Rotten Tomatoes: 93% From 278 Reviews It's a great irony of The Martian that it's so invested in the story of bringing someone home and the transmission of nostalgia, given that its film-maker had been stuttering so badly in recent years to remember what made him great. The gloriously entertaining sci-fi is as much about bringing Ridley Scott home as it is about Matt Damon's stranded astronaut. For all the accusations of a lack of drama or threat, The Martian is beautifully optimistic and unashamedly humanist, representing irresistible propaganda for the human spirit and a lesson in jettisoning cynicism. And though the source material is cherished, Scott and Drew Goddard conspired to improve upon it - in no small part thanks to Matt Damon's award-worthy lead performance. And it scores major points for the excellent use of popular music, which is an increasingly under-appreciated skill these days. Sample Review:
"A muscular storytelling masterclass, a giddy audience-pleasing thrill-ride and certainly the most purely entertaining sci-fi movie since 2013's awards-magnet Gravity." - Kevin Maher, The Times
