Seen a movie: The Martian

[aletheiafelinea]

No spoilers. Somehow I managed… I think so?






I was anxious about this movie; I always am when it comes to adaptations of books I love. That’s why I went without checking anything and knowing nothing about it. Fresh mind, no prejudices, no expectations as far as possible and all that. Okay, apart of who’s playing Mark. That was rather impossible to avoid…

To my relief, it wasn’t half bad. I wasn’t really blown away, but I’m not disappointed, too. What I haven’t really expected (or rather, expected the exact opposite :P ) was that it would turn out a faithful adaptation. No usual “based on motives”, you know that one: “Oh, it’s perfect and we must bring it to the screen; we’ll only rewrite the plot, make new characters from the scratch and kick out the original ones, and of course put it all in different setting.” Thankfully, not this time. Actually, it makes the impression as if they made the movie fully aware they’re making it for the book’s fans, and decided that everyone who’s going to watch it have read the book anyway. Up to the point that those in the audience who haven’t, won’t know what is Mark’s reply when he’s warned to mind his language, because he’s being broadcasted to the whole Earth. Granted, it wasn’t a terribly sophisticated reply, but still it’s a loss. :) I kind of waited for it, damn you, Hollywood…


Still, it’s adaptation, so changes was unavoidable. To my even bigger relief, they turned out more improving than damaging. Losses are regrettable but justified – the book is not exactly a novelette, and it’s a (not very long) movie, not a TV show. So, no stone Morse telegraph, no making soil from sterile dirt, no dust storm, no descend down the Schiaparelli’s slope. And most of what is – the potato farm, Pathfinder, the accident with the air lock – is very, very shortened and simplified. The whole journey to Schiaparelli feels very short. Actually, the whole movie doesn’t feel like taking a year and half… More like months, at best.

On the other hand, the whole thing in a way is closer to the first, unabridged version of the book. No, it doesn’t have the last scene that version had, but in its place it has a whole patchwork of similar scenes that have been added there. I have mixed feelings about it, same as about other major changes. Usually I hate when it happens to an adapted thing, but here most of it wasn’t bad. The biggest improvement has occurred where the book’s weakest point was, this being the characters. Except Mark, that is. I was a bit ‘meh’ about Matt Damon. Yeah, he fits the role so much he was an obvious choice, but I wished for some less popular face… In watching this didn’t turn out too big an obstacle, but I prefer the book’s Mark. And nothing will keep me from seeing him still as on the cover. *shrug* :) What I regret a little, is that the story’s general balance has been shifted toward the Earth parts. Now it’s more equal, and Mark gets less screentime. Then again, as I said, the other characters has been improved, which means mostly the NASA team, and embarrassingly I found them often more interesting than Mark himself, which is kinda fail for the movie’s whole idea. In some cases this means mostly good bringing out what was already in the book – the Big Boss is exactly the cold and merciless yet rational and decisive dick he should be *g* – but in some notable cases a new quality has been made. Venkat was a big and happy surprise from his first scenes. I haven’t watched Chiwetel Eijofor before, but he was a great choice; he gave Venkat the life his book version had been lacking and very much needing. But even a bigger surprise was Rich the astrodynamicist, who looks very unlike my private idea (for some reason I saw an elderly and quiet guy, maybe a little balding and overweight), but I’m much happier with the movie version. Someone give this man some supporting role award, okay? :))) Especially for his very late morning mode. And another one for the screenwriter, for adding him the “Sorry, what’s your name?” scene. ♥♥♥ Speaking of surprises, hi, Sean! He did a maybe not particularly outstanding (though only because he had good rivals), but decent enough job, as usual, and as others gave his character what his book version was mostly missing. Sad news for Sebastian Stan’s fans, though – he got about one and half scene, noticeable mostly for, well, fans. I realized it was him not before while writing this post… The only character I found worse than the book version is Mindy Park, who’s originally all competence, quick mind and not taking shit from anyone, but here she’s like a teenager who hasn’t quite believed yet she really works for NASA and omg, big bosses are talking to her!!1! I don’t know, maybe this was the actress’ decision to play her this way, but in such case I don’t like this decision. I had been expectant also for Commander Lewis, but for most of her screentime she turned out a mild disappointment. She seemed somewhat feeble, compared to the book version, who gave off more authority. However, she earned some points in her last scene (yeah, the big one), and this is one of those changes I have mixed feelings about. On one hand, it’s a plot change, and a nonsense one at that (she can not do things like this; she’s the main Commander, for sanity’s sake); on the other hand, it works. That is, in movie terms.

