Ridley Scott’s latest masterpiece, The Martian, hits the big screen this weekend. Based on the bestselling novel by Andy Weir, it tells the story of Mark Watney, an astronaut who is left stranded on the surface of Mars and presumed dead after his crew abandon their mission due to bad weather. Watney, played by Matt Damon, must adapt to his new surroundings and attempt to make contact with Earth while surviving long enough to be rescued.
To get you in the mood for The Martian, we’ve listed our three favourite Blu-rays in which humans must survive the deadly vacuum of space:
Apollo 13
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ased on a true story, Apollo 13 documents how three astronauts struggle to survive in a capsule which is severely damaged after its equipment malfunctions during a routine procedure. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Bill Paxton star as astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert and Fred Haise, who must work together to overcome odds which are stacked heavily against them in order to return safely to Earth.
A special 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray was released in May this year, featuring some exclusive HD content, including a short documentary which looks back at the making of the film.
Gravity
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pace is dangerous – everybody knows that – but imaging floating around with nothing but a spacesuit keeping you protected from the empty vacuum. This is what happens to veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski and scientist Dr Ryan Stone, who are left to drift untethered after their shuttle is destroyed in a freak accident. George Clooney and Sandra Bullock star in this epic space thriller about two people who only have each other to rely on in order to survive.
We reported earlier this week that Gravity would be re-released as a two-disc special edition this October, so it’s the perfect time to get your sci-fi fix!
Interstellar
Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar is a mind-bending look at the not-too-distant future of humanity. Earth is running out of resources, and humankind must start to look to the stars to find a new home, something which is made possible through the discovery of a wormhole which transports travellers through space and time. Former pilot and engineer Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, is selected to join a crew traveling through the wormhole. However, the journey takes the humans further than they ever thought possible, altering their lives beyond all recognition.
The Blu-ray features a wealth of special features, including almost two hours of featurettes which look at the making of the film, and a documentary in to the science behind
