Andy Weir’s sci-fi book The Red Planet Survival Story was an immediate hit following its publication during 2014, even with its acclaim, it was an odd choice as a high-cost movie project. Originally self-published, the novel relies extensively on the inner thoughts belonging to the astronaut-botanist and technician the character Mark Watney while he meticulously explains about how he survives once left behind on Mars through cultivating potatoes and dismantling pieces of vintage space agency rovers. Dialogue is sparse in the text and abundant with clarifications about molecular interactions.
Still, helmer Ridley Scott and scribe Drew Goddard delivered a captivating film titled The Martian, that debuted a decade back on Oct. 2, 2015. Matt Damon perfectly embodies what makes Watney such a compelling protagonist: the way his can-do attitude along with technical jokes banish the existential dread facing circumstances where his likelihood for making it are minimal. Much as the original story, the film presents highly realistic sci-fi, packed with humor and thrills. Still, the production team was forced to introduce a few compromises for the screen, allocating additional scenes to the NASA personnel trying to save Watney, and adding more action to the climax. And those changes came at the expense from two of the finest sections from Weir’s original novel.
A Tale Centered on Survival Math
The Martian is a story about calorie counting. Watney fixates on the quantity of sustenance necessary to stay alive, while NASA tries to figure out how to get him more. Once a mishap wipes out Watney’s potato farm and a rapidly put-together space-bound supply delivery explodes post-takeoff, Watney’s only hope becomes a rescue mission by the crew that unintentionally departed without him.
Both the book and movie make it clear that this plan, which involves the astronauts aboard Ares III slingshotting around the Earth and heading back to the red planet to save Watney, is highly dangerous. Still, the author creates a stronger link regarding the perils encountered by the entire team.
The Dark Emergency Measure
The ship needs to catch its assigned cargo vehicle to obtain adequate supplies and liquids to make it to Mars and back. In case of failure, the astronauts maintain a dark backup scheme: everyone except for computer specialist the character Beth Johanssen (acted by Kate Mara) would kill themselves. Beth, selected as the only one to live, due to her youth and petite size, would eat her crewmates to survive. When the Ares III does get the supplies, the relieved crew jokes about the order in which Beth would have dined on them. This represents rather dark comedy, thus it’s clear why it was removed, however, I value the plot’s precision in making every character confront with the cruel nature of survival in space. It further shows their willingness to perish for one another, beyond just aiding Watney.
The Dramatic Silence Period
The cinematic rendition likewise excludes the most suspenseful part of The Martian to allocate additional runtime toward the saving endeavor elements that unfolds off-planet. Within the novel, Watney forfeits his means to talk to the space agency, leaving him to his own devices through the concluding segment of the plot. Watney must then travel to a craft designated for an upcoming Martian expedition. That voyage is threatened by a dust storm that will prevent his vehicle’s power cells from energizing and ultimately trap him. NASA knows the storm is coming, but is unable to notify him. They are kept in tense expectation to determine if the astronaut will deduce what’s happening and adjust his plans, or if all of the work they did for his recovery will become futile.
Again, it’s not surprising this part was cut from the movie. Continuous communication involving Watney and others increases the picture’s liveliness. However, I still somewhat desire that the directors had been slightly bolder and trusted Damon to maintain segments where he battles the environment solo, while the secondary characters are positioned in an analogous position to the viewers: ineffectively praying for a positive outcome.
Expecting New Cinematic Versions
Goddard is returning to Weir’s work through a film version of his 2021 book Project Hail Mary Tale, scheduled for 2026 under the direction of filmmakers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Similar to The Martian, the narrative centers on a lone space traveler employing his expertise and creativity to stay alive. Ryan Gosling is set to take on a similar character to Damon’s: a screen star engaging enough to maintain multiple isolated shots while landing Weir’s idiosyncratic humor. I hope that adaptation is as good as The Martian, but either way, it’s well worth reading the book to discover what gets lost in adaptation.
