Not such a long time ago, in a galaxy that’s very familiar to us, Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote a classic novel that inspired many other storytellers since, (Arthur C. Clark to James Cameron.)
John Carter, originally penned as A Princess of Mars more than 100 years ago, was one of the first interplanetary romances ever written. The John Carter books became a popular series, although JC himself remained less famous than Burroughs other invention, Tarzan.
At the end of the 19th century, American Civil War veteran, John Carter (Kelowna born Taylor Kitsch), avoids capture from a band of Apaches by hiding in a cave. Inside this cave, Carter has a close encounter of the “Thern” kind, when he is magically transported to the planet Barsoom, aka Mars.
On Barsoom he meets a species of four-armed troglodytes (the Tharks) trapped between warring (human) inhabitants and a beautiful princess longing for peace, (Lynn Collins.) Everybody wants John Carter on their side as he has impressive “Earth” powers, due to Barsoom’s gravity and his own physiology. All John Carter wants to do is get home, but he can’t get around his current situation, he’s going to have to go through it.
Will John Carter fight off the baddies, become royalty and win the girl? Will he ever return to his miserable Earthen existence? Is this even a choice?
We say, “Watch it, it’s familiar fun.”
HOWE: John Carter is a great looking movie, the special effects are good, but nothing Earth shattering. The storyline flows nicely, but don’t nip out for popcorn or a loo break, you may miss something.
TAYLOR: The effects were awesome because you didn’t notice them. Sixty percent of this movie must have been animated. Weird character and place names lose me sometimes, but that’s all you could lose track of in this movie. The story, as they say in the trailer, inspired everything. Boy gets lost. Boy finds war. Boy finds girl. Boy loves girl. Boy fights war. War gets won. Girl gets won. Everybody wins except the bad guys. You’ve already enjoyed this movie, over and over again.
HOWE: Yeah, but I would watch it again just to see the princess.
TAYLOR: At just under two and a quarter hours, this film is asking for respect. This is meant to be a serious interpretation of the classic novel, transformed into a classic Disney film. I haven’t read the novel but I think it was an effective and entertaining movie. Although it’s sort of the same ol’ tale, I can’t knock the film for its originality due to its lateness in blooming.
HOWE: So did Disney turn John Carter into a classic film? I say “yes.” It kept me hooked and intrigued throughout and I can’t wait for the sequel. John Carter has got everything a classic sci-fi movie needs.
TAYLOR: Action, honour, mystery, magic and romance, and the tidiest battle scenes ever captured on film. Look maw, no mess!
–– Howe gives John Carter 3.5 eight legged space mutts out of 5.
–– Taylor gives it 3 loincloths out of 5.
The feature is currently showing at the Galaxy Cinemas in Vernon.
–– Vernon film enthusiasts Brian Taylor and Peter Howe write twice-weekly reviews for The Morning Star.
