years away from Earth. Technology has advanced to the point where the trip only takes 120 years, so the passengers aboard the ship are put in a state of suspended animation for most of the trip with different passengers being awakened in stages when the ship is within a couple of years of its destination. During the voyage, the ship is struck by a wayward asteroid, which damages the ship and causes Preston to be awakened 90 years too early. For the first portion of the movie, it is just Pratt and Michael Sheen (who plays the ship's computer/butler, Arthur). Then, over the course of the movie, Jennifer Lawrence's character, Aurora Lane is awakened, as is Lawrence Fishburne's character, Gus, who is the ship's deck officer. The movie transitions from a lost at-sea castaway kind of movie, to a romance movie, to a disaster movie all within the span of nearly four hours. For those who get the 4K blu-ray set, there are three discs. The 4k-UHD disc just has the movie, a 3D-Blu-Ray disc that again just has the movie, and a regular blu-ray disc that has the movie and all of the extras. The extras include four different making-of featurettes that range in length from four minutes to just over eleven minutes. Then there are about ten minutes of deleted scenes, a series of fake commercials promoting travel on The Avalon, a gag reel, and trailers for other movies. So, a decent amount is there for people who like watching the extras. The A/V quality of the UHD disc is wonderful, and the movie has a ton of great CGI visuals. Ultimately, the movie is long but does not really feel as long as it is. It is paced very well, and while the story is definitely a bit predictable in parts, it is entertaining. Given that Pratt has to carry the first portion of the movie on his own, with only a handful of scenes with Michael Sheen playing opposite him, he does a very good job portraying a guy who slowly starts to go crazy. Jennifer Lawrence does a good job with her character once she "comes to life" and the action portion of the movie is good as well. It is definitely worth the time to watch.

I watched this movie with some friends and, while I very much enjoyed it, not everyone agreed with me. Some thought it moved too slowly in the beginning and didn't really pick up the pace until the last third of the movie. Others questioned the science (someone always does) while one of my friends thought Chris Pratt was miscast as the mechanical engineer who wakes up too early while in a hibernation pod on a ship bound for a new planet. In truth, I understand their complaints. I just don't agree with them. "Passengers" does start slowly, especially when compared to other science fiction films that often begin with a planet exploding or a battle between giant starships. I would argue, however, that it needs to do so in order to help viewers feel just how alone Pratt's character truly is and just how desperate he feels when he realizes that he will die before the ship reaches its destination. There are 4,999 other passengers on this voyage and nearly 300 crew members but they are all in deep hibernation while he alone roams the giant starship. His only companion, an android bartender (played brilliantly by Michael Sheen) helps to take some of the edge off his profound loneliness but cannot take the place of another human being. Pratt has carved a niche in Hollywood as an action hero and I understand why some people might disagree with the choice to cast him as an engineer. However, the fact that his character is a mechanical engineer - someone who works not only with his brain but also his hands - makes him a good choice for the role, in my opinion. His character is not painted as an intellectual but, rather, as a practical man who knows how to fix things; a man who decides to leave Earth's friendly confines because there is little or nothing for him to do in a throw-away society. For that reason, Pratt seems like an ideal choice for the role as a result. Casting him as a particle physicist wouldn't work, but casting him as a super handyman does. As for the science: Perhaps my friends who questioned it are right. I wouldn't know because I am not a scientist, just a writer of mystery novels. However, I would argue in my defense that what science there is on display in the movie is effective because it helps to (a) move the story along and (b) provides a high degree of dramatic tension when it's needed. The special effects in "Passengers" are first rate. The design of the ship - both its interior and exterior - is brilliant. The production team opted for a ship that, on the inside, resembles a luxury cruise liner. Given the fact that the ship is owned by a private mega-corporation, I think that's appropriate. Most science fiction films are military or industrial in nature. Thus, the spaceships that their characters flit about the galaxy in do not have a lot of frills: They are, in essence, the outer space versions of battleships and oil tankers. The "Avalon" is, by contrast, a ship designed to carry paying customers to a new world and is designed to get them there in luxury. Although I won't discuss the plot in any detail, because that would spoil the experience for those that have not yet seen this movie, I will say that I very much appreciated the writing. This is a film that, like any good story, is not one dimensional. In addition to their survival, its characters must deal with big thematic issues: Loneliness, betrayal, desperation, love, loss, and what is, at its core, murder are all woven into the script. Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence, as the woman who eventually becomes his human companion on the ship, are both skilled actors and they handle the emotions that deal with these themes very nicely. The direction is smooth and the cinematography is well done, adding subtle layers to the movie. In summary: Not your typical science fiction film but one that relies on character development and nuanced performances to make it work. And, for my money, it works brilliantly.

