The Martian (DVD REVIEW)
The Martian
DVD
Review
by Kam Williams
Damon Channels MacGyver to Survive as Astronaut Stranded on Mars
MacGyver
was a TV series which revolved around a title character famous for
relying on his vast body of scientific knowledge while using everyday
household items to save the day in a variety of life-and-death
situations. The Martian is an outer space adventure in which a
stranded astronaut with an uncanny knack for improvisation takes a
similar approach to surviving on Mars.
The picture
stars Matt Damon as Mark Watney, a wounded botanist inaccurately
presumed dead and left behind by fellow crew members in the wake of a
dangerous dust storm on the red planet. However, he is actually very
much alive, but without the oxygen, water, food, equipment and other
resources needed to last the four years it would take for NASA to
mount a rescue mission.
So,
resourceful Mark proceeds to do everything from perform surgery on
himself to growing potatoes in a makeshift garden, fertilizing the
plants with his own poop. And, like an intergalactic variation of the
island-bound protagonist played by Tom Hanks in Cast Away, Matt Damon
appears alone on screen for the bulk of the sci-fi saga.
The great
news is that Damon proves captivating, and the 141 minutes running
time flies by in a flash. Besides amusing us with his ingenious
inventions, Matt repeatedly makes us laugh via myriad humorous
asides.
Directed by
three-time Oscar-nominee Ridley Scott (for Thelma and Louise,
Gladiator and Black Hawk Down), The Martian has all the tension of
Gravity, plus it manages to keep you on the edge of your seat for an
hour longer. Furthermore, its visual effects are the equal of
Interstellar, and it features Mark Damon for the duration instead of
merely for a cameo.
Think
Robinson Crusoe on Mars, just sans a primitive manservant named
Friday.
Excellent (4
stars)
Rated
PG-13 for profanity,
injury images and brief profanity
Running time: 142 minutes
Distributor: 20th
Century Fox Home Entertainment
Blu-ray
Extras:
Signal
Acquired: Writing and Direction (Learn how the producers brought an
acclaimed novel, a master director and a stellar cast together.);
Occupy Mars: Casting and Costumes (Matt Damon and his ensemble of
incredibly talented actors discuss their roles.); 5 Theatrical
In-World Pieces
(Ares
III: Farewell; The Right Stuff; Ares: Our Greatest Adventure; Leave
Your Mark; and Bring Him Home); Ares III: Refocused (Seven years
after the events of Ares 3, take a deeper look at the true story
behind Mark Watney's daring rescue.); gag reel; and the production
gallery
To see a trailer for The Martian,
visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej3ioOneTy8
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