Not gonna lie I loved it. Flat out loved it. John Carter was a great film! If Disney continues to make great films like Pirates of the Caribbean: The Black Pearl, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, Alice in Wonderland, and John Carter then my movie collection will have a section specifically titled Disney films.
Anyway, back to John Carter. Like I said it was great. Story flowed well, acting was great, beautiful costumes, well designed CG effects, creative engineering designs (i.e. buildings, structures, vehicles), and well selected funny moments. I kind of watched the film and at one point I felt as though I was watching a steampunk space story. Some of the tech they were using resembled futuristic looking steampunk tech to me. That's what I think at least. My favorite thing in the film was the dog. You'll know it when you see it. I sadly can't remember what he was or what he was called. But I thought he was so cute. The interaction between CG characters and live actors was beautifully managed. I actually forgot the aliens weren't really there. Story was good as the character John Carter learned things so did the audience. There were a few scenes the audience did see but not much was explained about them. Fight scenes were good. The blood was...how should I put it...entertaining. The whole film was a great adventure. The ending did leave a "to be continued" feel. Kind of how the end of Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End was. However, I did find out that they did make this film planning for it to be the first of a trilogy and I have no problem with this. In fact, I'm looking forward to the next one.
Anyway, back to John Carter. Like I said it was great. Story flowed well, acting was great, beautiful costumes, well designed CG effects, creative engineering designs (i.e. buildings, structures, vehicles), and well selected funny moments. I kind of watched the film and at one point I felt as though I was watching a steampunk space story. Some of the tech they were using resembled futuristic looking steampunk tech to me. That's what I think at least. My favorite thing in the film was the dog. You'll know it when you see it. I sadly can't remember what he was or what he was called. But I thought he was so cute. The interaction between CG characters and live actors was beautifully managed. I actually forgot the aliens weren't really there. Story was good as the character John Carter learned things so did the audience. There were a few scenes the audience did see but not much was explained about them. Fight scenes were good. The blood was...how should I put it...entertaining. The whole film was a great adventure. The ending did leave a "to be continued" feel. Kind of how the end of Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End was. However, I did find out that they did make this film planning for it to be the first of a trilogy and I have no problem with this. In fact, I'm looking forward to the next one.
The only thing that bugs me is how far they seem to want to separate themselves from the book series this is based on.
ReplyDeleteThe Mars series is classic sci-fi fun that I am glad it is being presented to a new generation, but with no reference to the book series, how will this generation find its way?
Let me clarify just a bit
DeleteI don't care when a movie diverges from a book, no matter how good a book is, I don't want to watch a book word for word. I want some new stuff.
My problem is, ultimately the movie should funnel people back to the books. Harry potter, twilight, etc. All increased reading.
John Carter (Warlord of Mars/Princess of Mars) does not seem to be getting the same treatment. Even with the passing reference to 'by that guy that made Tarzan' it seems as if Disney is trying to pass it off as an original idea.
I'm glad you posted your second comment to clarify. On a first note, after seeing the movie my husband and I went and tracked down the first five books of the Barsoom series. However, that was mostly because hubby wanted to reread them. I've never read the books before so I have no say there.
DeleteOn a contrary note, the biggest thing that happened that probably related back to the book was how John Carter was able to interact on Mars. I knew as I watched the trailer and the movie that the presence of water, oxygen, and a lower gravity on Mars were all wrong according to science. Any film making a story like that now a days should know better than to have those aspects on Mars and should make it another planet (like a fictional one in another solar system). It wasn't until we left the theater did my husband tell me that Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote this book, Princess of Mars, years before mankind ever landed on the moon. This explained a lot of things and the fact that the film kept true to the book's original content (in that aspect) was actually cool to me.