Love the movie

Passangers This is the tale of the starship Avalon and her troubled 120 year voyage from earth to the planet Homestead II. It shows some of the human and mechanical outcomes that might just develop on such a long trip. That includes matters of the human heart like love, despair, and dark all consuming castaway loneliness. Avalon carries 5000 colonists and a pilot crew hibernating in pods in an effort to reach homestead II and still be alive upon arrival. The commercial ship makes its voyage in some undefined futuristic time and is supposedly equipped with everything needed to make the trip according to the company builders. About thirty years out the ship damage control puts up her shields to deflect some space debris. Unfortunately, one piece of debris is huge, slamming into the ship's bow and doing considerable damage. About seven stations on the ship malfunction due to the impact. Six are corrected by the ships automated computer diagnostics, but the ship's support system cannot fix the seventh. Without one of her main stations the huge space ship begins to malfunction. One hibernation pod is activated initially due to the unforeseen damage and passenger Jim Preston (Pratt) is prematurely awakened. Confused, alone, and disoriented Jim learns he was awakened ninety years early and cannot return to hibernation due the design of the pods. After a year awake with only the company of a robot named Aurther (Sheen), Jim grows despondent in his isolation. Knowing he will never live long enough to get to Homestead II, he realizes he is on a one way dead end voyage. Few of us can measure the depth of loneliness Jim reaches. After more than a year he feels his soul is going to fade away if he doesn't do something. Struggling with his conscience and morally conflicted, he wakes up a pretty young writer as a move to save his sanity. He has been admiring her for some time (Lawrence). Trapped in space time a relationship begins between them that explores human passions and problems that could develop during a 60 light year trip. To begin this romance Aurora is not told she was awakened by Jim. Later she finds out when the indiscrete robot hears the two of them say there are no secrets between them. Naturally Aurora becomes enraged at Jim. The two have a complex affair because Aurora feels at times she was cheated out of her life when she first finds out. But things continue to move forward and this becomes the main focus of the movie. The middle of this film has taken some hits for being slow. I don't see it that way. I think it is an essential part of the story as the two struggling lovers try to learn to live knowing they will never reach the end of the trip. I'll stop here at a risk of spoiling. I can't help but give this film some credit for originality. I have never seen a science fiction love story quite like this film and I liked watching unpredictable events unfold including the awakening of Gus from his pod(Fishborne). Set design, music, acting were all first rate. Jen always is at her best when she is angry on the screen. I thought the story weakened slightly when we are forced to accept the pods cannot be reset for hibernation, It seemed logical to me such a complex ship would always provide this 'lifeboat' option. After all, it's a really long trip and a lot can happen. Never the less, I watched this new approach with lots of interest. I would not call it predictable and to me the story was well told and I very much like a fresh idea!

Let me start; there are some flaws with this movie; reasons why I shouldn't be giving it 5 stars, but it makes up for it in other areas by which I can safely say to anyone who likes a calm space drama; watch this one. I started to like Jennifer Lawrence since seeing her in Silver Linings Playbook, where she stepped out of the role of the heroine and into something more challenging. This movie is not a role where she really shines in, but she delivers a great performance in it. Chris Pratt is clearly more into his element here, as this is more a movie about him. A person destined to spend his life alone by accident with no chance of escaping that fate. That premise is good. The first half hour becomes a version of Castaway in outer space and this is where the movie is at its strongest. One person, alone on a spaceship with 5,000 people in cryogenic state, with 90 more years to fly to his destination (believe me, this is no spoiler). His most important decision is, does he want to be alone all his life? The set design is fantastic. It is way too polished to feel real; no dust, no smears of dirt... everything is spic and span clean. Sure, the little robots are there to thank for that, but it feels too... 'computery'. But, again, the retro, art-deco, and futuristic designs are amazing. It is clearly designed for a visual presentation only, technically none of the designs make real sense, so don't look to deep into the functionalities of everything. There are tons of holes in the story-line. Don't look to deep into this. Usually I would not say that as I tend to trip over these issues all the time. But with this movie it feels like we are watching a movie that never aimed to be something big, but rather a smaller movie that had the chance to become just that. But if you - just like I did - watch the trailer and expect a HAL-9000 kind of story, you might be disappointed. The main story is super simple, and is actually a back-drop to showcase a scenario; what IF you were indeed the last two people alive... what would you do? Somehow, I cannot shake the feeling that the writers have watched Sunshine from Danny Boyle a lot (If you haven't seen it and you like Passengers, try it, it is a more tense story-line), with a hint of 2001: A space odyssey. But, the film has enough elements to it to make it stand on its own. So, do you want to watch a more slow paced space drama, with some good moments, solid acting, some interesting concepts? Then Passengers is a pretty safe bet for a good 2 hours. And the 5 stars? - if you watch the movie just to have a good time, this definitely deserves it.

