The Martian

Neil deGrasse Tyson called this the most scientifically accurate movie to date, and honestly, you can feel it while you're watching. Andy Weir followed the physics almost to a tee, and the movie respects that homework instead of dumbing it down.

Yeah, it's another Matt Damon rescue mission. I'm not going to pretend that subgenre hasn't become its own running joke. But I loved every minute of this one. The guy is an incredible actor, and when you stick him alone on a planet and ask him to carry the screen, he carries it.

The rare crowd-pleaser that's also a brain-pleaser, and somehow Sean Bean walks away breathing.

The whole cast clicks. Jessica Chastain as the commander? Yup, bought it instantly. Everybody slotted into their role like they were born to play it, no weak links, no "why is THIS person in this movie" energy.

And, for once in recorded human history, Sean Bean survived a movie. I about fell out of my seat. Somebody alert the historians. Mark the calendar. This may never happen again in our lifetimes.

I caught it in a theater and I'm glad I did. The big screen made it bigger, the way Mars should feel. Walked out energized, not drained, and it stuck with me longer than I figured it would going in.

The kids were with me and they were locked in too, which is its own kind of endorsement. A movie that can hold a couple of kids' attention AND deliver real science without insulting anybody's intelligence is doing something special.

I'd watch it again tomorrow. I'd recommend it to pretty much anyone with a pulse. The rare crowd-pleaser that's also a brain-pleaser, and somehow Sean Bean walks away breathing. What a night at the movies.