So "The Martian", originally self-published by Andy Weir, was one of the more exciting and nerdtastic books I've read in recent years. Meticulously researched and nerdy to its core, the book tells the tale of a near future where NASA has begun manned missions to Mars. On one such mission, through a horrible accident, an astronaut is left behind and forced to survive on the barren surface while desperately trying to figure out how to get home. It's Apollo 13 meets Robinson Crusoe. So when it was announced that the book was going to be adapted for the screen in short order by none other than Ridley "Alien/Blade Runner" Scott, it was cause for some excitement. Throw in a tremendous cast (Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Michael Pena, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Sean Bean and more) and all the effects and production value money can buy, and you're just about guaranteed a sure thing.
Mark Watney, a botanist, is part of an 'Ares' mission to Mars when a sandstorm results in his being stranded, alone, on the planet's surface. He's forced, through his intellect, know-how and plucky resolve, to figure out a way to stay alive on a planet that's utterly devoid of life.
The Good: The book is already written like a Hollywood blockbuster, so the main challenge here was simply not screwing up the adaptation. And if anything, the film actually improves on the book, both through the gorgeous shots of the immense Martian landscape and by streamlining the narrative. The film, despite a runtime of over 2 hours, feels taut and tense throughout, with the climatic scene especially leaving you on the edge of your seat. The film also, admirably in this day and age, doesn't shy away from the hard-science of what Watney is doing to stay alive. He's trying to make water, preserve oxygen, stay warm and grow food, and the film doesn't hold your hand about any of it, rather taking a chance and treating science as fun and exciting. (Which it is!) They hit the casting out of the park as well. If Watney isn't charming enough to be compelling while he's alone in a dome, the movie falls flat from the jump. Matt Damon is probably the most personable "big" actor working today, and he instills his character with humor, charm and a human reliability. The supporting cast is strong as well, and while this film is Damon's first and foremost, the rest of the cast proves themselves more than up to the task, with Jessica Chastain and Chiwetel Ejiofor especially standing out. The book stumbles a bit through the third act, but the film fixes many of those issues, and I much prefer the film's ending.
The Bad: by and large, the film is otherwise good enough to overcome this shortcoming, which is also present in the book, and that's that this is an engineer's drama. It contains virtually no emotional or psychological depth beneath the ever-present problem facing the characters right in the face. That's not a huge problem, but it is a potential missed opportunity that keeps the film from reaching true greatness.
In all, this flick is the best space movie since Apollo 13. Its realistic setting, likable characters, tremendous production value and science-friendly ethos make it a fun, tense, eminently watchable modern sci fi classic. Damon, Ridley Scott, and everyone involved knocks it out of the part. Check it out, you won't regret it.
8.5/10
