Phil sees THE MARTIAN from Twentieth Century Fox-December 6, 2015

Can someone please explain to me why this country (and Hollywood) keeps spending millions of dollars on saving Matt Damon? He was first saved by Tom Hanks and his platoon in 1998 Steven Spielberg film SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Then he had to rescued again in that other film a couple of years ago. Now in 2015, Damon must be resumed again, but this time he's stranded on the red planet of Mars. And thanks to the legendary director Ridley Scott, THE MARTIAN is now one of my favorite films of this year.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

The film's official synopsis: During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return.

Based on the 2011 Andy Weir novel of the same name and adapted into a screenplay by Drew Goddard (THE CABIN IN THE WOODS, CLOVERFIELD, WORLD WAR Z), the film is a true testament of the power of film. It connects us on a basic human spirit. It can take us anywhere in time and space. Lastly,  film is universal. It tells us stories that we can all relate to. Plus having Ridley Scott, one f the most prolific and important directors of all time, in the directing chair, one can see how he incorporates all these aspects beautifully in each and every single frame. There is no shot wasted; every single scene is a word that tells the story of the human spirit overcoming adversity, taking whatever life throws at you and never giving up on yourself.

Matt Damon is phenomenal in the film, but I loved about the film were all the supporting characters that made the story move forward. Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Benedict Wong, and the rest of the cast help propel the film forward by providing fun, interesting and sometimes eccentric characters that make the film come together.

Seeing as how this is a science fiction film and this particular genre requires special effects and CGI, I am proud to say that it looks amazing! Having bad CGI can ruin a film and it takes me out of it (TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN is a perfect example of this). Now the film is being screened in both 3D as well as 2D. My fiancee and I along with our friends saw the 2D version, which was fine by us. Some people I've spoken with loved the 3D effects but, to me, the whole 3D experience is kinda played out. Now it feels more like a marketing ploy to help sell their film. It doesn't matter to me much. The film has an all-star cast, one the best directors in the world and a great story. What more do you need?

THE MARTIAN is one of the best films of 2015 and I cannot recommend this film enough. It truly is an outstanding piece of cinema that you all need to see on the big screen. Because of the fast turn over of movies being released on Blu-Ray and DVD, this film won't be in theaters for very much longer so go see this movie now! 5 out of 5 stars!! Highly recommended!!

THE MARTIAN is currently playing in theaters nationwide. Check your local listings and theater to see if it's playing near you!

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the show!