There was some discussion regarding the book in another thread. Although I have the book, I haven't read it yet. I was wondering if any of you thought this movie was a favorable interpretation? As I said I haven't read it yet, and while I really enjoyed the movie, it felt a little ... miscast ... to me. Anyone?

Haven't has a chance to see it yet.

 

 

The Bad Astronomer (Phil Plait) has a favorable review (some spoilers):

 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2015/10/10/the_martian_scifi_blockbuster_is_about_the_science.html

The movie is very good. Of course, the book is better.

 

Both are worth reading/watching. The movie is a good interpretation and only really shows its flaws if you've read the novel (the movie cut some of the best "science-y" scenes of the book).

Yeah ... that's why I decided to see the movie first, in this case. After all the discussion on the book, I didn't want to read it and then be marginally disappointed in the movie ... which, as I said, I really enjoyed. I just wasn't sold on Matt Damon ... not sure why, because I think he did a fine job, but I just wasn't sold ... and maybe once I read the book, it'll convince me one way or the other. Not sure about Jessica Chastain, either ... but I liked everyone else. And, it's definitely a movie to see.

What's the title of the book? I watched the movie on their opening weekend and really enjoyed it too. It also reminded me of the movie Apollo 13.... I agree Matt Damon wasn't an ideal choice, but he made the movie fun. "I'm going to have to science the s*** out of this."

What's the title of the book? I watched the movie on their opening weekend and really enjoyed it too. It also reminded me of the movie Apollo 13.... I agree Matt Damon wasn't an ideal choice, but he made the movie fun. "I'm going to have to science the s*** out of this."

The book is also titled 'The Martian.'

 

 ... miscast ... 

http://i.imgur.com/CCoWUQ3.jpg

Edited October 12, 201511 yr by PseudoSABR

http://i.imgur.com/CCoWUQ3.jpg

I'm still trying to figure out how they got Sarah Silverman to Mars first.

http://i.imgur.com/CCoWUQ3.jpg

That photo should serve as a reminder that cosmetic surgery doesn't always turn out well.

I thought Damon was an excellent choice as Watney. He has the humorous charm required of the character.

 

To me, the most disappointing aspect of the movie was how they toned down a couple of Watney's interactions with NASA. They were pretty hilarious in the book.

I agree that Damon was good in this, and I am not a Damon fan.

I think my issue with the casting, after thinking more on it was the rest of the team. They seemed so much younger than him, or him older. It just seemed a little off to me. But that's a really picky point for a movie I really liked.

That was a great movie. I might even read the book now.

 

Really loved that movie.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie, but the plot required a ton of things going right and no single life-snuffing thing going wrong, and midway through the movie it started to bother me. Yes, there was a major thing that went wrong (foreshadowed of course by some nitwit at mission control observing that things were going well ) which nearly killed him. And of course the major major thing at the beginning, coupled with the minor major thing that saved his life. But I'm talking about the day to day things that go wrong. A door gets stuck and then when you forget and force it it's off its tracks, and you can't open it. Something falls over that requires two people to set it right. The Mars Rover gets a flat tire or breaks an axle - for that matter, is the Rover so maintenance free that a botanist can keep it in running order? Movies require suspension of disbelief and somewhere along the line they lost me in that regard. Getting him home safely required a sequence of correctly executed maneuvers that made Gravity look like a simple parachute ride down for Sandra Bullock.

 

Nonetheless, as I said, I liked the movie overall. My wife was a biology major in college before switching to math, and when we go for walks she's always commenting on the flora along the way - and after this movie I was able to say the next day "you're botanying the sh*t out of this, aren't you?".

 

Also, as a novice trail builder in mountain/desert terrain, I couldn't help thinking about my more experienced friends' reactions to seeing the challenging terrain in the movie. "Wow, you could put a great trail right there, and another one there, and there...". I guess I'm saying, they REALLY succeeded in making me feel I was there.

