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.
Really enjoyed it
neil_tipping3 March 2012
I did only have modest expectations of this film as the trailer reminded me a bit to much of Dune. Really surprised to find a film which had a good plot line (albeit cynics will liken it to Avatar-lite), well acted, reasonable characterisations, brilliant visuals and a surprisingly good hero figure in Taylor Kitsch. I saw the preview screening this morning - don't really care how much it cost to make - what I found was a big budget film that I really enjoyed from start to finish. My advice - don't follow the cynics and naysayers - see it for yourself. I will normally not go see 3D films (they give me a headache) but the 3D wasn't too intrusive on this one.
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.
how bout that!
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Huge Fan of the books, movie wasn't terrible..but disappointing
Surferdude526910 March 2012
I really really wanted to like John Carter. I really did. I love Andrew Staunton, the cast, the books...but the movie was just...not very good. First, the script was really pretty bad. There was absolutely no sense of rhythm or pace. The writers bit off way more than they could chew and tried to throw so much of the 2nd and 3rd book into the first, that they forgot to develop characters and build tension. There's so much important information that is lacking from the story, and unnecessary information being thrown at you, that even I had trouble following it (and I, theoretically, know what happens). They also added a bunch of extra things to the story (particularly in the way Carter travels between the planets) which, in my opinion, made the story line less interesting and more corny than what Burroughs had written. Rather than focusing on creating memorable characters (Tars Tarkas, Sola, and Kantos Kan might as well be footnotes) and elaborating on the the different cultures and belief systems that shape the world of Barsoom, the movie focuses on action scenes and a story line which doesn't occur until deep into the second book. Without Burrough's exquisitely shaped and extensive ground-work, there is little to no reason to care about a lot of what's going on. It's as if Yoda showed up and you knew that Darth Vadar was Luke's Father mid-way through New Hope. Why would you care? The filmmakers missed a huge opportunity to show the extremely inventive and thought-provoking ways in which Carter adapts to and changes his new home, and as a result, they also really missed a lot of the cultural commentary in the book. This movie had everything going for it (especially with a 250 million dollar budget), and what's really disappointing is that some of the shots and lot of the character designs (besides ALL of the red people) look really good. There are moments of greatness in there (like the ending), but they are very few and far between. I almost walked out half way through, and I've never walked out of a movie before (especially one I was this excited about). IN CONCLUSION: Read the books, they are mind-blowing, beautiful, and way more interesting. This movie was just OK...at its best, and at its worst...confusing, cheesy, and banal.
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!!
No Life on Mars
j-davidc1310 March 2012
John Carter is based on "A Princess of Mars", the first in a series of tales of the adventures of John Carter by Edgar Rice Burroughs (who also notably created Tarzan). The series is of the high adventure variety of science fantasy, where you check your disbelief at the door and just go with the fun. Star Wars, Avatar, and many other successful science fantasy films owe something to Burroughs, and unfortunately those films beat Carter to the punch, so audiences may feel they are seeing something derivative of those franchises. And, in the production sense at least, they may be right.
Carter is at its best when the action is fast and the fun is light, with laughs mixed in with the punches and swordplay. A well crafted intro gives us an idea of who Captain John Carter is and what makes him an unlikely hero. Sadly, once transported to Mars (known by its inhabitants as Barsoom) the plot falls to tedium, with few action scenes separated by never-ending and never convincing "romance" between Carter and Dejah, the titular Princess of Burroughs' tale. The two (Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins) are so bad every scene between them is like a prompt to check your watch. Each of Carter and Dejah's tedious conversation is like hearing a weird conversation between a crappy Batman and Hamlet's Ophelia. The dialogue doesn't help; billboards don't have words this stiff.
The supporting cast is good enough to make an effort at saving the film. Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Mark Strong, and even Willem Dafoe are all present and doing their best. But it's Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston who practically makes the film's opening all on his own. Unfortunately, these terrific performers are used to little effect, and the film suffers for it.
Production design for the film is a mixed bag. Visual effects are astounding, but costume design is weak. So in some scenes you have ridiculous looking actors boring you in front of beautiful backdrops or in incredible set pieces. Sound design is not good, and the score is downright pitiful. As much as the movie wants to be Star Wars, it just can't match Lucas' ability in that film to pull together the best of everyone at their jobs, creating a movie that looks and sounds gorgeous and works well together. Carter is more piecemeal, with a good quality here and a ruinous disaster there, a hodgepodge of the best and worst Disney could muster. Director Andrew Stanton, known primarily for his work on fantastic Pixar productions like Wall-E and Finding Nemo, surely gets the blame here. Though I've loved his animated features, not all directors of animation are ready for live action (as proved only recently by Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol).