**Spoilers Ahead** Passengers incorporates beautiful CGI and a Robinson Cruso theme to push the plot of a future every-man mechanic traveling the stars to a new world to make his mark. Asteroids get in the way of his dream and he finds himself marooned on a deserted star ship with only an android bartender to keep him company. Jim, played by Chris Pratt, struggling with being trapped for a year alone on the ship, eventually breaks his own code of ethics and "wakes" another passenger, Auroa, played by Jennifer Lawrence, so he will not have to live out his life alone between the stars. The movie is essentially a morality tale and love story taking place in the heavens. It asks just long could you last by yourself knowing that you could "wake up" anyone you wanted. Would you suffer in silence or doom another to share your existence at relativistic speeds. The disappointing part of this movie comes at the end. Jim and Auroa face their life together with love and friendship, both knowing they will never reach their destination of Homestead II which still 88 years away. They both discover happiness on their journey to find happiness. Cut to the epilogue. The crew wakes up at the end of the remaining 88 years to find not a sleek clean concourse on their star ship, but a rustic world with trees, grass and all manner of wildlife within the titanium and carbon fiber confines of the hull. A voice over of Aurora states for posterity that together she and jim found a beautiful life together. What I really wanted to see was that beautiful life together. Yup, I became that invested in the Jim and Aurora. I wanted to see them face the challenges of living with each other. What were their struggles? Did they want to have children? Did they have children? Did they think of creating a generational star ship by waking some other passengers and getting busy? What were those challenges like? Imagine being the captain of the star ship waking up to find 50 people who were born on the ship while you slept. Oh, the possibilities.... It left me so frustrated that I felt like writing a short story of novella on what happened in those 88 years. That all being said, It is an enjoyable movie, both for the quality and thought put into the science of possible space travel (loved the shield) and for the characters themselves. Some people have argued that some science points don't add up. My first comment to these complaints is always: "It's a movie" But to argue their point : The part in the movie where the ship loses power, the arms immediately stop spinning and the ship loses gravity. My response - the rings are propelled by worm gears.The worm shaft can turn the gears but not vice versa, If the engine stops, the worm shaft stops spinning, braking the ring until it stops. Etc.

