It’s quite possible that you were snowed in this weekend. A majority of the country was covered in the white stuff, albeit at varying levels of fluff and frustration. We stayed inside, avoided the elements and took advantage of this sequestering with some much-needed home theater time by finally watching the Oscar-nominated flick The Martian
Although the runtime for The Martian is nearly two and a half hours long, it certainly doesn’t feel like it. There are no pointless scenes or unnecessary dialogue that cramp or hamper this film. It is streamlined and beautiful from beginning to end, making it a truly enjoyable viewing experience for the audience.
When a group of astronauts has to abruptly leave their mission on Mars, they leave behind one of their own, Mark Watney (Matt Damon). Watney was presumed dead after a fierce storm carried him away. Of course, Watney was not killed, but now has to find a way to survive on Mars with only meager supplies until the next astronauts arrive on Mars in four years.
Watney’s particular field of science is botany. He has to figure out a way to grow his own food on a planet with no vegetation. Otherwise, he will starve to death. However, there are plenty of other obstacles that might kill him in the meantime.
Although The Martian’s tone is appropriately tense, (we are talking about a man really trying to not die) there is also humor. Mark Watney is a brilliant man who takes science very seriously, but not himself, resulting in a character that you can’t help but love and root for.
The imagery and visual effects used within The Martian are brilliant. There were no cheap cartoonish visuals used in this film. It all feels real and raw which aids to bring Mark Watney’s trials and tribulations to life.
Besides superb acting and striking visuals, what can be most appreciated about The Martian is its message of hope. When any one human being faces insurmountable odds, one must remember to stop and logically solve one problem at a time rather than being overwhelmed at the overall picture. Or, as Mark Watney says, “Science the s–t out of it.”
