The Film: Passengers

Today, I saw the film "Passengers" starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt.

If you haven't seen it but plan to be forewarned that this post will spoil the movie.

PLOT
Jim Preston decides to start anew by joining onboard to Homestead Company's space travel program. As such, he is expected to land to a new planet, Homestead II, after 120 years of hibernation. Unfortunately for Jim, things don't work out so great. He emerges from his hibernation 90 years too soon and finds he is the only one that has. After a painstaking year of being the only living person, his only source of comfort is spending time at the bar and associating with the android bartender Arthur. That is, until he finds Aurora Lane. Yes, this sleeping beauty has quite a story to tell in her profile and he becomes infatuated with her. So he does what any ordinary, decent, loving human being would do: he decides to emerge her from her hibernation so he can have this glorious companion.

Aurora wakes up and is of course traumatized to learn that she was arisen 89 years before she's supposed to. The kicker is, of course, Aurora has no idea that she was woken up on purpose. Aurora is a smart girl, with a dream. As a journalist, she plans to travel to Homestead, experience it for one year and then travel back home to Earth to write about her experiences. Not only will she have experienced a new world, she'll also return to Earth 200 some years into the future. At one point, Aurora even looks into her capsule to find a story from her best friend, who wishes her the best but hopes that she finds someone who will fill her heart.

Ah, how fate seems to work out! Gradually, Jim and Aurora form a strong bond that becomes both romantic and sexual. After all, what other choice does she have? Everything's going perfectly well and Jim is ready to pop the question. But it all goes to Hell when Arthur, the android bartender, spills the tea and Aurora finds out that Jim purposefully arose her to fulfill his desire for a companion.

She's outraged, naturally, and even at one point takes to physical violence against Jim but doesn't follow through with killing him. She does, however, decide to spend the rest of the travels separately, refusing to speak to him. At several points, Jim tries to reveal his feelings for and apologize for destroying her life but she won't hear it. Then suddenly, the plot thickens, when one of the crew members is suddenly awoken from his hibernation pod.

Still not speaking to each other, Gus becomes concerned about how it is possible that these failsafe hibernation pods have failed not only one but three people. He begins to investigate and discovers the malfunctions, of course, realizing that Jim is responsible for Aurora's malfunctioning pod. As he is going through the ship in hopes of repairing the malfunctioning, he tells Aurora he knows about what Jim did, but tells her, "The man is drowning and it ain't right but when a man is drowning, he will take someone with him."

Gus, unfortunately, falls deathly ill and discovers through the automatic doctor androids that he isn't going to live. He tells Aurora and Jim to take care of each other before he passes away. The ship is failing and the two are certain to meet their demise, along with all the other passengers, so they finally agree to work together. Finally, they're figuring things out, Jim risks his life as the iconic hero he is and manages to save the ship. Later on, he finds out that the automatic doctor android has the option of suspending a passenger back into hibernation. The problem is: There is only one pod! He oh-so-graciously tells Aurora she should take this opportunity, so she can live out her dreams.

Aurora doesn't take it and decides to live out her natural life with Jim, with the film ending as Aurora gives a narrative of her life with Jim to the passengers who have now awoken 89 years later.

MY THOUGHTS
So, this is the epitome of the male savior complex that Hollywood loves to sell us. Aurora, a passionate journalist, has a dream, Her own best friend says to her that she hopes Aurora finds someone to warm her heart. After all, that's all a woman needs, right? A man to sweep her away and save the day. Aurora is naturally pissed the hell off when she finds out that Jim took away her dreams and opportunity to sustain his happiness but once Gus (bros before hoes, right) affirms that he is a victim too, she miraculously feels better about it and decides to offer him not only forgiveness but her life. Knowing that if she took the opportunity to hibernate again, Jim would be left alone for his natural life, she sacrifices it all. After all, Aurora's life is fulfilled now because she has found a man.

In short, man wants woman. Man ruins woman's life and crushes her dreams. Woman falls in love with the man. Man tries to make amends by finding a way to let Aurora live her dream. She says fuck it and stays with him.

If that's not some Stockholm's syndrome bullshit, I don't know what it is.

The movie, like most movies, sells this narrative that a person is not complete without a partner. Most importantly, it sells the story that a woman needs a hero, even if that hero is also your aggressor who destroys your life in the first place!

Hey, I can punch you in the face and then go get a washcloth and clean your face up and that makes me a hero, right?

The movie was painfully predictable. From the moment he emerged her from her hibernation pod, I knew exactly how it would end.

Very disappointing film, I do not recommend it. Did you see the film? What are your thoughts?

P.S. Jennifer Lawrence is not that fantastic of an actress in my opinion. Not sure why she's so popular.

Thank you,
ArchAngel O:)