There's a problem to begin with: a killer duststorm in the atmosphere of Mars blows protagonist Mark off and away from his crew of astronauts.
But such duststorms don't actually exist on Mars.
And yet, in the realm of science fiction, this critical miss is understandable, nay, almost expected, and the science that follows more than makes up for it.
The plot shifts between character after character: the Nasa program elites, the traumatized crew that left Mark behind, and even Chinese scientists. Remarkably, every character, even the director who wants to leave Mark abandoned on the planet, is portrayed sympathetically, and everyone can be seen as a "good guy". Though we know barely anything about any of them, they manage to be distinct and admirable: Donald Glover's hyperactive yet brilliant Rich, the brave and resourceful Commander Lewis, and of course Damon's Mark Watney, snarky and at times broken, but a heroic yet vulnerable main character. The movie is unapologetically plot-driven, but the characters have just enough personal exposition that they feel more like snippets of a real person than cogs in a machine.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
The truly brilliant part of the movie is the careful explanation of how the brilliant minds on Earth, Mars, and everywhere in between truly earn their happy ending against all odds. Not only does it include copious amounts of mostly correct science to explain how they survive, but the plot skillfully defies space movie, or indeed, dramatic movie dogma that someone must die. It was heartbreaking to watch Watney shave his beard while weak after months on Mars, a revelation that he wanted to appear strong for his crew, and half-expect him never to see them again. Lewis's driving determination to get him back and absolute glee at saving him was a refreshing take on a close relationship between a man and a woman, in light of her boyfriend/husband. Leaving the movie was a rush of endorphins, a reminder that the best case scenario can theoretically be obtained and it's not stupid to strive for it. (Though it's okay if you don't, as evidenced by the sympathetic director and Lewis's assertion that should any member of the crew not want to save Watney, they wouldn't do it.)
SPOILER END
Altogether, The Martian is a highly rewarding experience with just enough plot to make your day.
Film Simply Amazing
There's a problem to begin with: a killer duststorm in the atmosphere of Mars blows protagonist Mark off and away from his crew of astronauts.
But such duststorms don't actually exist on Mars.
And yet, in the realm of science fiction, this critical miss is understandable, nay, almost expected, and the science that follows more than makes up for it.
The plot shifts between character after character: the Nasa program elites, the traumatized crew that left Mark behind, and even Chinese scientists. Remarkably, every character, even the director who wants to leave Mark abandoned on the planet, is portrayed sympathetically, and everyone can be seen as a "good guy". Though we know barely anything about any of them, they manage to be distinct and admirable: Donald Glover's hyperactive yet brilliant Rich, the brave and resourceful Commander Lewis, and of course Damon's Mark Watney, snarky and at times broken, but a heroic yet vulnerable main character. The movie is unapologetically plot-driven, but the characters have just enough personal exposition that they feel more like snippets of a real person than cogs in a machine.
SPOILERS AHEAD:
The truly brilliant part of the movie is the careful explanation of how the brilliant minds on Earth, Mars, and everywhere in between truly earn their happy ending against all odds. Not only does it include copious amounts of mostly correct science to explain how they survive, but the plot skillfully defies space movie, or indeed, dramatic movie dogma that someone must die. It was heartbreaking to watch Watney shave his beard while weak after months on Mars, a revelation that he wanted to appear strong for his crew, and half-expect him never to see them again. Lewis's driving determination to get him back and absolute glee at saving him was a refreshing take on a close relationship between a man and a woman, in light of her boyfriend/husband. Leaving the movie was a rush of endorphins, a reminder that the best case scenario can theoretically be obtained and it's not stupid to strive for it. (Though it's okay if you don't, as evidenced by the sympathetic director and Lewis's assertion that should any member of the crew not want to save Watney, they wouldn't do it.)
SPOILER END
Altogether, The Martian is a highly rewarding experience with just enough plot to make your day.