Movies: The Martian

 

(Drivebycuriosity) - Imagine you would be left behind on the Mars because your crew had an emergency departure?  Imagine you have to live in a deadly and unforgiving environment and you have to count the days till your supply of air, water, food, and more will come to an end. The movie "The Martian"  (imdb)  tells how astronaut Mark, a biologist, fights for his survival on Mars (this is a spoiler free blog. You can find a synopsis here wikipedia).  

Director Ridley Scott, almost immortal by his works "Alien" & "Bladerunner", delivered another masterpiece (even that "The Martian" isn`t quite on the same level). The movie is thrilling and very plausible. I enjoyed that "The Martin" blends an exciting story with real "hard" science fiction. I really cared about the astronaut´s fate, but I also enjoyed how the involuntarily "Martian" uses his skills and scientific knowledge (biology, chemistry, physics) to fight for survival.


                           Pro Science

The film is optimistic and delivers a "we can do it" message.  The "Martian" is pro science, pro technology and pro progress - a refreshing contrast to the usual dystopian movies (driveby).  I agree with blog author & economist Alex Tabarrok that the "Martian" is about  "efficacy of man’s mind and the power of reason " (marginal). I think the "Martian" might even give the NASA some tailwinds against the gloomy and anti-scientific zeitgeist.

The  efficacy of man’s mind and the power of reason is exactly the theme of The Martian. - See more at: http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2015/10/ayn-rand-and-the-martian.html#sthash.xmDmCiN2.dpuf

The  efficacy of man’s mind and the power of reason is exactly the theme of The Martian. - See more at: http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2015/10/ayn-rand-and-the-martian.html#sthash.xmDmCiN2.dpuf

Cinematographer Dariusz Wolski and a huge team of coders constructed a realistic Martian environment and created gorgeous space flight scenes. I watched the film in 3D and got really the impression to be with Mark on Mars or in outer space. "The Martian" is of course inspired by other movies like  "Gravity", "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Cast Away"

Matt Damon is the perfect cast as Mark, the "Martian". The actor combines a believable intellectual & scientific attitude with survival   (as shown in his "Bourne" movies). I really enjoyed watching Jessica Chastain, one of my favorite Hollywood goddesses, especially when she was elegantly floating weightless in space.

"The Martian" is the best film of the year of the year so far and an impressive early Oscar contender.