“Step aboard the Avalon in the movie, Passengers”

5 out of 5 stars

In 90 years, every human faces an uncertain journey - a journey through life. However uncertain that journey, we are willing to take a plunge to search the unknown; and discover the depths of what we need to do. Some of us have a choice while others are thrust into that choice. Those that are thrust into the choice can sometimes either have a definitive purpose or a purpose with destructive consequences. Whatever that purpose, it can define the course of our lives.

The movie stars both Jennifer Lawrence as Aurora Lane, and Chris Pratt as Jim Preston whose lives are about to unexpectedly change with a dire purpose. Both are traveling upon the carrier ship named, Avalon. 

However, we are first introduced to the main protagonist, Jim Preston, who didn’t expect to be thrust into a choice that would change his life - waking up 90 years too early. 

Traveling upon the Avalon to the next colony, Homestead II, an unexpected anomaly occurs which causes his cryo pod to awaken him. Alone and confused, he is faced with decisions that build upon the ethical and psychological aspects that make the movie an intriguing movie from start to finish.

First, the ethical aspect of the movie. The first year of his accidental cryo pod failure, Preston is faced with challenges that make him question what he should do while he is awake. As the year passes, he falls deeper and deeper into despair aware that he will die - knowing that he can’t go back to sleep. It starts to beseech the inquisition should suicide be a viable option? This question may seem like an easy answer, but it is further troubled when, within that year, Preston tries to seek a solution to his problem. Tried solutions include: 

Messaging the ship to Earth which spans an average of 40 years.

Awakening secure crew members who remain asleep.

Opening secure areas that are locked without crew members security access.

And, should he awaken another passenger to cure his loneliness?

Whether out of love or selfish intentions, the human needs based upon Maslow’s Pyramid are an unquenchable desire that each human requires. These needs are what drives us.

Second, the psychological aspect of this movie.  As discussed in the previous sentence, Maslow’s Pyramid is based off a hierarchy of psychological needs that is ranked upon the importance of each human requirement – five needs in the pyramid. The aspect that is most emphasized in this movie is the need for wanting to be loved/belonging. In this movie, the protagonist, comes upon a difficult decision to open a pod. Opening a pod would allow his need for love/belonging. However, this crosses into the ethical realm on whether his need would be selfish, or his feelings of love would greatly sabotage the life of that other person. This is what causes the suspense, and creates a twist for the movie.

It is this underlying moment that defines the movie, because the antagonist of the movie isn’t tangible; but rather something that isn’t clearly procured in the movie until it takes another to reveal their problem. And, even then, the problem isn’t self-apparent.

The movie does a great job building realism of human needs while building suspense around two people, an impossible feat. This can become a difficult task especially when the movie revolves only around two people on an empty vessel. Nevertheless, the movie was intense.

The trip was intense. The movie's ending was heartfelt. And, Passengers is a trip through space that I would take again and again. Set a course aboard the Avalon, and enjoy a 90 year trip through space.