The Martian * * *

Never has a film been so blessed with such fortunate and coincidental news. On the week The Martian was released astrologers announced they believe there is  water on the surface of Mars. This is important because it greatly increases the possibility of life apparently. But of course, that would only be life as we understand it. Wouldn’t it be funny if one day we do connect with Aliens and learn they would no more drink water than we would suck down uranium?

Anyway, I am sure that the producers of The Martian couldn’t be happier with the timing.  

There haven’t been too many films set on Mars that could be classified as good. Perhaps Total Recall was the best effort and the huge budget Mission to Mars the absolute worst.  In both those films silly scenarios had to be contrived, because, let’s be honest, Mars is not a particularly interesting place, so I am surprised that Ridley Scott would want to give it another go.  

But he did.

The film is set a little time into the future when we have sent mission crews to mars (which will probably happen) and something goes wrong (which, also will probably happen).  In this case, a crew member is left behind. It's a bit of a castaway story.

The “Martian” is a crew member whose science is botany so he has the know-how to make things grow in a makeshift greenhouse in the space station.  Aside from raising potatoes he spends his time fiddling about with devices to try and get a communication between himself and earth, which he succeeds at after several weeks.

Back on earth, the consensus of opinion among the many NASA and related people who are introduced to us, is the smartest way to get him home is to send the same spaceship back to get him.  It’s a bit of a drag for them as they’ve been travelling for six months to get home, but what else can they do?  After all they left him there in the first place (“not their fault” we are told many times.) So with the help of the Chinese they drop a U-Turn, which is not an easy thing to do apparently.  Interestingly, there is no villain in the movie to thwart plans so everyone works together.  

It’s actually quite moving when we realise that the mission can be a success. By this time the whole world knows about it and are watching it. Usually on big screens in recognisable city centres.

I guess one could be cynical and say “so much money time and dedication  to save the life of one privileged white male, whilst thousands die of malnutrition on earth". But that's always been an argument against space exploration I guess (or even expensive movies like this).

It has terribly convincing special effects and a dubious looking crew, led by a commander that looks like a fashion model but the crew don't have to do much other than say "I hope he's okay". However it's a very good performance from Matt Damon as the man to be rescued.  

The Martian is okay, but generally I find two people in a room on earth having the right conversation can create more drama than anything happening out there.