More JOHN CARTER Reviews Now Online

"Under the watchful eye of Pixar’s Andrew Stanton (Wall-E, Finding Nemo), John Carter is epic in scale, lavish in its detail, and surprisingly funny – Stanton displays a certain reverence to his source material, but remembers to have fun with it. There’s an innocent charm to John Carter that recalls old serials like Flash Gordon, or Ray Harryhausen’s Greek mythological epics like Jason And The Argonauts. This is an aspect frequently missing in modern cinema, where even traditional heroes have to possess some dark, brooding motivation for their actions. What John Carter does have in its favour, however, is charm, and lots of it. Its fight scenes are well shot and at times extraordinary. Its effects are handsome and seamlessly integrated – the thought that the Tharks were mere digital creations didn’t even cross my mind until the final credits rolled, which is an achievement itself – and Andrew Stanton’s creativity, humour and expertise are apparent from beginning to end."

"If I had to describe "John Carter" to the uninitiated, I'd tell them to imagine a film that was a cross between "Star Wars," "Flash Gordon" and "Avatar" with dashes of "Superman" and "Conan the Barbarian" mixed in. I'm a major Star Wars nut, but I have no problem saying that "John Carter" was closer to a good Star Wars movie than any of the prequels. It had the right mix of action, humor, aliens, spaceships, and magic that gave it a Star Wars feel. What's great is that Stanton made a film that will speak to fans of pulp and sci-fi, yet this story in no way alienates general audiences. And what's even more mind-blowing is that Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote this 100 years ago. All those other films I mentioned should probably thank Burroughs for the original inspiration."

"Andrew Stanton’s John Carter is often spectacular, with stunning action and thrilling moments. It’s a film that captures the pulpy, swashbuckling sensibilities of Edgar Rice Burroughs while updating much of the whiz bang for an audience a century older than the original novels. In fact the film is so good, so close to great, that it’s incredibly frustrating when it can’t quite get there. I didn’t love John Carter, but I liked it a whole lot. What it gets right it gets right with wonderful gusto. And what it doesn’t get right... well, there are about ten more books to adapt, and I’d like to see Andrew Stanton have another go at it. I think next time he could do it perfectly."

"Star Wars, Avatar, and John Carter. That’s the cinema progression although by now everyone knows that the 100 year old John Carter books by Edgar Rice Burroughs came first and inspired both Lucas and Cameron. Let’s get a few confessions out of the way: First, I’m a devotee of the books. I read them all as a kid and John Carter of Mars is a precious thing to me, something I’ve waited to see on the screen for more decades than I care to count. This means I’m predisposed to want to like this film and I’m hoping for the best; but it also means I will be demanding of the film-makers because I know how extraordinary it ought to be. So what has Andrew Stanton given us? My consider answer after viewing the film and digesting it for two days: He has given us a gem that shines bright and true with a light all its own. Stanton has taken the grandmaster’s story but he’s made it his own and it’s fresh and emotionally stirring in ways that are unexpected and make you want to see it a second time, and soon. The gem is not without a few rough edges and I will get to them over the course of this review — but make no mistake the core brilliance is unmistakable, undeniable, and richly satisfying."

"John Carter is an oddly underblown epic, which at least makes a nice change from the overblown bombast that normally parades itself as the sci-fi blockbuster. The film’s often immense fun, with some outstanding action and effects, clever directorial flourishes from Andrew Stanton, a colourful range of characters and a (clearly Pixar-inspired) comedy alien dog that’s actually funny. The motion-capture Tharks (towering green Martians) are hugely impressive, and, indeed, expressive; they truly do let the heavyweight actors beneath the CG breathe through. The production design – part steampunk, part Hornblower, part John Ford Western – gives the film a pleasingly unique visual quality. A vast, clanking walking city, in particular, is breathtakingly realised. There are moments when the film soars, only to stall and sputter on a well-meaning but extraneous – or overlong – character moment. All in all, this is one trip to Mars you won’t regret."

"John Carter is a fantastic fusion of old-fashioned adventure excitement and modern blockbuster spectacle. In short, it's wonderful. It's refreshing to see a modern special effects film that never loses sight of its characters amongst all of the spectacle. And spectacular it is. Though we have a pretty good idea of what Mars is actually like, the filmmakers behind John Carter have taken Burroughs' source material and created a grand fantasy version filled with strange symmetrical landscapes, alien architecture and various forms of life that we instantly buy into. The film isn't entirely perfect, though. The film continues the modern trend in cinema of having characters travel to faraway places and then back again just for the sake of expository information, and the film is in such a hurry to get to its great ending that it leaves the final battle feeling a bit limp and without a feeling of closure. Those minor problems aside, John Carter is wondrous, exciting and emotional entertainment that ends on exactly the right note. It's that rare epic that's not only visually spectacular, but full of heart. My hope is that it will be successful enough to warrant the sequels it so rightly deserves, for it would definitely be a shame not to return to Barsoom again in the near future."