Um, about that. In general, The Martian aims more at realistic than flashy. Like, “scenes in China are spoken in Chinese entirely” realistic. Still, the plot, or precisely speaking the ending, got some corrective surgery for more ‘wow’ factor. Part of me grumbles; other part says “who cares, it worked.” (Okay, the Iron Man was too much. :P Broadcasting the Hermes’ channel to the whole Earth, live and unfiltered, too. Not blaming the movie for this, though. *shrug* This one is on the book.) Also in terms of art, realistic didn’t mean ugly this time, even though I don’t think this movie is to be seen on the nominees list for the Best Photos Oscar (to be frank, as well as the rest of the movie; its strongest part is acting). The Martian’s Mars is rocky and mountainous, and not really looking like a perfect choice for a landing spot, but nice for watching. I liked also Hermes the mother ship’s look, with its gravitation wheel. And the scene with the safety belt, especially the last frames of it, looked really great. On the other hand, speaking of looks, can someone kindly explain me why orange is apparently the bestest color for suits on Mars…? >_<


I’m a little unhappy that the movie’s (and Mark's) final message is the nice and good but still hackneyed “When you think everything is lost, and you will, keep fighting” in place of the original “I’m no one really important, and yet the whole Earth wants me back, no matter the price, because the human herd leaves no one behind.” I wouldn’t call it a really great movie, but it was an enjoyable movie. Though mostly for a fan. :)

PS. The movie too, as the book, doesn’t explain why Mark had no his own entertainment storage, and therefore why Lewis’ music makes the soundtrack.

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Comments

[alumfelga.livejournal.com]

I want to watch the film but it's the first time I hear about a book... So the Actually, it makes the impression as if they made the movie fully aware they’re making it for the book’s fans, and decided that everyone who’s going to watch it have read the book anyway. part worries me a little.

On the other hand, speaking of looks, can someone kindly explain me why orange is apparently the bestest color for suits on Mars…?
In terms of movies... Because the Martians are supossed to be green so orange suits make a nice contrast? ;)

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

I want to watch the film but it's the first time I hear about a book...
No way! O___O I heard about it when it was a little niche yet, but recently it seems to me everyone has just read it (and is squeeing) or is about to read it, or wonders whether to read it... Like, opening your fridge and all that. Could be a little tiring if I wasn't a hardcore fan myself. I wrote about the book here (http://aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com/114030.html), and before that also on The Pearl (http://www.blackpearl.fora.pl/literatura,25/co-teraz-czytasz,436-425.html#56332).

worries me a little.
And rightly. I would advise not starting from the movie. It makes up for the book's weaker points (one, actually, the supporting characters), but it leaves out most of what made the book's unique quality.

Because the Martians are supossed to be green so orange suits make a nice contrast? ;)
Even if he was, there wasn't much to see through the helmet's pane... XD

[alumfelga.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'd read it before it disappears from the cinemas' schedules so maybe now is the only chance to see the movie. Unless I'm so lazy I won't make it anyway :D Don't know yet.

Why would Martians wear helmets? Disguise? ;)

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

maybe now is the only chance to see the movie.
Yes, that's an important point. The cons of it are that it's a decent but not really that impressing movie. Not on its own, I'd say. So going in this order you can possibly get the result "Uh, okay, but what is this whole hype about?" and decide that the book is not worth it, because you have already given the whole thing a try, and it turned out overrated. Which would be a mistake, because the book has two main merits: the general idea of a castaway on Mars, and the realization of it, which is mostly about science used as a literary fabric (well, it is sci-fi). In the movie the former stays intact, of course, but the latter is very very very condensed, squeezed and filtered. So much that remained only what was really necessary for the plot (and here and there even less; some can point at factual holes in the movie, not knowing the book had actually covered these things, but they have been left out), and lost is most of what was making this whole science enjoyable. And even in spite of all cropping and filtering, the plot and dialogues are still heavily loaded. So loaded that every time a character is introduced they are subtitled, to save dialogue lines for other things (which also means that in these times you need to read and listen to different things simultaneously). I knew what's going on, because, well, I already knew what's going on - if you already know, it watches like an illustration, "Oh, here's X, and that's how they made Y!" - but if you don't, possible are moments of "Wait, what? Tell it once more, only slower." I often see complaints (even by those who besides that loved the book) that in places it's a data overload (as for me, I didn't feel so in reading), but when it posed a problem for some in a book, then imagine how it is on the screen, even shortened. They did effort to tell as much as possible in the movie language, through images, but still...

