# John Carter (of Mars) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 8, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203 "2012-03-08T22:06:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/1 "2012-03-08T22:06:25Z")
So I saw \*John Carter \*tonight. Good movie. Actually, it was a damn good movie, even a great one, despite a weak first third. It came \*this \*close to being another _Clash of the Titans_, but it was such an obvious labor of love - and made by such talented people - that it came off as sincere rather than cheesy. Once the clunky exposition was out of the way, the movie was pure, unadulterated fun. Don’t miss it. Even if it bombs in the box office like everyone says it will, don’t write it off. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/2 "2012-03-08T23:18:45Z")
Solid “meh” from me. The best part was the 5 minutes in New Mexico at the beginning of the movie with Bryan Cranston. Nothing particularly horrible about it (though the CGI on the baby Tharks – example of a problem in discussion with three people who hadn’t read the book, not one of the understood correctly what was happening at the egg pit – were poorly executed. I understand that Andrew Stanton just decided to present the reality of the book without any nod at all to us knowing what Mars is really like, or us having plenty of video evidence of what a low gravity environment (lower than Mars to boot) looks like. But I cant’ unknow what I know so would have preferred they fanwank Carter’s abillity to jump essentially unlimited distances beyond “greater muscle density.” I won’t begrudge anybody who likes it a lot, like I said, it doesn’t suck. But it all felt very familiar, which it really shouldn’t have. And yes, it is a popcorn movie but I really expected a stronger sense of story from something written by Andrew Stanton (Wall-E) and Michael Chabon. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 9:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/3 "2012-03-10T09:11:15Z")
It was pretty good. Better than the trailers made it look, but no where near Finding Nemo levels of quality. Some of the dialogue was very cheesy, and I really disliked that there were other humans on Mars (why were the aliens seemingly puzzled as to what he was anyway?). I realize that’s a problem with the source material, but eh. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/4 "2012-03-10T13:23:41Z")
I will go see it soon. The predictions of failure pissed me off because none of it had anything to do with how good or bad the movie is. Those speculating hadn’t seen it. It was all about the size of the budget. I don’t care about the business side, just if I’m going to enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/5 "2012-03-10T16:34:49Z")
Went to see it with my wife. She has not read the book it’s based on, I have. She had a lot of trouble following the characters and the story. She particularly felt that the lead characters were not all that likable or interesting. Thinking about it, I agreed. I’ll spoiler why, just in case. [spoiler]In the book, John Carter is a civilizing influence on the tharks, he teaches them that treating their woolas and riding beasts kindly makes them better more useful animals. And that treating one another more kindly has its advantages, too, which helped make him a more sympathetic character. MOST of this gets left out of the movie. Also, in the book, Carter falls for Dejah Thoris almost the minute he lays eyes on her. He’s not the whiny, petulant reluctant hero that he is in the movie. And the murdered family that was in the movie was also not in the book. An altogether stupid change IMHO. There was way too much plot happening in the story to have Carter whining that “I’m not GONNA fight!” Or jump. John Carter was BORN to fight and to love Dejah Thoris! Let John Carter be John Carter! And without a sympathetic lead, the story lost a lot of its impact.[/spoiler] My wife also thought Lynn Collins looked kinda butch to be “the incomparable Dejah Thoris.” And she does have a bit of a jaw and a big chin and her skin looked kinda rough. She had a very fit body, but I liked that, and I liked the skill with which she fought in the VERY few and VERY brief scenes where she fought. (She is a FIGHTING Martian princess, for Issus’ sake! There were other issues too, but with all that said, the story rolls right along, you won’t find yourself twitching in your seat, and the Martian landscapes and cities and flyers were SPECTACULAR, I found the movie a real treat for the eyes, so I … kinda enjoyed it, overall. It was a good watch, I look forward to seeing it again on cable TV when it gets there. I watched it in 3D, I thought they did a good job with it, I recommend the 3D version. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/6 "2012-03-10T17:01:50Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > So I saw \*John Carter \*tonight. Good movie. > > Actually, it was a damn good movie, even a great one, despite a weak first third. It came \*this \*close to being another _Clash of the Titans_, but it was such an obvious labor of love - and made by such talented people - that it came off as sincere rather than cheesy. Once the clunky exposition was out of the way, the movie was pure, unadulterated fun. > > Don’t miss it. Even if it bombs in the box office like everyone says it will, don’t write it off. Think there’ll be a sequel? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/7 "2012-03-10T17:41:53Z")
