John Carter Moview Review
by June K. Williams
Did you miss seeing John Carter on the big screen? I very nearly did. After an enjoyable couple of hours watching John Carter I asked myself why this movie did not do better at the box office. Were there not enough explosions and graphic battle scenes (although there were plenty) to appeal to a public that even expects their bottled water to be sold as X-Treme? Were the John Carter purests upset that two books were merged into one film and some changes were made along the way? Or was it that as my film going companions had said, “the movie wasn’t dark enough by today’s standards to be adult, and too complex for the kids.”? Why should I bother to speculate when I can bring you good tidings. John Carter of Mars is better than the last three Star Wars movies. There, I said it and may the Lucas not descend upon me and rend me from limb to limb.
The settings on Mars were beautiful, strange and yet not too fantastical. The races/species were diverse and their cultures interesting. Instead of Jar-Jar Binks and the Gungans, John Carter brings you Tars Tarkas, Jeddak and Sola the Thark with a tender heart. The Thark species, a six limbed green warlike Darwinian bunch, are far better developed and seem so much more real than the Gungans ever did. The lead characters were engaging. Taylor Kitsch as John Carter and Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris were believable and worth rooting for. I enjoyed having Dejah Thoris as not just a strong warrior princess but also a brilliant scientist. Even Daryl Sabara struck just the right note as Edgar Rice Burroughs. Of course it was Woola, John Carter’s self-appointed caretaker that stole my heart.
How can you not love this Calot that is so dog-like in nature with a frog-like mouth and three rows of teeth that slobbers all over the square jawed stubborn hero and will jump and tear about the planet to stay by his side? As to black hats, there were enough to keep things moving nicely. The scariest was Matai Shang, a shape shifter with many powers whose people have been manipulating the downfall of sentient species since before our solar system held life. This is quite different from the Therns of the books of Edgar Rice Burroughs but as far as I’m concerned it males both Matai Shang and the Therns (his species) far more interesting and deadly. In fact it makes them a threat to Earth (Jarsoom) and a perfect way to segue into a sequel. If fans can get Disney to re-release this film for a summer run such a sequel might just happen. If not, try to find a screen near you where this is still playing and give it a shot.
I rate this film a solid A-.
by June K. Williams
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