Of course John Carter is a long way from flawless, but it is also not that bad but you wouldn't think so looking at its box office failure, its reputation and also how terribly marketed it was. Sure the plot is thin as ice in places with scenes that go on for far longer than they needed to, and it is also predictable and with the odd convoluted part, with the many logical lapses not helping in its favour. Particularly at the end, which gave off a sense that the film didn't know how to end itself. The script is uneven too, a fair bit of it is actually quite intelligently handled with some entertainment and suspense but there are other points where the dialogue does make one cringe and you do wish you learnt more about the characters and that the romance wasn't so disjointed and forced. John Carter however does look incredible, the backdrops and scenery are bursting with colour and detail and don't look fake at all and the special effects are equally impressive and not cartoony at all, they are at least well modelled and move easily. Michael Giaccino's music score is outstanding being full of bombastic energy and sweeping intensity, doing all that while fitting with the action and not swamping it. There is plenty of action and it is action that is a feast for the eyes and choreographically is very well-executed, the best of them dazzlingly so. Of the characters, the most enjoyable one was Woola, a very cute and very funny dog creature- the CGI for the character is very well done and some of the best of the film actually- that children and adults alike will take a shine to. Andrew Stanton, considering that his field is more in animation and that the crew for John Carter is so huge, had a very daunting task and does so bravely, though with the odd understandable occasion where he seemed out of sorts with the live actors. While the story may not be the greatest, John Carter shouldn't be taken too seriously, it was intended to be harmless family fun and is so and it has an earnest, old-fashioned approach that works and in keeping with the source material. The performances are not bad at all, Taylor Kitsch does start off for a while ill at ease and over-serious but once he relaxes he does make for a likable hero. Lynn Collins is both feisty and human, and the supporting cast all make an effort to make much of little with Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong(in a role that suits him to a tee) and Ciaron Hinds being the most successful. In conclusion, not flawless by any stretch of the imagination but far from a disaster either. 7/10 Bethany Cox
833 Reviews
Simple but Fun
Tweetienator27 September 2021
Not a fantasy masterpiece but I like it - John Carter got some fantastic settings, some good action and even some funny moments. Yes, the main body of the story is rather a simple one but anyway the ride makes fun and is entertaining. I should add that I never read one of the original stories written by Edgar Rice Burroughs (note to myself: read one), so it is possible that readers and fans of the original stories, like some other reviews indicate, may be disappointed by the movie adaption.
how bout that!
Sh31kh_H0kv523 June 2021
What source of magic is this,i can't feel my body am i numb i cant stop shouting this is too good.
Never judge a movie by its poster cause i never felt that coming like whow.
Ahh i really enjoyed and engaged well with this movie as for time it was well spent here.
Never judge a movie by its poster cause i never felt that coming like whow.
Ahh i really enjoyed and engaged well with this movie as for time it was well spent here.
Go watch this!
Agnelin8 April 2012
If you haven't yet, what are you waiting for to go watch "John Carter"? Grab your kids, grab your boyfriend or girlfriend, your spouse, your parents, your friends and run to the nearest theatre where they're showing this. For you can watch "John Carter" being any age, and in any company, and have a good two-hour cinematic joyride.
It doesn't matter that it has reportedly failed at the box office (but then, failure is relative, isn't it? It all depends on how high the expectancies were raised). "John Carter" is a great movie, and I hope it will have a fruitful second life upon DVD release and in other forms. It doesn't matter that Mars doesn't hold almost any interest for human fantasy anymore as it did back in Edgar Rice Burroughs's time. It doesn't matter that the plot isn't perfect and that the movie sometimes reminds us a little too much of "Avatar", what with the interspecies romance, the seemingly hostile environment and creatures then turned into allies (or not!), the ecologic, Earth-loving message. It has lots of adventure, love, humor, and enough symbolism to get the point in just one viewing and walk out of the theatre with a smile in your face. The characters -the good guys and gals, that is- are all good-looking, well-spoken, brave, smart and funny. And the bad guys also make a good point in the story -perhaps the most intriguing, most modern message of them all. And the cast is really gold, especially the more minor characters (it has Dominic West, by God!).
In summary, please, do yourself a favor and watch "John Carter". At worst, you won't find it anything special, but I trust you won't be bored.
It doesn't matter that it has reportedly failed at the box office (but then, failure is relative, isn't it? It all depends on how high the expectancies were raised). "John Carter" is a great movie, and I hope it will have a fruitful second life upon DVD release and in other forms. It doesn't matter that Mars doesn't hold almost any interest for human fantasy anymore as it did back in Edgar Rice Burroughs's time. It doesn't matter that the plot isn't perfect and that the movie sometimes reminds us a little too much of "Avatar", what with the interspecies romance, the seemingly hostile environment and creatures then turned into allies (or not!), the ecologic, Earth-loving message. It has lots of adventure, love, humor, and enough symbolism to get the point in just one viewing and walk out of the theatre with a smile in your face. The characters -the good guys and gals, that is- are all good-looking, well-spoken, brave, smart and funny. And the bad guys also make a good point in the story -perhaps the most intriguing, most modern message of them all. And the cast is really gold, especially the more minor characters (it has Dominic West, by God!).
In summary, please, do yourself a favor and watch "John Carter". At worst, you won't find it anything special, but I trust you won't be bored.
More fun that you might think it is
kosmasp31 May 2012
I actually have no idea why it didn't make any money in America. You can't predict those things. But the studio made up for that with the international Box Office results. Plus when the DVDs and Blu Rays hit the stores, I imagine there will be a win margin for the studio, so all will be good (in time).
I won't get into any 3D discussion. You actually don't really need it in any movie. Do I still watch them? Yes, I do. But kudos to directors who stand their ground and say no to it (as does Zack Snyder). But a movie is not better or worse because of the 3D (Clash of the Titans may be an exception to that rule, because it might have been quite watchable, if not for that awful 3D conversion). This movie too, is silly family fun, that has some nice aliens, some bad aliens and a hero you can root for. If you don't take it too seriously then, you might have fun watching it
I won't get into any 3D discussion. You actually don't really need it in any movie. Do I still watch them? Yes, I do. But kudos to directors who stand their ground and say no to it (as does Zack Snyder). But a movie is not better or worse because of the 3D (Clash of the Titans may be an exception to that rule, because it might have been quite watchable, if not for that awful 3D conversion). This movie too, is silly family fun, that has some nice aliens, some bad aliens and a hero you can root for. If you don't take it too seriously then, you might have fun watching it
Pleasantly Surprised!
cakemixed9234 January 2020
It's a great movie. I'm not sure why it didn't make more money or get a sequel. It has a great storyline, good acting, beautiful visuals. It was well written and just altogether a great movie. You won't be disappointed.
Loved it
compugor4 May 2019
Jumpin' John, delightful Deja, hoardes of Tharks and an awesomely loyal quicksilver monster dog were just some of the wonderfully entertaining elements of this sci-fi extravaganza. Did I mention that Lynn Collins as princess Deja is delightful?... like daaaaaayum! Includes 19th century earth culture (New York City and Virginia) via teleportation for additional flavor. Bravo.
Jumping on Mars Seems Like a Lot of Fun
aaronjbong17 March 2012
Who is John Carter? John Carter is a Civil War veteran who gets transported to Mars (or Barsoom, as they say) using a mysterious device (a medallion). There, he grabs the attention of four-armed, green, 15-feet creatures (known as Tharks) due to his superhuman jumping skills (thanks to the lower gravitational force present in Mars). There, he gains some recognition and is forced to be involved in a series of battles, all part of a war between the city of Helium and Zodanga, as well as decide the fate of the planet.
Now that you've met John Carter, let's introduce you to Mars/Barsoom, the "Red Planet".
Barsoom is where the film takes place. It's similar to Earth (Jasoom)in ways but also different in other ways. There's oxygen (as John Carter is able to breathe normally, although he might have inhaled some other type of gas), and there's water (in the form of rivers and lakes, but no oceans). However, organisms who inhabit the planet are driven by blue blood, not red Earth blood. There's a smaller gravitational force present (which allows not only John Carter, but any other Earthling to jump like Superman). There are no plants, no sign of botany. And they speak a different language, however John is able to understand the Barsoom language due to a special drink. And the best part: there are two moons.