As for the pros, that is the main reason one choses the big screen for, opinions are divided. dieastra down there says the photos absolutely need it; me - not so much. Then again, I'm hard to impress at times. "Big screen necessary" level for me is LotR. About half of The Martian's best photos you can already see in my post.

tl;dr If you see it without reading and react "watchable, but nothing really special", don't think you have already got to know the book this way. If you don't, well, you might lose a few shots that are good, but also nothing you wouldn't find in any movie with the space. You decide.

Want the book? :)

Why would Martians wear helmets? Disguise? ;)
You tell me! I only said the suits for humans in the movie are orange. And since it has no native Martians in it, I can't know what their tastes in clothing might be. :D

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I simply refuse to believe that anyone would make a movie that excludes a large part of the audience. They simply cannot expect that everyone has read the book. That seems not very - logical?

And from what you describe, it sounds like there may be almost too much science in the book for me... as I am always fond of saying, I am not really a science fiction fan... says the girl that somehow first slipped into "Stargate" (all Richard Dean Anderson's fault, nobody was more surprised than I was! It blew me away), then "Doctor Who" and "Torchwood" (which I still would consider "sci-fi light", same goes for "Eureka") and now has started to explore the "Star Trek" world. Still I never got into "Star Wars", for example, or any other TV shows that were set on a space ship. I hate space ships and space battles. I hate things set too much in the future. That was the beauty of "Stargate" and "Torchwood" for me - ordinary people in nowadays time, trying to deal with extraordinary things. I can relate to that.

I like science fiction when it is about people. For example, "In Time", the movie where in a future people don't pay anymore with money but with time, and the poor ones only have half an hour to live, while the rich ones have 100 years or more. I liked this movie as it was saying something about society and how it may evolve (hopefully not) and in the end gave hope for some change, some people trying to make a difference.

So, throw too much science onto me, and I am lost or get bored.

So I certainly won't poke at any plot holes, I won't even notice them ;)

As for writing on the screen, that sounds like an interesting effect, and I am very used to it from watching "Sherlock", where his thoughts are displayed on the screen beautifully. Granted, there I have the chance to rewind and look at it again. But sometimes it's not meant to be all read, rather taken in as a whole?

After I have seen a movie, I like to go to IMDB and read all the people's thoughts and all the behind-the-scenes and extra infos, and I learn a lot more stuff and all the things I missed that way. And then I can still watch it a second time and look for all those things.

My brother recently gave me the DVD for "Gravity". I did not expect to like it, and I always wondered how you could fill two hours with a woman floating through space... but I did like it. In the end, it is not about the science or the special effects - it is about the people.

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

They simply cannot expect that everyone has read the book. That seems not very - logical?
Agreed, actually. :D It wasn't very wise of them... Then again, this is the opinion of someone who has read. I think we would need also the opinion of someone who watched and hasn't read...

Well, in terms of sci-fi, The Martian is the opposite of Doctor Who, Stargate, Star Trek and likes. It's hard sci-fi of... (what the heck is the English term for this?) ...short range? No timey-wimey, no aliens, no ships fueled with the audience's imagination... Instead, you get thrust vectoring, gravity assist (rather important for understanding of one major plot point), numeric coding of language, resilience of bacterias, atmospheric resistance, reactions involving hydrogen and oxygen... all this merry stuff. Actually, the whole point of The Martian - more in the book, but the movie too - is about making it fascinating, enthralling, exciting. And it succeeds. Granted, I'm not opposed to such things in books and movies in general, so I guess it wouldn't work that good for you. Sorry to hear it makes an obstacle... :(

I like science fiction when it is about people.
Me too, actually. It's just that the realization matters for me at least as much as the idea, and The Martian is just a very well written book. It hasn't perfect everything, no, but enough to love it. Though I must admit I always love it when the science plays a role in the plot. Though, of course, this must be well done.

As for writing on the screen, that sounds like an interesting effect, and I am very used to it from watching "Sherlock", where his thoughts are displayed on the screen beautifully.
I think here they aimed at the effect of the header of an icoming message. "Xy Zeth. Chief of Department of This or That."

But sometimes it's not meant to be all read, rather taken in as a whole?
Well, yes, as long as you don't care for wondering for the rest of the movie "Who's that dude again?", you can wave all those names and titles aside. It's not like anyone would really manage to keep the track of all of them anyway. I think so. :)

In the end, it is not about the science or the special effects - it is about the people.
The Martian too, actually. After all, it's people who do all this science there, it's just their tool, their safety boat, everything they have. So it's like with a western - it's all about people, nevertheless it can be troublesome if one doesn't like horses and shooting...

