Warning: SPOILER WARNINGS DO NOT READ if you haven't read the book or seen the movie and don't want spoilers!

Two hot takes from me:

I liked the book better than the movie. The movie was a lot of fun, but glossed over so much in favor of cool visuals and feel good time with the boys. I totally respect the choices and think the movie is great, I just like the book better. Think of it like a 7.5 vs 8 situation. Some details were missed that are crucial to the story I feel, but most people won't even pick up on those.

The story would have been better if Grace died in the end. The whole character arc is him being scared of dying, not wanting to go on something that is sure to be a suicide mission. He'd rather have a few decades on a dying war-torn world than try and save everyone, basically trading his life for the future of humanity. So they wipe his memory and their psychological profile says he'll do his job once he's there without any means to return. And they are totally right. But then he meets Rocky and all of a sudden has two planets to fight for, so he's very motivated at that point, even after he realizes everything that happened before. In the end he completes the missions, sends the Beatles drones ahead but tries to return to Earth himself as well. Even though there's a good chance he won't make it, as the coma life support system is kind of shit (but the best they have). We then come to the main character turning point of the story where Grace gets into some trouble but can handle it and realizes Rocky would be in bigger trouble and can't handle it. So he needs to decide to go back to Earth and give up on Rocky (who will certainly die), or try and go save Rocky but then give up on Earth and probably die himself once his life-support runs out. In the end he goes to save Rocky, thus proving he has changed and can put another life above his own. Character arc complete and we all clap. But then he doesn't die, sure there is some risk and in the book they mention the hard parts of keeping him fed and all (I loved the me-burgers), but he makes it and goes to teaching a couple of alien kids just like the good old days.

I can definitely understand the author wanting to end on a high note and doing a callback to the beginning of the book, but to me it undercuts the importance of the character change. He doesn't get his noble sacrifice and it almost seems like the risks of going with Rocky are smaller than going back to Earth. Rocky's planet is closer (IIRC) and his ship has a whole lot of tools and capabilities. Plus you have a useful companion to help solve problems. For me the decision would have been much more meaningful if he actually died.

That's one of the main criticism I have of Andy Weir in general: Problems are presented as huge and blocking, only to very soon if not immediately be solved. And this is even worse in the movies as compared to the books (Hail Mary and The Martian). There are almost no consequences ever and it all turns out good in the end. I think is is a deliberate choice and fits with the feel-good theme of the books (even though they touch on dark subjects), but to me it lessens the experience.

Bonus semi-hot take: The original character of Stratt in the book was a much better character than the one in the movie. She was one of my favorite characters in the book, but I didn't like her the movie. Also having known and worked with a lot of German and Dutch women in the past: Her role is way more fitting for a Dutch woman than a German one, I have no idea why they switched to her being German.