Ridley Scott is back.

Rating: 9/10 (6 October 2015)

*** This review may contain spoilers ***
With 'The Marian', director Ridley Scott makes a stunning comeback with the science fiction genre that he seems to have mastered (Alien, Blade Runner, Prometheus)
Matt Damon plays astronaut Mark Watney, who is inadvertently stranded on Mars, when his mission (aptly named Ares III after the Greek equivalent of the Roman God of war, Mars), has to be unceremoniously cut short. In the commotion of the abrupt departure, mission commander Melissa Lewis (played by Jessica Chastain), has to make the call to leave without him, when he can't be located during the rendezvous to the lander module, and is presumed dead by the crew, who then head back home aboard the 'Hermes'.
Unable to contact NASA and running out of rations, Watney harnesses his skills as a botanist, to grow potatoes within the mission's artificial habitat (HAB) by collecting soil from nearby and synthesizing water using Hydrazine from the mission site. He keeps video logs presumably for posterity, but more so to keep his own morale up. Over time he puts his considerable engineering aptitude and training to effect a survival plan until the next mission to Mars arrives 4 years later.
Back on earth, satellite communications engineer Mindy Park (played by Mackenzie Davis of 'Halt and Catch Fire' fame) deduces along with the mission director Vincent Kapoor (played by the always reliable Chiwetel Ejiofor), that he is actually alive, based on the differences in the time lapse satellite photography of the mission site. Without giving too much away, Watney is finally able to communicate with NASA and then begin the logistics of keeping him alive at least until the next manned mission arrives, and also a possible rescue mission which could involve the Hermes, who are on their way back home. The film draws several parallels from the true story of Apollo 13 (also set to the eponymous film by director Ron Howard in 1995), especially in regards how the engineers and scientists at both NASA and JPL brainstorm and improvise ways to help out Watney. The 'corporate suit' is played by Jeff Daniels (NASA director) who has to make the familiar tough calls of adjusting deadlines and logistics for the rescue, while being cognizant of public opinion (in tandem with the NASA media relations officer, played by Kristen Wiig).
The film is interspersed with several light hearted moments, with timely one liners by Matt Damon, and while the psychological strain of the sheer isolation is not in the same vein as say Castaway (2000), there are certainly moments where this is adequately captured when Watney has a few setbacks.
'The Martian' is based on the 2011 science fiction novel of the same name by author Andy Weir. NASA was consulted extensively for the scientific accuracy of the film which shows through and is made even more plausible because of the high production standards on a 100+ million dollar budget.
Ridley Scott has definitely redeemed himself with a couple of setbacks (by his standards) in recent years (The Counselor, Exodus).The film is a splendid celebration of human perseverance, ingenuity and the will to survive against overwhelming odds. With a running time of 141 minutes, it keeps you engrossed all the way and is one of the few films that warrants a 3D viewing.