THE MARTIAN (2015)

Genre: Science Fiction
Running Length: 2:21
Cast: Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Michael Pena, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kristin Wiig, Sean Bean

Director: Ridley Scott
Screenplay: Drew Goddard, based on the novel by Andy Weir

"You solve one problem and then the next. You solve enough problems and you get to come home." Mark Watney

THE MARTIAN is probably one of the most accessible films from Ridley Scott since Gladiator. This is Castaway for today's generation; where Damon's character spends the majority of his time talking to an "audience" aka. video blogging rather than talking to himself. And his best friend is Wilson the GoPro camera (several of them actually).

The science and maths in this film is easier to follow compared to Nolan's Interstellar. Apparently it was even fact-checked by NASA. The plot is easy to follow too. Damon's character is an astronaut where he was left behind on planet Mars by his fellow crew mates due to a freak storm. They presumed he was dead. So our protagonist must use his smarts to find a way to survive on the red planet until he is possibly rescued - several years away.

Although the narrative sounds depressing, the film's tone is actually pretty positive and upbeat. Eventhough the subject matter is serious, the film is approachable thanks to several light hearted moments peppered with appropriate low-key comedy. Also, it has a good balance of how Damon's character tackles both his physical limitations and psychological challenges. So, it's not emo all the way. From the trailers, audience may think that they are in for a boring time, seeing one man going up against one complication after another but it's actually more than that. There are several stories unfolding at the very same time but shares the same mission - to bring our astronaut back home safely, thus making this an interesting watch as we witness brilliant minds around the world coordinating and working together.

As good as Matt Damon is as our everyday hero, he is no Tom Hanks. Nevertheless, his performance here is arguably one of the best in his career. The supporting cast (with very big names) is equally impressive.

I'm glad the filmmakers use practical effects to enhance the look and feel, rather than hardcore CGI. Also, the smart editing coupled with an inspired choice of disco music gives the film a good pacing. Although the ending is a little too over-the-top (and the plot involving the Chinese government seemed forced and out of place), The Martian is still a feel-good cinematic experience.

Rating: 8.5/10

TRANSCENDENCE (2014)

Genre: Science Fiction
Running Length: 1:59
Cast: Johnny Depp, Rebecca Hall, Paul Bettany, Cillian Murphy, Morgan Freeman, Kate Mara, Cole Hauser
Director: Wally Pfister

When I first saw the trailer to TRANSCENDENCE, I was intrigued; sentience intelligence, top-notch cast and produced by Christopher Nolan. It sets up the premise of an intelligent-cinematic-character driven movie but it turned out to be an unsatisfying experience. To be fair, the screenplay explores big thought provoking ideas but it remained a potential as it suffers from poor execution. Instead of focusing on one thing, it tries to cover many grounds in the artificial intelligence folder (Spike Jonze's Her, which asks some of the same questions was more focused and eloquently told). Although Johnny Depp's muted performance here is a pleasant change after a recent series of over-the-top roles, I just felt he wasn't totally invested in his character as an AI genius. And there's no chemistry between Johnny Depp and Rebecca Hall where their characters' romantic tragedy is absolutely critical to making the narrative come alive. It just didn't move me at all. But from a technical standpoint, I must say the decision to tell a story about digital intelligence using film (it was shot on film vs digital) is an interesting choice. It looks great with lush and rich images. The soundtrack is also above average.

Rating: 5.5/10