Difference between revisions of "1536: The Martian"

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''The Martian'' is based on {{w|The Martian (Weir novel)| a book of the same name}} by {{w|Andy Weir (writer)|Andy Weir}}. The book is very popular for its funny writing, great cast of characters, and skilled use of realistic science to create drama. The plot is ­a cross between ''{{w|Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13}}'' (but on Mars) and ''{{w|Robinson Crusoe}}''.
 
''The Martian'' is based on {{w|The Martian (Weir novel)| a book of the same name}} by {{w|Andy Weir (writer)|Andy Weir}}. The book is very popular for its funny writing, great cast of characters, and skilled use of realistic science to create drama. The plot is ­a cross between ''{{w|Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13}}'' (but on Mars) and ''{{w|Robinson Crusoe}}''.
  
The title text is a reference to a particular part of the novel's story: The astronaut stranded on Mars has previously established communications with Earth by repurposing the {{w|Mars Pathfinder|Pathfinder}} probe that NASA landed on Mars in 1997. While working on another piece of equipment, he accidentally subjects the probe to an electrical short-circuit, destroying its electronics and "bricking" it.
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In ''Apollo 13'' (a film based on a true historical event), the astronauts of the title space mission find themselves in a damaged spacecraft. One issue the crew faced was a buildup of carbon dioxide. In order to resolve the issue, the crew needed to find a way to attach a square-shaped air-cleaning cartridge from the command module to the circular receptacle of the lunar module. In one brief scene, the {{w|mission control}} staff gather together a box of items equivalent to what the crew would also have onboard and sit down with the mandate to figure out how the astronauts can connect the two with the items available to them. In that case, the ground crew took on the task of trial and error given the availability of backup supplies in case they damaged or destroyed some of the supplies. Once a working solution was devised, specific instructions were relayed to the astronauts. Cueball suggests that ''The Martian'' essentially consists primarily of the type of problem-solving showed in that scene.
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In the final panel, White Hat wonders how a novel based on that kind of seemingly cerebral and procedural problem-solving became a big-budget film starring Damon. big-budget films are generally action films with a great deal of special effects and action sequences likely to draw big audiences (to recover equally large box office returns). Matt Damon has become is high-profile big-budget star known for action films like the {{w|Bourne (film series)}|''Borne'' film series}}.
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The title text is a reference to a particular part of ''The Martian''s story: The astronaut stranded on Mars has previously established communications with Earth by repurposing the {{w|Mars Pathfinder|Pathfinder}} probe that NASA landed on Mars in 1997. While working on another piece of equipment, he accidentally subjects the probe to an electrical short-circuit, destroying its electronics and "bricking" it. "{{w|Bricking}}" is a neologism in respect of consumer electronics which essentially means to cause an electronic device to become non-functional, and essentially no more useful than a "brick". The term is commonly used in respect of an unrecoverable failure of {{w|software}} and often a corruption of {{w|firmware}}. An unexpected "bricking" can be very surprising, and in a case where the item is critical, could be devastating.
  
By the reference that the movie is going to be a big budget movie staring Matt Damon, there is an implication that the movie is going to be less cerebral and more action-oriented than the book.
 
  
 
==Transcript==
 
==Transcript==

Revision as of 17:54, 10 June 2015

The Martian
I have never seen a work of fiction so perfectly capture the out-of-nowhere shock of discovering that you've just bricked something important because you didn't pay enough attention to a loose wire.
Title text: I have never seen a work of fiction so perfectly capture the out-of-nowhere shock of discovering that you've just bricked something important because you didn't pay enough attention to a loose wire.

Explanation

Ambox notice.png This explanation may be incomplete or incorrect: Stub
If you can address this issue, please edit the page! Thanks.

This comic refers to this trailer for The Martian, which was released the on Monday 8th June. This is the first comic after the release of that trailer. A teaser "viral" trailer had been released the previous day. The film is starring Matt Damon (of Interstellar) and directed by Ridley Scott (of Alien). The film is due to be released in the United States on November 25th, 2015. (At the time of writing, no other release dates are listed.)

The Martian is based on a book of the same name by Andy Weir. The book is very popular for its funny writing, great cast of characters, and skilled use of realistic science to create drama. The plot is ­a cross between Apollo 13 (but on Mars) and Robinson Crusoe.

In Apollo 13 (a film based on a true historical event), the astronauts of the title space mission find themselves in a damaged spacecraft. One issue the crew faced was a buildup of carbon dioxide. In order to resolve the issue, the crew needed to find a way to attach a square-shaped air-cleaning cartridge from the command module to the circular receptacle of the lunar module. In one brief scene, the mission control staff gather together a box of items equivalent to what the crew would also have onboard and sit down with the mandate to figure out how the astronauts can connect the two with the items available to them. In that case, the ground crew took on the task of trial and error given the availability of backup supplies in case they damaged or destroyed some of the supplies. Once a working solution was devised, specific instructions were relayed to the astronauts. Cueball suggests that The Martian essentially consists primarily of the type of problem-solving showed in that scene.

