5 Surprises of 2015

2015 is coming to an end! And to end the year, let's take a look back at a few of the surprises from the past year in the realm of movies, TV, and Geekdom at large!

Daredevil is Marvel's Best Story of the Year

Marvel might have sent us the Avengers and Ant-Man this year, but none of their big screen heroes could match the high quality and brutal storytelling of Netflix's Daredevil. Capitalizing on the uncensored violence and grim tone that Netflix allows, Daredevil set a new standard for comic book storytelling on the small screen. If Marvel and Netflix can continue this type of success with future projects, we may have a new frontier for Marvel to dominate. For more about Daredevil, please read my full review here.

The Martian: Sets New Standard for Realistic Sci-Fi

While many were hyped after reading the book, having no knowledge of the hype surrounding it, The Martian came as a huge surprise to me. Realism and science-fiction do not go together all that well, and somehow, The Martian was only relatively accurate according to scientific theories, but it was one of the best sci-fi films of the past decade. Excluding sci-fi fantasy like Star Wars and Marvel, The Martian is a true gem in one of my favorite genres. For more about the Martian, please read my full review here.

Spider-Man Joins the MCU

After years of teasing us with speculation and rumor, Sony and Disney finally decided to let Spider-Man join the MCU! Tom Holland as Spider-Man is set to cameo in Civil War next year and Jon Watts will direct his first solo flick for 2017. Considering the difficulties both studios have had over the years, who would have expected Sony to finally agree to a deal? Granted, after the simi-failure of The Amazing Spider-Man 2, this is definitely the best option for the studio at this point, and of course, the fans are certainly pleased!

Man in the High Castle Proves that Amazon Prime is Legit

After falling behind to Netflix for years in quality original content, Amazon Prime's adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novel of the same name proved that Amazon Prime can deliver worthwhile television if they try. While The Man in the High Castle had its flaws with some pacing issues and a lack of focus, overall, it showed us a terrifying world of what life could have been like if the Axis Powers won WWII. Thankfully, the series made up for its issues with stellar acting, high production value, and a fascinating and frightening exploration of the "What If."

One-Punch Man: Best Superhero of the Year

Marvel and DC might be battling it out for the top superhero in cinemas, but over in Japan a little 12 episode TV series, titled One-Punch Man, about an average guy named Saitama turned superhero with the ability to win any battle with One-Punch flipped the superhero genre on its head. While the concept sounds boring, in practice, it is an ingenious comedy with some of the most insanely awesome action sequences in animation. If you like superheroes, you should check out the most fun superhero adventure of the year, which you can watch on Hulu for free (click here).

What surprised you this year? What were some of the highlights of the year for you? Please comment below and let me know!

Note: I have yet to see Star Wars. However, chances are, by the time you are reading this, I might be in the theater watching it.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

The Martian Review

"Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship..." Wait, that's the wrong space exploration franchise. Ah, yes, today I review, The Martian, Ridley Scott's latest feature film starring Matt Damon, Sebastian Stan, Sean Bean, and many other exceptional actors that is based on the bestselling novel of the same name.

Space exploration, as a story concept, fascinates me. And yet only a few stories manage to make realistic space travel entertaining. Does The Martian reach the heights of the other stories in the genre, such as Space Brothers?

If you are lucky enough to have not seen The Martian’s trailer, avoid it completely. Thankfully, my brother watched it first, and warned me, so I never saw it. Unfortunately, that trailer spoilers a great part in the movie that should have never seen shown in a trailer. 

Directed by: Ridley Scott
Genre: Sci-Fi, Drama, Survival
Release Date: October 2, 2015
Running Time: 141 minutes
MMPA rating: PG-13

The Good: MAcGyver meets space science, Pitch perfect tone, Great sense of humor, All-star cast nails it, "Science the s--t out of this," References to pop culture creates a sense of realism, Likable cast of characters, Geeky references, Grounded and realism characters, Memorable quotes, Realistic technology, Completely invested me in the characters and consequences,

The Bad: One special effects scene at the end is a little off (in 2D),

Plot: 9.0/10- The Martian's plot is relatively straightforward: Mark Watney is stranded on Mars and must figure out how to contact earth and return home. However, in practice, the plot is always moving forward in a realistic manner. Mark is continually confronted with problems, and he solves them with science and ingenuity. That is one of the strongest aspects of the film because he "MAcGyvers" his way out of a variety of tight situations.

On the flipside, half of the film takes place on earth as NASA's scientists and engineers work to get Mark back. Switching between both settings keeps the pace moving, and while the film is not exactly an exhilarating ride, it is a well paced and entertaining journey from start to finish. And thanks to the brilliantly lighthearted tone and humor sprinkled throughout, the movie never drags, despite the 141 minute runtime.

