1. SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, BUILDING AND DESIGN
THE DESIGN SCHOOL
FOUNDATION IN NATURAL BUILD ENVIRONMENT
NAME: PUI CHUN SHIAN
STUDENT ID NO: 0323470
FILMS SELECTED: THE MARTIANAND X-MEN: THE LAST STAND
WORD COUNT: 739
ENGLISH 2 (ELG 30605)
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT 1: COMPARE – CONTRAST ESSAY
LECTURER: GOPIGHANTAN MYLVAGANAM
SUBMISSIONDATE: DECEMBER 4TH
2015
2. The two movies that I’m going to compare their similarities are “The Martian”
directed by Ridley Scott and “X-Men: The Last Stand” directed by Brett Ratner. “The
Martian’s” movie genre is science while “X-Men: The Last Stand’s” movie genre is
fiction. The Martian is about an astronaut called Mark Watney, who was presumed
dead after a fierce storm on Mars and was left behind by his crew. But he survived
and strive to survive by finding a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. X-Men: The
Last Stand is basically about a war between X-Men, led by Professor Charles Xavier
and a band of powerful mutants, led by his former ally, Magneto.
One of the similarities of both the movie is that they both have and innovate
their technologies. Mark Watney was stranded on Mars and he had to survive until
his comrades rescue him. Lucky for him, he had all the equipment needed to plant
potatoes. He was able to innovate a machine which generates water vapour which
constantly provide water for the plants. As what Matt Damon (2015), who played the
role as Mark Watney said, “If I want water, I’ll have to make it from scratch.
Fortunately, I know the recipe Take hydrogen. Add hydrogen. Burn”. Besides that, he
also innovated the truck to carry all the necessary things for him to travel to his
escape point. In X-Men, Professor Charles Xavier was the founder and the creator of
the mutant academy. He innovated his academy to train and help mutants to
understand how their power works. Other than that, the X-Men’s team together
innovated their own warship before the war started.
Another similarities is that both movies involve helping people in need and
willing to make sacrifice. In Martian, Mark Watney’s comrades found out that he was
alive and stranded in Mars. They had a choice to return to Earth and wait for their
next mission to rescue Mark but instead they all decided to divert their ship’s
direction back to Mars and spent another 5 years in outer space. Even though they
have limited supply of food, water and fuel, they were willing to risk it just to save
him. In X-Men, they all thought that they lost their friend, Jean but she was still alive.
Jean lost control and decided to join the enemy force. Even if it would cost the X-
Men’s life, they were willing to do that as well. As what Hugh Jackman (2006), who
played Wolverine in the move, said, “I’m not your father. I’m your friend”.
Both the movies also have characters with the same personality. Mark
Watney did not giving up hope to return back to Earth. As what Mark Watney (2015)
in the movie said, “I’m not going to die here”, which shows that he still wants to
survive this. He invented a device which can provide water to the potatoes so that he
have sufficient amount of food supply until the rescue team arrives. Wolverine also
did not giving up hope trying to bring back Jean to the way she was before. Even
though she hurt him and his comrades, he did not even try to take her down. During
the war, the X-Men were outnumbered. They had lost the Professor and Scott but
they will still fight so that everything they stood for would not die together with them.
3. As what Hugh Jackman (2006) said, “Then we stand together...X-Men, all of us”. But
in order to save her from destroying the world, he chose to end her life.
Finally, both the movies have happy ending. Mark Watney in the end was
rescued by his friends and he was brought back safely to Earth. After some times, he
was seen to be healthy and regained his normal weight again. He even became a
lecturer and teach students and share his experiences on Mars. For X-Men, the
world became much more peaceful. The war was so chaotic that many mutants and
even humans died which include Jean as well. Even if Jean died, the X-Men
remembers her the way she was before she became evil.
In conclusion, both movies are worth to watch. I think that the both the movies
taught me some moral values. For example, we must not give up easily in pursuing
our goals. As what Abraham Lincoln once said, “ I am a slow walker, but I never walk
back”.
