The Martian: 10 Reasons Why It's Better Than Interstellar

10. Space Is The Principal Villain

During the second act of Interstellar, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) and the team arrive on Mann (ice planet), in which they locate a hypersleep pod. Inside lies a very special guest; Mr. Matt Damon. Starring as the deemed deceased Dr. Mann, Damon and the group instantaneously bond, and the now-awakened astronaut details the perils of such an environment. Fast forward twenty meandering minutes and it turns out everything Mann has been spitting is fictitious. His only agenda is to get himself home and away from isolation, and he'll do this at any cost: even attempting and succeeding at murder. He and Cooper break out into a sprawling fist fight against the swirling winds and teeth-chattering ice, and honestly, it is one of the dumbest moments in the entire picture. It feels so random, so empty and could have screened with significantly more menace through intricate dialogue deliveries rather than gravity-enhanced Street Fighter choreography. The Martian knows much better. The film is perfectly aware that Mars and indeed botanist Mark Watney's (Damon) scenario is villainous and perilous enough. A singular man stranded on a distant planet, 140 million miles away from civilisation with limited resources, no natural outlets for food and water, and the high risk of anything and everything placing your already fated life in severe jeopardy. Now that is a proper antagonist.