Marion Cobretti
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First Reviews for The Martian (dir. Ridley Scott; based on the book; Matt Damon)
- Thread starter Toothless
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Junior Asparagus
Member
I haven't seen the movie yet (seeing it tonight), so I don't know if it's the same, but the book does have China helping out towards the end.
If you're curious, you can check the Wikipedia entry for the novel that has a brief plot summary.
My daughter and I went last night. I'd read the book, she hadn't and basically went in blind. We both enjoyed it a lot. I thought it was a pretty solid adaptation of the novel, with the only change I objected to being
Outside of that, I wish a bit more of the science were explained, though they couldn't go into as much as the book. The pacing was clearly tightened up a the end, what with multiple montages and time skips, but they didn't even bother to explain why
But that's about it for my nit picks. Damon really gave a remarkable performance, where he wasn't just a smart goofball in space, but someone using black humor as a survival tactic; the toll taken on him is clear as the film progresses. The supporting cast was large but each character was strongly drawn; I didn't think they'd nail all of them, but Scott and company did.
I should give particular mention to the score. It was pretty spare, and the main theme was just a couple notes, but it struck a nice tone for the film. Beautiful cinematography was the icing on the cake.
I wanted the third act to slow down a bit, but then I had no idea it was nearly 2.5 hours. I came out of the theater thinking it was closer to 2 hours, so it makes sense why it picked up at the end.
Great movie. (My daughter enjoyed it a lot; just the right amount of geeky science, humor and tension for her.)
Watney actually going Iron Man at the end. It was the kind of idea the book came up with and dismissed wisely, with the purpose being to give the crew of the Hermes the idea to vent their ship for reverse thrust. They went through with it here and it was too much of a layer of goofiness for me during the climax of the film.
Outside of that, I wish a bit more of the science were explained, though they couldn't go into as much as the book. The pacing was clearly tightened up a the end, what with multiple montages and time skips, but they didn't even bother to explain why
he had to drill holes in the rover or what the purpose of the balloon was on the top of it. It was just...there. A single line of dialogue could have done it.
But that's about it for my nit picks. Damon really gave a remarkable performance, where he wasn't just a smart goofball in space, but someone using black humor as a survival tactic; the toll taken on him is clear as the film progresses. The supporting cast was large but each character was strongly drawn; I didn't think they'd nail all of them, but Scott and company did.
I should give particular mention to the score. It was pretty spare, and the main theme was just a couple notes, but it struck a nice tone for the film. Beautiful cinematography was the icing on the cake.
I wanted the third act to slow down a bit, but then I had no idea it was nearly 2.5 hours. I came out of the theater thinking it was closer to 2 hours, so it makes sense why it picked up at the end.
Great movie. (My daughter enjoyed it a lot; just the right amount of geeky science, humor and tension for her.)
If anything I felt like that part was glossed over, I expected more to be made of it for the Chinese market
It's optimistic. It promotes teamwork, problem solving and after [almost] every harsh moment Watney survives, he starts to laugh.
She will be fine.
There's only a handful of really tense moments. Overall, it's still a pretty optimistic movie.
Lord Panda
The Sea is Always Right
The Hermes was surprisingly well specced and provisioned.
Also surprised that NASA didn't include a greenhouse, fertiliser and soil supplies with the HAB deployment. It had everything else except also no back up redundant comms?
Also surprised that NASA didn't include a greenhouse, fertiliser and soil supplies with the HAB deployment. It had everything else except also no back up redundant comms?
| Praxis |
Banned
Went to see this tonight, it was pretty good. I urge anybody that enjoyed this film to read the book though, it is so much better than the film. Mark is much more likeable and the best thing about the book was all of the technical details and they're pretty much all stripped out of the film. It feels like the children's version of The Martian.
Maybe seeing this so shortly after reading the book ruined it somewhat for me. I'm starting to only really enjoy films that aren't based on a novel to be honest, so much is nearly always lost.
Maybe seeing this so shortly after reading the book ruined it somewhat for me. I'm starting to only really enjoy films that aren't based on a novel to be honest, so much is nearly always lost.
There's a bit of a gorey bit near the start... Flesh wound moment where it hurts to look at the screen lol. But other than that it's fine.
| Praxis |
Banned
There is no reason whatsoever to see this in 3D. So standard all the way.
firehawk12
Subete no aware
This was such a disappointing movie given the hyperbolic "it will save the world" spiel from that one review. I wasn't expecting greatness, but I was at least expecting something exciting and interesting.
