Dept. of Movies

[kaffyr]

The Martian 

(Warning; not a real review, just an immediate reaction.)

Went to see this movie tonight, and I have to echo what a lot of people have said - it's awesome. It's hard science fiction, with brain and heart, which means it does Campbell and Gernsback right, the way Campbell and Gernsback didn't, so ... without a lot of racism, sexism, etc., and with a great deal more literary and filmic sophistication than those two might ever have imagined - but still with a lot of true love for, and belief in, the power of logic, science, optimism, humanism and determination to move forward. 

Or as hero botanist Mark Watney (portrayed wonderfully by Matt Damon) says, when presented with yet another life-threatening scenario, "I've got to science the shit out of this." And he does, while a totally admirable group of science heroes back on earth do their damnedest to help him out (not always successfully.)

The look and feel of it was gorgeous; I felt like we were looking at Mars, even as I knew that we weren't. 

If this doesn't win the Hugo for best long form drama (or whatever the hell they call it next year), I'll either cry foul, or prepare myself to see the film of a lifetime if the winner actually tops The Martian. 

Comments

[shanghaied]

Apart from having to point out that Damon's character's surname is Watney, I'm in total agreement with you right through the penultimate paragraph. And though your closing sentence is meaningless to me, I do agree that this film merits winning many awards out in the wider world :-)

Given the respectworthy sources of pre-release raves (Hadfield, Adam Savage) and the fact that the only complaints any reviewer at the Toronto film festival could make were 'too much science' (um er what?) and 'not enough drama' (bwahahaha!), I took the brave step of booking Gold Class tickets for it, even though we got burnt so badly that way by Ridley Scott's previous big-budget science fiction fiasco. Brave step paid off: luxurious setting, excellent cocktails, FRAKKING AWESOME film :D

[kaffyr]

Thanks for the heads up on Watney's name; that's been fixed.

"Too much science"? Poor man. It must be sad to be so frightened by something so wonderful.

I absolutely agree - it was frakking awesome!

[shanghaied]

Thanks for the heads up on Watney's name; that's been fixed.

From one professional wordsmith to another, no problem ;D

Another friend saw it over the weekend; her (private) reaction on Twitter was 'EEEEE!!! MacGyver in Space!!! Awesome!!!' I heartily concur :-)

Want DVD now now NOW!

[kerravonsen]

while a totally admirable group of science heroes back on earth do their damnedest to help him out (not always successfully.)

One of the things I liked was that their first attempt actually did fail, because they were taking all those shortcuts; that was a good dose of reality which other films wouldn't have been brave enough to do.

The look and feel of it was gorgeous; I felt like we were looking at Mars, even as I knew that we weren't.

It was magnificent.

[kaffyr]

I just knew that the first attempt would fail. And they played it as if everyone involved feared the same thing. I agree it was a good dose of reality, and it would have been a cheat if the movie didn't address it.

It was magnificent.

Oh, wasn't it? Everyone in the part that went with me came out of the movie saying they couldn't think of anything that was wanting, from the acting, to the direction, to the pacing, to the CGI - nothing.

[time-converges.livejournal.com]

It's soooooo good! Yay Science!

[kaffyr]

Several days on, and my BB and I are still terrifically impressed with the movie.

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, may have to find a way to see this, then!

*HUGS*

[kaffyr]

If you can, I guarantee that you'll love it. If you have to wait until it hits Netflix or other far more illegal thing other places it'll show up, it will still be fantastic.

*hugs right back*

[clocketpatch]

I haven't seen the movie, but the book was fantastic!

[kaffyr]

My First Born insisted that I should read the book, and pressed his copy upon me. That was so unusual that I started reading it, and was in the process of enjoying it, very slowly. Now, however, I want to finish it!

[eaweek.livejournal.com]

I heard lots of good things about this movie, and Matt Damon is usually excellent.

[kaffyr]

If you have the chance to see it, definitely do so!

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Yes! The Martian was SO GOOD. I loved all the science heroes. It's great that between this, Gravity, and Interstellar we are getting quite a collection of near-future space SF. I hope it invigorates our real space program.

Also, I am still laughing at the scene where a bunch of NASA people explain the Council of Elrond to the one person who doesn't get the reference WITH SEAN BEAN IN THE ROOM. A+ casting decision. (Really, all the casting was A+.)

[kaffyr]

one person who doesn't get the reference WITH SEAN BEAN IN THE ROOM.

Oh, yes - and ... SEAN BEAN LIVED!!! He ended up playing golf with his grandchildren, and not, you know, DYING.

I really want to catch Interstellar, and I suppose I should see Gravity as well, eh?

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

It is always odd (in a good way!) to see Sean Bean live through something. He managed to live through Jupiter Ascending, but that could be blamed on the general cheesiness of that movie.

Gravity was REALLY GOOD. It was a real treat on the big screen, and probably the only movie I've ever seen where I truly loved the 3D, but it should still be impressive and exciting to see at home. Interstellar I also liked a lot, albeit with certain caveats that I can't really discuss without spoilers. Both make interesting pairings with The Martian.

[kaffyr]

Ah, Jupiter Ascending ... I heard it was remarkably cheesy, but in a kind of sweet way - is that true?

[tardis-stowaway.livejournal.com]

Ah, Jupiter Ascending ... I heard it was remarkably cheesy, but in a kind of sweet way - is that true?

Yes indeed! I absolutely loved Jupiter Ascending. It is not by any normal measure a good movie, but it's super enjoyable in a campy way where sometimes you're laughing at the movie and sometimes you're just marveling that something like this exists. It's like some 14 year-old's self-insert Fifth Element fanfic was filmed with a budget of many millions. Mila Kunis is a Russian immigrant house cleaner named Jupiter who discovers that she has a secret destiny as a Space Princess. Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne is one of the villains, and he is delightfully hammy. He whispers 90% of his lines and SHOUTS THE REST, sometimes while wearing a cape with no shirt underneath. Channing Tatum is a Space Werewolf with a tragic backstory who has flying rollerblades. Sean Bean is a beekeeper from space named Stinger. The plot is incoherent, the dialog is clunky, and everything is over the top. It's also visually gorgeous and has some bits of clever worldbuilding. And while Jupiter spends a lot of time falling off buildings and getting rescued, it was still nice to see a genuinely female-centric space fantasy.

I have no idea how a film as gloriously terrible and odd as Jupiter Ascending got produced by Hollywood, but I'm so glad it did.

[kaffyr]

Belatedly - this makes me very happy to read, and I shall go about finding this one!