Odie
Charter Member
Okay, just a disclaimer....I loved the ERB's books and still reread them from time to time, so I went into the movie after seeing the trailers with high hopes. Visually, they got the world of John Carter of Mars right....stunning in design. I wasn't so sure about the plot, tho, or how they would do certain events in the movie.
They did alter the storyline for the movie. The book had a lot of plot threads and there were some elements that just couldn't be included in a little over 2 hour movie AND some things that Hollywood thought the viewing public wouldn't "get". However, that aside, the movie works as a western-turned-fantasy adventure. If you've read the book "A Princess of Mars", the first of the series, and liked it, I think you'll like the film. It's a good 2 hour "summer" film with a swashbuckling flair to it. Get a soda, popcorn, and a box of Milk Duds and enjoy.....yeah, there's an ATM in the lobby so you can afford the snacks! It's a film that works well on the large screen.
If you haven't read the book(s), I highly recommend reading the series. TIP: Be sure to read the FOREWARD, it sets the mood of the books. There are a couple of nice nods to ERB (including his portrayal in the film as John Carter's nephew; as it was in the books). I think you can get the eBooks (the first 5 volumes) fairly cheaply.
When the wife and I got to the theater, the 3D version was next on tap so we saw it. This was our first 3D movie and I gotta tell you, I wasn't impressed. Viewing the movie through the glasses put a haze over it that while showed the 3D effects, seemed to dim the overall sharpness of the picture. Then again, my 56 year old eyes aren't that sharp any more so mileage may vary. I'm going to see the non-3D version tomorrow (hey, maybe the ending is different!).
To me, "A Princess of Mars" the book is better than the movie, but for the trade-offs that had to be done to bring it to the screen and to a mass audience, I think the Producers did an admirable balancing act, and an entertaining one at that.
They did alter the storyline for the movie. The book had a lot of plot threads and there were some elements that just couldn't be included in a little over 2 hour movie AND some things that Hollywood thought the viewing public wouldn't "get". However, that aside, the movie works as a western-turned-fantasy adventure. If you've read the book "A Princess of Mars", the first of the series, and liked it, I think you'll like the film. It's a good 2 hour "summer" film with a swashbuckling flair to it. Get a soda, popcorn, and a box of Milk Duds and enjoy.....yeah, there's an ATM in the lobby so you can afford the snacks! It's a film that works well on the large screen.
If you haven't read the book(s), I highly recommend reading the series. TIP: Be sure to read the FOREWARD, it sets the mood of the books. There are a couple of nice nods to ERB (including his portrayal in the film as John Carter's nephew; as it was in the books). I think you can get the eBooks (the first 5 volumes) fairly cheaply.
When the wife and I got to the theater, the 3D version was next on tap so we saw it. This was our first 3D movie and I gotta tell you, I wasn't impressed. Viewing the movie through the glasses put a haze over it that while showed the 3D effects, seemed to dim the overall sharpness of the picture. Then again, my 56 year old eyes aren't that sharp any more so mileage may vary. I'm going to see the non-3D version tomorrow (hey, maybe the ending is different!).
To me, "A Princess of Mars" the book is better than the movie, but for the trade-offs that had to be done to bring it to the screen and to a mass audience, I think the Producers did an admirable balancing act, and an entertaining one at that.