ACT I: The film takes place on a computer-operated spaceship bound to a planet in another galaxy believed suitable for colonization by the humans it is carrying. This was the second such mission, the first having been a huge success for its corporate backers, both historically and financially. Almost 3600 souls were on board, maintained in a state of suspended animation for the two centuries or so trip. But early in the voyage’s second century, something causes the suspended animation pod in which our hero laid sleeping to awaken him. So the movie starts with a powerful rendition of the human transition from a state of materially splendored existential ALONENESS, to a state of bottomless existential LONELINESS. His only company is an automated bartender who is perpetually agreeable to a fault. A particular fly in the ointment here is the fact that our fully grown-up hero discovers that the ship has yet another 90+ years to go before it reaches its destination, a length of time that is for-sure longer than even the longest lifetime he can reasonably expect to have left. In other words, he is likely to die alone before the ship can reach its destination, leaving him with not much to look forward to, as a social being, for the remainder of his years. ACT II: The movie then shifts into high gear when the man discovers both instructions on how to rejuvenate a pod, as well as a pod containing a beautiful young woman of the right age for him. He is immediately confronted with a most painful ethical dilemma, as he sees in her an ideal companion for the lonely and otherwise meaning life ahead of him. But to rejuvenate her pod would be to condemn her to the same fate as he finds himself trapped in—namely, a life likely to end considerably before the ship reaches its destination and all the other souls in suspended animation are reawakened. He tries hard to forestall his desperate longing for her, but eventually can no longer resist. While she is initially ignorant of how her pod had malfunctioned and reawaken her, the relationship between them grows (along with support for their dev eloping fondness for each other from the automated bartender), all the way to the point where the hero finds a ring and has decided to ask the heroine to marry him. However, just as this is about to happen, in a moment when the hero is called away by some mechanical problem with the ship, the automated bartender lets the cat out of the bag. When the hero reappears, the heroine explodes with rage at what he has done to her—selfishly condemning her to a fate similar to his—for which she has come to despise him and wants nothing more to do with him. The problem is that they lack access to any process that can reverse termination of the suspended animation. Both his sense of shameful guilt as well as the heroine’s spite and hostility for the hero rise to violent proportions, to where he begins to contemplate drastically self-injurious means of atonement. ACT III: At this point, a third suspended animation pod somehow opens independently, and a fourth character enters the scene. In full uniform, an extremely brusque and gruff, “strictly by the book,” “of few words,” and “take charge” stock character, who holds the Navy rank of “Chief” (he constantly refers to the ship as “my” ship), emerges; wrapped around his wrist, he has credentials that allow him access to many of the ship’s otherwise inaccessible processes. He is soon advised of how the hero caused the heroine to come out of suspended animation, but he is at a loss as to why he and the hero have come out of it. What our characters soon discover, however, is that the ship is beginning to sink into a level of mechanical dysfunction that will eventually cause it to disintegrate. Apparently some meteors had passed the ship’s shield and severely damaged the ship’s auto-control mechanisms. Attempted repairs cost the Chief his life, without his having succeeded in making everything O.K. In fear and grief, the remaining couple struggle to survive. They have the Chief’s credentials, which allows them to activate the pods, but they soon find out that only one person can be returned to suspended animation (one must stay behind to activate the controls). The remaining one is left to risk life and limb in an attempt to make the final repairs. Our hero apologizes to the heroine, and he insists (given all that he is guilty of having done to her) that he be the one to stay behind. ACT IV: At this point, I leave it to you to see the film for yourself. So far, I feel no “spoiler alert” guilt because there is nothing up to this point in the story that an experienced sci fi movie goer might not have anticipated to come next. But from here, the denouement proves very interesting and satisfying. I think of the ancients, sitting by the campfire or in their worship huts, listening to expertly told mythopoetic tales about life and the meaning of the stars; this movie is something of such an experiences for us living in the new millennium, with basic issues of human existence surfacing in white-hot adventure mode—the special effects are very good! So I think that I’ll just leave you to experience the end for yourselves. What you already know of the movie will surely not turn you off to any surprise it might still hold for you, for the journey more than the destination is the point here. Not a whole lot of would-be mythopoetic works of art these days can claim to achieve anything like that. I have long been a student of antiquity and a psychotherapist, so I fancy myself having developed some sort of “feel” for this kind of thing. Clearly, for this movie, it is the melody and not the words that will stick with you, particularly if life, death, and what to do with the time left to each one of us mortals is at all a currently abiding issue for you. Unequivocally, I can say that this film leaves many space thrills & adventure movies in the dust, providing the most common of persons something genuinely marvelous to ponder upon (at least until one breaks the spell by getting off the couch or out of bed to go to the refrigerator to get another cold beer or soda). All I can say to conclude is to thank very much all the makers of this not particularly universally heralded/yet spot-on film for their highly commendable and very well balanced—although understandably quite scientifically fanciful (but which does not violate the bounds of credible science FICTION)—efforts.

I'm a huge 3D fan, so when I saw this included 4K, 3D, Blu-ray at a good price, I just jumped on it without ever having seen it before. Bad mistake. This is a one-time rental quality movie. The reviews from most critics were negative, but oddly, the user reviews seem to be positive and currently has a 7/10 on IMDb. The critics were right on this one. For someone who doesn't watch many films, they may enjoy this, but for the avid movie goer, the movie is so predictable, cheesy, and quite dull. No real smart thrills or twists. It's many ideas stolen from Wall-E (2008), Gravity (2013), Interstellar (2014), The Martian (2015)... but done on the IQ level of the movie Transformers; it seems like a grade school student wrote this film. The story is generic and uninspiring. The pacing is awful. It's just so cheesy and predictable ("Oh Mr Robot, please keep this a secret.... I'm positive you won't tell anyone, but I feel like telling you anyway just to get some twists going") - there is no shock value or real thrill to the film. The plot seems more like a short story TV episode where they dragged it out with pointless scenes like virtual dancing, basketball, and swimming. The movie probably would have worked as a 30 minute short film story, but it's dragged out to 2 hours of unexciting bad pacing fill-ins. The script was bad enough, but the casting is probably worse; Chris Patt and Jennifer Lawrence is like the most superficial horribly balanced combination ever. You just can't sympathize with them. There's also nothing romantic about the chemistry/setup with the characters, especially from the script - both have done really creepy actions. If they weren't attracted to each other physically, there is no redeeming factor for either of their actions. While Chris's action may be unforgivable, how could one fall in love with someone who goes complete psycho ape sh*t kicking their face and everything? I guess two psychotics are made for each other? It would have been more interesting to have Chris react differently towards the Bartender after the "incident", but a wasted opportunity yet again because the movie usually likes to play it safe. The film seems to be confused whether it wants to be a family film with a PG-13 rating. I saw this film in 3D projection, and you'd think even the most mundane scenes would still be more enjoyable because of the 3D advantage, but it wasn't. I know the movie "Gravity" actually has a pretty dull "story" as well, but at least in 3D, for that film was actually spectacular and thrilling experience. You usually can't go wrong with 3D and space, but neither the story or the 3D were exciting for me.