Barsoom, compared to Earth is much more technologically advanced. There are futuristic flying ships present, artistic buildings, and flying bikes (something like that). It's definitely more advanced than us. But for some reason, their fashion is just ancient (John Carter is shirtless for most of the time in Barsoom), and most of the landscape is deserted, empty. The sort of games they play is what the Romans played back in Caesar area: gladiatorial games. (There's one entertaining scene in particular for that.) Disney has spent $250 million on this film and marketed it aggressively. However, the trailers didn't give provide anything interesting and didn't gain audiences' interest, therefore gained a weak opening weekend gross. Put that aside, "John Carter" is actually dazzling, entertaining, and very fun to watch. The fantasy themes intertwine with science-fiction elements perfectly. It is just marvelous.
With the production budget of the flick reaching $250 million, the visual effects of the film is incredible. The sets, and creatures of the planet were very realistic and very jaw-dropping. The one action scene I liked the most was the gladiatorial game held in the land of the Tharks where Carter, Sola (a Thark), and Tarkas (another Thark) had to fight against two monstrous, giant-sized, eyeless, white apes. And the 3D: the 3D effects here were worth noting and recommended.
The outstanding special effects lead to the amazing, and widely entertaining action sequences. John Carter uses his swords as his weapon and does swordplay against the inhabitants of Barsoom. The inhabitants of Barsoom are no match for John Carter, regardless of their weapons and fighting skills, thanks to Carter's extraordinary jumping skills and outstanding sword-fighting skills. John Carter is just invincible and too strong for Barsoomians.
However, there was some problem with the storytelling as it was not able to tie up loose ends. In the middle of the film, we encounter this power source or something, the ninth ray. It seems like something special, something revolutionary, something vital to the story. But then, there's not a trace of it later on. What's happened to it? What's the significance of this power? What is it capable of? Nothing.
The actors' performances were satisfying enough. Taylor Kitsch is a very suitable John Carter and gives a satisfying performance, although not Oscar worthy. The beautiful Lynn Collins plays the role of the Martian Princess Dejah Thoris with style and determination. The other supporting cast also did well. Some of the characters who appear in CGI have also been given outstanding voices by the talented supporting cast.
Anyone who loved "Avatar", or "Star Wars" would definitely enjoy this flick. It offers a blend of fantasy and science-fiction and is perfect for audiences of all ages. The children will love the technology incorporated, the older kids will clamor the dazzling special effects, and the adults will enjoy the love story and action scenes.
Rating: 7/10
Final Verdict: "John Carter" is a film that offers a perfect blend of fantasy and science-fiction accompanied with satisfying performances and spectacular visual effects.
Now that you've met John Carter, let's introduce you to Mars/Barsoom, the "Red Planet".
Barsoom is where the film takes place. It's similar to Earth (Jasoom)in ways but also different in other ways. There's oxygen (as John Carter is able to breathe normally, although he might have inhaled some other type of gas), and there's water (in the form of rivers and lakes, but no oceans). However, organisms who inhabit the planet are driven by blue blood, not red Earth blood. There's a smaller gravitational force present (which allows not only John Carter, but any other Earthling to jump like Superman). There are no plants, no sign of botany. And they speak a different language, however John is able to understand the Barsoom language due to a special drink. And the best part: there are two moons.
Barsoom, compared to Earth is much more technologically advanced. There are futuristic flying ships present, artistic buildings, and flying bikes (something like that). It's definitely more advanced than us. But for some reason, their fashion is just ancient (John Carter is shirtless for most of the time in Barsoom), and most of the landscape is deserted, empty. The sort of games they play is what the Romans played back in Caesar area: gladiatorial games. (There's one entertaining scene in particular for that.) Disney has spent $250 million on this film and marketed it aggressively. However, the trailers didn't give provide anything interesting and didn't gain audiences' interest, therefore gained a weak opening weekend gross. Put that aside, "John Carter" is actually dazzling, entertaining, and very fun to watch. The fantasy themes intertwine with science-fiction elements perfectly. It is just marvelous.
With the production budget of the flick reaching $250 million, the visual effects of the film is incredible. The sets, and creatures of the planet were very realistic and very jaw-dropping. The one action scene I liked the most was the gladiatorial game held in the land of the Tharks where Carter, Sola (a Thark), and Tarkas (another Thark) had to fight against two monstrous, giant-sized, eyeless, white apes. And the 3D: the 3D effects here were worth noting and recommended.
The outstanding special effects lead to the amazing, and widely entertaining action sequences. John Carter uses his swords as his weapon and does swordplay against the inhabitants of Barsoom. The inhabitants of Barsoom are no match for John Carter, regardless of their weapons and fighting skills, thanks to Carter's extraordinary jumping skills and outstanding sword-fighting skills. John Carter is just invincible and too strong for Barsoomians.
However, there was some problem with the storytelling as it was not able to tie up loose ends. In the middle of the film, we encounter this power source or something, the ninth ray. It seems like something special, something revolutionary, something vital to the story. But then, there's not a trace of it later on. What's happened to it? What's the significance of this power? What is it capable of? Nothing.
The actors' performances were satisfying enough. Taylor Kitsch is a very suitable John Carter and gives a satisfying performance, although not Oscar worthy. The beautiful Lynn Collins plays the role of the Martian Princess Dejah Thoris with style and determination. The other supporting cast also did well. Some of the characters who appear in CGI have also been given outstanding voices by the talented supporting cast.
Anyone who loved "Avatar", or "Star Wars" would definitely enjoy this flick. It offers a blend of fantasy and science-fiction and is perfect for audiences of all ages. The children will love the technology incorporated, the older kids will clamor the dazzling special effects, and the adults will enjoy the love story and action scenes.
Rating: 7/10
Final Verdict: "John Carter" is a film that offers a perfect blend of fantasy and science-fiction accompanied with satisfying performances and spectacular visual effects.
A Nutshell Review: John Carter
DICK STEEL28 February 2012
John Carter is about 100 years old. The creation of writer Edgar Rice Burroughs, he predates even Tarzan, another Burroughs' creation, and is set in the planet of Mars, or Barsoom in Burroughs-speak in what would feature an early planetary romance, complete with fantasy, swords and sorcery. At least that's what's on the plate in the series of books that helped inspire countless of other writers and other sci-fi fantasy stories both in print, and film. So in essence there isn't much that would surprise you in the original source material that featured Burrough's fictional self as well (played by Daryl Sabara), and Andrew Stanton's adaptation is fairly lacklustre from plot to action sequence, that a wave of familiarity will sweep your consciousness as you try to tune into the strange civilizations thrust upon you.
Predominantly based on the book "A Princess of Mars", the narrative adapted by Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews and even Michael Chabon failed to ignite that sense of swashbuckling adventure involving a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War, our titular hero John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who found himself inexplicably transported to Mars when out and about his second career of gold prospecting in Virginia. Throw in what you will from Dances with Wolves to Avatar involving being that proverbial fish out of water, and you get what the first hour is all about. Picked up by green skinned Martians with six limbs known as the Tharks, John is enslaved to fight for the Tharks given his super-human abilities scientifically blessed upon him due to Mar's lesser gravity, and soon rises to become one of their folk heroes, christened Dotar Sojat.
But that's not before getting himself tripped up in the civil war between the red skinned humanoid Martians from Helium and Zodanga, and falling in love with the scantily clad princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins) who's forced into marriage by her father to their enemies in order to see a truce. With their flying machines and intra-planetary chase, you'd wonder where George Lucas would have gotten his inspiration for the opening of A New Hope, or vice versa in how these characters got introduced. And when one gets embroiled in someone else's war, what more developing the hots for a princess who holds the key to one's return home, you know for a fact that trouble will come knocking in less time the planet orbits around the sun.
Andrew Stanton, whose previous films were the Pixar animated features Finding Nemo and Wall.E, may be inspired by fellow colleague Brad Bird's successful live action venture with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and embarked on his own franchise-potential with this live action effort. However, it's a whole new different ball game that Stanton got himself into, and will find that pacing is so key to a film, given the huge sag in the middle, unable to keep consistent pace to what had already been set up. John Carter gets everywhere and couldn't decide many times whether to play it straight, or comical. It couldn't decide whether to focus on the drama, or become that special effects extravaganza, resulting in an effects film that didn't have anything to wow, and at best was derivative.
