Rating of
3.5/4
Damon on Mars
Unknown - wrote on 01/17/16
'The Martian' sees director Ridley Scott return to sci-fi in a big way. He assembles a large, diverse, and extremely good cast in an epic outer space survival piece. This is a much more grounded and smartly written film than most that are set in space. They go to great lengths to tie together fiction with actual scientific facts. The two blend together seamlessly, making the events believable within the confines of the story. This is aided greatly by the top-notch special effects that immerse us into the world of Mars. We see everything unfold from three perspectives: our hero, those who left him behind, and the brilliant minds at NASA who are working day and night to rescue him. We get ample time with all sides, watching the intricacies of communication and teamwork that goes into a massive undertaking such as this. The whole point of the film revolves around problem solving. There are numerous obstacles faced in which the characters reach out to combine their skills and take it one step at a time. Each goal is met with satisfying accomplishment. The positive nature of the main character (Mark) enforces the overall problem solving message. Damon is the most engaging he's ever been here. Mark's sense of humor gives the right amount of light moments, but never overrides the immediate danger of the entire situation. It makes him easier to invest in initially as well. I enjoyed this film a great deal for it's determination in those positive areas.