Thanks to the strong, The Martian made me care about what was happening. Each time Mark figured something out, it was a genuine cheer worthy moment, and when it all hits the fan, I wondered how he could possibly get out of situation! The film is an emotional rollercoaster without feeling cheap or sappy.

Lastly, according to scientists at NASA, The Martian is heavily grounded in real science, and despite having little knowledge myself on the subject, The Martian’s attention to detail is apparent because it feels so real. All of Mark’s actions are logical and smart. He is a well trained astronaut and he acts like one.

Characterization: 9.2/10- Mark Watney is the protagonist of the film, and what makes him a great character is that he is just a typical guy in a bad situation. If you watched certain movies, you might think that NASA astronauts are ill prepared for the potential of death and isolation. However, in reality, the candidates are carefully chosen and put through rigorous physical and psychological tests to determine if he or she is fit for space travel, and Mark Watney acts exactly what you would expect from a well trained and prepared astronaut. And unlike 95% of survival movies, particularly space related ones, the protagonist's sole motivation to live not the typical sappy, albeit sometimes effective, reason like a daughter or girlfriend. Instead, he is driven by the will to live, and yet that makes him incredibly relatable and likable. He makes jokes, references to pop culture, and is a generally good guy. In fact, all of the characters in the film seem like real people in the real world. No one is driven by a dark past or some other convoluted reason.

Direction: 8.5/10- Ridley Scott is an exceptional director; one of the best in film history, and he does not disappoint with The Martian. With that said, The Martian does not look particularly special. Everything looks excellent all the time, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with the direction. And yet, it does not do anything especially noteworthy, although, is that really a flaw?

Acting: 9.8/10- The Martian's cast is insane! Matt Damon is the perfect "everyman" as Mark Watney. He gives the character an identifiable charm that makes it impossible to not like him.  If there is a weak link, it could only be Jessica Chastain, because some of her dialogue delivery is a little stiff. Otherwise, every single cast member from Chiwetel Ejiofor to Sean Bean is as good as it gets.

Special effects: 9.2/10- Mars looks excellent! Never for a moment do you question that he is actually on Mars. The set and costume design for the futuristic spacesuits and technology is grounded in reality and practicality. My only minor complaint is that one scene towards the end looks a little off. Otherwise, great job all around.

Soundtrack: 8.0/10- Harry Gregson-Williams delivers an all around solid score. It is rarely noticeable while watching the film, but it contains several strong tracks while listening to it on its own. The use of 70s disco music is always an added bonus because that was hysterical!

Humor: 8.7/10- Now this is where The Martian absolutely killed it because its sense of humor creates the perfect tone. In real life, people make jokes in tense and serious situations; that is how we cope. And that is exactly what the dialogue captures. Sprinkled brilliantly throughout are quick lines that make you laugh, even if the situation is dire. The constant bits of realistic humor keep the pace from dragging.

Entertainment Value: 9.8/10- The Martian presses all the right buttons for me. Typically, these types of movies are a one-time experience, and yet I want to rent The Martian on Blu-Ray and watch it again!

Overall: 9.1/10- The Martian does everything right. From the relatable characters to MAcGyver-esque problem solving, The Martian is exactly what a space survival drama should be! It takes a concept that could be slow and monotonous and makes it feel real, without being depressing. The Martian is one of the best sci-fi films in recent years, and if you have any interest in space or science, you would be doing yourself a disservice by missing out on this exceptional film.

Closing comments: If The Martian is not nominated for several Oscars, including Best Picture, the Academy is insane! Granted, we know that already....

Recommended for: Space fans, Popular Science subscribers, Sci-fi fans Matt Damon fans, Ridley Scott fans, Drama fans, Anyone that wants to watch a great movie, Space Brothers fans, Fans of any cast members

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If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

The Martian Trailer Review

The first trailer for the upcoming film The Martian is here, and it is certainly intriguing. The Martian stars Matt Damon and is coming to theaters this November. In The Martian, a storm strands an astronaut, Mark Watney, on Mars. He is believed to be dead, but desperately tries to contact help. The trailer reminds me a lot of Interstellar mainly because of Matt Damon and the spacesuits look very similar. Essentially, it looks like Castaway meets Interstellar, and with talent like Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien) and Drew Goddard (Daredevil, Cabin in the Woods) behind the project, this should be a slamdunk!  Unfortunately, the trailer appears to spoil the entire film, including the Final Act. So, if you do not want to be spoiled, watch the first minute and stop. Unless this is a misleading trailer, The Martian is another case of trailers spoilering a film’s plot. It is becoming a far too common trend, so do not spoil it for others in the comments. Do you plan to see the film? What did you think of the trailer? Please comment below and let me know! And check back next week for my review of Interstellar.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.