Worse of all, John Carter didn't have direction. Objectives were scattered - one minute he's dead set on wanting to go home, while the next got persuaded in less than convincing terms to stay and interfere with the inhabitants livelihood. Here the story goes all The Adjustment Bureau in having what could be their predecessor Watchmen type headed by Matai Shang played by Mark Strong (surely his contract must have stated he must be in all blockbuster franchise potential as the key villain; he's so overused that he's getting stereotypically boring already) being that almighty Deux Ex Machina ensuring Fate gets played out like it should. And to try and force in a little romantic interlude with a backstory from Earth, didn't make the story any more emotionally appealing.
The action sequences also couldn't have been any more less interesting. Sure, John Carter exhibits space age Tarzan capabilities without the need of a vine, and has the charisma to charm all native inhabitants to be king of the Mars jungle, but alas there's nothing that will put you at the edge of your seat. Perhaps it's that century old tale that got ripped by many others already, that the filmmakers fell into the been-there-done-that pit trap and failed to ignite the big screen with originality. From space battles to Prince of Persia type battles, this film could have benefited from more creativity, especially with an ensemble cast assembled with the likes of Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton, Thomas Haden Church, Ciaran Hinds, Domic West, Bryan Cranston, and the list goes on.
What saved the movie instead was Edgar Rice Burroughs the writer and creator himself, given the literary device that he had used to tell the story. This device of having the novelized Burroughs possessing the manuscript passed onto him by John Carter, was the only saving grace of the film, giving it a thrilling finale that thankfully the filmmakers decided to keep, without which it will lack a crescendo and fall flat on its face. It's certainly primed for a franchise given the wealth of stories from the source material, but unless it promises a much better effort put in for subsequent films, John Carter will join the ranks of many literary fantasy translations for the big screens and fail to lift off.
Predominantly based on the book "A Princess of Mars", the narrative adapted by Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews and even Michael Chabon failed to ignite that sense of swashbuckling adventure involving a Confederate veteran of the American Civil War, our titular hero John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who found himself inexplicably transported to Mars when out and about his second career of gold prospecting in Virginia. Throw in what you will from Dances with Wolves to Avatar involving being that proverbial fish out of water, and you get what the first hour is all about. Picked up by green skinned Martians with six limbs known as the Tharks, John is enslaved to fight for the Tharks given his super-human abilities scientifically blessed upon him due to Mar's lesser gravity, and soon rises to become one of their folk heroes, christened Dotar Sojat.
But that's not before getting himself tripped up in the civil war between the red skinned humanoid Martians from Helium and Zodanga, and falling in love with the scantily clad princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins) who's forced into marriage by her father to their enemies in order to see a truce. With their flying machines and intra-planetary chase, you'd wonder where George Lucas would have gotten his inspiration for the opening of A New Hope, or vice versa in how these characters got introduced. And when one gets embroiled in someone else's war, what more developing the hots for a princess who holds the key to one's return home, you know for a fact that trouble will come knocking in less time the planet orbits around the sun.
Andrew Stanton, whose previous films were the Pixar animated features Finding Nemo and Wall.E, may be inspired by fellow colleague Brad Bird's successful live action venture with Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and embarked on his own franchise-potential with this live action effort. However, it's a whole new different ball game that Stanton got himself into, and will find that pacing is so key to a film, given the huge sag in the middle, unable to keep consistent pace to what had already been set up. John Carter gets everywhere and couldn't decide many times whether to play it straight, or comical. It couldn't decide whether to focus on the drama, or become that special effects extravaganza, resulting in an effects film that didn't have anything to wow, and at best was derivative.
Worse of all, John Carter didn't have direction. Objectives were scattered - one minute he's dead set on wanting to go home, while the next got persuaded in less than convincing terms to stay and interfere with the inhabitants livelihood. Here the story goes all The Adjustment Bureau in having what could be their predecessor Watchmen type headed by Matai Shang played by Mark Strong (surely his contract must have stated he must be in all blockbuster franchise potential as the key villain; he's so overused that he's getting stereotypically boring already) being that almighty Deux Ex Machina ensuring Fate gets played out like it should. And to try and force in a little romantic interlude with a backstory from Earth, didn't make the story any more emotionally appealing.
The action sequences also couldn't have been any more less interesting. Sure, John Carter exhibits space age Tarzan capabilities without the need of a vine, and has the charisma to charm all native inhabitants to be king of the Mars jungle, but alas there's nothing that will put you at the edge of your seat. Perhaps it's that century old tale that got ripped by many others already, that the filmmakers fell into the been-there-done-that pit trap and failed to ignite the big screen with originality. From space battles to Prince of Persia type battles, this film could have benefited from more creativity, especially with an ensemble cast assembled with the likes of Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton, Thomas Haden Church, Ciaran Hinds, Domic West, Bryan Cranston, and the list goes on.
What saved the movie instead was Edgar Rice Burroughs the writer and creator himself, given the literary device that he had used to tell the story. This device of having the novelized Burroughs possessing the manuscript passed onto him by John Carter, was the only saving grace of the film, giving it a thrilling finale that thankfully the filmmakers decided to keep, without which it will lack a crescendo and fall flat on its face. It's certainly primed for a franchise given the wealth of stories from the source material, but unless it promises a much better effort put in for subsequent films, John Carter will join the ranks of many literary fantasy translations for the big screens and fail to lift off.
Just a great movie
sourmanflint20 July 2012
This is not going to be a long review, there are some great reviews on here and I think they have said all I wanted and more. The thing to hold onto is that despite all the negative hype in the worldwide press, this is one heck of a great movie. I have no idea why any film studio would want to distance themselves from this film, it is fresh in a time when fresh is a very rare thing in the movies. Avatar managed it in heaps and so does John Carter. The story is grand and intriguing, the characters are solid and believable, and the CGI is so good you forget about it. This will become one of my favourite all time movies, it is up there amongst the very best of the genre.
Don't believe the hype.. this is a must see movie!!
Don't believe the hype.. this is a must see movie!!
Worse than I was led to believe.
ravenosa14 March 2012
It's been a while since I've seen such a flat fantasy film (can't really call it sci-fi). I'm thinking back to the 90's with some of the generic post-apocalyptic films we'd get. Actually, in the 80's there was "Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn" which is what I kept thinking of when watching "John Carter".
The Good: if you like explosions, things explode. There are some decently designed costumes, which would have been great in a completely different film, not about Mars.
The Bad: editing, screenplay, acting, characters, lack of rooting interest in any of the main characters, lack of rooting interest in action scenes.
The Ugly: Lynn Collins acting. She was really, really trying, but the heavy delivery with the British accent, she sounded like an extra from "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena".
I kept waiting for Lucy Lawless to walk on screen and say, "can you tone it down, it's just a Disney movie? This isn't a high school Shakespeare play!" The scenery. Was it Utah or Arizona? I'm not sure but the movie never took me to Mars.
The jumping. Oh, the jumping.
You want to understand why it failed? There are some great reviews that really analyze all that went wrong with JC, from the curious decision to open with a big, messy battle scene with establishing, well, anything. At the end of the scene, you felt like the filmmakers were saying, "we didn't know a better way to introduce the bad guys, so here ya go..." In general, motivation, drive behind any character was totally missing. Just seemed like the actors weren't really given much direction as far as who they were supposed to be.
Really sad. Terrible attempt at making a fantasy/sci-fi film. Already dated. Already a failure the moment it hit the screen. You know a film is that bad when the second you see a trailer you know it's a dud.
The Good: if you like explosions, things explode. There are some decently designed costumes, which would have been great in a completely different film, not about Mars.
The Bad: editing, screenplay, acting, characters, lack of rooting interest in any of the main characters, lack of rooting interest in action scenes.
The Ugly: Lynn Collins acting. She was really, really trying, but the heavy delivery with the British accent, she sounded like an extra from "Spartacus: Gods of the Arena".
I kept waiting for Lucy Lawless to walk on screen and say, "can you tone it down, it's just a Disney movie? This isn't a high school Shakespeare play!" The scenery. Was it Utah or Arizona? I'm not sure but the movie never took me to Mars.
