A very hard film to watch. A story of a man who fought to survive!

Rating: 10/10 (17 October 2015)

Sorry for the late posting of this review, but The Martian is one of this year's unexpected best films for this year. Directed by veteran director Ridley Scott, the film mixes with sci-fi, comedy and drama elements as it explores how far man could survive in space.
The plot follows a manned mission to Mars, astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.
Scott is back in the director's chair and in top form after his previous films (The Counselor, Prometheus and Exodus: Gods and Kings) weren't as successful and failed to grab attention and critical reviews. There are no aliens in this film, but he chooses to explore the humanistic elements that drive us to survive in the world, but in this case on an isolated planet.
The casting here is stellar and all actors and actresses involved give 5 star performances, but it's Matt Damon who steals the show as the sole survivor Mark. He gives humour, emotion and will to make his character likable and the supporting talents from Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wigg, Sean Bean, Jeff Daniels, Michael Pena and more all prove to be Oscar worthy candidates in the upcoming award season.
The music score is great and it's soundtrack of 70's and 80's music provides an uplifting mood for the film. Not too mention as well, the film isn't as heavy or dark as the great films Gravity and Interstellar carry but manages to juggle adventure, comedy and character development all at once and the result is really impressive. Cinematography and the locations are all beautiful and captivating and it's bound to get Oscar and various award nominations.
Overall, The Martian for me is an unexpected great film that deserves the hype and attention. No faults to say but I will say it runs at an 2 and 1/2 hour running time but it goes smoothly and keeps all plot holes closed and sealed. If you have loved 127 Hours, Cast Away, Gravity and Interstellar, this is for your 'To Watch' list.
10/10