The Martian

[schneefink]

I watched the "The Martian" in the cinema today. I went alone, because everyone I asked had either seen it already or didn't have time today and afaik it was one of the last times they're showing it in Vienna in English. I still had a good time :) I wanted to see it on a bigger screen because I was hoping for pretty Mars pictures. Which I got, but because it was one of the last showings the screen was unfortunately small for a cinema.

I read the book about a week ago. It's very technical at times, very funny at times, has very good character sketches and is an excellent basis for h/c fic.

Then I read fic, some of which I really enjoyed: #BringHimHome, i'm coming home, Look At Those Cavemen Go!, Nunquam te tradam and others – I'm too lazy to do a proper rec post rn.

Then, the movie! I enjoyed it. lannamichaels has a good post pointing out some of the differences between the book and the movie. I also really liked the short bonus videos on youtube.

I was a bit disappointed that they cut out both the sandstorm and the rover flipping over during Mark's trip to Schiaparelli. That journey was so dramatic in the book, he even lost Pathfinder and any ability to communicate with NASA during it, and then in the movie there were no complications whatsoever. Weird.

"Mark Watney, space pirate" is one of my favorite lines from the book, but it only works because NASA literally can't give him permission to board the Ares IV MAV because he lost contact. In the movie I only went "whut, of course they can give him permission, why would they not give him permission." Probably after he told them about his new title they deliberately never said anything about it because they knew he found it funny.

I knew that Mark/Chris Beck is a popular pairing, but for most of the movie I was baffled why. Beck was maybe the crew member I felt we knew the least about. Eventually I came to the conclusion that it was because from the crew only he, Johanssen, and Mark are single, and because he looks a bit like Sebastian Stan. If I heard right, when Mark comes back to Hermes he greets Beck with "Hi, handsome" – okay why not, ships have been built on less. Then during the credits I found out that it was actually Sebastian Stan, that may explain it ^^
It took me a while to be certain that Rich Purnell was actually played by Donald Glover. Actors are difficult.

It was really difficult not to sing along with the songs! Sometimes I hummed, and I did sing the last one, "I Will Survive."

Comments

[kayim]

Hi, random commentor who found your post via the Network page *waves*

I just wanted to say that I loved the whole journey in The Martian too. I've not seen the film yet, but I'm joining you on the disappointed viewpoint at them cutting it.

I never did get Mark/Chris. It just doesn't make sense :(

[schneefink]

Hi! :)

I can understand why they didn't do the storm, with movie length and pacing it would have been hard to fit it in. But Mark frying Pathfinder would have taken little extra time, it would have emphasized how smart Mark is when he can do all the rover modifications on his own, and it would have added extra tension. They could have had the rover get stuck somewhere, just five or ten seconds of Mark swearing while digging it free, just to show how dangerous the journey was.

All in all I think I enjoyed the movie more because I read the book beforehand, they fit well together.

Fandom ships don't always make sense, and if you want ATG fic these two are the most convenient, I suppose. I thought Beck/Johanssen were very cute in the book.

Many people requested either the book or movie for Yuletide, I'm looking forward to the fic :)

[yuuago]

Hmm, this reminds me that I've been meaning to read that book... Thanks for the reminder. :D
(Film's been gone from here for a while, alas, but I suppose I can wait...)

[schneefink]

You're welcome! Unfortunately it has no actual martians, but no book is perfect ^^

[myrdschaem]

I've only watched the film but that makes me curious (again) about the book. Have to decide whether to get ebook or physical, I guess!

[schneefink]

I hope you like it :) They had it in the library here, that was convenient.

[dhampyresa]

The Martian was great! Thanks for the recs, too. I'll look at them later.

[schneefink]

I hope you enjoy them :)