Review of John Carter (2012) by Matthew F. J — 18 Apr 2014

Andrew Stanton, Pixar guru and the director behind the excellent WALL-E and Finding Nemo, directs his first live action film with John Carter (you could really argue that's its a live action/CGI hybrid) The film is visually exciting - the creature effects in the film are a sight to behold - however the film's drama doesn't quite live up to its look.

John Carter is not the next Disney franchise or new "epic" that most would expect (No, not quite the next Pirates'). For those who don't know, the writer behind Tarzan wrote the original story that this film is based on. I believe it's a 11 book series and this film an adaptation of the first one, "Princess of Mars". Borough, in his time, wrote what became the basis of all contemporary Sci-fi (I'm using this term in a loose since because I understand that true Sci-fi is more about deep themes and ideas rather than space ships or laser swords, but you get the point).

Most author's and filmmakers since then have taken Borough's best elements from these stories and have reused (or reinvented depending on how you look at it) them. Star Wars anyone?

So as a result, the film ends up being somewhat derivative of its themes and plot. But ironically I was okay with that. I have other issues with the film that I felt where more fair and important.

I will say that my most disappointments from the film are not from its derivative nature (I tended to look past them and except the movie for what it is).

The films premise is quite interesting a first, even with John Carter [of Earth] jumping around all the time once he is on Barsoom.

It's interesting because i'm actually fine with John Carter having the ability to jump really high in the film because it's explained that Mars' (here called Barsoom) gravity is different and therefore reacts differently with his body. Also it's done to serve the story mainly, because that's the probably the way Edgar Rice Borough wrote it.

Even when the story simply involves around some Princess who has run away from home because she doesn't want to marry a power hungry mad man (against her father's wishes and to instill peace between two of the main cities of Barsoom).

Heck I'm not even mad that the film has so much CGI in it that it occasionally took me out of the experience. I usually prefer practical or at least tangible effects if they can be done, but remember its directed by an animated feature master of course.

My biggest issue with the film is that it doesn't take itself as seriously as it should. Simply put: its cheesy. It's also fun, but in a dumb kinda way. Yes there's really cool flying ships and cool green aliens called Tharks shooting musket like guns (the main played by Willem Defoe!) But there's also an unconvincing love-story placed on top where the two main characters share zero chemistry. Ironically the film has fine performances all round, but when the sole heart of the film fails to deliver none of the later really matters in the end. It's like if you ordered a really delicious ice-cream Sunday and instead of having the cherry on top (assuming to like and/or can eat them) there is a dead fly on it. Unfortunately the film's lead, played by Taylor Kitsch, is just overall bland and uninteresting.

Also what the heck is it with the Thern's. Basically servants of some deity, the Thern's (the main one played Mark Strong) simply control things behind the scenes because they can. Strong's character even mentions this to Carter in a later part of the film; the fact that they are immortal basically gives them the right to play in the universes' sandbox. Really that's it? Not sure if clever philosophical statements exist behind the overall point of the Thern's plan or if it's just a result of lazy writing (again it's Borough's story so it could be his doing).

Overall John Carter may satisfy the hungry masses as a solid popcorn flick, however you should look elsewhere if your want something less over-the-top and something more engrossing.