For all the talk about a visit to Mars, there is nothing like a film to give you some idea of what that experience might be like.
Of course, a visit to Mars looks and feels a lot different when you’re sitting safely in a theatre in the midst of an audience watching the planet unfold in front of you. You’re not experiencing firsthand that jolt and rush into outer space, or the danger if something should go wrong. You also don’t have to don the space suit that means life or death in outer space. And given the story in The Martian, based on Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, many things can go wrong and they do.
The Martian featuring Matt Damon, is the third outer space movie I’ve seen in the last two years. I saw both Gravity and InterStellar in three D, both of which gave me some idea of what the universe looks like from outside of Earth. But The Martian (in 2D) was considerably more satisfying for one main reason.
Many years ago, I took screenwriting guru Robert McKee‘s three day intensive workshop. He emphasized ‘Story’ (also the title of his book on how to write a good screenplay), and story is what makes this film so rewarding to watch.
In The Martian, Matt Damon plays an astronaut who is accidentally left 
behind on a mission to Mars. What happens after that is both astonishing and scary. There were moments in the film when I found myself gripping my husband’s thigh wondering what was going to happen next. I haven’t felt that tense in a film in a long time.
What I loved about the film besides the story, Matt Damon’s performance, and the exquisite direction by Ridley Scott was the humanity behind it. Like the ordinary things that must be done in order to survive the harshest of climates millions of miles away from home. And how resourceful man is, and how much we will need to rely on science and math in order to make it through another day.
Though I probably won’t live to see a man on Mars, given this story, it seems entirely possible that a visit to Mars is not outside the realm of probability. How far man will go is anybody’s guess.
I definitely have to see this movie.
Julia, it’s so worth it. We don’t see a lot of movies at the cinema anymore but this is one that’s worth seeing on the big screen.
I’ll definitely put this on my to-see list! On a side note, I understand this was based on a self-published book! Yay indie authors…
Jo-Anne, I did not know that this was an indie book. It’s got so many excellent reviews. It obviously struck a chord. I wonder if the book is where the screenplay writer got all the details. It rings so true.
Hi Diana, Thanks for the fine review of The Martian. I’ll have to put it on my must-see list. And based on an indie book at that!
You’re welcome, Bryan. Yes, isn’t it great that it was based on an indie book? I was surprised how involved I became in the story. That’s good writing.