The Martian” is a science fiction film starring Matt Damon as Mark Watney. An astronaut who is presumed dead and left behind by his crew on the planet Mars, Watney fights to survive. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit, and spirit and find a way to signal Earth he is alive.

       From the very opening moment of “The Martian,” viewers will be amazed with what director Scott has created. This film opens on an incredible, barren, red Martian landscape which instantly piques the viewers curiosity and sets the stage for all that is to come.

      This isn’t one of those far-fetched plots that drag on for hours like “Interstellar” or “Gravity.” This is a gripping and powerful space opera. I gave this film a 9 out of 10 and would definitely recommend this film to anyone who loves science, or who wants to be amazed by a unique storyline.

       Now this film may be highly praised, but there are still some small flaws such as a portion of the film where we don’t get to see Watney for an extended time. While every character has some sort of stake in the outcome, Watney is the center of it all and when he disappears for too long, things drag.

       The film does a very good job establishing many of these secondary characters such as Watney’s crew, and those at NASA, helping the audience understand who they are. But the effort required to make these characters seem important takes away from the film’s momentum. Other than those minor problems, this film has still many strong moments that outweigh the flaws and succeed in telling a very unique story.

       It isn’t perfect, but “The Martian” is still a triumph. From the acting to the beautiful visual effects to watching the problem-solving unfold, the film is astounding. It’s emotional and logical at the same time and it just might inspire a new generation to look at the stars.

       More than anything though, it’s Damon’s ability to bring laughter and tears which makes this a must-see film and the stellar supporting cast as his crew includes Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain), Beth Johansenn (Kate Mara), Rick Martinez (Michael Pena), Chris Beck (Sebastian Stan), and Alex Vogel (Aksel Hennie).