A smart and upbeat SF story makes for a great come back by Ridley Scott.

Rating: 9/10 (4 October 2015)

Ridley Scott's latest Science Fiction film, "The Martian" (2015), is everything I want in a Science Fiction film. It has intelligent, science based themes, just enough action and suspense to keep one interested, and plenty of humor to lighten the mood. Having just read the novel by Andy Weir, I knew this film had the potential to be great. Weir's novel of the same name is a hilarious, but thoroughly researched investigation of how one person might survive alone on Mars, and how by working together, the rest of the world could find a way to bring him home. The movie stayed very true to the essence of the book.
Matt Damon stars as Mark Watney, the astronaut left behind for dead on Mars after a storm forces a hurried evacuation. He couldn't be more suited for the role. Watney was the Botonist and Engineer on the mission. The ability to make things grow and fix whatever is broken are two skills that come in very handy, for obvious reasons. Watney is highly intelligent, creative, and has a wicked sense of humor. We also see NASA and JPL frantically working on Earth to find a way to save Watney. The crew on the original mission also get into the game.
I loved this movie. A great comeback for Ridley Scott, some decent acting, a fabulous script adaptation, and great cinematography make this a must see film for those into the genre and even those who aren't. I wasn't a huge fan of the music, but the disco references were great and one perfectly placed Bowie song made up for an otherwise lackluster score. I also felt with so many characters, some were not fully developed. That said, this is definitely one for the collection.
P.S.: The book is a fun and easy read. If you like the movie, read the book!