The Martian: 8 Ways It Shows Hollywood How To Do Science Right

8. It Shows Good Scientific Method

One of the things that really cheeses me off about the portrayal of science in films is that it all too often conflated with straight up fairy magic in the minds of Hollywood big wigs.

Even films that claim to be heavy on the scientific accuracy will contain a sequence in which there is a big problem, so they call in a scientist who does a Science Thing, whether that's typing like a madman or concocting something in a lab, and everything is magically better in time for the credits to roll.

One of the best things about The Martian is that almost the entire plot centres around having to figure stuff out. 

It doesn't portray science as some kind of dark art that only men in lab coats can do, instead, we get a close up look at the scientific mind at work. 

It is practical, creative and made up of small logical steps backed up by real knowledge. We see Watney doing calculations, using reason and occasionally getting it wrong - there is no "and then a miracle occurs" moment and that is compelling in itself.

Whether its Mark Watney, alone in his makeshift potato field, or the NASA scientists back on Earth, there's an awful lot of "working it out" going on - a process you don't tend to see in all of its organised chaotic glory.