tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post6568058987663921898..comments2024-03-03T22:40:39.761-05:00Comments on How To Watch A Movie: The MartianSarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08901639281043602191noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-90605762005148681772015-11-04T14:05:03.185-05:002015-11-04T14:05:03.185-05:00Good, I'm glad! It did, it really did. It was ...Good, I'm glad! It did, it really did. It was a really accurate adaptation, and even in the few ways it was changed they did an amazing job keeping faithful to the right tone. I'm so glad they steered clear of the melodrama! You might think that the humor would keep the serious drama from being effective, but really it made even more so! I love all the references, and I'm so glad they kept the "project Elrond" scene! That was straight out of the book. And the Iron Man reference was in the book too. Exactly the same except that he didn't actually do it. They amped up the tension for the movie's climax. :P Thanks a bunch! Mine too, I believe. <br /><br />Yeah? I still haven't even seen Interstellar! Still want to, (mainly cause I found out that Matt Damon is in it) but I don't have huge expectations. Haha! YESS. I despise Gravity so much. So, so much. The Martian totally trounces it! Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08901639281043602191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-73123466429987910752015-11-04T08:01:09.519-05:002015-11-04T08:01:09.519-05:00We seem to be in complete agreement on this one! I...We seem to be in complete agreement on this one! I happen to glance at the Rotten Tomato rating, but I never expected it to be THIS great of a movie! It did everything right. The real science, relatable characters, and the humorous tone made it so entertaining yet so smart. There is nothing that felt cheap or a missed opportunity. It was never sappy or melodramatic. It made me care because the characters were real and not some forced reason. Also, the geeky references, especially “Project Elrond” was perfect. It was even funnier when Sean Bean explained it! :D Do you remember if the Iron Man and other references in the book? Overall, excellent review! This is going to be one of my favorites by the end of year. Actually, this is probably my favorite sci-fi movie of the last few years.<br /><br />Lastly, I liked Interstellar quite a bit, but The Martian actually makes me like it less (and it makes Gravity look like it was written by a 10 year old, lol), because The Martian shows how great a space film can be.<br /><br />-James<br />James the Reviewerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00165238905288033483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-61135326958779073382015-10-13T16:09:49.139-04:002015-10-13T16:09:49.139-04:00Exactly -- it's there, but it's not blatan...Exactly -- it's there, but it's not blatant or obvious or even easy to find. Good stuff.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-29696714857026596152015-10-13T14:49:47.463-04:002015-10-13T14:49:47.463-04:00Right, totally! But it's an unusual way to do ...Right, totally! But it's an unusual way to do things, and that why I love it. I definitely agree and appreciate that he has a character journey. It's just that the lack of a heroic journey -- by which I mean a journey from not-a-hero to hero -- or any big character/personality changes is what I love most. I hope that makes sense. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08901639281043602191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-76339034665568971642015-10-12T10:16:24.606-04:002015-10-12T10:16:24.606-04:00Well, yes, but a character's journey can be ab...Well, yes, but a character's journey can be about what they learn and how that changes them, not about them becoming fundamentally different.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-64297598001248726462015-10-10T02:03:43.409-04:002015-10-10T02:03:43.409-04:00That totally makes sense, though I would put it mo...That totally makes sense, though I would put it more in the category of things he learns, not necessarily changes in his personality. I'll look forward to that someday then, and I'm definitely excited to see what you think of the book!! :DSarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08901639281043602191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-1917486358203371352015-10-08T18:30:47.230-04:002015-10-08T18:30:47.230-04:00Yes. It's subtle and small, but I really feel...Yes. It's subtle and small, but I really feel like it's there -- that he's less... carefree, maybe? Still positive and optimistic, but now less "everything will be all right -- I can fix this." More aware of his own frailty, that sometimes there's nothing you can do, that you have to rely on other people to help and not do everything yourself, that sometimes your best efforts aren't enough? I'm kind of tossing stuff out right now -- I can't put my finger on it yet, really. I have a horribly busy October and probably won't get to see this again until DVD, but I will definitely post more when I do see it again. I'll probably get to read the book first! I'll also review that when I get it -- possibly as early as next month.Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-73841939568994566452015-10-08T14:21:25.231-04:002015-10-08T14:21:25.231-04:00Thanks Hamlette! :) Okay, but you mean in smaller,...Thanks Hamlette! :) Okay, but you mean in smaller, more subtle ways I assume? Cause I can definitely concede that. In the movie particularly you can see the toil that all that time alone took on him. I guess I meant more in essentials. Some stories would have him start a jerk and become a hero, but he goes into the situation already a hero and stays that way. And then some stories would have him be heroic from the beginning, but have the ordeal he goes through "break" him, so he becomes humorless and tortured by the end, but instead he never loses his sense of humor, and is always ultimately positive and optimistic. I hope you'll write more of your thoughts after the second viewing! I'd love to see some deeper insights. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08901639281043602191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-67824748169881129742015-10-08T14:01:39.518-04:002015-10-08T14:01:39.518-04:00Thanks, I'll check it out.Thanks, I'll check it out.Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08901639281043602191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-45675225533184952192015-10-08T14:00:36.781-04:002015-10-08T14:00:36.781-04:00Thanks so much Sarah! He really was, wasn't he...Thanks so much Sarah! He really was, wasn't he! I've pretty much always enjoyed his characters and appreciated his acting skills, but I wasn't a full-blown fan until this movie, and this character. He completely won me over. :) That line was great! It wasn't in the book, so I was especially impressed with it. :D Haha, thanks. Sad but true. :P<br /><br />Yeah, more of a reunion for the crew and stuff? That would have been nice. The book was actually less satisfying in that way, but made up for it in a different way. (Book ending spoilers) It's funny, cause in the book, Watney says "If this were a movie, everyone would have been in the airlock, and there would have been high fives all around. But it didn't pan out that way." :P Instead they get a super brief reunion several minutes later which is relayed to us by Watney via log update while he waits for painkillers for his ribs to kick in so he can shower. The book ends there, with him alone again, making a beautiful speech about human nature, and how overwhelmed and happy he is. No Earth at all. It was an amazing ending I thought, but like he said, for a movie it needs to be different, so it is kinda sad we don't get to see more of all the crew together again. <br /><br />Me too, I was really surprised at how many fantastic characters there were! You'd kinda just expect one, you know? They even got some romance in there on the side! And yes! That is one of my favorite things about this story. :D<br /><br />Me too. <br /><br />Usually I can get the main bulk of writing done in 1 or 2 hours -- depending on length and inspiration. Then I take a break before doing rewrites, restructuring, and additions or subtractions so I can clear my head. So that plus photos, captions, and links probably takes about another hour or a little more, but because I don't do it all at the same time, it usually takes at least all day, usually two, and in The Martian's case three (it gave me trouble ;)) to actually finish up and publish it. But the actual work time isn't that much -- it really does vary a lot, but 2 or 3 hours total is probably the norm. Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08901639281043602191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-79001926309793621212015-10-07T18:23:56.910-04:002015-10-07T18:23:56.910-04:00EXCELLENT review, Sarah. I heartily agree on all ...EXCELLENT review, Sarah. I heartily agree on all points but one: I feel like Watney does change and grow by the end, but this is just a gut feeling, not one I can back up without seeing this a second time I'm really looking forward to the book now!Hamlette (Rachel)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961916847426233995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-57613969739964480442015-10-07T15:12:37.449-04:002015-10-07T15:12:37.449-04:00I've tagged you for The Bedtime Movie tagI've tagged you for The Bedtime Movie tagIvy Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09742281977062799876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7076471470585210140.post-76532726596976202622015-10-06T19:03:41.383-04:002015-10-06T19:03:41.383-04:00Awesome awesome review. I agree with everything. M...Awesome awesome review. I agree with everything. Matt Damon was so perfect in this role. It was such a cool story and I loved Mark's character. "They're just saying fastest man alive because they think I'll like it. ... I do like it. But I'm not going to tell them." "when you're the strong and silent type, that just how it goes" Ha. <br /><br />I'm glad to hear the heart of the book was the same in the movie. That's awesome and doesn't happen that frequently. The one thing I would have liked the movie to have spent more time on was the return journey to Earth with everyone on board...not for any more action but just to see more of the characters interacting. Is more time spent on that in the book? I loved all of the characters. The story's cool how there's no bad guy, just a big problem to solve. <br /><br />I loved the quote "it's bigger than one person" "no it's not".<br /><br />By the way, how long does it usually take you to write a review? Just curious. SW https://www.blogger.com/profile/14687537232841591331noreply@blogger.com