CREDIT: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION (2015)
The Martian is worth the watch with believable acting, strong directing and a well-researched plot line.

Based on a novel by Andy Weir, The Martian is the story of one man trapped on Mars after being left for dead by his crew. As those on Earth discover his survival and struggle to find ways to bring him home, Mark Watney — played by Matt Damon — must find a way to stay alive in a hostile environment.

A great deal of time and effort was put into researching this movie, and, although the science isn't always accurate, the few discrepancies can be forgiven in light of everything The Martian gets right. It is very easy to forgive a too-severe windstorm, overly difficult water extraction and lack of bouncing steps in a movie that manages to show the slow damage of malnutrition and accurate mathematics regarding space travel.

Not only is the movie well researched, it is also well directed. This may be the best movie on Ridley Scott's resume — a resume that includes Alien, Hannibal and Black Hawk Down. Every song is perfectly timed and every scene is framed with intention. Scott's attention to detail is incredible and the only real complaint may be that the film feels, at times, a bit too optimistic.

A great deal of credit also has to go to the actors. Matt Damon may be the star of the show, but he is far from alone in talent and dedication to his role. Jessica Chastain in particular is supreme in her role as the mission commander Melissa Lewis, struggling under the weight of irrevocable choices.

This isn't to say the rest of the cast was poor; the problem is that each performance was really beyond reproach. From Jeff Daniels, playing the cold bureaucrat, to Chiwetel Ejiofor, playing the overly honest scientist, every casting choice was well made. The only performance that seemed a bit off was that of Donald Glover, but this is more due to him being cast in an odd, awkward role than anything he has actual control over.

While the entire movie has great qualities, perhaps its greatest quality is the message of hope and wonder it gives. The Martian represents all of the best of humanity: cooperation, exploration, endurance and innovation. Every person in the film is portrayed as being intelligent and capable, as being the best the world has to offer, and there's something incredibly refreshing in a movie that shows these ideals.

So often the world seems jaded and cynical, and so many movies lately have reflected this.

In The Martian, we get a great change of pace. Instead of another sad story of hate and fear, the audience gets treated to something that holds out hope that we can be more; that we can conquer whatever the universe throws at us if we ignore the impossible and work hard enough.

Overall, this is a movie that's hard to criticize. With incredible direction, amazing acting and NASA- approved science, The Martian does a great job of keeping the audience entertained.