We loved it! Really great film, and pretty true to the material. Out-of-this world cinematography. Do see it. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/8 "2012-03-10T18:06:53Z")
I enjoyed it quite a bit! I haven’t read the story so I went in blind. Maybe that was a good thing. It had cheesy moments and I think it could have been better but it was fun. I would love to see it again in 3D. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/9 "2012-03-10T18:30:43Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Think there’ll be a sequel? Based on early box office figures, no. But the story is left open enough for more films. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/10 "2012-03-10T18:32:44Z")
Would my knowing what the threat to both Earth _and_ Mars is spoil anything for me? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/11 "2012-03-10T18:43:07Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Would my knowing what the threat to both Earth _and_ Mars is spoil anything for me? Yeah, it’ll spoil what IMHO is the most chilling scene in the film. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/12 "2012-03-10T21:23:41Z")
I am a huge fan of ERB’s original novels. I bought the Ballentyne paperbacks with lawn mowing and snow shoveling money when I was in grade school. I still have them. That being said, I was afraid that it would be turned into a “Hollywood as usual” treatment that bears no resemblance at all to the source material. I was delightfully surprised. It would be nice for it to do enough box office to warrant a sequel and maybe a long series. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/13 "2012-03-10T22:04:46Z")
My wife had not read the book either and said it was one of the best movies she had EVER seen. I liked it too. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/14 "2012-03-11T00:02:16Z")
I saw it this evening. It’s been a long time since I read any of them, save for a Princess of Mars, but I don’t recall some of the aspects of the plot. Perhaps I need to begin a spoiler thread. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/15 "2012-03-11T01:54:25Z")
Wait, this is out already? I figured it wasn’t going to be until summer. I know one thing I’m going to do over Spring Break, then. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/16 "2012-03-11T04:38:50Z")
As I understand it, Princess of Mars is so far out of copyright even the Mouse can’t prevent others from working with it. So there may be others ripping off the success of the Disney version even if does not make back its enormous budget. And lets face it, Barsoom is MADE for 80s style B-movie nekkid sword and sorcery films! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/17 "2012-03-11T07:19:43Z")
> [@Evil\_Captor](#): > > As I understand it, Princess of Mars is so far out of copyright even the Mouse can’t prevent others from working with it. So there may be others ripping off the success of the Disney version even if does not make back its enormous budget. And lets face it, Barsoom is MADE for 80s style B-movie nekkid sword and sorcery films! Disney owns some _titles_, but yes, it is out of copyright. Somebody else already made one a year ago, co-staring Traci Lords. It was horrible, and there wasn’t even naked girls in it either. It’s actually hard to do a Barsoom movie well. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/18 "2012-03-11T14:07:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Disney owns some _titles_, but yes, it is out of copyright. > > Somebody else already made one a year ago, co-staring Traci Lords. It was horrible, and there wasn’t even naked girls in it either. > > It’s actually hard to do a Barsoom movie well. Well, yes, if you’re too stupid to put naked girls in it. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/19 "2012-03-11T15:11:42Z")
How much does the film differ from the novels? [Spoilers.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=644837) ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2012, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203/20 "2012-03-11T16:10:06Z")
We saw it last night. I haven’t read the books, but I didn’t have any trouble finding the leads to be sympathetic characters. I thought it was good fun. I downloaded the book pretty much as soon as we got home last night, and I’m amazed at how fast the action is. It’s also kind of funny, which I didn’t expect. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-carter-of-mars/615203.md?page=2)