10/11/2015 0 Comments 'The Martian' Movie ReviewFrom Gravity to Interstellar, it seems like for the past few years, we've had a space adventure movie come out this time of year. So what makes The Martian stand out? Just watch and see. The Martian is not only a home run, but it's the best movie in years for star Matt Damon and director Ridley Scott.
Based on the novel by Andy Weir, the film stars Damon as astronaut Mark Watney, on a mission to study the surface of Mars. But when a severe storm rolls in and Watney is taken out by a massive piece of debris, his crew is forced to abandon the planet, presuming Watney to be dead. There's just one problem: Watney is very much alive, and is now the only man on Mars. Now, Watney must make the most of his resources for a long enough time to last him until his crew can rescue him...that is, if he can even make contact with NASA. Damon delivers a fantastic performance, and a big part of it comes from just how likeable his character is. He's constantly generating new ideas for how to survive, channeling his inner MacGyver by using and reusing his materials in unexpected ways. He's always got a backup plan, so when he's at a standstill or something goes wrong, you feel every bit of his frustration. The rest of the supporting cast also excel, with the standouts being Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) as the commander of Watney's mission and Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) as the Mars missions director spearheading the effort to bring Watney home. Similar to Damon, while they are well-acted, a huge part of their appeal is how good the characters are. They add a new dynamic to the plot that gives the film an extra layer of intrigue. That dynamic would be the scenes on Earth, wherein NASA is trying to beat the clock to save Watney. Fans of Argo will particularly relish these scenes, showing all of the hoops that have to be jumped through to accomplish such a daunting undertaking, while simultaneously maintaining the company's positive public image. It's just as much a political endeavor as it is a space mission, and it's a thrill to see the actors pull off that balancing act. But if the term "political endeavor" scares you away, fear not. When we're surviving on Mars with Watney, the film is every bit as immersive as a realistic space adventure should be. With a setting like Mars being essentially a desert, you need a director with a distinct visual style to keep things interesting, and Ridley Scott is certainly that director. With credentials such as Alien and Prometheus, Scott shows that his artistic vision is most comfortable in space, and The Martian is no exception. The landscape shots of the red planet are simply breathtaking, and the only thing more visually impressive is the gripping climax in space. Brought to life by award-worthy visual effects and driven by stellar performances, The Martian is everything I wanted it to be. It's not only a thrilling space adventure, but it's also an inspiring film about the will to survive and the hope of an entire planet coming together to save one man. I'm giving The Martian four out of four stars.
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