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l i f e s t y l e TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2015 M u s i c & M o v i e s Review This photo released by 20th Century Fox shows Matt Damon in a scene from the film, ‘The Martian.’ — AP photos Actors Kristen Wiig, left, Kate Mara and Sebastian Stan attend a special screening of ‘The Martian’ during the New York Film Festival on Sunday in New York. Damon charms as stranded astronaut in ‘The Martian’ ithout Matt Damon, the solitary fight for survival prolonging his survival, knowing it could be years before a Watney is alive. As NASA spokeswoman Annie Montrose (a stream readers would be interested at all,” he said. With on Mars would be lonely indeed. Alone on screen manned spacecraft returns to Mars. He puts his skills as a miscast Kristin Wiig) scrambles to protect the agency’s Scott at the helm and Damon leading the cast, “The Wfor most of his scenes as an astronaut stranded on botanist and engineer to work, devising a way to grow public image, the men strategize how to bring the strand- Martian” is accessible and beautiful, cinematically and intel- the red planet, the Oscar-nominated actor is the winning crops in the arid soil and make water by burning hydrogen. ed astronaut home. “The Martian” unfolds in three settings, lectually. heart of Ridley Scott’s epic space adventure, “The Martian.” He rewires old equipment from a past Mars mission in all spectacularly realized by production designer Arthur Even though it’s a big Hollywood production, Watney’s With Damon’s charm center stage, Scott has crafted an hopes of communicating with NASA. Max. There’s life on Earth, set inside NASA’s sterile Houston survival really does seem in question, and audiences will exciting, hopeful story about humanity at its best: The headquarters and the lively Jet Propulsion Laboratory; and want to join the international crowds on screen in cheer- brightest minds working together for a common goal that Sleeping quarters life on Mars, a dusty, red, rocky expanse where nothing ing for his rescue. “The Martian,” a 20th Century Fox bridges international borders and forges a feeling of unity. Watney is curious and talkative, keeping himself compa- lives (which filmmakers actually found in Jordan). Then release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association Affable and intelligent, playful and determined, Damon’s ny by narrating his every move. He tracks his obstacles and there’s life aboard the film’s elegant spacecraft, from the of America for “some strong language, injury images, and Mark Watney is so endearing and entertaining as a narrator progress in daily video logs. He chats to himself in footage rugged rover Watney uses to explore Mars to the brief nudity.” Running time: 141 minutes. Three and a half and subject, it’s easy to see why the world would want to from the helmet cam in his spacesuit, cracking jokes he Enterprise-inspired ship that carries his fellow crewmem- stars out of four. MPAA Definition of PG-13: Parents save him. The story begins with Watney accidentally left knows no one can hear. Seeing his efforts through various bers and their commander, Melissa Lewis (Jessica strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate behind during a NASA mission to Mars. camera perspectives - the helmet cam, a bunk cam inside Chastain). for children under 13. — AP When a fierce storm forces an emergency evacuation his sleeping quarters, a dashboard camera inside his space from the planet, he disappears in the chaos and is pre- rover and the video diaries where he appears to talk direct- Hollywood production sumed dead. He isn’t, of course, and as his fellow astro- ly to the audience - adds visual interest, though Damon Unlike other recent big-screen space trips, the science nauts mourn him during their months-long journey back would probably be just as magnetic talking to a hand-held here is presented simply enough that no suspension of dis- to Earth and NASA officials struggle with how to explain his camera in an empty room. belief or quantum leap through the time-space continuum death to the public, Watney wakes up, injured and alone. Meanwhile, NASA director Teddy Sanders (Jeff Daniels is necessary. It all seems plausible, and author Andy Weir, But he’s incredibly optimistic and resilient. He fixes his at his most clinical) and Mars mission chief Vincent Kapoor upon whose novel the film is based, insists it is, calling it “a wound with minor surgery and immediately goes about (Chiwetel Ejiofor) learn through satellite photos that technical book for technical people.” “I had no idea main- Jackie Chan’s ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ begins shooting in Dubai irector Stanley Tong has commenced principal photog- “We are very excited to welcome Jackie Chan and the team raphy at Dubai locations