Months ago, I did one of my Barnes & Noble explorations, where I stroll through the aisles, searching for new books that looked interesting. Usually, I make note of the title and then check the price of the print book against that of an e-book. The latter usually wins. But not this time. I noticed a book called The Martian. Good cover. I picked it up, read the back copy, and even though I’d never heard of the author – Andy Weir – bought the book.
I loved it. I tuned it over to Rob when I finished it and he loved it. I passed it on to our daughter and she felt the same. By then, I knew it was going to be a movie, with Matt Damon as the Martian, and passed it on to others who enjoy good stories. Today, Rob and I wet to see the movie version.
From IMDB: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
What this synopsis doesn’t tell you is that Watney is a biologist with a sense of humor who manages to grow potatoes on Mars that are supposed to keep him fed until he can be rescued by the very crew that deserted him because they thought he was dead. This synopsis doesn’t tell you about the human face of NASA, the engineers and math whizzes, the satellite communicators and computer nerds whose lives go on hold so they can bring this guy home.
Damon is spectacular in this movie. He emotes the loneliness, deprivation, and isolation of his situation without self-pity. He solves problems – the food, the oxygen, the water for the potatoes- and eventually, he even solves the communication problem and is able to chat with NASA, the astronauts who abandoned him. When an explosion decimates his potato crop, when he slams up against challenges that would send most of us to suicide, he shrieks, sobs, and we feel what he feels.
Oscar is written all over this movie. Gravity and Interstellar come to mind, but they can’t compete with The Martian. We’re rooting for this guy from the get go. Even though he’s an astronaut- the best, the brightest – he is also you and me. Matt Damon, last seen as a gasping secondary character in Interstellar, rocks as The Martian.
May Oscar recognize you, Matt, as the actor who brought Andy Weir’s character to life.
What a fantastic movie! So well done, and the characters were so believable. And you really felt like you were on Mars!
I hope damon and the movie are nominated. We loved it, too!
You’ve got a talent for reviewing a synopsis that hooks *smiles* Will be added to the list of stuff for hubby to seek-an-find
You’ve convinced me to go see it.
There are so many great movies out now at the cinema.
The Walk, Everest and Pan…well maybe not Pan, but my son coached the actor’s mother who played the role of Pan, so I had to see it, as that actor is from my hometown, Brisbane.
I think he has a big future ahead in cinema.
I got this book from my sister but hadn’t read it yet when we saw the movie. I loved the movie and was thrilled that there is so much more after the “ending” rescue. Still haven’t read the book, yet, but some stories take years and there are those daily details of sustaining life to deal with… I love potatoes and haven’t had many in recent years but am currently rectifying that oversight. LOL!
I loved the movie so much that I downloaded the book to my Kindle and am in the process of reading it right now. I’m so glad you enjoyed Matt Damon bringing this character to life. He is really good and I agree about Mr. Oscar coming to visit. 🙂
At the end of the book there’s an interview with the author. It’s fascinating. The book started as fan fiction that he sold on amazon for 99 cents. It got so many downloads a publisher picked it up. That same week, the book was optioned for a movie. Andy Weir thought it was all a scam!
Wow, that sounds like a great story right there.
Seeing this movie tonight….thanks.
You’ll enjoy it!