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Have you ever had a dream where you’re floating in space or stuck alone on another planet and then all of sudden something goes terribly wrong? Then when you seem to be at death’s door, the alarm clock goes off and you jump out of bed terrified. Well for astronaut, Mark Whatney, his lonely experience on Mars was not a dream that he could wake up from. In the movie “The Martian,” Matt Damon returns for another “out of this world” movie with his “Interstellar” co-star Jessica Chastain as a botanist who travels to space on a mission with his team of astronauts and their lives change in a matter of moments.

The brand new movie “The Martian” is in 3D and will make you laugh and pull out a box of tissues all at the same time. The audience follows astronaut Mark Whatney on a journey of life and death on Mars and will question whether he will make it out alive or if there will be memorials made in his memory and honor.

Get your 3D glasses ready to see "The Martian." The special effects are AMAZING and the audience feels like they are in the movie too.
Get your 3D glasses ready to see “The Martian.” The special effects are AMAZING and the audience feels like they are in the movie too.

“The Martian” is a 2015 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and is based on Andy Weir‘s 2011 novel which was adapted into a screenplay by Drew Goddard. Damon stars as an astronaut who is presumed dead and left behind on the planet Mars and is determined to stay alive. The film also features a star studded cast with supporting roles being played by Bridesmaids actress Kristen Wiig, Jeff DanielsMichael PeñaKate MaraSean BeanSebastian StanAksel Hennie, and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

Producer Simon Kinberg began developing the film after 20th Century Fox optioned the novel in March 2013. Filming began in November 2014 and lasted approximately 70 days. Around 20 sets were built on a sound stage in Budapest, Hungary. Andy Weir, who developed a relationship with NASA after publishing the novel, involved the space program in working with Scott to accurately depict the film’s science and technology.

This film surprised the audience with so many actors and actresses that it was almost impossible to keep up with the storyline. Hence I have this whole section dedicated to the stars in this movie that will get your attention and make you do a double take.

Matt Damon is one of the best actors because of his talent, skill, and role choices in the film industry. He’s best friends with Ben Affleck whom he surpassed with his constant box office hits and left Affleck with his leftover roles (Gone Girl was pretty awesome though). But in this film his witty humor and will to stay alive makes this film really enjoyable.

Damon’s character is a determined botanist who is stuck on Mars with no food, no water and no way to communicate with earth so he creates vegetation on Mars while listening to a disco music playlist. His character Mark Whatney says everything the audience is thinking and his witty commentary keeps you hooked.

Viewers can expect Jeff Daniels to be the perfect villain in this film as the Director of NASA and he’s more of a stiff in a suit this time. The “My Favorite Martian” and “101 Dalmatians” star is usually in more lighter roles but now that we know he can be the “jerk of a boss” that we all love to hate, I hope to see him in that role more often.

Kristen Wiig plays a more serious role as well as and surprisingly she was still able to make it funny. The audience was certainly digging her “woman in charge” act and her character’s way of taking control in most of the scenes. Fans of Wiig were shocked during her first on screen appearance in “The Martian,” due to her usual role as the hilarious best friend in her other popular upbeat films. But Wiig proved that she can handle the heat and this role shows opportunity for more major roles for her as an actress.

SPOILER: The most shocking part of the movie is when singer, rapper and now actor Donald Glover Jr., better known as “Childish Gambino,” appeared to save the day. The ladies just saw him in the movie “Magic XXL” as a singing stripper that made the ladies melt with his vocal skills.

The Bobby Pen
The Bobby Pen

What a coincidence that this movie debuts at the same time that NASA just discovered water on Mars and are in preparation to go up there and do some more research. Did it need to be 3D? Of course not, but it did add to the storyline. Although Whatney was on Mars alone, the audience felt like they were right there with him, jumping over rocks, digging up soil and eating naturally grown potatoes.

I am definitely not a fan of intergalactic movies and those are the last types of movies on my MUST SEE list of films but this movie was impressive in 3D and gave me a rush of adrenaline whenever the showed scene were in space. The special effects looked GREAT and sounded terrifying. The storms on Mars are not something that you would expect to live through.

At times, the movie did feel like a combination of the movies “Gravity” and “Interstellar,” but I still give it two thumbs up for originality and the producers’ ability to get so many stars in one movie.

It was amazing following Whatney as he went through every solar day with new unexpected setbacks. As he video logged everyday you could see his circumstances were beginning to take a toll on him. Whatney’s reaction to each problem was very surprising because honestly, I would have been freaking out throughout the entire process. I can’t even fathom the idea of even being in space so Mark Whatney wins the “My Hero Of The Week” award. His determination is awe-inspiring and will touch your heart when you go see it Friday October 2, 2015 in theaters everywhere.

Q&A with NASA representatives about the brand new movie "The Martian"
Q&A with NASA representatives about the brand new movie “The Martian”