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

[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.

[time-converges.livejournal.com]

It's soooooo good! Yay Science!

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

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

*HUGS*

[clocketpatch]

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

[eaweek.livejournal.com]

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

[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+.)