The jumping. Oh, the jumping.
You want to understand why it failed? There are some great reviews that really analyze all that went wrong with JC, from the curious decision to open with a big, messy battle scene with establishing, well, anything. At the end of the scene, you felt like the filmmakers were saying, "we didn't know a better way to introduce the bad guys, so here ya go..." In general, motivation, drive behind any character was totally missing. Just seemed like the actors weren't really given much direction as far as who they were supposed to be.
Really sad. Terrible attempt at making a fantasy/sci-fi film. Already dated. Already a failure the moment it hit the screen. You know a film is that bad when the second you see a trailer you know it's a dud.
inspired work
Kirpianuscus18 July 2016
spectacular. it is the first word for define a film who gives fascinating version of well known story. but the most important ingredient is not the 3D or special effects . the key is the smart use of senses of story for a great show who could not be reduced at image. the decent job of Lynn Collins and Taylor Kitsch has an important role to give coherence and rhythm and seduction to a classic Sci Fi novel who has, in this adaptation, not only new clothes but deep respiration. the memories about lines of book are mixed with the slices of Time Machine. and all seems correct and dramatic and convincing. a fact almost essential in the front of the waves of so different Sci Fi movies. so, a real decent film with great potential to impress and create an ambitious series.
Se-quel, se-quel, se-quel...
Metacognizant13 January 2013
John Carter is an unjustly dismissed sci-fi masterpiece...grossly unjustified. What was wrong with it? Specifically, what was wrong? Pacing? It was intense!!! Coming from someone who uses this word sparingly, this movie was "EPIC". I am almost certain that time will enable objectivity, and objectivity will redeem it from the stinging taint slapped on it due to a predictably simplistic aversion to what is "mainstream" by film critics. If a studio other than Disney could have created the same film with half the budget it would have been heralded as a cinematic achievement within the sci-fi genre, but its budget was viewed as ostentatious and its production studio as childish, so it became "cool" to hate on it before anyone had even seen it.
Who makes something and how much they pay to have it made has nothing to due with the quality of what is actually produced, it may be indicative of quality or lack thereof, but the final product speaks for itself. Reviews of John Carter tell us more about film critics than the critics told us about the film. It was practically perfect. "Incomprehensible plotting"??? They laid the groundwork for the presumed sequels by deliberately leaving a few questions unanswered, which I hope they still make and answer because I loved this first one! Mars was epic, and then in the end we are reminded that the story began on Earth and the film ends stronger than I could have hoped for! An excellent story masterfully told on screen.
Who makes something and how much they pay to have it made has nothing to due with the quality of what is actually produced, it may be indicative of quality or lack thereof, but the final product speaks for itself. Reviews of John Carter tell us more about film critics than the critics told us about the film. It was practically perfect. "Incomprehensible plotting"??? They laid the groundwork for the presumed sequels by deliberately leaving a few questions unanswered, which I hope they still make and answer because I loved this first one! Mars was epic, and then in the end we are reminded that the story began on Earth and the film ends stronger than I could have hoped for! An excellent story masterfully told on screen.
Unfulfilled potential
r96sk12 November 2020
Unfulfilled potential, still narrowly liked it.
'John Carter' can feel underdeveloped and underwhelming, you could even argue it aimed to replicate 'Avatar', but there's enough there that allowed me to find a fair amount of enjoyment.
Taylor Kitsch is alright, I rate him, but a more convincing lead performance was necessary in my opinion. The rest of the cast, despite some well known names, fail to deliver anything noteworthy. Willem Dafoe works as Tars Tarkas, though only due to his distinctive voice; none of his dialogue etc. stand outs. The likes Samantha Morton, Mark Strong and Bryan Cranston give forgettable performances; arguably not their fault.
The premise has all the possibilities to be great, sadly the film fails to make their mark with it. The ending is extremely rushed, even for a 132 minute production. Visually it's good, but that's one of very few plus points - I haven't got many truth be told, but anything less than a 3* feels harsh.
'John Carter' can feel underdeveloped and underwhelming, you could even argue it aimed to replicate 'Avatar', but there's enough there that allowed me to find a fair amount of enjoyment.
Taylor Kitsch is alright, I rate him, but a more convincing lead performance was necessary in my opinion. The rest of the cast, despite some well known names, fail to deliver anything noteworthy. Willem Dafoe works as Tars Tarkas, though only due to his distinctive voice; none of his dialogue etc. stand outs. The likes Samantha Morton, Mark Strong and Bryan Cranston give forgettable performances; arguably not their fault.
The premise has all the possibilities to be great, sadly the film fails to make their mark with it. The ending is extremely rushed, even for a 132 minute production. Visually it's good, but that's one of very few plus points - I haven't got many truth be told, but anything less than a 3* feels harsh.
Deserves more recognition, shame it didn't get the marketing it deserved
mikayakatnt5 March 2020
This movie deserves more recognition but will sadly be forgotten since Disney forgot to give it a sufficient marketing budget.
John Carter is a weird movie, I'll admit that. But it introduces us to a new world and supernatural elements that we would've never thought about. The movie is a genuinely sweet love film of a protagonist trying to find those who he lost.
The world introduced (in this case, Mars) is a unique planet full of strange creatures and things that don't make sense. Does that matter? Not any more than Harry Potter or Star Wars makes sense.
The plot was well done and enjoyable to watch. The set design was fabulous.
This could have easily been a blockbuster if Disney didn't set it up for failure from the getgo.
4.5/5. Deserves more recognition.
John Carter is a weird movie, I'll admit that. But it introduces us to a new world and supernatural elements that we would've never thought about. The movie is a genuinely sweet love film of a protagonist trying to find those who he lost.
The world introduced (in this case, Mars) is a unique planet full of strange creatures and things that don't make sense. Does that matter? Not any more than Harry Potter or Star Wars makes sense.
The plot was well done and enjoyable to watch. The set design was fabulous.
This could have easily been a blockbuster if Disney didn't set it up for failure from the getgo.
4.5/5. Deserves more recognition.
Not seventy-two, but only one Virginian for Mars...
paul_haakonsen17 May 2012
"John Carter" is one amazing Sci-Fi thrill ride, taking place from the American Civil War period to the red planet Mars.
I haven't read the story upon which the movie is based, so I have no vision of how I envision it to be, nor do I have any predetermined hopes or expectations to the movie. So whether or not the movie stays true to the story I have no idea.
Now, the story is about John Carter who is a Civil War veteran who stumbles upon a cave of gold and its guardian. Upon a struggle with the guardian, Carter happens to lay hand upon a strange medallion and finds himself in another place. Here he can jump like none ever have, far and high, and he finds himself in the midst of another war, but on a distant planet. John Carter have to come to terms with whom he is before he can take sides in this war and his past and his emotions are weighing heavily on him.
There is a lot of action is "John Carter", and the action scenes were really nicely executed, making it seem like the action is right up in your face, putting you in the action yourself. And that worked, because the movie takes a hold of you and doesn't let go before the end credits start rolling.
The effects and CGIs in the movie were top notch. Lots of really flashy, nice-looking effects and ideas. And the creatures on Mars were really life-like and believable. And I just loved the fact that they didn't make the 'Martians' into little green beings - quite the opposite actually, tall green beings. Anyway, the movements, the appearance, the textures, the details on all these creatures were really great and helped the CGI beings stand out as real-life creatures on the screen.
They had a rather impressive ensemble of cast members together for this movie, both the real actors and the voice actors. The lead role of John Carter was played by Taylor Kitsch, who really did a great job. But also noteworthy on the cast list was Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church and Mark Strong.
I enjoyed the time and effort they had put into making the various cultures come to life, with various rituals, costumes, decorations, colors, lifestyles, etc. It really helped flesh out the variety in life on Mars.
Despite it being a great story and a great action/Sci-Fi movie, then it was a little bit difficult for me to buy into it taking place on Mars. So there was oxygen on Mars? And humans? And they were speaking English? Nah, that part about the movie was somewhat difficult for me to believe in.
"John Carter" is a movie that will thoroughly entertain you for an evening's worth. And it was indeed one massive production for a Disney movie, nice to see they expand out from the usual family movie productions they do. "John Carter" delivers lots of action, adventure, CGI effects, and even a love story, so it has almost everything you need in a movie.