Instead you get a movie that is essentially a boring version of Apollo 13, saved only by Matt Damon spouting one liners (sometimes he's narrating, sometimes he's talking into a camera, but who cares if it makes sense?). Well, at least it made me appreciate Interstellar more than I did before.
(I don't know why I paid for D-box lol)
Instead you get a movie that is essentially a boring version of Apollo 13, saved only by Matt Damon spouting one liners (sometimes he's narrating, sometimes he's talking into a camera, but who cares if it makes sense?). Well, at least it made me appreciate Interstellar more than I did before.
I'll add that you shouldn't watch this in D-box, if that's even an option.
(I don't know why I paid for D-box lol)
Watched in Real 3D, and it pretty good experience. I really liked the movie, but I thought the book was way better. I really enjoyed the visuals of this movie and sound fx. I wish they would add some more stuff from the book, but I understand they had budget and time to think of. I also thought the pacing was way too fast then again, I would probably think differently if I haven't listen to the book.
3D was my only option and it was good. I would opt for the cheaper option though.
| Praxis |
Banned
It was crazy, half an hour in and it was almost halfway through the book. So much good stuff gone.
As space disaster films go, Apollo 13 is a lot better than this film. The pacing, characters and direction were all superior.
The part in the book where Mindy Park discovers that Watley was still alive gave me chills down my spine but the movie just plow ahead with that scene.
I was totally picturing this guy as Venkat Kapoor when I was listening to the book.
BennyBlanco
aka IMurRIVAL69
I liked this movie but there was too much humor that felt pretty out of place.
"I'm gonna science the shit out of this!" Ugh so corny.
I understand the book was like this but it kind of killed my suspension of disbelief.
"I'm gonna science the shit out of this!" Ugh so corny.
He's eating 300 calories every 2 days and is up there like "I"m gonna poke a hole in my suit and be iron man XDDD" I dunno, would he really have the energy for all that?
I understand the book was like this but it kind of killed my suspension of disbelief.
It looked like NASA was a corporation in this movie, or had partial public funding beside the government. In one scene with the news ticker focusing solely on NASA they had a "NAS" stock ticker that was down a few percent due to the news.
edit: Idk what NASA was in the book but I'm just saying it seemed like this in the movie.
| Praxis |
Banned
They turned the whole Chinese docking scene into a Bowie montage, I was pretty pissed as that was a very tense moment in the book. The more I think about this film the more I sour on it. They also totally ruined the scene where Daniels character finds out about the secret message and is having words with Bean's character. That was such a fuck yeah moment in the book.
Rice-Eater
Member
The only thing that killed my suspension was how good looking that crew was. Michael Pena was the only guy that probably wouldn't be considered model material, but he's still a good looking guy IMO.
Yeah you're right. I think the movie will serves it purpose to push more books sales! I hope.
BennyBlanco
aka IMurRIVAL69
Hahah. Totally agreed but this is a problem with 90% of movies. I just had this conversation with someone the other day.
Yeah, things like that happened throughout and it kept taking me out of it.
3D was done great for this movie.
kerotan_eater
Banned
Spoilers?
I enjoyed the optimism as Hollywood as that sounds; sometimes cynicism in these kinds of stories are just as prevelant though the film could have used some cynicism or something for great contrast.
There are some also pretty significant flaws in the film for me.
There really was little tension, and well zero character development. Literally ... zero.
Matt Damon had a thing to do.
The people had a thing to do.
No inner conflict just 'will this work or will it not'
The bits of humor whilst a little silly sometimes got me through it but that's it.
Not particularly remarkable entertainment, not better than something like either Gravity, Interstellar or Cast Away but good enough entertainment I guess.
I enjoyed the optimism as Hollywood as that sounds; sometimes cynicism in these kinds of stories are just as prevelant though the film could have used some cynicism or something for great contrast.
There are some also pretty significant flaws in the film for me.
There really was little tension, and well zero character development. Literally ... zero.
Matt Damon had a thing to do.
The people had a thing to do.
No inner conflict just 'will this work or will it not'
The bits of humor whilst a little silly sometimes got me through it but that's it.
Not particularly remarkable entertainment, not better than something like either Gravity, Interstellar or Cast Away but good enough entertainment I guess.
Ridley has mentioned in interviews that the blu-ray will have an additional 15 minutes.
