Based on the novel by Drew Goddard and Andy Weir, The Martian is a captivating movie about an astronaut, named Mark Watney (Matt Damon) who is left on a hostile planet after a severe dust storm nearly kills his entire crew on a manned mission to Mars. As Mark Watney is pierced by flying debris and is unable to return for the launch back to Earth, the crew assumes his death. Without the crew knowing, Mark Watney survives and is forced to embrace various survival methods using applications of math, science and botany. Afterwards he finds an ingenious way to communicate with NASA experts such as Vincent Kapoor (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels) and the world. As food and water supplies are set to be exhausted far before the next scheduled mission four years away, the stranded astronaut counts the Mars “sol” days before his predicted death and is determined to fight to live.

The Martian is a gripping and tense survival film of entrapment and escape, which is suitable for all people and will have you intrigued and biting your nails. It incorporates the humour of an astronaut stranded and alone, at a tremendous 55 millions of km away from home. 8 out of 10 for Riddley Scott’s The Martian.

Nil Heinz and Ana López

During a manned mission to planet Mars, astronaut Mark Watney, played by the gifted Matt Damon, is believed to be dead after a fierce Martian storm and is left behind by his crew. Not long after, the audience is shockingly surprised to find out that Watney has survived, and is alone on the hostile red planet. However, life on Mars comes with its difficulties: the astronaut has meagre supplies so he is forced to make use of his botanical studies to subsist. Afterwards, he finds a way to communicate with his fellow colleagues at NASA and signal that he’s alive. On Earth, thankfully, international experts from USA and China work together to bring “the Martian” home safe and sound.

Mark Watney’s crew is composed by Commander Lewis (Jessica Chastain), Beth Johanssen (Kate Mara), Rick Martinez (Michael Peña), Chris Beck (Sebastian Stan) and Alex Vogel (Aksel Hennie). This film also stars Jeff Daniels as Teddy Sanders, the director of NASA, and his team members: Vincent Kapoor (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Bruce Ng (Benedict Wong), Mindy Park (Mackenzie Davis) and Rich Purnell (Donald Glover).

All in all, The Martian is a one of a kind must see science fiction movie that intricately embeds thought-provoking science, real controversial decision-making, and futuristic science applications humans have yet to develop. It captivates the audience and maintains the suspense with its controversial decision-making in space. I give this film 5 stars!

Martina Doria and Sílvia Meler

Macbeth is the story of a fearless warrior and inspiring leader brought low by ambition and desire. A thrilling interpretation of the dramatic realities of the times and a reimagining of what wartime must have been like for one of literature’s most famous and compelling characters, a story of all-consuming passion and ambition set in war torn Scotland.

Micheal Fassbender stars as the title character (Macbeth) in Jusin Kerzel’s version of Shakespeare’s play which is set in Scotland, alongside Marion Cotillard as his ambitious wife (Lady Macbeth). Marion Cotillard is very effective as Lady Macbeth and has no problem with the accent and understanding Shakespeare. This is not the case for Micheal Fassbender since this is his first attempt at Shakespeare and he struggles with fulfilling the role. Additionally, due to the early modern English used by the actors and the abstract ideas presented in the film, it can be very hard to follow. The complicated plot can cause the audience to lose track of events.

Everything here is so perfectly in tune with itself – the bruised landscapes, the uniformly outstanding supporting cast, which includes Paddy Considine as a stolid, wary Banquo and Sean Harris as a wraithlike Macduff – that you might expect the film to feel a little self-contained like Game of Thrones with an arts degree. In fact, it’s the opposite: raw, visceral and contagious, its poetry gets in your bloodstream. All in all, Macbeth is a well put together film full of early modern English and abstract ideas that may lead the audience to confusion.

Group 2;

Silvia, Luis, Claudia and Charlotta

This film based on Shakespeare’s tragedy and noir-thriller includes an impressive performance of Michael Fassbender as the main character MacBeth, a warrior noble-man and as his ruthlessly ambitious wife, Marion Cotillard representing lady MacBeth, who form the film’s dream-team pairing. Fassbender perfectly acts out Macbeth’s outbursts of anger and Marion Cotillard does a spot-on performance of the manipulative wife. David Theulis makes an excellent rendition of King Duncan,  who has a short yet charismatic appearance. To round off this outstanding cast, there is Sean Harris who plays anguished MacDuff.

As for the settings and the language, even though they remain un-updated (the action takes place throughout Scotland in the Middle Ages) they are impressive as the vast green fields can be seen in most of the scenes, with some scenes in interior spaces like tents or palaces. Nonetheless, the language can be difficult to understand at times, this makes the film more realistic but harder to engage with.

After hearing about the prophecy of the three medieval witches, Lady MacBeth persuades her husband to commit regicide. Consequently, MacBeth becomes the King of Scotland and rules like a tyrant. He gets rid of his enemies and those that oppose his kingdom. Near the end of the film, Lady Macbeth starts to regret her husband’s actions and decides to commit suicide. After her action, MacBeth confronts his biggest opponent, but gets killed in the action. Malcolm, Duncan’s son, is now the new King.

Macbeth is a film that can only be completely understood by experts who understand the Scottish accent and Shakespearian English. It is indeed particularly difficult to keep up with but the main themes can be easily appreciated. Macbeth is a film that should be seen once in a lifetime to appreciate a glimpse of Shakespeare’s masterpiece.

Group One: Ana, Martina, Nil, Lluisa