As for the ending to the movie, well that was somewhat of a nice touch. I liked it, and hadn't anticipated it to turn out like that.
I haven't read the story upon which the movie is based, so I have no vision of how I envision it to be, nor do I have any predetermined hopes or expectations to the movie. So whether or not the movie stays true to the story I have no idea.
Now, the story is about John Carter who is a Civil War veteran who stumbles upon a cave of gold and its guardian. Upon a struggle with the guardian, Carter happens to lay hand upon a strange medallion and finds himself in another place. Here he can jump like none ever have, far and high, and he finds himself in the midst of another war, but on a distant planet. John Carter have to come to terms with whom he is before he can take sides in this war and his past and his emotions are weighing heavily on him.
There is a lot of action is "John Carter", and the action scenes were really nicely executed, making it seem like the action is right up in your face, putting you in the action yourself. And that worked, because the movie takes a hold of you and doesn't let go before the end credits start rolling.
The effects and CGIs in the movie were top notch. Lots of really flashy, nice-looking effects and ideas. And the creatures on Mars were really life-like and believable. And I just loved the fact that they didn't make the 'Martians' into little green beings - quite the opposite actually, tall green beings. Anyway, the movements, the appearance, the textures, the details on all these creatures were really great and helped the CGI beings stand out as real-life creatures on the screen.
They had a rather impressive ensemble of cast members together for this movie, both the real actors and the voice actors. The lead role of John Carter was played by Taylor Kitsch, who really did a great job. But also noteworthy on the cast list was Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church and Mark Strong.
I enjoyed the time and effort they had put into making the various cultures come to life, with various rituals, costumes, decorations, colors, lifestyles, etc. It really helped flesh out the variety in life on Mars.
Despite it being a great story and a great action/Sci-Fi movie, then it was a little bit difficult for me to buy into it taking place on Mars. So there was oxygen on Mars? And humans? And they were speaking English? Nah, that part about the movie was somewhat difficult for me to believe in.
"John Carter" is a movie that will thoroughly entertain you for an evening's worth. And it was indeed one massive production for a Disney movie, nice to see they expand out from the usual family movie productions they do. "John Carter" delivers lots of action, adventure, CGI effects, and even a love story, so it has almost everything you need in a movie.
As for the ending to the movie, well that was somewhat of a nice touch. I liked it, and hadn't anticipated it to turn out like that.
A movie for everyone, if you just give it a chance
ladycatkins25 January 2013
I LOVED this movie. I had read the books many years ago and some of the Marvel Comics series so I had images in my head of what I thought John, Dejah, Tars and Barsoom would look like...and this movie pretty much topped them all. The Tharks were better than my imagination! This is a movie for everyone. It's an adventure movie, an action movie, a science fiction movie, a fantasy movie and a romance. Please give it a chance, ignore any of the bad press and watch it for yourself. And just remember, this movie is based on books written 100 years ago by Edgar Rice Burroughs, so if you think "oh they did that in Star Wars" or wasn't something like that in (insert almost any other scifi movie)" please remember that they came AFTER John Carter not before...this movie might have been filmed later but the story was here a century ago, so those movies are drawing on John Carter's themes not the other way around. I thought the actors were brilliantly cast, they really suited my image of the characters and I loved the storyline. Yes there could have been perhaps more explanations but the gist was there and if you want to know more read the books. Give this movie a chance. Watch it more than once and you will pick up more each time you watch it. Maybe, like The Terminator, which also didn't do as well at the movies but then picked up on video, we might get to see the sequel in the near future. Are you listening Disney?
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie, loved it.
lovettstough5 May 2019
I am surprised this movie did not do so well. Do not listen to the critics and bad and low number reviews until you have seen it first for yourself. It has a great plot and storyline. I personally give it a ten all the way. I never realized it was a Disney movie until just now watching it on NETFLIX. All the actors and actresses did extremely well. I was in my thirties when this movie came out in 2012 and I am 44 now and I've lost count of how many times I've watched it because I like it that much.
Stunning CGI but a slow script
davidgee15 March 2012
This is mean to be a sort of TARZAN GOES TO MARS, but despite the $250 million budget, the film goes flat from time to time. The CGI sets, Martian cities and palaces and landscapes, are stunning - almost up there with LORD OF THE RINGS - but the script keeps stopping to give us heavy chunks of exposition.
The battle and chase scenes, when they come, are as thrilling as in any other space opera. It's the inbetween stuff that is yawn-inducing. The hero, Taylor Kitsch, comes with designer muscles and artfully dishevelled hair but he lacks the charisma that Jake Gyllenhaal (or even Arnold Schwarzeneggar, a few years back) could have brought to the role. Lynn Collins makes a feisty princess, perhaps a tad too sophisticated for our Rent-A-Hunk hero.
FLASH GORDON meets CLASH OF THE TITANS. Quite a jolly mixture but the blender needed to be on a higher speed.
The battle and chase scenes, when they come, are as thrilling as in any other space opera. It's the inbetween stuff that is yawn-inducing. The hero, Taylor Kitsch, comes with designer muscles and artfully dishevelled hair but he lacks the charisma that Jake Gyllenhaal (or even Arnold Schwarzeneggar, a few years back) could have brought to the role. Lynn Collins makes a feisty princess, perhaps a tad too sophisticated for our Rent-A-Hunk hero.
FLASH GORDON meets CLASH OF THE TITANS. Quite a jolly mixture but the blender needed to be on a higher speed.
Underrated Sci-Fi Film
claudio_carvalho3 June 2012
Edgar Rice Burroughs, who is the nephew of the rebel widower veteran of the Civil War and gold hunter John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), has to attend the funeral of his uncle after his sudden death. He receives from John Carter's attorney his diary and weird instructions to be followed, and Edgar immediately starts reading the journal.
In 1868, the Colonel Powell tries to force John Carter to join the army to fight against the Apache and arrests him. However, John Carter escapes and Powell (Bryan Cranston) chases him. They are attacked by the Apache and they hide in a cave. They are surprised by a Thern and John Carter kills him, and the alien's medallion transports John Carter to Mars. John has the ability to jump high and has his strength increased due to the gravity of Mars. However, he is captured by the Tharks and becomes their prisoner.
He learns that Mars, called Barsoon, has been in war for thousand of years between the Helium and Zodanga, and this war is destructing the planet. The evil leader of Zodanga, Sab Than (Dominic West), has received a powerful weapon from the Thern Matai Shang (Mark Strong). However, Sab Than proposes peace if he marries the Helium Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). However, John Carter and Dejah Thoris fall in love with each other, and he decides to help the Helium people against the Zodanga people. But Matai Shang sends John Carter back to Earth and his last chance to return to Mars depends on his dear nephew attitude.
"John Carter" is an excellent sci-fi film and absolutely underrated in IMDb. The complex story is engaging and highly entertaining and among my favorite movies of 2012. The visual concept is fantastic and the story has action, romance and comedy perfectly balanced and a lead couple - Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins – showing a perfect chemistry. The most impressive is that the Edgar Rice Burrough's character John Carter is celebrating one century since his first appearance in 1912. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "John Carter - Entre Dois Mundos" ("John Carter – Between Two Worlds")
In 1868, the Colonel Powell tries to force John Carter to join the army to fight against the Apache and arrests him. However, John Carter escapes and Powell (Bryan Cranston) chases him. They are attacked by the Apache and they hide in a cave. They are surprised by a Thern and John Carter kills him, and the alien's medallion transports John Carter to Mars. John has the ability to jump high and has his strength increased due to the gravity of Mars. However, he is captured by the Tharks and becomes their prisoner.
He learns that Mars, called Barsoon, has been in war for thousand of years between the Helium and Zodanga, and this war is destructing the planet. The evil leader of Zodanga, Sab Than (Dominic West), has received a powerful weapon from the Thern Matai Shang (Mark Strong). However, Sab Than proposes peace if he marries the Helium Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). However, John Carter and Dejah Thoris fall in love with each other, and he decides to help the Helium people against the Zodanga people. But Matai Shang sends John Carter back to Earth and his last chance to return to Mars depends on his dear nephew attitude.