As a throwaway popcorn muncher for the kids, this movie might prove a winner. The simple inch-deep characters and the generic comedy/action certainly seemed fun enough as long as you're not looking for more. But my warning to adults who decide to take the kids is to expect to be bored, and endure a long dark two hours of the soul.
Rating: 2.5/5 Recommendation: Wait for cable. See my other reviews at clarketaculargeek.wordpress.com
Carter is at its best when the action is fast and the fun is light, with laughs mixed in with the punches and swordplay. A well crafted intro gives us an idea of who Captain John Carter is and what makes him an unlikely hero. Sadly, once transported to Mars (known by its inhabitants as Barsoom) the plot falls to tedium, with few action scenes separated by never-ending and never convincing "romance" between Carter and Dejah, the titular Princess of Burroughs' tale. The two (Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins) are so bad every scene between them is like a prompt to check your watch. Each of Carter and Dejah's tedious conversation is like hearing a weird conversation between a crappy Batman and Hamlet's Ophelia. The dialogue doesn't help; billboards don't have words this stiff.
The supporting cast is good enough to make an effort at saving the film. Ciaran Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Mark Strong, and even Willem Dafoe are all present and doing their best. But it's Breaking Bad's Bryan Cranston who practically makes the film's opening all on his own. Unfortunately, these terrific performers are used to little effect, and the film suffers for it.
Production design for the film is a mixed bag. Visual effects are astounding, but costume design is weak. So in some scenes you have ridiculous looking actors boring you in front of beautiful backdrops or in incredible set pieces. Sound design is not good, and the score is downright pitiful. As much as the movie wants to be Star Wars, it just can't match Lucas' ability in that film to pull together the best of everyone at their jobs, creating a movie that looks and sounds gorgeous and works well together. Carter is more piecemeal, with a good quality here and a ruinous disaster there, a hodgepodge of the best and worst Disney could muster. Director Andrew Stanton, known primarily for his work on fantastic Pixar productions like Wall-E and Finding Nemo, surely gets the blame here. Though I've loved his animated features, not all directors of animation are ready for live action (as proved only recently by Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol).
As a throwaway popcorn muncher for the kids, this movie might prove a winner. The simple inch-deep characters and the generic comedy/action certainly seemed fun enough as long as you're not looking for more. But my warning to adults who decide to take the kids is to expect to be bored, and endure a long dark two hours of the soul.
Rating: 2.5/5 Recommendation: Wait for cable. See my other reviews at clarketaculargeek.wordpress.com
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?
John Carter earns more respect!!!!
jcvdfan8315 July 2012
John Carter did not get the attention that it needed! This movie should of been more successful and despite what most of the critics and viewers are saying about this movie, "that its a lot like Star Wars and Avatar", that is not true. I have found John Carter to be an amazing movie visually, and the story was actually great. Don't get me wrong, Star Wars and Avatar were great movies, but I believe that John Carter was far much different and slightly better. I saw John Carter in the theaters the week that it came out and I had a lot of fun watching this movie!. So the hell with the critics, in my opinion, John Carter kicked ass!!!!.
I had low expectations
s-Rachel22 July 2012
I put off watching this movie because I read an awful review of it. So my expectations were low. But let me tell you, i LOVED this movie! What fun! Just a super fun movie.
I'm not going to spoil it for you, the less you know the better. I will tell you that John Carter was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the man who wrote Tarzan. But unlike Tarzan this is science fiction. If you liked Star Wars, if you liked Willow, if you like adventure and action movies then check this one out. I might even buy it, which I almost never do any more. This was SUCH a pleasant surprise.
I just wish I had a 3D TV, because it comes in 3D also.
I'm not going to spoil it for you, the less you know the better. I will tell you that John Carter was written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the man who wrote Tarzan. But unlike Tarzan this is science fiction. If you liked Star Wars, if you liked Willow, if you like adventure and action movies then check this one out. I might even buy it, which I almost never do any more. This was SUCH a pleasant surprise.
I just wish I had a 3D TV, because it comes in 3D also.
A wild, entertaining film.
loejoshua26 December 2012
It was an entertaining film, I'll give it that, and it followed exactly from the book, so if you liked the book you will like this movie. Yes it was very wild and unrealistic, but it was very imaginative and fun to watch. I gave it a 7/10 and you will probably either really like it, or hate it. I actually really liked the action scenes in this movie and thought the plot was actually not to bad. I also like Taylor Kitsch as an actor, and even though Battleship wasn't a great movie, I still liked him in it, and would like to see him in some more movies. So if your just looking for a fun action movie, and if you don't concentrate to much on the plot and overall acting, I think you will find this an entertaining fun movie.
