The Martian

This week's movie checked out from the public library was The Martian ...

a 2015 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Matt Damon. The film is based on Andy Weir's 2011 novel The Martian, which Drew Goddard adapted into a screenplay. Damon stars as an astronaut who is mistakenly presumed dead and left behind on Mars. The film depicts his struggle to survive and others' efforts to rescue him. The film's ensemble cast also features Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

I had read the novel some time ago and have been looking forward to seeing how the movie would be. I think they did a pretty good adaptation. One of the things most impressive about both the book and the movie is the fairly good accuracy of the science involved - NASA and 'The Martian' partner to make space 'cool' – and accurate and What ‘The Martian’ gets right — and wrong — about life on Mars. The other impressive thing, at least for me, was the main character's personality: in the face of continual adversity he just never gave up trying to solve the problems set before him.

Here's a trailer ...