The Martian (2015) Review

By Paul Kates   X Formly Known as Twitter
3 Min Read

The bottom line is The Martian is a hugely entertaining movie and although it has a running time of 141 minutes it really does not seem that long when you are immersed in it.

The Martian (2015) Review
Purchase   Physical Media
Ridley Scott once again dips his paws in to the science fiction genre with The Martian, based on Andy Weir's 2011 novel of the same name, and stars Matt Damon as Mark Watney, a NASA botanist based on a scientific research base on the surface of the red planet.

The crew of ARES 3 are forced to make a sudden emergency evacuation from Mars when a storm of intense magnitude makes a direct hit on their research station. In a blind panic, trying to escape, Watney becomes separated from the rest of the crew on the way to the escape module. With no time to wait, and fearing his demise, the five remaining astronauts leave for the long journey home not knowing Watney survived the storm and he is now fending for himself alone on a planet many thousands of miles from home and many months away from any chance of being rescued.

On Earth, the news of the botanist's death is met with shock. This shock is retracted after they realize that he is still alive, and plans for are rescue are started, even if the head of NASA, Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels), thinks the attempt  is futile. Not knowing what is trying to be done, Watney is a determined individual; while realizing the chance of seeing home again is remote, he sets out to give himself a better hope of surviving by undertaking a series of challenges that need to be overcome if survival is to become a reality.

Matt Damon is superb in playing Mark Watney.  We see him go through near every emotion one could possibly imagine; laughing in the face of defeat and always looking for a positive outcome and always showing the best of human ingenuity. The Martian is all about Damon, but, in truth, there are some other decent characters in the film. Jeff Daniels is the villain of the piece, playing Teddy Sanders, a typical bureaucrat. The company comes before the plight of a single individual in his eyes. On the other end of the spectrum are Vincent Kapoor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Mitch Henderson (Sean Bean) who will bend over backwards to get their boy home. Unlike Ridley Scott's 2012 sci-fi hit Prometheus, where the various crew members had very little camaraderie towards each other, the crew of the ARES 3 have bond, especially Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) and Rick Martinez (Michael Pena), who has some very witty one-liners in there. A special mention for Donald Glover playing astrophysicist Rich Pernell. He had me in stitches, despite having very little screen time.

Director Ridley Scott really captures the loneliness of being the only human being on an alien planet devoid of any other life. The depth of field in the Martian landscape only adds to this loneliness. For me, his other forays in to sci-fi seem to have always been centered around the non-human life form, whether it's the alien in Alien, the robot in Blade Runner or the Engineers in Prometheus. However, this time round, his attention is centered on the human. It's refreshing and well done and sends out the message that we can achieve remarkable things if only we put our mind to it, and to never give up.

The bottom line is The Martian is a hugely entertaining movie and although it has a running time of 141 minutes it really does not seem that long when you are immersed in it. If I had a choice, I think I would see it in 2D rather than the 3D that was shown at the screening. The 3D never really came through, but maybe that's just a personal preference.

Cast:
Directed By:
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 134 minutes
Distributed By: 20th Century Fox

Stream from Amazon Prime
Watch
Watch / Stream on Hulu
Watch
Watch
Watch

For more information about The Martian visit the FlickDirect Movie Database. For more reviews by Paul Kates please click here.

The Martian images are courtesy of 20th Century Fox. All Rights Reserved.


FlickDirect, Paul  Kates

Mr. Kate's love affair with the movies started at a young age and has remained an integral part of his life. Although favoring the action/thriller above all other genres, his interest doesn't stop there. He will watch anything from period dramas to science fiction. Not only is Paul Kates a fan of the silver screen, he is also fond of US TV dramas, notably Arrow, Game of Thrones and The Blacklist. His favorite movies include The Lord of the Ring trilogy, and the Jason Bourne movies, while still having a soft spot for Disney animation which still to this day evokes memories from his childhood.


Read More The Martian Reviews

Physical Media: Blu-ray Review
There is so much The Martian does right it’s no wonder it is a possible Oscar contender.
Full Review | Grade: A
The Martian: Extended Edition Physical Media: Blu-ray Review
The real gem of the latest (The Martian) Blu-ray edition comes in the extras. The added feature is a Q&A with NASA scientists, Writer Andy Weir, Director Ridley Scott, and various other members of the space exploration community, including Bill Nye. 
Full Review | Grade: A


SPONSORED LINKS

Today's Digital HD DealsView All

Due Date
Due Date
WAS: $14.99
NOW: $9.99
The Gambler
The Gambler
WAS: $14.99
NOW: $4.99
TMNT
TMNT
WAS: $14.99
NOW: $9.99


Latest ReviewsView All

Sideways
Movie / Film Review
Oct 22, 2024 EST
Borderlands
Physical Media: 4K UHD Review
Oct 23, 2024 EST
AfrAId
Physical Media: Blu-ray Review
Nov 07, 2024 EST