I just watched both. Star Wars at the cinema and The Martian on my home theatre. I think I should have done it the other way around.
I'm a big Star Wars fan, but mostly it's nostalgia from youth. The Episode 1-3 films were dire IMHO.
Then along comes The Martian. I know they're completely different films, but the chasm in quality I thought was incredible. Seeing them so close together reinforced that.
JJ Abrhams made some awesome films with the latest Star Trek series, especially the first "Star Trek" with Eric Bana as the villain and Leonard Nimoy in his final film performance. The film with Cumberbatch as villain was also superlative in this genre.
In contrast, Star Wars The Force Awakens was a real let down. The nostalgia was terrific with Solo and Leia and the CGI top notch - but who really cares about CGI now and what would a new generation of viewers benefit from nostalgia that doesn't exist? The plot was recycled from Episode IV, the characters were stereotypes, there was no explanation of how this new Dark Lord arose and we were left with an all too predictable start to Ep VIII.
The Martian on the other hand dealt with pure grit, human ingenuity, suspense, drama, character development and humour. Even the technical aspects of space looked plausible like in 2001 A Space Odyssey. What a film - even with the predictable ending. I'd love to see a film like that end with the star's death just at the end, rather than cheesy success. When I have seen that it is far more powerful. Sad but powerful.
What are your experiences of these films?
I read the book (well, listened to a copy of the audiobook) for The Martian a year ago. It's ten times better than the movie. All the science is explained, his thought processes are detailed, it's a ripper of a yarn.
The movie was a bit "meh" in comparison, there was none of the problem solving that happened in the book. Just a bit of "Rah rah USA" as Sasquash mentioned. If you liked the movie, read the book. It's fantastic.
As for Star wars, it just felt to me like the new director had sat down and watched all 6 movies, and thought "Yeah I'll grab that bit, grab this bit out of that one", and then stitched them all together. There didn't seem like there was anything new in there. Sadly, without George Lucas at the helm, we're headed for a long line of franchised "same same" films, with no end in sight.
"Gravity", for all its flaws, was at least original, not just another horror movie that happened to be set in space.
Loved all the above films chuck it on neutral jump on the ride awsome movie just out Dead pool
The lengths the guy goes to to get a new login. 
As for 'pure state propaganda' - isn't almost every Hollywood blockbuster? Most of us can see through that and enjoy it for the story. 
I enjoyed Gravity to an extent, but it lost me when Clooney was being sucked to Earth by gravity while Bullock was not. Just too many unbelievable moments after another.
I call that Sandra Bollocks.
Also astronauts in suits don't just jet pack around space stations listening to country music. It's far too expensive for recreation.
Thanks for the tips on the book. I'll give it a read.
I have not seen the Martian but if its another "USA USA" movie where the USA government is wonderful then I'm not going to watch it.
Have to agree with Adriano's take on the Force Awakens. There were times it pulled on the heart strings, I felt it when R2D2 met the red soccer ball robot. However the lack of originality with the plot was absolutely breath taking. Plus the who lack of suspense and completely inane sequences such as the baddie taking his mask off when interrogating the girl. Why did he take the mask off after she asked him to do it and why does he wear the mask in the first place? Its not like he needs it to breath like his grandfather.
People criticise episodes 1 to 3 but at least they had a bit of originality.
Actually in The Martian the USA fails to send it's own rescue mission and turns to China for help. It's not what some people say at all. There's no political grandstanding from politicians like ID4 and cracks appear in NASA's hierarchy. I thought it was balanced and not overtly pro USA. There's been far worse.
Yeah Eps 1-3 had plenty of originality but the dire plot and characters took away from that I thought.
i really liked the new starwars, but i agree with all the above. i don't think the raptar-thingy / pirate scene was needed (bit cheap, silly and over the top?) and all a bit un original overall.
it's great when a movie gets made about a great book or existing great script
it's worrying when a director says "i want to make a movie about such and such- go get someone to write me a story and script" like what we got with prometheus, the force awakens and others. it usually ends up half-baked
stupidly, like i did with prometheus, i unfortunately followed the forums that discussed the movie production which speculated what would be in the movie, and unfortunately the ideas and guesses that fans were coming up with were better than what ended up in the actual movie. There were a lot of cool things that everyone thought were a sure thing that got left out. I wonder if they'll put it in 8 & 9?
