The Martian (2015)

Summery:

During 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.

Director: Ridley Scott

Writers: Drew Goddard (screenplay), Andy Weir (book)

Storyline

During 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. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return. Based on a best-selling novel.

Movie Reviews

Having read the novel I was eagerly anticipating seeing how they would capture the complex story in a standalone film. 

Being a space professional I was skeptical that they could present the science and engineering, and make it realistic, without bogging the story down with a lot of exposition.

In both aspects the film was a complete success! The novel's major plot points, humor, and humanity translated very well to the screen. The science and engineering were plausible, and nicely balanced by the artistic choices that were made. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this masterpiece. Kudos to the entire Team that brought "The Martian" to the screen.