• About
  • Masthead
    • Editorial Board
  • Advertise
  • Join Us
  • Archives
The Wellesley News -
  • News
    • No image
      Performance at Punch’s Alley prompts confusion, safety concerns
    • No image
      UniLAd plans to support the local teacher union
    • No image
      Survey results reveal need for mental health support at colleges
    • News in Brief
    • Senate Report
  • Features
    • EnAct and YDSA hold crochet-in for climate action
      EnAct and YDSA hold crochet-in for climate action
    • Professor Cindy Ok Awarded Yale Younger Poets Prize
      Professor Cindy Ok Awarded Yale Younger Poets Prize
    • Trans non-binary runner talks about activism in running
      Trans non-binary runner talks about activism in running
    • Alumnae Spotlight
    • Faculty Focus
  • Opinions
    • It’s hard to not love ChatGPT
      It’s hard to not love ChatGPT
    • Under the “friendly” and “earthy” facade, Trader Joe’s hides unethical practices
      Under the “friendly” and “earthy” facade, Trader Joe’s hides unethical practices
    • Job insecurity for student workers has complex consequences
      Job insecurity for student workers has complex consequences
    • Staff Editorial
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Arts
    • Rio Romeo releases single “Over & Over”
      Rio Romeo releases single “Over & Over”
    • Dolly Parton confirms “Rock Star” collaborations
      Dolly Parton confirms “Rock Star” collaborations
    • MFA opens visiting exhibit “Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence”
      MFA opens visiting exhibit “Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence”
    • Books Before Boys
  • Sports and Wellness
    • No image
      What even is a BORG and why does it matter?
    • Indoor Track & Field Team Prepares for Outdoors
      Indoor Track & Field Team Prepares for Outdoors
    • What even are BORGs and why do they matter?
      What even are BORGs and why do they matter?
    • Athlete of the Month
  • The Wellesley Snooze
    • Top ten times feminism led us astray
      Top ten times feminism led us astray
    • Song Victims
      Song Victims
    • How to: Prep your Preschooler for the College Application Process
      How to: Prep your Preschooler for the College Application Process
By Tiffany Chen Arts, ReviewsFebruary 3, 2016

The Martian offers refreshing, realistic take on epic sci-fi genre

Photo courtesy of Forbes.com

Six astronauts struggle in the midst of a red sandstorm, attempting to make their way to from base to the rocket. With their arms linked together in order to keep everyone close, they struggle to reach their only method of transportation available to fly them home.

Suddenly, a gust of wind sends a large disc hurtling towards one of the astronauts, sending him away from the team. As reluctant as they are to abandon a fellow team member whose death they cannot even confirm, the team eventually manages to gather the remaining members into the ship and safely return home.

The lost astronaut is Dr. Mark Watney, portrayed by Matt Damon, a botanist who accompanies a team of NASA astronauts in exploring and gathering data on Acidalia Planitia on Mars. The movie title, “The Martian,” thus refers to Watney himself, of his struggles and determination to maintain morale and hope that he will eventually be rescued from an isolated planet located far from planet Earth.

Though some consider “The Martian” as essentially an iteration of other recent space travel films like “Gravity” and “Interstellar,” which also features Matt Damon stranded on a foreign planet, I would argue the opposite. “The Martian” is a movie with a unique message that is realistic and thus applicable to real life in contrast to “Interstellar” and “Gravity,” which are not. “Interstellar” includes elements of the supernatural, in that the protagonist, Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), travels through a wormhole created by fifth dimensional beings and is presented with the opportunity to bend time in order to communicate with his past self.

Though “Gravity” does not play with the concept of the supernatural, it is a movie that provides only one perspective. Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) is a biomedical engineer who, due to a fatal explosion caused by an ambush of debris, becomes the sole survivor of the team who had been sent to space to perform repairs on a space telescope. The movie then focuses on her attempts to both survive and make her way back to planet Earth.

Yet “Gravity” does not shed light on the situation back on planet Earth. With the communication cut, NASA has no light on the calamity brewing in space. In fact, it seems that NASA itself does not play a role in the movie.

In contrast, “The Martian” involves Watney, stuck on Mars; his crew, travelling through space; and the NASA and others on Earth. “The Martian” shows that space travel is a team effort. Every single person in the team and in NASA plays a crucial role in determining the fates of the astronauts. In addition, each person is emotionally connected to the project: upon realizing that Watney is indeed still living, the entire NASA team participating in the project immediately leaps to their feet to try and make contact with Watney. The movie portrays the emotions of every single individual ranging from nervousness, desperation and even exhilaration at the moment that contact was made.

“The Martian” portrays an ideal model of teamwork and life. Teamwork is a central theme of the film. If not for the the strong bond of teamwork and family connecting the astronauts together, Watney’s rescue would not have been possible. The joint effort and determination to rescue Watney despite seemingly impossible odds is integral to fulfilling the goal. In the end, “The Martian” is a visually stunning portrait of collaboration.

Share on

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Google +
  • LinkedIn
  • Email
Previous articleRejected songs on Sia’s “This Is Acting” shine through her soulful vocals and moving lyrics
Next articleNetflix challenges the film and television industry’s status-quo

You may also like

Rio Romeo releases single “Over & Over”

Dolly Parton confirms “Rock Star” collaborations

MFA opens visiting exhibit “Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence”

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

COPYRIGHT © 2023 THE WELLESLEY NEWS
Back to top