Lets feel good about NASA......

Rating: 7/10 (29 March 2016)

Poor old NASA, no ones heard a whole lot from them lately. Indeed, it seems the Chinese are getting more attention.
Not to worry, The Martian, offers up a few spoonfuls of feel good, cinematic hope, for forlorn US astro-nuts out there. The film presents a very optimistic view of a high tech, future NASA. A NASA populated by super science types, like Matt Daemons character, who can solve all problems and overcome any situation. Even being stranded, Robinson Crusoe style, on planet Mars.
This film is over the top but, for all that, quite entertaining. Daemon is his pleasant, laid back, jokery, folksy self, fitting like a homemade spacesuit into this role.
What is surprising, is how the writers and director, Ridley Scott, managed to make, what is on the surface, a not so exciting premise, a guy stranded on a barren planet, quite engaging and enjoyable. On that basis, this film is to be commended.
That said, this film has, in my opinion, been chronically over hyped, especially in the pre-release marketing and as such, has created an expectation, I feel, it could never really live up to.
The Martian is a good film. Its well cast, employs engaging and amusing narrative and surprisingly, given what appears initially, to be, bland material, its never boring. Just keep in mind, its not the super, fantastic, life changing, inspiring, proposition its sold as, either. Seven out of ten from me.