From IMDB:

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney 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.

Nerds with a scientific bent will love this long (2 hours, 21 minutes) film. However, others may find this long film boring and indeed I have heard that complaint from friends. Personally I was compelled by the film, but am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I had to watch in pieces, interrupted by some lesser form of entertainment.

What takes so long? As you might expect, things do always go smoothly. During most of the film, after NASA has learned that Mark Watney is still alive and kicking, there are various schemes and efforts to rescue Mark. Each scheme involves politics such as: who tells whom what, who pays the expenses, what should the public learn, when does someone tell Mark’s former crew members? Mark is a botanist as well as a scientist of all trades who never gives up trying.

“Martian” just has to be Matt Damon’s best film, better in my opinion than “Good Will Hunting”. He has matured.

So if you enjoy scientific mumbo-jumbo, are thrilled by space travel, are a survivalist interested in growing potatoes on Mars, or any of the above, then you will enjoy this adventure.