“The Martian” is a movie about hope and survival, both from the perspective of a lone person and that of an entire community, banding together for a common goal, for a common good. It is not too much to say that this is a movie about the better, more positive aspects of humanity. Instead of focusing on our differences and our foibles, it is a story about setting that all aside to achieve something seemingly impossible. There is no “bad guy,” though there is still plenty of drama. Continuing on in the face of impossible odds and unbelievable circumstances, the power of human connections, this is one of the most positive, life affirming movies to come out this year.

It is the near future, and NASA has already completed a couple of manned missions to Mars, and this story starts with the third mission being scrubbed just a couple of weeks in because of unforseen inclement Martian weather. During the evacuation, botanist Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is lost and presumed dead, as the crew leaves him behind in order to keep all of them from dying as well. But lo, Mark is not dead, but alive. Injured, but alive. He makes his way back to the habitat they have set up and he starts taking steps to stay alive as long as possible until he find a way off the planet, or until a rescue mission can be mounted back on Earth, which would take four years to complete. In the meantime, Mark is all alone on a desolate planet in which nothing grows. And he wants to live. Continue Reading …