The Martian

By: Ridley Scott

More years ago a science-fiction movie was released that did not look silly was when
Christopher Nolan came out with “Interstellar.” Long before and after it, science-fiction movies
were mostly about laser pew-pew, galactic villains, and relaunching once-popular franchises like
Star Trek. However, even in this gloomy kingdom of exploitation cinematography (no really,
science-fiction movies have become nothing but a way to demonstrate new visual technologies)
there finally was a beam of light: Ridley Scott’s “The Martian.”

The Martian is a 2015 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon.
Drew Goddard adapted the screenplay from the 2011 novel The Martian by Andy Weir. The film
depicts an astronaut's lone struggle to survive on Mars after being left behind and the efforts of
NASA to rescue him and bring him home to Earth. “The Martian” is a contemporary version of a
probably-forgotten tale by Daniel Defoe—“Robinson Crusoe.” The main difference is obviously
the location where the main character—in our case the NASA astronaut Mark Watney—is
stranded: Mars. Considered to have deceased in an accident, Mark is abandoned by his
colleagues during a mission on Martian surface, and thus has to survive on the resources he has
until the next mission arrives. That is all I can say about the plot—the rest you should watch for
yourself. The plot is a classic for these kinds of movies, although in general I can say “The
Martian” is an attempt to make a clever movie within Hollywood’s boundaries, which I both
liked and disliked. Both for specific reasons.

I will start with the goodies. What I liked is that the script was partially written with the
participation of NASA specialists. I never read the book (you do know that “The Martian” film
was based a book, right?) so I cannot say how close to real science the source is, but it seems the
movie is quite accurate in terms of science—except the parts when the director made obvious
mistakes, like the one when Watney moves around space with the help of a gauntlet, the volumes
of unused space on a large spaceship, or the color of Martian surface (it is grey, not reddish), not
to mention the fact that solar radiation on Mars would probably kill Watney quickly.

What I also liked was the general idea of the film: even if the situation seems to be hopeless, do
not lose your head, try to keep your mind clear, and eventually you will find a solution to any
problem. This is what I believe too, and this is what helped Watney survive. Matt Dammon was
the best actor for playing this kind of personality, in my opinion—even though he looked like
agent Borne in a spacesuit; nonetheless, he conveyed the feelings and behavior of a person
stranded on a deserted planet perfectly. Generally, his duet with Jessica Chastain is among the
things that I liked about “The Martian.”

Among other good things is probably the visual effects, but I guess it is almost impossible to
make bad effects in the 21st century, so I will take this part for granted.
 What I disliked, and what makes this film a typical Hollywood product apart from a traditional
happy end, is the atmosphere. Sometimes it seems like Watney does not fully realize the scales
of his situation. Like, “Yeah, I’m stranded on Mars, but I can still joke around with my buddies
on Earth.” Of course, humor is crucial not only to keep one’s sanity in extreme conditions, but in
regular daily life as well—but “The Martian” sometimes stops being serious with all those gags
and small laughs. I do not want to sound like a snob, and I like humor in the movies, but “The
Martian” sometimes jokes when it is not appropriate, and it spoils the atmosphere.

What is also annoying is that everyone on Earth seems to want to save Watney (why does the
information about him even become a public phenomenon?). It is as if Earth revolved around
Mark Watney, that unbreakable and sarcastic scientist temporarily stuck a bit far from home.
Sometimes the NASA rescue operation looks like a reality show with Matt Damon that all of
Earth watches.

Generally, the film is not bad—much better than the rest of the science-fiction productions we
are being fed regularly. The recent discovery of liquid water on Mars has also poured some
gasoline onto the marketing flame, and made the possibility of the events described in the film a
little bit higher. But it is still not at the level of “Interstellar,” and not even close to the level of
Kubrick’s “Space Odyssey” (and the main characters of these movies spend quite a long time on
their own as well). 7.5 out of 10; could be better, but still a solid job.

Movie Review Jade Mahonrai M. Gandela

TVL-ICT ASUS

The Martian
By: Ridley Scott

The Martian is a 2015 science-fiction movie directed by Ridley Scott

and starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, and Jeff Daniels. The story
is about an astronaut named Mark Watney (played by Matt Damon), who is
left behind on Mars during a manned mission. The movie follows Mark's
efforts to survive on the deserted planet for four years.

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is

presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But
Watney has miraculously survived and finds himself stranded and alone
on the hostile planet with no way to signal Earth that he's alive.
With limited supplies, he innovatively conspires to find a way to
contact Earth and survive on Mars for years.

The film's screenplay is well-written, and the dialogues seamlessly

blend humor and seriousness. The story doesn't feel stretched or dull
at any point and keeps you engaged throughout. The visual effects in
the movie are breathtaking, providing a realistic depiction of space
travel and the Martian landscape.

The movie is based on a novel of the same name by Andy Weir and is a
thrilling and captivating watch from start to finish. Matt Damon's
performance as Mark Watney is outstanding, and the movie's cast, along
with the excellent visuals and soundtrack, make for a genuinely
immersive space experience.

In conclusion, "The Martian" is a gripping, visually stunning, and

well-acted movie that offers an engaging survival story. It's a must-
watch for sci-fi enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys thrilling films.
However, some critics have found the movie's plot to be formulaic, and
while the film is undoubtedly entertaining, it might not be to
everyone's taste. Still, overall, The Martian is a visually stunning
and well-acted movie that is both thought-provoking and exciting.