The new trailer for The Martian runs the gamut of emotions–hope, fear, tension, humor, it is reaching for the heart. And, it works. There is a real sense of story here, enough to give viewers an idea of what the movie will be like.
There are some familiar tropes here–how many times does a team not run off to save their own? How many times have the authorities given them permission to do so? But there’s a lot of potential here as Mark Watney (Matt Damon) struggles to survive on a hostile planet and his crew tries to figure out how to reach him.
The official synopsis for The Martian:
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 a best-selling novel, and helmed by master director Ridley Scott, THE MARTIAN features a star studded cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Kate Mara, Michael Peña, Jeff Daniels, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Donald Glover.
