Short Attention Span Review - Passengers (2016)

Short Attention Span Review - Passengers (2016)

Passengers is a movie about many things, but it is primarily concerned with our need for companionship.  On a journey through space that will last something like 120 years, Chris Pratt's character wakes up prematurely with 90 years left to go.  His pod cannot be repaired, so he cannot go back to sleep and join the thousands of passengers who are blissfully unaware of his troubles.  Will he spend the rest of his life alone?  This difficult question becomes even tougher to grapple with when he discovers the writings of Jennifer Lawrence's character and essentially falls for her--this while she sleeps peacefully in her pod and he grapples with the strain of isolation.  Like most great speculative features, the movie hinges on the strength of this question: what would you do?  It's a powerful question, and Passengers presents it with impressive clarity.  It subsequently does a fine job of showing these characters build a life together under such extraordinary circumstances--and then, of course, Lawrence's character finds out what happened, and the movie asks a second profound question: what would you do if someone else pulled you into such a situation?  There is more at stake in Passengers, there is something amiss about the vessel these characters inhabit, which is why one of the pods malfunctioned to begin with.  Before the movie ends, these characters will have to work together to save themselves and all the other passengers.  There will be excitement and suspense, and the drama will be heightened as they struggle with impossible odds.  All of this is handled well; Passengers is a great-looking feature, and the direction, effects, and score are all dynamic.  In the end, however, it all really boils down to those questions and the work of Pratt and Lawrence, who do a fantastic job of exploring the material and bringing this stirring journey to life.

Final Grade: A

Pratt and Lawrence are asked to do an awful lot in what is essentially a two-person show, and each proves more than capable.

Short Attention Span Review - Jurassic World (2015)

I think that Jurassic Park was probably a better movie than Jurassic World, but the latest film in this beloved franchise has to be the biggest spectacle that the series has produced thus far.  We've essentially traded a stellar ensemble cast featuring Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, and Laura Dern for Chris Pratt (who is almost as cool here as he was in Guardians of the Galaxy) and a few big names like Bryce Dallas Howard and Vincent D'Onofrio in supporting roles.  There's also a different recipe in play--Jurassic Park was three parts suspense and one part mind-blowing carnage, while Jurassic World doesn't necessarily abandon the suspense but surely ramps up the dinosaur mayhem in pursuit of maximum carnage.  While I felt that the chemistry between Pratt and Howard was a bit forced and the plot in general wasn't quite as fresh (or plausible), Jurassic World is definitely a big winner in terms of entertainment.  Pratt shines throughout, and the script keeps his character busy by placing him in one terrifying predicament after another.  Also, he may not be Spielberg, but Colin Trevorrow's direction is rock solid, and I liked the score by Michael Giacchino, particularly when it paid homage to the original theme from the wonderful John Williams.  In truth, Jurassic World is everything we hope for in a summer blockbuster.  There's an intriguing premise that requires likable characters to battle incredible odds.  The picture draws us in before it starts wreaking havoc, and the climax is rather epic.  I liked Jurassic World a lot, and while I don't think I can peg it as the best film in this series, I am certain that it was the biggest and the most enjoyable.  The effects are amazing and Chris Pratt is a fantastic lead, making this a grand adventure with impressive scope that definitely ranks as one of 2015's best movies.

Final Grade: A

Chirs Pratt is a quality hero and this Jurassic adventure boasts a wealth of savage dinosaur action.