The flip side of the apocalyptic evolution-and-destiny concerns of Prometheus, Ridley Scott's previous foray across the Last Frontier, The Martian is a feelgood take on the theme of space travel. Having landed the first astronauts on Mars in 2029, NASA is pursuing its Ares programme to establish a self-sustaining colony on the Red Planet. However, a calamitous storm forces the NASA crew to evacuate, leaving behind botanist Mark Watney, seemingly killed by flying debris.
But Watney is Matt Damon and he's the star of the show, and has better luck this time than he did as the stranded astronaut in Interstellar. After we learn that reports of his death were exaggerated, The Martian (based on Andy Weir's novel) tells the story of NASA's plans to rescue him, but more importantly of Watney's brilliantly improvised programme of personal survival. With supplies at the Mars base (or "Hab") limited and communication with earth severed, he's thrown back on his inner resources. He finds a way to create water and discovers that human excrement is a splendid medium in which to grow potatoes.
Jessica Chastain captains the spacecraft Hermes with military crispness
His prospects are boosted when his movements in the nifty NASA Mars rover are spotted by satellites. There's a little bit of deus ex machina in the way that NASA, in preparation for a future mission, has left a communication device buried elsewhere on Mars (not to mention an escape rocket), which spurs Watney to find ways to extend the battery life of the rover.
With space presented not as a terrifying source of unknown terrors but as a series of challenges to be overcome by logic and ingenuity, The Martian also defies current news headlines with its optimistic view of mankind. The Chinese space agency generously steps in when NASA's rescue efforts hit problems, and the entire international community becomes absorbed in the Watney story.
It could all get a bit syrupy, but director Scott took out insurance with an excellent cast. Jeff Daniels is firm but fair as NASA boss Teddy Sanders, ably assisted by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Kristen Wiig, while Sean Bean's Mitch Henderson brings blunt speaking to the boardroom and Jessica Chastain captains the spacecraft Hermes with military crispness. DVD extras include on-set jokes and extra sequences including Watney's cheesy "meet the crew" video, a grandiose promo film for NASA's Mars project, and a scene where the crew are quizzed by a shrink after 10 days in isolation. You can see why Ridley left them out.
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