An excellent movie and fantastic transfer. The 4K (and BD) discs are region free and work perfectly on my Panansonic DP-UB820 (Region B) player. The picture quality on 4K is breathtaking and is one of the clearest, cleanest images I have seen on 4K.

fantascienza e romantico La cosa incredibile è come il film sia risultato piacevole con la presenza di soli due attori per quasi tutta la durata. Attori principali sono Jennifer Lawrence e Chris Pratt. Il film è ambientato nel futuro. L'enorme astronave Avalon, lunga più di un chilometro e totalmente automatizzata, sta effettuando un viaggio interstellare di 120 anni dal pianeta Terra alla colonia Homestead II portando a bordo 258 membri dell'equipaggio e 5 000 passeggeri, tutti sottoposti a sonno criogenico. I passeggeri sono coloni che, per vari motivi, hanno deciso di abbandonare la Terra e andare a stabilirsi sul nuovo pianeta, vergine e ricco di risorse. L’impatto con dei meteoriti causa dei malfunzionamenti. Il primo guasto avviene alla capsula criogenica che porta al risveglio, con 90 anni di anticipo rispetto al previsto, di uno dei passeggeri, l'ingegnere meccanico Jim Preston. Comincia il dramma di Jim che dovrà trascorrere il resto della sua vita da solo nell’astronave in quanto si è svegliato 90 anni prima del previsto. L’unico compagno di viaggio è l’androide barista Arthur.. Jim cerca delle soluzioni ma non è possibile riattivare la sua capsula. Comincia poi a curiosare sui passeggeri e si innamora di Aurora, una scrittrice giornalista. Ascolta le sue interviste e guarda i suoi video. Passa anche molto tempo vicino alla sua capsula. A un certo punto, dopo un anno di solitudine, comincia a maturare l’idea di svegliarla, facendo passare la cosa come a un guasto. E’ tormentato, ma la solitudine estrema lo porta poi a farlo. Aurora è anche lei angosciata al suo risveglio ma non c’è modo di tornare indietro… Nel tempo il rapporto comincia a consolidarsi. Proprio quando i due sembravano unirsi sentimentalmente, Aurora scopre che è stato Jim a causarlo. La reazione è rabbiosa…e i due continuano a vivere in modo separato. A un certo punto si verificano altri malfunzionamenti nell’astronave e molte cose cominciano a funzionare a intermittenza. Il capotecnico Gus Mancuso, si risveglia, ma è molto malato. Da quel momento la situazione diventa drammatica. Se non si risolve il problema l’astronave andrà in pezzi… Non vado oltre nella spiegazione ma il film è molto bello

J'ai acheté ce film en Blu-ray car je l'avais vu a la TV pour la première fois, je ne le connaissais pas et franchement super film, très belle histoire et super acteurs, surtout l'actrice qui est magnifique, je recommande a tout le monde, je l'ai pris en Blu-ray super image !

No está en español.

¡Estoy encantado con mi compra del Blu-ray de "Passengers"! La calidad de imagen y sonido es absolutamente impresionante. Se siente como si estuviera en el cine, pero desde la comodidad de mi hogar. Además, los extras y detrás de cámaras incluidos me brindaron una experiencia aún más enriquecedora, mostrando todo el trabajo y detalle que se invirtió en la creación de esta película. La historia es cautivadora, y tanto Jennifer Lawrence como Chris Pratt ofrecen actuaciones sobresalientes. Disfruté cada minuto de esta película y definitivamente la recomendaría a cualquier amante de la ciencia ficción y el romance. ¡Una excelente adición a mi colección de Blu-rays!