Last week I told you that being light and fun is a good thing for a science-fiction movie.
THE MARTIAN
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Matt Damon, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Mackenzie Davis, Donald Glover, Kristen Wiig
Rating: (M)
Five stars (out of five)
This week I have to tell you that being slow, measured and intelligent is an even better thing, but the real weirdness is that Sean Bean has managed to be in both the films I am talking about.
The Martian (Rialto and Readings) started life as a blog by Andy Weir, a computer geek who wanted to write a scientifically rigorous space story.
He self-published electronically and it was so popular he was approached by a conventional publisher.
The film that has been adapted from this has maintained the mind-set of sticking within the parameters of what we know is achievable.
We begin with the third manned mission to Mars.
The glory of being the first humans to step on the red planet has passed and the astronaut/scientists are busy fulfilling their assigned tasks.
The mission is forced to call an abrupt halt due to a bad storm and botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is left behind, presumed dead.
Back home it is politics as usual as Nasa figures out how to spin it so the programme is not shut down.
Back on the mother ship, Mark's crew members hang tough; they have to keep it together for the long trip home.
On Mars, Mark ponders his options. He has to find a way to stay alive long enough for the next mission to reach him.
What follows is an exercise in staying sane by solving one problem at a time.
• Christine Powley
