The Martian
Based on the book by Andy Weir and directed by Ridley Scott (Gladiator), The Martian is not only an exhilarating thrill ride, but also a stunningly beautiful cinematographic masterpiece! In fact, this movie should be the one that all other 3D movies should strive for. Trust me, the endless CGI landscapes and shots of the planet Mars really make you feel like you are there in person! I also rarely mention music and sound mixing, but take note when you see this movie as it is done nearly to perfection.
As for the story, it is a perfect mix of the movies “Apollo 13” and “Gravity.” It begins with a crew of NASA Astronauts working on the planet Mars doing research when a huge storm hits them without warning. Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after being struck by debris and the rest of the crew makes the decision to abort the mission and leave the planet for fear of all getting trapped in the storm. Well, we soon find out that Watney is not dead after all and the movie encompasses his struggle for survival on the red planet. Damon is absolutely brilliant in his role showcasing both humor as well as anguish throughout. In fact, despite a 2 hour and 14 minute run-time, I didn’t really want it to end.
The supporting cast is also very good led by Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kate Mara, Kristen Wiig, and Michael Pena. The roles and parts are perfectly matched and no one outshines anyone else nor is any one character particularly annoying. This movie also highlights the goodness of human beings and the strong will to come together to create and solve the almost impossible puzzles in life–all for the sake of survival. The Martian really is gripping and exquisite storytelling at it’s finest.
Simply put, do not walk…run to go see this wonderful film! One of my favorites this year for sure!
A thrilling 9 out of 10.
