“John Carter” is the mysterious new science-fiction action film from Disney and starring a relative unknown. Based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs story “A Princess of Mars” and directed by Andrew Stanton, the director of animated blockbusters “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E,” “John Carter” is an expensive, modestly entertaining piece of junk. The film is about Confederate captain John Carter (“Friday Night Lights’” Taylor Kitsch), who is mysteriously transported to Mars (known as Barsoom here) where he becomes part of a conflict between various nations of the planets, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). Carter then takes it upon himself to save Barsoom and its people. Most of the plot “John Carter” borders on the ridiculous (Burroughs would shudder at this adaptation) and the handsome but bland Kitsch is called upon to carry what could be a tentpole movie on his back, which is the film’s biggest mistake, along with the miscasting of the older Collins as the young princess. Unsurprisingly, given Stanton’s cred as an animated film director, the action sequences and special effects are the highlight and where most of the film’s gigantic $250 million budget went to. “John Carter” isn't an awful film, but for the hefty price tag, the film should’ve been marketed considerably more focusing on its star Kitsch, who will have more opportunities this year to show what he’s worth (“Battleship” anyone?). “John Carter” is an average action film that will have difficulty finding a wide audience…in other words, it’s a disappointment considering all that went into it.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
John Carter - C
Rated PG-13, 132 minutes
“John Carter” is the mysterious new science-fiction action film from Disney and starring a relative unknown. Based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs story “A Princess of Mars” and directed by Andrew Stanton, the director of animated blockbusters “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E,” “John Carter” is an expensive, modestly entertaining piece of junk. The film is about Confederate captain John Carter (“Friday Night Lights’” Taylor Kitsch), who is mysteriously transported to Mars (known as Barsoom here) where he becomes part of a conflict between various nations of the planets, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). Carter then takes it upon himself to save Barsoom and its people. Most of the plot “John Carter” borders on the ridiculous (Burroughs would shudder at this adaptation) and the handsome but bland Kitsch is called upon to carry what could be a tentpole movie on his back, which is the film’s biggest mistake, along with the miscasting of the older Collins as the young princess. Unsurprisingly, given Stanton’s cred as an animated film director, the action sequences and special effects are the highlight and where most of the film’s gigantic $250 million budget went to. “John Carter” isn't an awful film, but for the hefty price tag, the film should’ve been marketed considerably more focusing on its star Kitsch, who will have more opportunities this year to show what he’s worth (“Battleship” anyone?). “John Carter” is an average action film that will have difficulty finding a wide audience…in other words, it’s a disappointment considering all that went into it.
“John Carter” is the mysterious new science-fiction action film from Disney and starring a relative unknown. Based on the Edgar Rice Burroughs story “A Princess of Mars” and directed by Andrew Stanton, the director of animated blockbusters “Finding Nemo” and “WALL-E,” “John Carter” is an expensive, modestly entertaining piece of junk. The film is about Confederate captain John Carter (“Friday Night Lights’” Taylor Kitsch), who is mysteriously transported to Mars (known as Barsoom here) where he becomes part of a conflict between various nations of the planets, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). Carter then takes it upon himself to save Barsoom and its people. Most of the plot “John Carter” borders on the ridiculous (Burroughs would shudder at this adaptation) and the handsome but bland Kitsch is called upon to carry what could be a tentpole movie on his back, which is the film’s biggest mistake, along with the miscasting of the older Collins as the young princess. Unsurprisingly, given Stanton’s cred as an animated film director, the action sequences and special effects are the highlight and where most of the film’s gigantic $250 million budget went to. “John Carter” isn't an awful film, but for the hefty price tag, the film should’ve been marketed considerably more focusing on its star Kitsch, who will have more opportunities this year to show what he’s worth (“Battleship” anyone?). “John Carter” is an average action film that will have difficulty finding a wide audience…in other words, it’s a disappointment considering all that went into it.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment