Enough G-Force! 8.5 out of 10

Rating: 8/10 (22 October 2015)

If you've seen the trailer you already know the premise of this film: Astronauts on Mars, something happens, Matt Damon's character (Mark Watney) is thought to be dead, the team evacuate and he's stranded on Mars alone with no way of getting back to earth. He will somehow grow food to survive...
We know they will get him home and with Ridley Scott directing, the special effects and actions scenes for that part of the film are done very well: shuttle leaving mars, ships orbiting planets, space walking etc. all these scenes, with the exception of Matt Damon's character puncturing his own space suit to use the escaping oxygen for thrust (absolutely ridiculous) compliment the human story that is the backbone of this journey.
Watney's struggle for survival on the inhospitable Mars reminded me of Hanks in Cast Away. But Watney's journey, while having it's ups and downs, didn't have the exhilarating highs and soul-crushing lows that Cast Away did. Nevertheless, his space odyssey was intriguing: Watney's ingenuity and adaptability was quite remarkable.
Screenplay from Drew Goddard injected humour at the right moments in the film. I didn't find the running gag of disco music that funny, but others did (perhaps because they were from that Generation).
Now for some off topic comments: 1. Finally, a film where Boromir (Sean Bean) isn't killed! Hallelujah! 2. I must say I don't really like Jeff Daniels playing a serious boss type role.
As a non-science guy that loves Sci-Fi, I really enjoyed this film: 8.5 out of 10