Andy Weir’s science fiction novel The Martian turned an immediate bestseller when it was revealed in 2014, however regardless of its recognition, it was an odd selection for a giant finances movie adaptation. Initially self-published by Weir, the novel depends extensively on the interior monologue of astrobotanist and mechanical engineer Mark Watney as he goes into painstaking element about how he survives after being stranded on the crimson planet by rising potatoes and pulling components off of outdated NASA automobiles. The e-book is gentle on dialogue and heavy on explanations of chemical reactions.
But director Ridley Scott and author Drew Goddard delivered a charming movie with The Martian, which premiered 10 years in the past right now on Oct. 2, 2015. Matt Damon completely embodies what makes Watney such a compelling protagonist: the best way his can-do perspective and geeky humor banish the existential dread of a state of affairs the place his possibilities of survival are extraordinarily low. Just like the e-book it’s based mostly on, the film presents some very grounded science fiction, full of humor and thrills. Nevertheless, the filmmakers did need to make some concessions to the medium, spending extra time targeted on the NASA personnel making an attempt to avoid wasting Watney, and including extra motion to the climax. And people adjustments got here on the expense of two of one of the best segments of Weir’s e-book.
The Martian is a narrative about calorie counting. Watney obsesses over how a lot meals he must stay, whereas NASA tries to determine how you can get him extra. When an accident destroys Watney’s potato farm and a swiftly assembled interplanetary care package deal blows up after launch, Watney’s solely hope turns into a rescue mission by the crew who by chance left him behind.
Each the e-book and film make it clear that this plan, which includes the crew of the Ares III slingshotting across the Earth and again to Mars to rescue Watney, is extraordinarily dangerous. Nevertheless, Weir attracts a extra direct parallel between the hazard going through all of the astronauts.
The ship must catch its personal provide rocket to have sufficient meals and water to make it to Mars and again. If that fails, the crew has a morbid contingency plan: everybody apart from laptop specialist Beth Johanssen (performed by Kate Mara within the movie) would kill themselves. Beth, chosen to be the only survivor as a result of she’s the youngest and smallest, would eat her crewmates to outlive. When the Ares III does get the provides, the relieved crew jokes about who Beth would have eaten first. It’s some fairly black humor, so I perceive why it was lower, however I nonetheless just like the narrative tightness of forcing all these characters to grapple with the merciless nature of survival in house. It additionally demonstrates that they’ll actually die for one another, not simply to avoid wasting Watney.
The movie adaptation additionally cuts the tensest part of The Martian in favor of spending extra time on the a part of the rescue mission that takes place in house. Within the e-book, Watney loses his skill to speak with NASA, leaving him to his personal units for the ultimate part of the story. Watney then has to navigate to a car meant for a future Mars mission. That journey is put in jeopardy by a mud storm that may forestall his rover’s photo voltaic cells from charging and finally depart him stranded. NASA is aware of the storm is coming, however can’t warn him. They’re left ready in suspense to see if Watney will determine what’s occurring and alter his plans, or if all the work they did to rescue him will show pointless.
Once more, it’s not stunning this half was lower from the film. Ongoing dialogue between Watney and different characters makes the movie extra dynamic. However a part of me nonetheless needs Goddard and Scott had been a bit gutsier and relied on Damon to carry down scenes the place he fights towards the weather alone, with the supporting forged positioned in the identical position because the viewers: helplessly hoping for one of the best.
Goddard is returning to Weir’s work with an adaptation of his 2021 novel Mission Hail Mary, releasing in 2026 and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Like The Martian, the e-book focuses on an remoted astronaut utilizing his information and ingenuity to outlive. Ryan Gosling can be filling the identical position as Damon: a film star charismatic sufficient to carry down plenty of solo scenes whereas touchdown Weir’s idiosyncratic humor. I hope that adaptation is pretty much as good as The Martian, however both approach, it’s nicely price studying the e-book to see what doesn’t survive the transition.