Really tiring and clichéd
saurabhsinha-bits13 March 2012
I had taken a day off from work and wanted to just chill out. Unfortunately, I chose john Carter to start the day. As it turned out to be painfully ludicrous, I walked of this movie while 15-20 minutes were still left. Yes, It's the first movie ever I've walked out off in my lifetime. Loads of over-acting('My name is carter, john carter' in a stylized coarse voice), a plot that makes no sense, scripts and characters derived from various other movies like avatar, etc. and a scantily clad 'princess' who doesn't know how to act and is not even attractive make this movie dreadfully clichéd. A counter-argument for a possible argument - Even the kids were getting restless. Some of them even walked out. It is quite disappointing that Stanton being so talented made such an obvious dud. Maybe, he should limit himself to what he's best at - animation movies. TLDR: Avoid this movie.
A cult movie to be remembered
nicholashartman8 May 2012
John Carter of Mars was an epic. A detailed story, written in a time when pulp fiction was a cultural phenomenon like today's epic superhero movies. This is not a wham bam in your face Avengers movie, but a grand epic with a tribute to one of the greatest American writers of his time: Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Thank you Disney for your bold efforts. Sales might be the standard of today, but in the hearts of John Carter fans this was a great movie. Put to the screen with taste, class, and detail that will let this story live on. May your efforts be rewarded with continued sales as this movie finds its way toward cult status.
Thank you Disney for your bold efforts. Sales might be the standard of today, but in the hearts of John Carter fans this was a great movie. Put to the screen with taste, class, and detail that will let this story live on. May your efforts be rewarded with continued sales as this movie finds its way toward cult status.
Give it a chance....
harpdog-6251431 January 2022
John Carter is actually a good movie! It has action, romance and even a little comedy. I think it failed because people hadn't heard of the books before the movie. I know, I hadn't heard of any of it...much like Mortal Engine's that was another great movie that failed because people had never heard of it and didn't give it a chance. So we'll miss out on what could be great sequels, because folks were just unsure of what they are!
Don't be afraid to give it a chance...you probably won't regret it!
Don't be afraid to give it a chance...you probably won't regret it!
Fails On Almost Every Level
deadlypen29 November 2012
I have read all of the 'John Carter' books many times - both as an impressionable boy and as a more demanding adult, so I came to this movie with all the enthusiasm of a fan who has waited a lifetime to see Barsoom on the big screen. I did not expect the script to stick rigidly to the first novel in the series - after all, movies have different rules and perspectives - but I was surprised and disappointed to see that the motion picture merely scratched the surface E.R. Burrough's plots & story arcs. As the movie uses the novels' characters, but largely imposes its own motivations and directions upon them, it is pretty pointless attempting to review this film as an adaptation of any of the books...so I will briefly state that the leading man has all the drive and charisma of a wet noodle; the supporting characters are just as shallow and unlikeable - those rendered in CGI are entirely unbelievable as living things (they are manifestly not 'real'). The script is incomprehensible, larded with stilted, stagey dialogue and too awful to be rescued by any even moderately-talented actor who might have slipped past the Producers'determination to cast members of the talent-challenged community. Burroughs' Barsoom is, of course, a fantasy world, but it offers plausible (if sometimes fantastical) cultures and societal mechanisms; his conception of the Barsoomian 'heaven' is dark, ironic and oddly predictive of some of the religious cults which emerged in the latter part of the 20th Century. The movie throws out these intelligent, compelling factors and offers a different, wholly dumbed-down & generally incoherent set of explanations. The huge budget did not produce a good movie. I would be pushing the truth to describe it as a mediocre movie. It is an expensive turkey which attempts to lay down enough teenager-friendly plot lines to spark a series, but ultimately sinks under its own weight of inconsistencies. Perhaps the most depressing aspect of 'John Carter' on IMDb is the number of belated, inflated 10/10 puff-piece reviews from studio stooges who wish to boost the movie's rating. Sadly, you don't need to see 'John Carter' to know it is bad - you just need to smell it.
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.
It was fun to watch...
beto_hmc4 January 2022
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.
A good movie
franzsister-799943 November 2023
This movie is like the movies from the 90's. It has that magic to it that movies now days lack. Just watched this movie for the third time. I could not find anything too watch, put on several series and movies but nothing felt good enough. So I put this one on, was kind of expecting to lose interest after a while like I have done all day with everything else I've put on. Saw the hole movie from begining till the end. So worth it!
I can't really understand the bad reviews this movie has gotten.
It's a great adventure movie that's so much better than alot of movies out there with better reviews.
See it!!!!
I can't really understand the bad reviews this movie has gotten.
It's a great adventure movie that's so much better than alot of movies out there with better reviews.
See it!!!!
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
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