'The Martian' (12A)

****

Left behind after a freak storm disrupts the mission, Mark Watney finds himself alone on Mars. With the odds stacked massively against him, and unable to communicate with Earth, Watney resolves to survive for as long as possible.

I finished Andy Weir's eponymous novel just three days before going to see the cinematic version, and whilst the book was hardly a work of great literature, it was still an action-packed page turner that I consumed faster than any other book I've opened since finishing the old MA. With the novel so fresh in my mind, I was concerned that would spoil the film, but I needn't have been worried, as the film is remarkably faithful to the book, even down to exact phrases being used. Yes, there are alterations, but largely I agreed with these changes. In fact, I preferred Watney in the film to the book, which is largely down to Matt Damon's understated and engaging performance. In the novel, Watney constantly quips away, laughing off his situation without a breakdown in sight, whereas Damon's Watney is more... Realistic? Relatable? Less irritating? Possibly a combination of all these things!

Despite the stressful circumstances, The Martian is actually very funny. Although toned down somewhat from the novel, Watney is still humorous, at times laughing in the face of his predicament, speaking to the cameras around the Hab (his live-in environment on Mars) to cheer himself. It's not only Watney who finds humour in the darkest of times, but also his contemporaries stationed at NASA and onboard the Hermes, in which Watney's crew are floating through space. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a perfect piece of casting as the exasperated 'man on the ground', his humour perfectly contradicted by Jeff Daniel's straight-faced departmental head.

For all the enjoyable parts - explosions, a great cast, laughs, a swift pace, and great special effects - it isn't perfect. For one, you just don't get to spend enough time with Watney. In the book, you really get the sense of how far he is from home, how long everything takes, whilst in the film, we jump forward in vast leaps. For me, the strongest parts of the film were when we were alone on Mars with Mark, but this is soon bypassed in favour of learning about occurrences elsewhere. It's a tricky balancing act, no doubt. Kristen Wiig, cast as head of media relations, is disappointing - her character is reduced to standing around looking agog and swearing frequently. Similarly, the overly Americanised ending, of the world watching screens as a rescue mission is launched, feels fake and empty.

A faithful and equally action-packed, Ridley Scott's latest is a very good adaptation of Andy Weir's novel. Damon is perfect casting as the 'everyman' figure, faced with impossible odds and yet refusing to give in. His comic timing in perfect, and his performance is supported by a large and talented supporting cast. Beautifully shot and designed, the film provides just the right amount of science to support the endeavours on screen. A highly enjoyable viewing experience.