The Best Movie I have Seen in a Long Time

Rating: 10/10 (8 January 2016)

"The Martian" kept us on the edge our seats the entire time; both with the tension and just sheer delight of this movie and storyline. I can't understand the reviewers who stated that they felt the movie lacked emotion or those who faulted numerous science situations in the story (excluding the sand storm premise).
Regarding emotional and the human element in the film, I think it was very well acted and various strong emotions were all through the film constantly demonstrated by Mark, his crew and the NASA staff. However, it's possible that the reviewers didn't see a reaction like they would have had under the same circumstances. What should be kept in mind is that astronauts are extremely well trained people, they are also literally selected for resiliency, adaptability, curiosity, ability to trust (including yourself) and creativity/resourcefulness. Mental toughness and flexibility is very desired in an astronaut; so although Mark had phases of fear, frustration, anger and depression, he quickly refocused his mind on the most important problem at the time. As he said "You solve one problem and you solve the next one, and then the next." For anyone who works (or knows someone who works) in a career with constant problem solving (first responders, ER, most STEM careers, etc) this is the way one thinks and works; deal with the biggest problem first, them move onto the next and the next and the next. As Adam Savage from "Myth Buster's" has said "calm people live", so with all his training, Mark would know how to handle a crisis without freaking out. In contrast Tom Hank's character Chuck Noland, the FedEx operations executive stranded in "Cast Away", was more of an everyman than Astronaut Mark Watney; and thus Mark had a more controlled reaction to things.
As for the science situations, most people are aware the premise of the story, how Mark gets stranded and injured, is not correct for the environment of Mars. However beyond the premise, most science is pretty sound. I watch numerous videos about the science behind "The Martian" and the only other thing mentioned as inaccurate was that on Mars the Astronauts would bounce more in their planetary walking, and they would also likely have heavier suits. Due to some director's choices and limitations, Ridley Scott made the decision to bypass these details. Otherwise, what I have found is that Mark might have been pretty lucky but that the Science was pretty good in the movie and better in the book. I suggest everyone review a few Youtube videos on the Science of "The Martian" as it's some pretty interesting stuff. The movie put the Science back in Sci Fi and addition made Science cool. The movie shows intelligent men and women solving problem and there is no real 'bad guy', just Mars, which doesn't cooperate well (as Mark says). I you like the scene in "Apollo 13" where the engineering team quickly invents a way to make the Command Module's square filters work in the Lunar Module's round receptacles, you'll probably enjoy "The Martian". "The Martian" is the best movie I've seen in a long time and it was exciting from beginning to end, despite the fact I figured I knew the story from the previews. It's nice to see intelligent men and women working together for a common goal and using Science to triumph over major obstacles.