You know someone is going to die, but it has to come at the moment you least expect it. Then, in retrospect, the moment has to seem exactly right. Most critics treat all such movies with equal contempt. Ebert liked this one, but Ebert has the advantage of having been an SF fan while he was growing up. In the view of the archetypical film critic, there are only two virtues in a film.
Characterization is one.
The other is obscurity. A critic loves a film that he is the only one smart enough to appreciate. As those of you who have been following this column know, I like a film to be fun. Don't let the bad reviews keep you from enjoying Final Destination . P.S. on the Oscars.