Ridley Scott's new film The Martian is a hit, grossing nearly $60 million dollars in its first week. This is good news for fans of sci-fi, and makes up for Scott's Prometheus train wreck.
The film, which realistically depicts an astronaut's struggle for survival on the red planet, may just be a little too realistic for today's slack-jawed, mouth breathing, smart phone-addicted American. Many people supposedly think The Martian is based on a true story. Despite the fact that, you know, no human being has ever set foot on the planet Mars.
We're very near the end of civilization.
You guys do know that The Lord Of The Rings isn't an historical drama, right?
I'm betting the confusion lies in the fact that the film is based on the 2011 best selling book by Andy Weir. People hear "based on the novel" and interpret it as "based on the harrowing true life tale of astronaut Mark Watney, who, after being stranded on Mars, used his scientific knowledge, training and wits to survive for over four hundred days until a rescue ship arrived." It's an understandable mistake.
The same thing happened in reverse back in 1997, when audiences were stunned to learn that The Titanic was based on a true story and not the brainchild of writer/director James Cameron.
Just for the record, if anyone I know thinks The Martian is a true story, I can no longer be seen in public with you.
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