John Carter Review

Justin and I saw John Carter on March 9, 2012. We liked it so much that we went to see it again in IMAX on March 11, 2012 with Vicious Vin aka Dad. This movie was fun and an incredible adventure to experience. John Carter was played by Taylor Kitsch, who you may know as Gambit in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Following an introduction that tells us how the actual name for Mars is Barsoom and it is the scene of a struggle between two civilizations, one trying to preserve the planet, while the other tries to take it over, we are led to believe in the year 1881 that John Carter has passed away. He has sent information to Edgar "Ned" Rice Burroughs, his nephew that he must locate something for him. The presence of the Thurns led by Mark Strong (who has the ability to disguise himself-similar to Mystique in X-Men) gives a weapon known as the Ninth Ray to Sab Than who is the Jeddak (leader) of the city of Zadanga. This weapon is used to rule Barsoom with an iron fist, and leads attacks on the city of Helium. Also, this weapon seems to have the ability to allow you to transport to other planets as is evident from Matai Shang's (Mark Strong's) knowledge of Earth (Jasoom) later on the movie. Now, Kitsch did a great job in the role of Carter. He looked like an action star for the movie. He had many interactions with different groups of individuals. He had previously been a Confederate cavalry officer from Virginia. We go back to 1868 where he is asked by officers of the US Army to assist them in getting rid of the Apaches, so they can mine the gold deposits. He escapes from the 7th cavalry and the Apaches with a Colonel Powell (Bryan Cranston-who seems to have a small part in everything), who actually recruited him for the missions they wanted with the Apaches. He discovers gold and through the power of the Ninth Ray and a medallion around the neck of a Thurn that goes to attack him and Powell, he is transported to the planet. He doesn't realize where he is and doesn't know why he can't really plant his feet on the ground at first. He jumps at high altitudes and far distances due to his bone density and the planet's lower gravity. Eventually, he comes face to face with the Tharks who remind me of a mix between Goro from Mortal Kombat and the Na'vi-they are 12 feet tall, green, with four arms and tusks on their mouths. Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) is the leader of the Tharks at this point and they are getting hatchlings and will take them back to camp and shape them in the Thark fashion. Carter is taken as a hatchling and Tars is very interested in what he can do as he is unlike anybody he's ever seen. It's vice versa for John of course. Zodanga and Helium's battle has raged on due to the Thurn's influence. The Princess of Helium, Dejah Thoris (another alumnus of X-Men Origins: Wolverine) is told by her father that the only way to end this conflict is to have her marry Sab. She refuses and during an awesome battle sequence she escapes and is rescued by John. Explanations show how it is possible John Carter has arrived on Barsoom as Dejah explains the power of the Ninth Ray. However, the influence of the Thurns is involved at every point of the movie. They whisper into the ears of those they want to carry out their deeds. This leads to the overthrow of Tars by Tal Haljus (Thomas Haden Church). This happens because as Matai Shang puts it, Sola (Tars daughter-who seems to be defiant to most of the Thark rules) led John Carter to the secrets of the planet. They are forced to compete in a gladiatorial style fight with the White Apes. John Carter, Tars and Sola are victorious and John even takes out Tal by beheading him. As this is happening, Dejah and Sab's wedding procession is taking place. John explains that the Tharks will not have any influence on what happens on Barsoom if this wedding takes place as the Therns and Zodanga will turn their airships and weapons at the Tharks next so they are the only ones left standing. They ride to Helium where the wedding is taking place and another amazing battle scene occurs. You have to keep watching Matai the whole time as he keeps disguising himself. After the Thurns and Zodanga are defeated, John weds Dejah. However, that cunning Matai is always around (it was believed he was killed). John throws his medallion away as he feels that Barsoom is where he belongs. He is then transported back to Jarsoom (Earth) because that cunning Matai knows how to play the game. We then go back to present day and Edgar realizes something about the mausoleum that John is "buried" in. John has actually been searching for a medallion for ten years to transport himself back home and he used his nephew as bait for this. He tracks the Therns following Edgar and is able to transport himself home. This movie as I said is filled with a great story, amazing characters, phenomenal action sequences, and a genuinely interesting conept. Now, I was reading something the other day that really bothered me. People are saying that John Carter isn't original at all and copies from Star Wars and Avatar. Well, let me tell you something. It's actually the other way around. The John Carter of Mars series of novels (11 total) have been in existence since 1912. The material you see in this movie comes straight from those. Edgar Rice Burroughs created an interesting concept that had been in production for 79 years. Shooting didn't commence until 2010. Though I am a huge fan of both Avatar and Star Wars, they borrowed many of their ideas straight from this and it's pretty evident. For instance, Matai Shang is easily Emperor Palpatine and the Thurns are the Sith, the outfits and airships in Return of the Jedi are from this, and the Tharks are the inspiration for the Na'vi. It's all fine as many people borrow from each other. I just don't like the critics saying John Carter is the one stealing the ideas when in fact they are the ones that launched the influence for the other movies. This movie is an easy 5/5 for me. I loved everything about it. Justin really enjoyed it. Dad was very entertained by it too. He liked how it all connected. Definitely worth it. I've already seen it twice haha.