A quick science fiction film checklist
1.      A lone human hero with the fate of a world in his hands – check
2.      A beautiful princess in need of help – check
3.      Strange alien creatures – check
4.      A villain out to control the world – check
5.      A whole lot of fun at the movie theater – check

John Carter features many of the traditional plot points and the typical scenarios that we have come to expect in a sci-fi adventure film that we have come to expect.  Some may feel that John Carter is a rip-off of a variety of other science fiction films; however those people are probably unaware that it is based on a novel that was first published nearly 100 years ago.  In fact A Princess of Mars, the book that this movie is based on has helped to inspire many of our favorite science fiction books and movies.  Personally I found John Carter to be a very entertaining movie that featured good directing, acting, and believable special effects.

Director Andrew Stanton (WALL-E, Finding Nemo) makes his live action directing debut with John Carter, and actor Taylor Kitsch (TVs Friday Night Lights) gets his first shot taking on the lead role in a big theatrical movie (we will get to see him again in this summer’s Battleship).  Together they do a very good job of introducing the world of Barsoom to the big screen; Barsoom is Martians name for Mars.  Having not read the book A Princess of Mars I am not able to compare it to the movie, however I can say that having enjoyed the movie I do plan on seeking out the book so that I can enjoy this story in a different medium and compare the two.

John Carter is the story of a Confederate Civil War veteran who after the war and the death of his family simply wants to live his life not following orders and seeking his fortune.  He goes off in search of a legendary “cave of gold” and while escaping from an attack by a group of Apaches he discovers his cave.  In the cave he encounters a strange alien who transports John to Mars.  John suddenly awakens in a desert where he struggles to move as his body reacts differently to the new atmosphere.  Through trial and error he quickly discovers that on this new planet he has increased strength and speed, and he can leap long distances (much like the Hulk).  While he is still getting used to his new surroundings Carter encounters one of Barsoom’s two dominate races, the Thark (4 armed green aliens that stand taller than a human) lead by Tars Tarkas (voiced by Willem Defoe).  Tars sees how John’s strength can be used to help the Thark and so he quickly welcomes him to his tribe.

Meanwhile Barsoom’s other race the humanoid red aliens are engaged in a war between their two controlling cities; the evil Zodanga and the more peaceful Helium.  As we are introduced to the leader of the Zodanga, Sab Than (Dominic West), we see him given a powerful weapon by the leader of a shadowy alien race,Matai Shang (Mark Strong yet again playing a films villain), known as the Therns.  The Therns are attempting to guide events on the planet that will eventually lead to Barsoom’s destruction.  Part of his plan is to have Sab Than marry the princess of Helium, Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins).  She of course wants no part of it and flees and during her escape she encounters our hero John Carter. Soon the two of them embark on an adventure where he hopes to return home to Earth and she seeks to have John help her defeat Zodanga and help save Barsoom.

As previously stated I really enjoyed John Carter, when the movie finished my first thought was that I wish the Star Wars prequels had been more like it.  The story was easy to follow and featured a number of standout action sequences, including a gladiator style fight against large “white apes,” battles between ships that sail through the sky on light and of course the big climatic battle at the end of the movie.  Each of these scenes will grab the audience’s attention and have them glued to their seats.

The film features believable CGI alien creatures that are new and unique in their appearance, some are fierce and scary such as the white apes, while others are a bit cuter such as John’s dog-like alien companion Woola.  Tars Tarkas and the other Tharks are also portrayed in a believable manner that allows the audience to view them more like actors in the movie and not just as a CG spectacle (which often will take me out of the movie’s narrative).

I saw the film in 3D when I went and for the most part it was very well done.  It was not the cheap crap flying out of the screen 3D but instead simply added depth to the films visuals.  However as I have found with other 3D movies dark scenes become a bit harder to follow due to the darkness of the scene combined with the darker tint of the 3D glasses.  Thankfully the majority of the movie takes place on a bright desert planet so it’s not a big issue until the scenes final battle that takes place at night.

I highly recommend seeing John Carter during its theatrical run, and unless you are huge fan of 3D I would say to see it in 2D.  I give John Carter four out of five popcorn buckets.