Analysis of The Martian starring Matt Damon

Spoiler Alert: First of all, this analysis contains spoilers. Stop reading now if you haven’t seen the movie.

You may not want to see the movie anyway because there are no little green men. I don’t know why they would have named this movie The Martian because there are no Martians or anyone green in the movie at all. However, for you fans of Game of Thrones, I would like to let you know that Ned Stark is alive and well but obviously no longer the Hand of the King. That aside, you will also find more disappointment that this movie is not another extension of the Bourne storyline. News alert: That is another character entirely. There is no spy plot or karate or gun play of any kind. Damn. Also, Kristin Wiig is in the movie but she’s not funny at all. Double damn.

On the upside there is an introverted character that really saves the day but gets no recognition whatsoever for his ingenious plan, much like all introverted people everywhere. And much like real life introverts, he is portrayed as a little off mentally and certainly a hermit. We don’t know much about him. Perhaps he hides in his office to avoid facing a world where the love of his love of left him for a guy with missing teeth that plays softball. Hell, we’ll never know.

Movies of a science fiction nature require details that allow scientifically inclined people to have a willing suspension of disbelief. Oh, there are lots of nifty details like that in this movie. There are really only two things that stuck out that bother me. First, when Matt Damon’s character is preparing to do surgery on his wound, it just seemed really too convenient that a mirror was right there to help him, like NASA preplanned ahead of time that astronauts would be doing surgery on themselves.

Secondly when the boss dude was on the way in to discuss the situation at JPL headquarters (which aren’t really JPL headquarters… it’s just some building with JPL stickers on the door) the camera view is from inside the building watching the characters walk in. From that point of view, the letters JPL should look backward because they face out, not in. I know, not a big thing, right? But for a pharmacist who notices details (that’s how we keep your dumb ass safe from doctors, by the way) this detail was obviously overlooked by Ridley Scott. How are we supposed to trust people with the life of a man left behind on Mars when they can’t even get the stickers right on their front door?

So I give this movie 3 potatoes out of 5 with no ketchup. That will make more sense to you when you see the movie.