PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: The most important movie of the year hit theaters this weekend, and if you haven’t been to see it, stop reading this right now and go get yourself a ticket (yes, that means you, Maddie.) The film adaptation of Andy Weir’s book, The Martian debuted at the box offices on Friday to wow crowds with another of Matt Damon’s action-packed adventures. And uncommon for a movie based on a book, The Martian did not disappoint. It is for the most part scientifically accurate, follows Andy Weir’s story closely, and reminds moviegoers around the world of two great causes that unify all of humankind: compassion and science.
The Martian is a movie with a little something for everyone. It is suspenseful, heartwarming, and continuously humorous. It is based on a book that pays precise attention to detail and accuracy. There is no fluff; every aspect is carefully calculated and deliberately designed; Andy Weir certainly did his homework. But while the detail is meticulous, the book is absolutely a homage the literary instrument “Chekhov’s gun”, with no extraneous element to be found. Director Ridley Scott captures this dense content as best a movie can, with the result being a film that thrills.
I’m please to note a trend of space-themed movies to draw crowds within the last few years; from Gravity to Elysium to Interstellar, pop culture more frequently directs the general public’s attention outside of Earth’s atmosphere. But of all these, The Martian is the best, the most entertaining, and the most important. A friend of mine recently compared it to the classic Apollo 13, a bold assertion, considering the historical significance of space nerds’ most beloved space favorite. But while I admittedly teared up watching Apollo 13 on the big screen (the big screen!) in real Apollo Mission Control, I would even deign to say that The Martian is bigger. Not to downplay the true close call that nearly took the lives of three astronauts and could have spelt the end for America’s space program, but Apollo 13 appeals to a somewhat narrow audience. We space enthusiasts hunger for a good space story, but what space enthusiasts hunger for hasn’t historically been big hits at the box office. To be a success, a movie needs a little more finesse—and a little more Matt Damon doesn’t hurt.
Children watching Mark Watney “science the shit” out of his problems are the ones who will form our next generation of astronauts, scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and general problem solvers. Adults watching humanity come together in The Martian in the name of space exploration are the ones defining the political conditions that make or break our space program. This isn’t just a rich story spiced with action and suspense; it’s a celebration of engineering and humankind’s ingenuity, determination, and intrinsic thirst for science. The hero of this plot isn’t an athlete or a rock star; he’s a brilliant critical thinker—the MacGyver of science. With the only downside being Matt Damon’s beard, The Martian is worth every penny.
Follow Us!