Visually stunning, enjoyable despite critics

Rating: 9/10 (1 February 2019)

I have never bothered reviewing a film before, but this is a case where my experience diverged so significantly from the critics that I felt compelled to share. Judging by the IMDB user reviews, I can clearly see that I am not alone.
All else aside, the glitteringly beautiful set design and excellent soundtrack are reasons enough to see Passengers. The fact that this film is relatively minimalist (revolving mostly around 2-3 actors) allows the viewer to really notice the details during the sweeping scenes of the various interiors and rooms of the "Avalon." The sense of the ship's endless span (conveyed especially in the early scenes of the film) set against the backdrop of space are lent additional lustre by the soundtrack (excellently composed by Thomas Newman). The soundtrack shows up front and centre (again, due to the film's minimal nature), but always feels in sync with what's happening onscreen.
The premise of the early part of the film ("If you were stranded on a desert island, would you wish another person there with you?") is intriguing in itself. You might struggle to convince yourself that in the same place, you'd react any differently. This premise is the reason I would hesitate to rigorously characterize this film as "sci-fi" in genre. As such, I think Passengers should be spared any of the nitpicks regarding scientific or physical accuracy/realism. It's simply not the point.
One weakness I have to point out (the reason that I rated the film 9/10 rather than 10/10) is in the pacing, which feels a bit uneven going into the third act. Throughout the film one has a faint sense of acceleration in the storyline. It felt as if the second act was chasing the third (and the ensuing climax of the story), somewhat at the expense of the more dramatically interesting elements. With a runtime of just under two hours, the director definitely had at least some wiggle-room to draw out key plot points a bit more gently and evenly. This, however, is nowhere near enough of a reason not to watch it. Overall, it's visually beautiful and emotionally satisfying, even if a little fast.