 

Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie, but the plot required a ton of things going right and no single life-snuffing thing going wrong, and midway through the movie it started to bother me. Yes, there was a major thing that went wrong (foreshadowed of course by some nitwit at mission control observing that things were going well ) which nearly killed him. And of course the major major thing at the beginning, coupled with the minor major thing that saved his life. But I'm talking about the day to day things that go wrong. A door gets stuck and then when you forget and force it it's off its tracks, and you can't open it. Something falls over that requires two people to set it right. The Mars Rover gets a flat tire or breaks an axle - for that matter, is the Rover so maintenance free that a botanist can keep it in running order? Movies require suspension of disbelief and somewhere along the line they lost me in that regard. Getting him home safely required a sequence of correctly executed maneuvers that made Gravity look like a simple parachute ride down for Sandra Bullock.

 

Nonetheless, as I said, I liked the movie overall. My wife was a biology major in college before switching to math, and when we go for walks she's always commenting on the flora along the way - and after this movie I was able to say the next day "you're botanying the sh*t out of this, aren't you?".

 

Also, as a novice trail builder in mountain/desert terrain, I couldn't help thinking about some of my friends' reactions to seeing the challenging terrain in the movie. "Wow, you could put a great trail right there, and another one there, and there..."

You need to go back and watch (or re-watch) Marooned sometime.

 

Movies require suspension of disbelief and somewhere along the line they lost me in that regard..

 

Personally, I tend to like movies more when I have to 'suspend belief' at some point. Movies for me are an escape to 'make believe,' even sort of, possibly, maybe 'possible make believe.'

You need to go back and watch (or re-watch) Marooned sometime.

Plan 9 had a plot hole or two, as well.

 

I suppose I could have summarized that I liked the Science that was portrayed in the movie, as did many reviewers, but I was bothered by the Engineering, as well as the Law attributed to Murphy.

 

Plan 9 had a plot hole or two, as well.

 

I suppose I could have summarized that I liked the Science that was portrayed in the movie, as did many reviewers, but I was bothered by the Engineering, as well as the Law attributed to Murphy.

Getting any respectable science in the media can be considered a big win.

 

This coming from a guy who watches superhero shows, zombie shows, and Doctor Who (which is kind of in between those two).

I liked it but the escape sequence was a bit anti-climactic IMO.

Isn't that true of any survival story though? Guy cuts his arm off, doesn't bleed out, people find him at just the right moment? Guy gets stuck in his car in the winter, and just happens to be near water or near a source of heat.

 

Sure, this required A LOT of that, but there are so many real life survival stories, that it didn't require a huge suspension for me. Heck, Jewish survivors of WWII, their specific survival story required what, compared to those that dies? We are an amazingly agile species at times.

I mean, file this under "impossible to please," but after the initial sequence the story became so lighthearted that the ending never really felt in doubt. The only real intrigue was how to handle the PR / political fallback from having left a man on Mars. In the actual escape several key details seemed to be glossed over.

I'm still trying to figure out what happened to Tom Bombadil.

I loved the council of Elrond joke.......would have been too much for Bean to say more.

Finally bought this and watched it last week,

 

A) It was really good.

The book was even better.

 

I'd have a hard time thinking of as better choice for Watney than Damon was. Just the right level of smart-ass.

Um ... The Martian is a comedy? Really? I mean, there were certainly some comical moments, but that's not the genre I'd put it in.

 

Don't get me wrong, I liked the movie, but the plot required a ton of things going right and no single life-snuffing thing going wrong, and midway through the movie it started to bother me.

That's kinda every survival story ever, though... Including many true-life stories.

 

If a survival story is worth telling, it requires highly improbable events to take place or no one cares.

Um ... The Martian is a comedy? Really? I mean, there were certainly some comical moments, but that's not the genre I'd put it in.

Watching it certainly made me think of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

 

Watching it certainly made me think of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Lol ... Which dance number specifically? Or maybe it was the 'Pole Cat' song.

Lol ... Which dance number specifically? Or maybe it was the 'Pole Cat' song.

Yup, the Lonesome polecat.

 

Yup, the Lonesome polecat.

Heh ... of course I had to provide the video

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ChstJwEjIA