![\"matt-damon-the-martian\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/524\/2015\/08\/matt-damon-the-martian.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOver at Angelus News<\/em>, the online version of The Tidings<\/em>, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I did a piece on the new film \u201cThe Martian,\u201d<\/a> due out Oct. 2. Directed by Ridley Scott, it stars Matt Damon as an astronaut left for dead during a Mars mission, who must struggle to survive until a rescue mission can be launched.<\/p>\n The assembled press was shown about half of the still-unfinished film, and I got a very pleasant surprise. Then when I dug a little deeper, the surprise got better and better.<\/p>\n Hollywood loves to use Catholic symbols and characters, but it\u2019s very seldom kind or fair (or even accurate). But every now and then \u2026<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a taste:<\/p>\n In one scene, Watney needs to burn something, but fire-averse NASA insists that everything be flame-retardant. So, Watney turns to the only flammable material he can find \u2014 a wooden crucifix left behind by fellow astronaut Martinez (Michael Pe\u00f1a).<\/p>\n Watney carefully carves a few slivers off the bottom of it. Then, lying in his bunk, he looks at Christ on the cross and says (according to my notes), \u201cI figuring you\u2019re OK with this, considering my circumstances. Countin\u2019 on ya.\u201d<\/p>\n After the screening, roundtable interviews with Feustel, Green and Weir took place at nearby Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a NASA\/CalTech facility where Mars rovers are designed and built.<\/p>\n Asked about the crucifix, Weir said, \u201cIn the movie, that\u2019s the only reference to Martinez\u2019 religion. In the book, there are a few other times where he\u2019s praying. \u2026 He\u2019s supposed to be a devout Catholic.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n But there\u2019s more to it. Click here<\/a> to read the rest.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the trailer (tiny bit of mild profanity):<\/p>\n\n