Thursday, October 1, 2015

The Martian Movie Review

Matt Damon stars in The Martian

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Rotten Tomatoes Plot: 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 survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crew-mates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return. Based on a best-selling novel, and helmed by master director Ridley Scott, THE MARTIAN features a star studded cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Peña, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Donald Glover.


Finally, a reason to pay attention in science class. The Martian is smart, spirited and suspenseful... good enough to overcome some questionable casting (Daniels, Wiig) and a lackluster NASA staff (save Ejiofor, who's terrific) back on Earth. Thankfully, Scott leaves most of the heavy lifting to Damon, who dazzles with charm, humor and resourcefulness. True, his character handles each seemingly insurmountable obstacle with unlikely ease; but he's so darn likable, it's difficult not to buy in to the movie's impossibilities. Resembles Apollo 13 & Gravity, but there's still enough originality to satisfy most moviegoers. A must-see for Damon's performance alone.

GradeB