In the final panel, White Hat wonders how a novel based on that kind of seemingly cerebral and procedural problem-solving became a big-budget film starring Damon. big-budget films are generally action films with a great deal of special effects and action sequences likely to draw big audiences (to recover equally large box office returns). Matt Damon has become is high-profile big-budget star known for action films like the [[wikipedia:Bourne (film series)}|Borne film series]].

The title text is a reference to a particular part of The Martians story: The astronaut stranded on Mars has previously established communications with Earth by repurposing the Pathfinder probe that NASA landed on Mars in 1997. While working on another piece of equipment, he accidentally subjects the probe to an electrical short-circuit, destroying its electronics and "bricking" it. "Bricking" is a neologism in respect of consumer electronics which essentially means to cause an electronic device to become non-functional, and essentially no more useful than a "brick". The term is commonly used in respect of an unrecoverable failure of software and often a corruption of firmware. An unexpected "bricking" can be very surprising, and in a case where the item is critical, could be devastating.


Transcript

[Cueball is sitting at a desk using a computer and White Hat walks in.]
Cueball: Ooh, trailer for The Martian!
Whitehat: What's that?
Cueball: Movie of a book I liked.
Whitehat: Should I read it?
[Cueball pivots on chair and turns away from computer to face Whitehat.]
Cueball: Depends. You know the scene in Apollo 13 where the guy says "we have to figure out how to connect this thing to this thing using this table full of parts or the astronauts will all die?
Whitehat: Yeah?
[Cueball pivots on chair again and resumes using computer while talking. White Hat looks at his smart phone.]
Cueball: The Martian is for people who wish the whole movie had just been more of that scene.
Whitehat: How on earth did that become a big-budget thing with Matt Damon?
Cueball: No idea, but I'm so excited.


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Discussion

I'm too ẞ qwertz (talk) 05:46, 10 June 2015 (UTC)

It's clearly a trap. Matt Damon will try to kill them. 141.101.98.155 11:46, 10 June 2015 (UTC)

I've found the scene from Apollo 13 Cueball is referencing: [[1]] Dahooz (talk) 12:39, 10 June 2015 (UTC)

Thanks was just asking for this in the incomplete mark. Then I noticed you had posted the link. It is now part of the explain. And it is also a great explanation of that the scene by TheHYPO. Seems complete to me now. --Kynde (talk) 19:04, 10 June 2015 (UTC)

The 'official' explanation says that "...the plot is ­a cross between Apollo 13 (but on Mars) and Robinson Crusoe."  So is this a remake of — or have anything else in common with — the cheesy 1964 sci-fi classic "Robinson Crusoe on Mars"? RAGBRAIvet (talk) 17:03, 10 June 2015 (UTC)

Looking at the synopsis on both, the only difference I see is that the old one has a monkey. I didn't like the movie knowing Matt Damon was in it. Now it is just worse. 108.162.238.172 02:52, 11 June 2015 (UTC)BK201


If memory serves, the Apollo 13 CO2 canister fix included some duct tape. 173.245.52.77 23:20, 11 June 2015 (UTC)

That seems entirely logical. I would think that duct tape is something any space journey should include. -Pennpenn 162.158.2.221 04:37, 12 June 2015 (UTC)
And a towel! 173.245.53.151 11:43, 13 June 2015 (UTC)
Also the cover torn off the flight manual. 108.162.238.155 13:29, 12 June 2015 (UTC)
I just finished reading the book. Watney raves about duct tape after talking about how NASA can spend money improving everything except duct tape. He manages to fix air leaks and stuff with it. tspilk (talk) 15:06, 12 June 2015 (UTC)
There is an improvement over duct tape, it's gaffer tape. Always carry them both and engage in a lengthy technical discussion when people assume they are the same thing. Ralfoide (talk) 16:32, 14 June 2015 (UTC)
It's funny that duct tape has so many uses that it's surprising when someone actually uses it to repair a duct. Despairbear (talk) 01:56, 5 August 2015 (UTC)

Just saw the movie, and it is really great. Now I think I have to put the book on my x-mas wish list ;-) --Kynde (talk) 19:53, 10 October 2015 (UTC)


I was on the phone with my mother the other day, and mentioned this strip to her. She said that scene was her favorite scene out of every movie she's ever seen. Will X (talk) 02:57, 5 February 2016 (UTC)