"John Carter" is an excellent sci-fi film and absolutely underrated in IMDb. The complex story is engaging and highly entertaining and among my favorite movies of 2012. The visual concept is fantastic and the story has action, romance and comedy perfectly balanced and a lead couple - Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins – showing a perfect chemistry. The most impressive is that the Edgar Rice Burrough's character John Carter is celebrating one century since his first appearance in 1912. My vote is nine.
Title (Brazil): "John Carter - Entre Dois Mundos" ("John Carter – Between Two Worlds")
John Carter is fun but, a little too talky to really be out of this world
jaguiar3139 March 2012
As a fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Martian Chronicles, I have been waiting for someone to adapt these nearly 100 year old pulp sci-fi adventures to film since I was a boy. Now after years in development hell, Disney finally brings the adventures of Earthman John Carter to life. And it's a bit of a mixed bag. The simply named "John Carter" takes a lot of liberties with Burroughs' stories, too many to list here and in result comes up with a tale that is a bit talky and more plot heavy then needed. Burroughs' books were short, action packed and to the point. So should have John Carter been. But, this story of Confederate Captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) who is whisked to the planet Mars were he finds an ally in four-armed, green warrior Tars Tarkus (voiced by Willem Dafoe) and love with beautiful princess Dejah Thoris (who has now graduated from the damsel in distress in the books to also being a scientist and woman warrior played by Lynn Collins) is not all bad as directed by Andrew Stanton (director of Finding Nemo and Wall-E). Stanton may have written a lot of dialog scenes but, when there is action, it is fast moving and exciting and he gets good performances out of his cast. He does set a good pace for a film with a lot of plot and he does capture some of the pulp charm nicely in many scenes as well. It's too bad he couldn't follow Burroughs lead and keep John Carter a bit simpler and get to the spectacular action a bit sooner. I was never bored but, there is a lot of traveling back and forth before the plot really gets moving and Carter, with his enhanced abilities due to Mars' thinner atmosphere and lesser gravity, gets to the business of saving Mars and his lady love. Yes, plot and character development are important but, I still feel the film's 132 minutes could have been better managed. Criticisms aside, the film is sumptuously designed , the SPFX are flawless and there is nice atmosphere from Michael Giacchino's (Star Trek, Super 8) beautiful score. The enormous budget is on screen and despite it's flaws, the end had me wanting to see more of Carter's adventures on Barsoom (their name for Mars) as there are 11 books and now that the central characters have all been introduced, we can get right to the fun. And John Carter wasn't without fun, it just need a bit more of it.
Becoming John Carter of Mars...
Chalice_Of_Evil7 March 2012
Not a movie about Noah Wyle's character from the show ER, but rather one based on a book I've never read titled A Princess of Mars. Originally going to be titled John Carter of Mars, the movie apparently dropped the 'of Mars' to "make it more appealing to a broader audience" and this film is supposed to be the origin story "about a guy *becoming* John Carter of Mars" - this probably explains why we finally get the originally-intended title of 'John Carter of Mars' at the very end.
The man in question is John Carter from Virginia, ex-Civil War soldier who lost his family and is now gold prospecting. Proceedings are rather slow-going in the beginning of the film, although it's necessary set-up for what's to come. Things don't really get interesting until Carter's transported to Mars, which is known as Barsoom by the inhabitants there, who are 9 to 15 foot tall four-armed green aliens with tusks called Tharks. Thanks to the lower gravity of Mars, Carter has enhanced strength and can leap great distances. We even get a montage devoted to him discovering as much. Some Tharks discover him, the least hostile of which is one named Tars Tarkas (voiced by Willem Dafoe), who winds up thinking Carter's name is Virigina due to miscommunication. Subtitles are used up until Carter is eventually able to understand the Tharks and we hear them speaking in English. At one point he comes to the rescue of an alien dog named Woola, who is extremely loyal/fast and becomes his constant companion. Carter also finds an ally in Sola (Samantha Morton). Eventually he meets the Princess of Mars herself, Dejah Thoris, after having rescued her (it's what he does). And this is where the real story begins.
As John Carter and Dejah Thoris, Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins reunite (after the rather ho-hum affair that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine). Kitsch fits the role of the long-haired hero well (although he is saddled with some rather dodgy dialogue at times). His reactions to the bizarre situations, customs, etc that he finds himself having to deal with are pretty good. He is well-paired with Lynn Collins, who manages to make Dejah actually very human (like when she's nervous about the presentation she's about to give when we first meet her in the city-state of Helium...though, oddly enough, nobody there speaks with funny high-pitched voices like you'd expect). She's certainly the prettiest thing on Mars, but she's also very smart, as well as able to handle herself in a fight. She's equal parts scientist and action heroine. Kitsch and Collins play off each other very well, sharing both humorous and touching moments between them. Also good is James Purefoy as Kantos Kan. Although it's not a big role, he manages to make the most of it and is easily likable, as well as amusing at times. Mark Strong, meanwhile, continues to be the go-to guy for playing a villain.
The story is not exactly easy to follow if you aren't paying attention. There's a lot of names of things to keep track of, as well as some twists and turns here and there. The film feels like it kind of rushes things a bit towards the end, as it has to wrap up stuff. Given the running time, you wouldn't think things would need to be like this, but it seems the makers realised their movie was reaching the limit of its runtime and there was still some stuff left to address at the last minute.
The effects on display are as dazzling as Dejah's blue eyes. The thought and effort that has gone into designing/creating the creatures, the ships, the costumes, etc is fully on display on the screen. The music helps too. While this movie might not be everyone's cup of tea, it does offer something a bit different in place of what could have been a rather paint-by-the-numbers affair. Yes, some parts are predictable, but there are also some parts that you might not expect. Don't let the trailers fool you, it's not just all mindless action. There is some actual real story going on here (provided, of course, that you can keep track of/follow it). Recommended for anyone who's looking for a slightly off-kilter sci-fi film.
The man in question is John Carter from Virginia, ex-Civil War soldier who lost his family and is now gold prospecting. Proceedings are rather slow-going in the beginning of the film, although it's necessary set-up for what's to come. Things don't really get interesting until Carter's transported to Mars, which is known as Barsoom by the inhabitants there, who are 9 to 15 foot tall four-armed green aliens with tusks called Tharks. Thanks to the lower gravity of Mars, Carter has enhanced strength and can leap great distances. We even get a montage devoted to him discovering as much. Some Tharks discover him, the least hostile of which is one named Tars Tarkas (voiced by Willem Dafoe), who winds up thinking Carter's name is Virigina due to miscommunication. Subtitles are used up until Carter is eventually able to understand the Tharks and we hear them speaking in English. At one point he comes to the rescue of an alien dog named Woola, who is extremely loyal/fast and becomes his constant companion. Carter also finds an ally in Sola (Samantha Morton). Eventually he meets the Princess of Mars herself, Dejah Thoris, after having rescued her (it's what he does). And this is where the real story begins.
As John Carter and Dejah Thoris, Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins reunite (after the rather ho-hum affair that was X-Men Origins: Wolverine). Kitsch fits the role of the long-haired hero well (although he is saddled with some rather dodgy dialogue at times). His reactions to the bizarre situations, customs, etc that he finds himself having to deal with are pretty good. He is well-paired with Lynn Collins, who manages to make Dejah actually very human (like when she's nervous about the presentation she's about to give when we first meet her in the city-state of Helium...though, oddly enough, nobody there speaks with funny high-pitched voices like you'd expect). She's certainly the prettiest thing on Mars, but she's also very smart, as well as able to handle herself in a fight. She's equal parts scientist and action heroine. Kitsch and Collins play off each other very well, sharing both humorous and touching moments between them. Also good is James Purefoy as Kantos Kan. Although it's not a big role, he manages to make the most of it and is easily likable, as well as amusing at times. Mark Strong, meanwhile, continues to be the go-to guy for playing a villain.
The story is not exactly easy to follow if you aren't paying attention. There's a lot of names of things to keep track of, as well as some twists and turns here and there. The film feels like it kind of rushes things a bit towards the end, as it has to wrap up stuff. Given the running time, you wouldn't think things would need to be like this, but it seems the makers realised their movie was reaching the limit of its runtime and there was still some stuff left to address at the last minute.
