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Betty Jo Tucker

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· Cinema Stanzas Two: Poet Laureate of the Movies

· Cinema Stanzas: Rhyming About Movies

· The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies

· Susan Sarandon: A True Maverick

· Confessions of a Movie Addict


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· A Very Short Story

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Articles
· My Ten Favorite Movies of 2024

· Paris Christmas Waltz Review and Film Poem

· The Fabulous Four

· Twisters Review and Film Poem

· A Family Affair Review and Film Poem

· Jim Henson: Idea Man Review and Film Poem

· The Fall Guy Review and Film Poem

· Tony Shalhoub and Monk

· The Beekeeper Review and Film Poem

· The Beekeeper Review and Film Poem


Poetry
· Maria Film Poem

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· Inside the Mind of a Dog Film Poem

· Ode to Simone Biles

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· Remembering Gene Wilder

· On Being 93

· My Sister's Birthday Poem (85 Years)

· The Holdovers Film Poem

· Oscar Best Pictures of 2023

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The Martian: Film Review/Poem
by Betty Jo Tucker
Last edited: Friday, October 9, 2015
Posted: Thursday, October 8, 2015



     
Directed with considerable care by Oscar-winner Ridley Scott from Drew Goddard’s screenplay adaptation of Andy Weir’s book, "The Martian" offers space adventure to the max. But it’s the movie’s humanistic feel that won me over. Like "Gravity," the film stars one of the most likeable actors working today in the role of a character we can empathize with right away.

Matt Damon and Sandra Bullock score high on the likeability scale, so that helps us become involved in what’s happening to the people they portray on screen. And Damon also endows his stranded astronaut with a gentle – and yet somewhat sarcastic – humor that’s especially appealing. 

            

 

All alone and stranded is he.

Left behind with his misery,

an astronaut who’s presumed dead.

To survive he must use his head.

 

No one knows he is still alive

on Mars and struggling to survive.

He finds a way to contact Earth,

the far-off planet of his birth.

 

But how can he be rescued here?

Will his old crew be coming near?

And can he last until the day

they pass by Mars while on their way?

 

Suspense and space fill up the screen.

The Martian is a “must-be seen.”

It truly is adventure bold –

a tale of guts that’s so well told.

 

Matt Damon is a worthy lead.

He makes us feel his every need.

All other actors nail their parts.

We see their fears and know their hearts.

 

Plus, planet Mars looks very real.

And getting home? That’s the BIG deal!

 

Kudos to cinematographer Dariusz Wolski (Pirates of the Caribbean), composer Harry Gregson-Williams (X-Men Origins: Wolverine); production designer Arthur Max (Gladiator), and all the talented special/visual effects artists and technicians who worked on this memorable film. Seeing it in 3-D should be an extraordinary experience, especially the daring space rescue sequence. Because my eyes can’t adjust to 3-D, I saw the digital version and was wowed by it, but I can imagine how much more powerful the 3-D might be. 

  

The fine supporting cast includes Jessica Chastain, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Michael Peῆa, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Donald Glover, Nick Mohammed, Chen Shu, Eddy Ko and Mackenzie Davis. Each one deserves recognition for a job well-done.     

 

The Martian deals with such universal themes as survival, compassion, friendship, the importance of intelligence, scientific/technological know-how, cooperation, perseverance and hope. It’s definitely a movie that matters. 

 

We do not live to think, but, on the other hand, we think in order that we may succeed in surviving. – José Ortega y Gasset

 

(Released by 20th Century Fox and rated “PG-13” for some strong language, injury images, and brief nudity.)

 

Review also posted at ReelTalk Movie Reviews.

Web Site: ReelTalk Movie Reviews


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Reviewed by m j hollingshead
Reviewed on October 13, 2015

sounds an interesting film, enjoyed your review

Reviewed by - - - - - TRASK
Reviewed on October 9, 2015
10-9-2015



No One Said Did It Better Than 1950s Ray Bradbury'

Martian Chronicles...



Evil Humans Cannot Take Care Planet Earth Literally

Millions Homeless, USA Children Starving Being

Killed Raped Maimed To Death...Really Who Cares About

Foreign Countries Whence We Cannot Take Care

Of Our Own Kind?? We Are Not World Saviors

As Psycho Pope All Gold $$$ In Vatican Would Pay

For Cloth, Feed Sustain All Poor In This

Evil World!!



Just W T F Makes Man Think Life On Other Planets

Will Save Himself Whence His F--king GREED MONGERING

$$$---Lie$ Has Already Destroyed Planet Earth...



TRASK...




Reviewed by Ronald Hull
Reviewed on October 9, 2015
The Martian is on my "must see" list along with Gravity. Having written about the difficulty of trying to stay alive on the surface of Mars (as realistically as I could), I welcome those extraordinary special and visual artists interpretation of the real thing.

A modern-day Robinson Crusoe, these kinds of survival stories like the Castaway, have a certain humanity about them that makes them very attractive. Unfortunately, books and cinema are quite timid about portraying adventures that stranded people and ended in death instead of rescue.

Ron


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