Simply an enjoyable movie

Rating: 7/10 (4 January 2016)

Though I get some of the negative reviews, I simply can't agree with them and felt compelled to leave a review of my own.
Read a lot of complaints that Matt Damon's character was unrealistic in his optimism and cheerfulness. I however experienced his character as slightly different, optimistic and cheerful by nature, for sure, and why wouldn't he be? Young, successful and well...an astronaut! And that being said, thought it was fairly well known, especially amongst science and sci-fi aficionado that astronauts go through extensive physical and mental evaluation and training, needing to be able to cope with prolonged isolation, living in cramped confines with and without other people for extended periods of time and to master a degree of lucidity and presence of mind even when put under tremendous stress and pressure.
With that knowledge I found nothing unrealistic about Matt Damon's character, simply displaying an interesting form of upbeat Stoicism. I also didn't feel this movie was, what some scathingly called, a NASA or American propaganda movie. The NASA director isn't actually placed in the most positive light, more concerned with public opinion than the recovery of Mark Watney's body. Then, as it turns out he's alive, he again makes some dubious calls throughout the movie. Not to mention turning to China for help, another point I liked; finally a movie okay with depicting the cooperation between other nations and the world rooting for one of its citizens, a thing for governments and the voting public to aspire to, rather than more cynical movies (which though not entirely untrue) have often already resigned the world to a dystopian fate.
So that is to negate some of the negative opinions and offer a, I think, more fair and still realistic way of looking at Matt Damon's character and acting performance (and I usually don't even particularly care for Matt Damon). Now as to my own opinion of the rest of the movie...
As said it just a very enjoyable film, its upbeat nature already a breath of fresh air. Its optimism and 'man can do' spirit also seems very necessary in an age of cynicism and pessimism. Beyond Matt Damon, each actor gave a solid performance, with the exception maybe of Jeff Daniels who more and more either seems to be playing himself or reprise his performance in 'The Newsroom'.
The special effects were gorgeous without being over-stated, balancing well the feeling of being on an alien world, yet a world obviously no longer totally alien to the average movie goer. The Martian sky, the miniature whirlwinds, all of it, I thought, gorgeously done. I did take some issue with the gravity seeming no different than on Earth. As I write this I just looked up just how different the gravity would be, and apparently a person weighing 100kg on Earth, would weigh 38kg on Mars. Something you don't see at all. A considerable difference to be ignored in a movie advertising itself as scientifically accurate.
That, some of the scenes feeling to drag a bit and the fact that apparently this movie in many ways is a copy of another movie called 'Red Planet', one which I haven't seen, make me take away a few stars.
Still, an enjoyable movie that won't leave you bored and hopefully inspired. But no, if you want moments of anguished despair in outer space, better turn to the Alien franchise or Event Horizon, this is simply not that kind of movie, nor does it mean to be I don't think.
A solid 7.
Speaking of the Alien franchise, what is with female leads being bashed so often lately as being 'liberal/pc propaganda'. Seen no role that has been strong, diligent without turning butch or unrealistic since Sigourney Weaver's Ripley.