The effects on display are as dazzling as Dejah's blue eyes. The thought and effort that has gone into designing/creating the creatures, the ships, the costumes, etc is fully on display on the screen. The music helps too. While this movie might not be everyone's cup of tea, it does offer something a bit different in place of what could have been a rather paint-by-the-numbers affair. Yes, some parts are predictable, but there are also some parts that you might not expect. Don't let the trailers fool you, it's not just all mindless action. There is some actual real story going on here (provided, of course, that you can keep track of/follow it). Recommended for anyone who's looking for a slightly off-kilter sci-fi film.
Scattershot storytelling, weak characterisation and unremarkable action sequences render this a middling action adventure good only for the most modest expectations
moviexclusive27 February 2012
Why the venerable Disney would spend over US$250mil of their good money on a science-fiction action adventure set mostly on the Red Planet and around a protagonist with a name as nondescript as 'John Carter' was baffling right from the start, and remains an enigma by the end of this good-not-great movie. Indeed, a lot rides on a movie with such a hefty price tag, but given the successful transition that fellow Pixar alum Brad Bird made into live-action features with last fall's 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol", you might think that Andrew Stanton- the man behind 'Wall E' and 'Finding Nemo'- could also make a similarly triumphant leap.
Alas, this big-budget adaptation of the first book- 'Princess of Mars'- of Edgar Rice Burroughs' 11-volume 'Barsoom' series will likely fulfil only the most modest of expectations. Like any origin story for a franchise, 'John Carter' carries both the promise of an exciting new vision and the burden of setting things up for future instalments. Not Stanton nor his two other screenwriters, Mark Andrews and novelist Michael Chabon, however manage to unshackle the movie from the latter bugbear, so much so that their film never quite lives up to its potential.
And yes, there is certainly promise in the story of a Confederate veteran of the American civil war who goes searching for gold in the Arizona desert and ends up marooned on Mars right in the middle of an impending war. John Carter is this man, whose mode of interplanetary transport is a silver medallion he finds in the hands of a Holy Thern he accidentally kills in a cave on Earth. Once on Mars, John meets a nomadic tribe of Green Martians known as the Tharks led by the unusually empathetic Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe). The difference in the gravitational pull between Earth and Mars results in his ability to fly, and Tars spares his life in hope of learning his secret.
Meanwhile, the two Red Martians- Helium and Zodanga- are at the brink of a war that could change the fate of Mars forever. The latter's leader, Sab Than (Dominic West), has a secret weapon bestowed by the Holy Therns, and to save the lives of his citizens, Helium's leader Tardos Mors (Ciaran Hinds) promises Sab Than his daughter's hand in marriage. Dejah's (Lynn Collins) pleas against her arranged marriage however fall on deaf ears, and her escape from Sab Than and his army ends fortuitously with a chance meeting with John. So as formula would dictate, John and Dejah will fall in love while saving the inhabitants of Helium and consequently the entire Barsoom planet.
Well if it isn't 'Avatar' all over again, you say? The answer is both yes and no. Sure, like 'Avatar's' Jake Sully, John Carter is the outsider who ends up being the unlikely hero saving a civilisation from annihilation after landing on an alien planet. But unlike Jake, John plays the archetype of the reluctant hero that up until two- thirds of the movie had no intention of saving anyone save for getting back to Earth and his cave of riches. Does that make John a more interesting character than Jake?
Unfortunately not- in fact, John remains quite one-dimensional despite a solid lead performance from Taylor Kitsch thanks to unfocused storytelling. Juggling a multitude of characters and just as many separate subplots with the Tharks, Zodangas, Therns and Heliums, Stanton shortchanges his audience's desire to understand John's transformation from selfish to selfless, and perhaps to an even greater extent the romance between John and Dejah that is supposedly the reason for his change of heart. Stanton's attempt to give each of these Martian tribes enough screen time also backfires- so much so that significant supporting players like Sab Than, Tardos Mos and the key villain Matai Shang (Mark Strong) are little more than stock characters.
If 'John Carter' is weak on story, it is only marginally better in its action. Any hope for a thrilling mid-air battle between the fliers from Helium and Zodanga at the beginning is quickly dashed when it is over far too soon- and the same can be said of the other equally unremarkable action sequences. Granted that Stanton certainly lacks James Cameron's experience behind the camera, but that's scant excuse for the lack of build-up or excitement in the ostensible money-shots. Yes, while there is certainly scale in the sheer number of humans or aliens fighting on screen, these battle scenes do too little to keep you engaged in the unfolding mayhem.
And that's just another way in which the film wastes the potential of its actors. Kitsch is a much more compelling leading man than Avatar's Sam Worthington, but his physicality and his emotional depth are wasted in a movie that botches both the action and the drama. Lynn Collins makes a suitably feisty warrior princess, though there are too few moments in the film to allow Kitsch's and Collins' chemistry to shine through. Pity the ensemble supporting cast- especially West, Hinds and Strong- whose characters are so thinly drawn that they are almost inconsequential.
Yet despite its flaws, we must caveat that 'John Carter' isn't the disaster some pundits have predicted it to be. Those unfamiliar with Burroughs' story will find the rich mythology intriguing- though whether the film satisfies your sense of curiosity at the end is another matter. Stanton has also made this family-friendly, so younger kids will be distracted by the gorgeous production design as well as John's irresistibly cute pet beast Woola. But considering the budget and the talent involved, the fact that it is only a middling action-adventure is ultimately disappointing. After all, it says a lot when your impression of John Carter is just as indifferent before and after two hours of spectacle.
Alas, this big-budget adaptation of the first book- 'Princess of Mars'- of Edgar Rice Burroughs' 11-volume 'Barsoom' series will likely fulfil only the most modest of expectations. Like any origin story for a franchise, 'John Carter' carries both the promise of an exciting new vision and the burden of setting things up for future instalments. Not Stanton nor his two other screenwriters, Mark Andrews and novelist Michael Chabon, however manage to unshackle the movie from the latter bugbear, so much so that their film never quite lives up to its potential.
And yes, there is certainly promise in the story of a Confederate veteran of the American civil war who goes searching for gold in the Arizona desert and ends up marooned on Mars right in the middle of an impending war. John Carter is this man, whose mode of interplanetary transport is a silver medallion he finds in the hands of a Holy Thern he accidentally kills in a cave on Earth. Once on Mars, John meets a nomadic tribe of Green Martians known as the Tharks led by the unusually empathetic Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe). The difference in the gravitational pull between Earth and Mars results in his ability to fly, and Tars spares his life in hope of learning his secret.
Meanwhile, the two Red Martians- Helium and Zodanga- are at the brink of a war that could change the fate of Mars forever. The latter's leader, Sab Than (Dominic West), has a secret weapon bestowed by the Holy Therns, and to save the lives of his citizens, Helium's leader Tardos Mors (Ciaran Hinds) promises Sab Than his daughter's hand in marriage. Dejah's (Lynn Collins) pleas against her arranged marriage however fall on deaf ears, and her escape from Sab Than and his army ends fortuitously with a chance meeting with John. So as formula would dictate, John and Dejah will fall in love while saving the inhabitants of Helium and consequently the entire Barsoom planet.
Well if it isn't 'Avatar' all over again, you say? The answer is both yes and no. Sure, like 'Avatar's' Jake Sully, John Carter is the outsider who ends up being the unlikely hero saving a civilisation from annihilation after landing on an alien planet. But unlike Jake, John plays the archetype of the reluctant hero that up until two- thirds of the movie had no intention of saving anyone save for getting back to Earth and his cave of riches. Does that make John a more interesting character than Jake?
Unfortunately not- in fact, John remains quite one-dimensional despite a solid lead performance from Taylor Kitsch thanks to unfocused storytelling. Juggling a multitude of characters and just as many separate subplots with the Tharks, Zodangas, Therns and Heliums, Stanton shortchanges his audience's desire to understand John's transformation from selfish to selfless, and perhaps to an even greater extent the romance between John and Dejah that is supposedly the reason for his change of heart. Stanton's attempt to give each of these Martian tribes enough screen time also backfires- so much so that significant supporting players like Sab Than, Tardos Mos and the key villain Matai Shang (Mark Strong) are little more than stock characters.
