Review of Martian (2015) by Andrew J — 30 Jul 2016

A solid science fiction outing in which crew member Mark Watney (Matt Damon), of the first manned mission to Mars, is accidentally left behind during an emergency evacuation. He manages to "science the shit" out of his situation and survive on left-behind rations and locally grown vegetables. He scavenges communications gear and contacts Earth. NASA has to decide what to do with the marooned astronaut, taking into account technical resources, orbital mechanics, and public relations.

From what I can tell, the science is pretty good in this, although I've read the violent sandstorm that starts this modern-day Robinson Crusoe tale is physically impossible in the thin Martian atmosphere Watney's ingenuity and technical skills are impressive, but perhaps not completely unrealistic for a cross-trained botanist. The visuals are stunning, and the production values are excellent. The film doesn't break any new narrative ground, but it's very well made.