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I can, occassionally, just sit back and enjoy the ride, and be prepared to not understand every single thing. And sometimes I surprise myself that I DO actually know a thing or two. My brother educates me ;)

And sometimes a picture speaks more than a thousand words. It only sunk in how hard any long range communication would be after watching that Stargate episode where Jack and Teal'c were lost in space... literally... and had to wait half an hour for a reply after they sent a message... I also know much more about Egyptian mythology now but that's another story.

So those people that sign up for a real Mars mission - without a ticket back home - do they really know what they get themselves into? Obviously, there won't be any internet or skyping with the family back home.

That trailer really blew me away - it's what a good trailer is supposed to do, after all. You won't discourage me ;)

Let's talk again once I have seen it!

[alumfelga.livejournal.com]

timey-wimey
Someone's getting a proper sci-fi language! :D
I've no idea where she picks that stuff up. :D

[alumfelga.livejournal.com]

Want the book?
Can you believe I'm still reading "Fangasm"? I've read about three chapters, got busy and stopped, and now every time I open it, I go back and end up reading few new pages at most. I honestly don't know what's wrong with me...

I'll let you know if I see it :)

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Can you believe I'm still reading "Fangasm"?
Yes, I can. *g*

I honestly don't know what's wrong with me this file...
There, I fixed that for you. I'm still saying a crappy pdf reads crappy. :) Either this, or too high concentration of SPN...

I'll let you know if I see it :)
WAITING!!! Erm... *cough* ...that is, hoping. In a calm and dignified manner.

[hamsterwoman]

So, I assume your recommendation would be to read the book first, then watch the movie?

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Yes. For details, read my reply to alumfelga up there.

[porridgebird.livejournal.com]

HI there! I keep forgetting to tell you - I read the book right after you recommended it to me. Fantastic book! And then was surprised to see it was already being made into a movie. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

Thanks for the review!

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Yay, I made another fan! :D I hoped it might be your thing. I'm really glad you're aboard of this boat ship too. :)

And then was surprised to see it was already being made into a movie.
Fastest adaptation ever, isn't it? I hope to read your opinion when you see the movie!

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I hadn’t been to the cinema in ages but back in Summer I decided on a whim to go see “Jurassic World” as there was so much talk about it on my friends list and I wanted to know what these zoo keeper scenes were about. This is where I saw the trailer for this movie, and I told my brother that we need to go. He likes space movies, and one of my favorite books as a child had been “Robinson Crusoe”, and, as you say, the photography alone blew me away. I figured this is a movie that needs to be watched on the big screen, not years later in TV, as I usually do.

Apparently we are late, in Germany it starts on Thursday.

I had no idea it was a book until recently.

Up to the point that those in the audience who haven’t, won’t know what is Mark’s reply

Would you please tell me? If I like the movie, I might read the book afterwards – provided, they have it in my library.

I haven’t watched Chiwetel Eijofor before

That’s the guy from “12 years a slave” right? We went to watch this because of Benedict Cumberbatch and even managed to get an original language version. Very recommended.

I don’t think I know any of the other actors you mentioned – aside from Matt Damon of course.

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

How about "Jurrasic Park", by the way? Have you seen the first series too? And have you find "Jurrasic World" worth it?

one of my favorite books as a child had been “Robinson Crusoe”
I liked it too, though maybe it wouldn't made it to my Top List of the Childhood. But in my case it's rather that I like survival stories in general.

Apparently we are late, in Germany it starts on Thursday.
Oh. Good thing I haven't spoiled too much in the post. :)

I had no idea it was a book until recently.
For me it was the other way - have read book, and some time later heard they are making a movie. I was half excited, half sceptic, as usual in such cases.

That’s the guy from “12 years a slave” right? We went to watch this because of Benedict Cumberbatch and even managed to get an original language version. Very recommended.
I wasn't interested enough to go when it was on screens, but if his (Eijofor's) acting got a chance to contribute much to the movie's general quality, I would consider it worth an evening, some day.

There was also Jeff Daniels and Sean Bean, in The Martian, that is.

Would you please tell me? If I like the movie, I might read the book afterwards – provided, they have it in my library.
I could send you the e-book, if you want. :) I'm quoting the fragment in question (of the book, of course; the movie has it censored, so to speak) in the next comment below this...

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

...because in case it's spoiler for someone who don't want it before reading, I can keep it hidden. Also because it's a minor spoiler about one of decisions of NASA. So, you decide if you want it. Just highlight the blank space.



(I've cut it here and there and left just details needed for answering your question.)

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

Heh, great, thanks!
But yeah, that's Hollywood or rather America in general for you. For some reason, they are less afraid of weapons/violence.

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Uhum, exactly. Still, I was surprised and only later realised why they did so. But it's just a few typed signs, for heaven's sake...