There is no 3D viewing of this movie here in UK
What? I saw it in 3D on Friday because there were so few 2D showings
bananafactory
Banned
Liked it but didn't love it. I agree with the people who said there was no real tension. The book did much better in that regard.
I think the basic idea is that every dangerous situation Matt Damon finds himself in is an instant-kill scenario, so I think having him run out of oxygen or get caught in a storm every 12 seconds would be a little much.
I thought the best parts of the movie were on the planet. I didn't much care for Sean Bean getting figuratively beheaded for doing the right thing on planet Earth.
I thought the best parts of the movie were on the planet. I didn't much care for Sean Bean getting figuratively beheaded for doing the right thing on planet Earth.
I liked it. Coming from the book there are some really nitpicky stuff I have though.
Some more points:
And despite all that I still enjoyed it. Huh.
WHY WOULD YOU PUT THE IRON MAN SEGMENT IN THERE. It was great that he suggested the idea, but everybody shoots the idea down as the worst idea ever. The book does such a good job of staying hard sci-fi and Ridley seemed to shit all over that notion.
Why the fuck was everyone untethered when doing space stuff? Why on earth did Watney stick his head out of the MAV at the end (I am not sure if it was or wasn't dangerous, but centrifugal force is still at work no?)
It was a shame we didn't get the short-circuiting of Pathfinder or the storm or the tipping Rover. It never truly felt that Watney was alone or in any real danger.
Why the fuck was everyone untethered when doing space stuff? Why on earth did Watney stick his head out of the MAV at the end (I am not sure if it was or wasn't dangerous, but centrifugal force is still at work no?)
It was a shame we didn't get the short-circuiting of Pathfinder or the storm or the tipping Rover. It never truly felt that Watney was alone or in any real danger.
Some more points:
- Matt Damon didn't really do it for me for comedic timing/delivery.
- The "I will say everything I am typing out loud so the audience know what I am typing" felt really jarring.
- I was missing a pair of boobs
And despite all that I still enjoyed it. Huh.
Yep. Kinda pales in comparison. Even the simple idea of following his thought process and being with him as he problem solves to save his life isn't given enough time. Which is strange because that's the entire point of the book.
| Praxis |
Banned
If you didn't like the book because of the technical stuff, you might actually like the film because that has all been stripped out and it has been put on fast forward. The humour and delivery is much worse in the film though, I thought the book did a good job of characterisation and mild comedy but the film doesn't. At all.
It might be because we're talking about 2 hours and change of material versus significantly more, but I found the humor and certainly the delivery in the movie to be vastly superior.
I found the humor to be spot on throughout the film. Can't think of a moment that didn't work, TBH.
I haven't seen the movie yet, but the lack of redundant comms is discussed in the book. Basically,
they have the one attached to the HAB and two on the MAV. The scenario of needing a backup comms without the MAV was never seriously considered.
| Praxis |
Banned
He just came across as more of a geek with a sense of humour in the book. He was a mildly funny film star in the film. I just didn't like Matt Damon's delivery much.
I thought Watney came across as more of a man child in the book and more of an earnest geek with a sense of humor in the movie.
Certainly as far as a joke hit/miss ratio goes the movie comes out ahead.
Just saw it.
Did anyone feel like this was "Sensible Chuckles: The Movie"?
Or maybe it was all the old people surrounding me in the theater that laughed at everything that came out of Matt Damon's mouth.
It's like all the jokes were written for old people, seriously. The humor was really off. And this made up a large portion of the movie.
I don't get why swearing itself is funny to people. "Fuck." *Theater bursts into laughter* Every, single, time.
Did anyone feel like this was "Sensible Chuckles: The Movie"?
Or maybe it was all the old people surrounding me in the theater that laughed at everything that came out of Matt Damon's mouth.
It's like all the jokes were written for old people, seriously. The humor was really off. And this made up a large portion of the movie.
I don't get why swearing itself is funny to people. "Fuck." *Theater bursts into laughter* Every, single, time.
SuperStiltzkin
Member
If you're talking about him saying "fuck" after
stapling his wound closed
Not a specific instance. He says fuck throughout the movie, and every time it's written to generate a laugh. "He used a bad word!" LOL!
SuperStiltzkin
Member
The first time I saw it, the theater was packed and people were laughing throughout. The second time I saw it, the theater wasn't as packed and people weren't laughing as much during the first half. But they were laughing more during the second half. Guess it depends on the audience and the atmosphere.
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