on “Kung Fu Yoga.” The film, to Dubai,” Jamal Al Sharif, chairman of Dubai Film and TV Dstarring Jackie Chan, is the first under the China-India Commission said. “The UAE is becoming an increasingly popu- co-production agreement that was signed in September 2014. lar destination for Hollywood and Bollywood productions, and Filming will conclude on Oct 30 and is expected to shoot at the filming of ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ in Dubai is another major boost Indian locations at a later schedule. The film is a co-produc- for our film industry.” Justin Lin’s “Star Trek Beyond” is another tion between China’s Taihe Entertainment and Shinework high profile international production that will shoot soon in Media, and India’s Viacom 18. the United Arab Emirates. UAE production services company AlKatraz Productions is Viacom 18 is a joint venture between US media con- handling the Dubai shoot logistics and the film has the sup- glomerate Viacom and India’s Network 18 Group. Taihe runs port of the Dubai Film and TV Commission. Some 100 interna- several film, television and music production companies in tional crew members as well as local crews are involved in the China. Shinework produces world cinema programs for the production that will feature several car chases. “We are greatly China Movie Channel and plays an assisting role for the looking forward to filming parts of ‘Kung Fu Yoga’ in Dubai, State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and the locations we have selected perfectly complement the & Television and the Film Bureau to promote interna- scenes we are shooting here,” Tong said. “Dubai’s iconic sky- tional cultural communication between China and the scrapers and attractions are recognized around the world, and world. — Reuters we are excited to work closely with Dubai Film and TV Commission to ensure an enjoyable and successful filming time in Dubai.” In this image released by Sony Pictures, Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Philippe Petite in a scene from, ‘The Brazil Rock in Rio Walk.’ — AP ‘The Walk’ earns its keep with spectacular third act an a great third act make a great film? Conventional wis- towers gleaming in the background. Though most likely know dom would say no. It’s silly to spell out, but beginnings the outcome, this post game voiceover strips away some of Cand middles are important, too. But if you’re going to the inherent drama, and looks fairly cheesy, too. That’s why it’s nail one section, the end isn’t a bad place to start. The audi- such a relief when the coup begins in earnest. Everything ence leaves invigorated, and, in a best case scenario, has takes a turn for the dramatic - even the music. Beyond the already forgotten the slog it took to get there. “The Walk,” a fic- walk itself, the joy of the third act comes not from trying to tionalized rendering of Philippe Petit’s 1974 high-wire stroll comprehend the why, but in documenting the how of it all. between the World Trade Center towers, doesn’t entirely dis- The energy even gets an adrenaline boost when James Badge prove the rule, but it certainly makes a seductive case. Dale enters the frame as JP, a magnetic, French-speaking New Director Robert Zemeckis and cinematographer Dariusz Yorker who brings an authentic levity and vitality to the film Wolski have made a truly extraordinary and breathtaking 40 not a minute too soon. minutes of cinema, preceded by a mostly forgettable, cloying- ly whimsical hour and change. Cinematic purpose The stunt, which the gang refers to as “the coup,” is one for Clement Sibony stands out in the supporting cast as Petit’s the cinematic ages. Zemeckis and Wolski take the camera to closest ally, and Ce0sar Domboy is fun, too, as a math whiz Katy Perry performs at the Rock in Rio music festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. — AP photos unprecedented angles to make you feel like you are really who’s deathly afraid of heights. Le Bon, though lovely and standing between the 110 story towers. It’s an undeniable, restrained, gets eaten by the over-the-topness of everything sweaty-palmed thrill walking above the clouds with Petit else. The band of weirdos trope starts to wear thin, too, even (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt), full of tension and triumph. though the caricatures are somewhat true to real life. “The A-HA performing on The final sequence could have been enough for a film, but Walk” isn’t nearly as elegant, grand, or informative as James the last day of Rock in “The Walk” is more conventional than it might seem. It lan- Marsh’s 2008 documentary masterpiece “Man on Wire,” but Rio Music Festival - Rio guishes for too long on origins of Petit’s obsession with wire- that doesn’t make it redundant or unnecessary -”The Walk” de Janeiro.

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