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

I remember having been to the cinema for the first Jurassic Park movie. I remember how it rained and due to the dolby surround it really "rained" above us, and there were dinosaur noises behind us ;) Way cool.
I seriously don't remember if I actually ever watched the other two on TV or not. Possibly at the time I thought it's all the same anyway. I should check when they air again.

I even took part in a competition where you could win one of those jeeps. I don't even drive... I won something indeed, a black t-shirt with the Jurassic Park logo. I still have it. I wore it to work once and my co-worker asked, if it was a park I had been to... *tumbleweeds*

I liked "Jurassic World"! I thought it was great fun. Obviously, it's not supposed to be taken serious. I liked especially the first half, when it was really an entertainment park, like Disneyland. Some great ideas there. And it looked all very real and believeable.

Have you seen this, btw.? Obviously, I had to join in ;)

http://dieastra.livejournal.com/144477.html

I guess Robinson Crusoe appealed to me for the same reason I liked MacGyver. Someone making something out of nothing with his own hands. I never was much interested in history in school, but I liked hearing about prehistoric men. How they would make their own tools from scratch. Since I like to build so many things from scratch. It's all about the idea and how to achieve what you want with the things you have available.

Of course, I had many favorite books, and I read and re-read them again and again. You would not know most of them though as they are German.

But yeah, there is something about survival stories. I like those movies as well. A group of people in peril, and how they work together, and often it's the most quiet guy who suddenly becomes a leader or has a good idea. I like that.

Chiwetel Eijofor is the main character in the movie - the guy that has been kidnapped and kept as a slave. So yeah, with him it all stands and falls. He got an Oscar nomination for it.

I don't do e-books, but thanks for the offer! I have no e-book reader. While I like to read, the kind of books I buy, I want to have in real. Mostly fandom books recently - the "Hollow Earth" series written by John Barrowman, Torchwood novels, and now Star Trek novels, actor biographies... that sort of thing. As with those I know I will read them more than once. I get the rest from the library.

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Possibly at the time I thought it's all the same anyway.
I think I've watched the third too, but didn't really care for it. It lacked Ian Malcolm.♥ :)

I wore it to work once and my co-worker asked, if it was a park I had been to... *tumbleweeds*
$%&@D%#H# Sorry, that was my headkeyboard... I wonder if he thought sculpted and/or robo dinos or live ones. :) It has a T-rex in it, after all... Then again, maybe he registered only "Park" and nothing else. Also, I think I'd rather a t-shirt instead of a jeep! :)

Have you seen this, btw.? Obviously, I had to join in ;)
http://dieastra.livejournal.com/144477.html
Hehee! Kirk's face says "There, I've brought some order here." *g* I've seen somewhere a set of photos with real zoo workers re-enacting it with different animals. :) *comes back* Here it is. (http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/jun/18/zookeepers-recreating-jurassic-world-raptor-scene-real-animals)

I guess Robinson Crusoe appealed to me for the same reason I liked MacGyver. Someone making something out of nothing with his own hands.
Yes, yes, exactly!!!

A group of people in peril, and how they work together, and often it's the most quiet guy who suddenly becomes a leader or has a good idea. I like that.
Yes, but I think I like the lone stories even more.

Chiwetel Eijofor is the main character in the movie - the guy that has been kidnapped and kept as a slave.
This I knew, but still a lot depends on directing and such. Good to know he was what made it a good movie.

[dieastra.livejournal.com]

We do have, in fact, a dinosaur park close to where I live. It was started back in the Seventies, way before they became cool. A guy made them from steel skeletton and concrete. Live sized. First in his own garden, until it became too much. Here are some pictures: http://www.saurierpark.de/park-attraktionen/saurier/

Thanks for the link! It has some new pictures I hadn't seen yet. I need to add it to my list. Check my links at the beginning of the entry, there's so much more, one better than the other. My friend kept posting them and I wanted to know what it is all about so I went to the cinema. I had never heard the name Chris Pratt before. Sometimes it is really funny how you come into these things.

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Here are some pictures:
Nice! Better arranged and more "alive" than most figures I've seen, that most often just stand there and loom. Sometimes roar, at best. Also, I like it's amidst the trees; it really shows that all the garden had the time to grow properly.

I had never heard the name Chris Pratt before.
Well, it's still the only thing I associate him with, and only from the Internet anyway. *g* Haven't seen the movie itself.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the review:) The film looked interesting and then I discovered that it was based on a book, which also sounded interesting! It will be a case of waiting for the film to appear on TV though, however the book is a different possibility, I might indulge;)

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Have fun! I'd be curious of your opinion. In both cases. :)