All audience reviews of John Carter

John Carter for me might one of the biggest disappointments of the year but despite that I found myself quite enjoying the movie for much of its running length. Author Edgar Rice Burroughs is the man responsible for inventing the character of John Carter back in the early twentieth century which in turn has been the inspiration for countless sci-fi adventures right from Flash Gordon to Star Wars. Now Finding Nemo director Andrew Stanton and his team finally bring the original hero to the big screen backed by a massive production budget and long gruelling and extensive shoot.

The story concerns a former confederate soldier, John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) during the civil war who is magically transported to Mars while hiding out in a cave on the run from Native Americans. There he discovers himself to be a bit of a superhero thanks to the different gravitational pull of the planet and soon finds himself embroiled in a civil war between different races on the planet including one that isnt quite humanoid. How he helps out one side win, while also helping the indigenous population of Barsoom (as the Martians call their planet). Plenty of leaping, sword fights, alien ships later John Carter ends with grand promises of a sequel, one that I doubt will ever happen.

The start is clunky and the exposition is clunky with little to distinguish the two humanoid races, other than the colour of their insignia. However once the movies pace kicks in, things start going up hill from there, resulting in a classic, old-school action-adventure movie that while offering solid entertainment will never manage to blow your socks off and thats where the failing of John Carter lies. While the printed material might have been the inspiration for all the grand space operas that came later, they came much before this one did and you have already seen much of what transpires on screen before in other movies.

The effects are top-notch, the 3D is alright, the acting is alright but the tone is too bland and the story not the most excitingly original. I have to however say, that some of the cinematography is amazing to behold and you have to watch this movie on the big screen to truly appreciate it. Just keep your hopes and expectations a little low and youll be pleasantly surprised. less

Good movie to watch. less

Walking into a hall full of kids in pin drop silence is not an everyday sight. For me it's already a positive statement for the movie. 5 minutes into the movie i was hooked on like a trout to the fishing line and the is not something that happens very often.

John Carter is a movie based on the 1917 science fantasy novel, A Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It tells the story of Carter, a confederate of the American Civil War, who is transported to mars, or as the locals call it, Barsoom. The difference in the physical parameters of the planets results in Carter acquiring super human abilities that make him an asset to the four armed, green inhabitants, the Tharks. One thing leads to another and he finds himself in the middle of another war and in love with the warrior princess of Helium.

Admittedly, the plot is a little thick but it's not something that a person with a decent IQ can not figure out soon enough. The locals are all fighting for water and the villains supreme, The Holy Therns, are acting like gods and enjoying the show. what's so difficult to figure out. The problem, i suppose is that the stark and masaala free script cannot appeal much to the Indian Audience.
This movie is one that requires a cup of imagination that is not already full; and it is certainly not for the everyday romance lover. You should only go for this movie if you are a true sci-fi lover.

Every action had a reason and purpose behind it. Why Carter was doing what he was, why were the tribes fighting, what was the purpose of the Therns the connections were well established. For me the movie was like a perfectly baked cookie, with all the ingredients in perfect proportion. A big dollop of sci-fi, a Packet of imagination, a tablespoon of romance and a spas of conspiracy Voila..!! We have John Carter! less

When the first trailers of John Carter hit, I was secretly excited. I must admit that I enjoy such cheesy commercial Hollywood studio stuff where big bucks are spent on mindless action and frivolous visual gimmickry. Unfortunately John Carter fails to deliver the promise of being the next big 3-D blockbuster.

The story follows swashbuckling military man John Carter in 19th century America, who by some spidery space portal gets transported to Mars and develops super human powers due to the gravitational change. Once on Mars, he fights and then ultimately befriends the native aliens who are in a civil war with the red humans. John falls in love with the red human Princess Deja, who in turn must be saved from the evil king of another state. Confused? Well so was I throughout this lengthy space saga.

The screenplay leaps and jumps much like John Carter himself. The plot takes ages to establish itself and then rushes through the crucial points of catharsis and epiphany. The characters themselves seem confused and lost in space.

Taylor Kitsch as John Carter looks too much like a high school jock to deliver the charm and rustic appeal of a western outlaw, a character Harrison Ford made his own in the Indiana Jones series.

The 3-D work is all done in post and besides a couple of scenes, John Carter really is the poor man's Avataar. Director Andrew Stanton, who has given us such memorable films as Finding Nemo and Wall-E seems to have lost the Midas touch. John Cater does not engage or entertain as one has come to expect from a director of Stanton's calibre.

All in all, this one is really an effort down the drain ; and thats because of it's own doing. 2 stars less