If 'John Carter' is weak on story, it is only marginally better in its action. Any hope for a thrilling mid-air battle between the fliers from Helium and Zodanga at the beginning is quickly dashed when it is over far too soon- and the same can be said of the other equally unremarkable action sequences. Granted that Stanton certainly lacks James Cameron's experience behind the camera, but that's scant excuse for the lack of build-up or excitement in the ostensible money-shots. Yes, while there is certainly scale in the sheer number of humans or aliens fighting on screen, these battle scenes do too little to keep you engaged in the unfolding mayhem.
And that's just another way in which the film wastes the potential of its actors. Kitsch is a much more compelling leading man than Avatar's Sam Worthington, but his physicality and his emotional depth are wasted in a movie that botches both the action and the drama. Lynn Collins makes a suitably feisty warrior princess, though there are too few moments in the film to allow Kitsch's and Collins' chemistry to shine through. Pity the ensemble supporting cast- especially West, Hinds and Strong- whose characters are so thinly drawn that they are almost inconsequential.
Yet despite its flaws, we must caveat that 'John Carter' isn't the disaster some pundits have predicted it to be. Those unfamiliar with Burroughs' story will find the rich mythology intriguing- though whether the film satisfies your sense of curiosity at the end is another matter. Stanton has also made this family-friendly, so younger kids will be distracted by the gorgeous production design as well as John's irresistibly cute pet beast Woola. But considering the budget and the talent involved, the fact that it is only a middling action-adventure is ultimately disappointing. After all, it says a lot when your impression of John Carter is just as indifferent before and after two hours of spectacle.
Boring, non-inspiring, dull and grey movie
a-ozornin24 March 2012
The success of Avatar keeps the heads of the world movie corporations awake at night. Cameron managed to create another world, populate it with unusual yet charismatic creatures, create a conflict with humans, drop the main character in and let us watch the development of the story. What sounds simple in theory found a great response in peoples' hearts, allowing Avatar to take in a lot of profit and leaving fans waiting for the sequel. John Carter is so obviously trying to be the second Avatar, it is impossible to escape from comparisons. And comparisons are, unfortunately for John Carter, not in its favor.
The movie is based on the book "Princess of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs, being yet another example of how the movie industry is unable to come up with its own original plots. But that is not a problem, particularly given the fact that Burroughs is thought to have inspired Lucas and Cameron. The problem is that Disney decided to make the film, reducing sharply all the harsh parts to fit into the "family movie" category. John Carter lost immensely because of this. The storyline is dry, straightforward and simple. It is predictable if you watched any Disney movie at all. Princess? Check. Misfit-but-good-person? Check. Outsider? Check. Cute animal? Check. Evil super-powerful genius? Check. Disney's production line is working day and night to produce cliché movies.
But even tedious storyline does not mean the movie is bad. There still is some hope – in action part, in smart dialogues, in carefully drawn characters But leave your hopes: action is little and still pretty boring. Dialogues are dull, silly and, worse of all, intolerably long. Coupled with predictable storyline, long dialogues make it a pretty big nail into the coffin of John Carter. The storyline jumps around almost randomly, leaving huge logical gaps and holes in the plot. The characters are there as if only to play their part in the main storyline: they have no past and no future. You are left to guess their intentions and motives. The movie is boring, the characters are plain and tasteless. Even Mark Strong fails to bring the arch-enemy to life despite his huge portfolio of evil characters. Smart, ingenious in the book, here the character looks a bit clumsy and definitely not scary. Other actors understandably fail as well, with Lynn Collins playing top-model rather than princess, with Taylor Kitsch playing emotionless wooden soldier rather than opportunistic adventure-seeker. Willem Dafoe lent his voice to Tars Tarkas, but this four-handed king is opaque in his motives as well as all the other characters, making it impossible to enliven him.
Now onto the technical part. It is well-known fact that John Carter has the budget of $250m. The question is where all the money was spent. 3D does not bring any extra emotions as there are no particular effects based on it. Compare it with Avatar or Hugo, and you will ask why one would want to use 3D in the first place. The Martian land is the best representation of the movie as a whole: plain and boring, grey and dry. The movie fails to impress with CGI and looks more like Star Wars Episode 4 than modern age technological breakthrough.
VERDICT: Boring, non-inspiring, dull and grey movie; Pale shadow of the underlying book.
m-picturegoer.blogspot.com
The movie is based on the book "Princess of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs, being yet another example of how the movie industry is unable to come up with its own original plots. But that is not a problem, particularly given the fact that Burroughs is thought to have inspired Lucas and Cameron. The problem is that Disney decided to make the film, reducing sharply all the harsh parts to fit into the "family movie" category. John Carter lost immensely because of this. The storyline is dry, straightforward and simple. It is predictable if you watched any Disney movie at all. Princess? Check. Misfit-but-good-person? Check. Outsider? Check. Cute animal? Check. Evil super-powerful genius? Check. Disney's production line is working day and night to produce cliché movies.
But even tedious storyline does not mean the movie is bad. There still is some hope – in action part, in smart dialogues, in carefully drawn characters But leave your hopes: action is little and still pretty boring. Dialogues are dull, silly and, worse of all, intolerably long. Coupled with predictable storyline, long dialogues make it a pretty big nail into the coffin of John Carter. The storyline jumps around almost randomly, leaving huge logical gaps and holes in the plot. The characters are there as if only to play their part in the main storyline: they have no past and no future. You are left to guess their intentions and motives. The movie is boring, the characters are plain and tasteless. Even Mark Strong fails to bring the arch-enemy to life despite his huge portfolio of evil characters. Smart, ingenious in the book, here the character looks a bit clumsy and definitely not scary. Other actors understandably fail as well, with Lynn Collins playing top-model rather than princess, with Taylor Kitsch playing emotionless wooden soldier rather than opportunistic adventure-seeker. Willem Dafoe lent his voice to Tars Tarkas, but this four-handed king is opaque in his motives as well as all the other characters, making it impossible to enliven him.
Now onto the technical part. It is well-known fact that John Carter has the budget of $250m. The question is where all the money was spent. 3D does not bring any extra emotions as there are no particular effects based on it. Compare it with Avatar or Hugo, and you will ask why one would want to use 3D in the first place. The Martian land is the best representation of the movie as a whole: plain and boring, grey and dry. The movie fails to impress with CGI and looks more like Star Wars Episode 4 than modern age technological breakthrough.
VERDICT: Boring, non-inspiring, dull and grey movie; Pale shadow of the underlying book.
m-picturegoer.blogspot.com
Brainwashing Almost Stopped Me From Seeing This GREAT Movie.
dmmhtsa12 March 2013
When this movie was about to come out, I had seen a few lame posters and my husband and I decided it just didn't look appealing enough. Maybe we'd watch it after it was released on DVD. Then, one day I was doing some browsing of reviews (trying to find a movie worth our time) and happened across the reviews for 'John Carter'.
I am ever so glad I did. The reviews touted it as a great film shackled with a stupid company (Disney) and burdened down by extremely bad advertising. As I had witnessed the advertising, I was more than inclined to believe these reviews. From what I read, it sounded like the kind of fantasy I would absolutely love to see and eventually, own (I now do). It also sounded like it was going to be in for a really bad showing in theaters. So, I called up my husband and told him we were going to see that movie, so it would get some support.
We did. It was amazing. I texted all of my friends to go see it, as well and to not be put off by the horrible advertising. The moment the DVD came out, we bought it. I cannot recommend this movie enough and I cannot emphasize enough - don't brush a movie off because of bad advertising or we are just proving how influenced we are by it. Check the reviews and see what your 'peers' say.
I am ever so glad I did. The reviews touted it as a great film shackled with a stupid company (Disney) and burdened down by extremely bad advertising. As I had witnessed the advertising, I was more than inclined to believe these reviews. From what I read, it sounded like the kind of fantasy I would absolutely love to see and eventually, own (I now do). It also sounded like it was going to be in for a really bad showing in theaters. So, I called up my husband and told him we were going to see that movie, so it would get some support.
We did. It was amazing. I texted all of my friends to go see it, as well and to not be put off by the horrible advertising. The moment the DVD came out, we bought it. I cannot recommend this movie enough and I cannot emphasize enough - don't brush a movie off because of bad advertising or we are just proving how influenced we are by it. Check the reviews and see what your 'peers' say.
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