OTHER SCIENCE FICTION SERIES

John Carter reviews

POSTED BY: CHRISISALL
UPDATED: Sunday, April 1, 2012 04:03
SHORT URL: http://bit.ly/wSIinu
VIEWED: 15020
PAGE 2 of 2

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 3:28 AM

TWO

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly


Some people were confused by Firefly, complaining: "When there are spaceships, why would anyone ride horses? When there are laser guns, why are there gunpowder guns in Firefly?" Roger Ebert, movie reviewer at the Chicago Sun-Times, had that same class of complaints against John Carter. His negative opinion kept me from watching until Monday night. Ebert's first two paragraphs:
Quote:

I don't see any way to begin a review of "John Carter" without referring to "Through Time and Space With Ferdinand Feghoot." That was a series of little stories that appeared in the magazine Fantasy and Science Fiction from 1956 to 1973 and had a great influence on my development as a critic. In one of the Feghoot adventures, the hero finds himself on Mars and engaged in bloody swordplay. He is sliced in the leg. Then in the other leg. Then an arm is hacked off. "To hell with this," Feghoot exclaims, unholstering his ray gun and vaporizing his enemies.

I may have one or two details wrong, but you understand the point: When superior technology is at hand, it seems absurd for heroes to limit themselves to swords. When airships the size of a city block can float above a battle, why handicap yourself with cavalry charges involving lumbering alien rhinos? When it is possible to teleport yourself from Earth to Mars, why are you considered extraordinary because you can jump really high? http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120307/REV
IEWS/120309985

Was Ebert asleep at the movies? There was a single super weapon powered by the 9th ray. The teleporter technology, which Carter stumbled upon back on Earth, was unknown to Martians.

The Joss Whedon script for "Serenity," where Wash lives, is
Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/two

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 2:50 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


In spite of my earlier skepticism and indifference to this movie, I took my fellow Browncoats' opinions to heart and went to see John Carter this afternoon. Well,...

Chris, the other day you started a thread about Armageddon being a great popcorn flick. That's all this one is too, although it is better than Armageddon. From my vague memory of the book I know that several things were changed, although I suppose that was inevitable. Burrough's Carter simply wished himself to Mars, but here there is a super villainous race that has a special amulet that makes it happen. While it made sense that Carter would have difficulty walking in the lighter gravity at first, it was taken to ridiculous lengths later when he was able to jump extreme distances and heights.

The Tharks were the best part of the film. Each of the main ones were easily distinguishable from each other due their personality. However, there were several instances where more than one of them made the comment that Tharks don't fly. How then do they master the flying craft at the end of the film to aid Carter in his attack against Sab Than? The FX were great, and the acting was passable considering the limited material the actors had to work with. But the CGI was so cluttered in many of the battle scenes it was hard to see what was happening.

I didn't hate it but I doubt I'll ever want to see it again. I don't have anything against popcorn flicks, but they don't really satisfy me (just as popcorn itself doesn't). John Carter is the kind of film that should come with the disclaimer that you need to turn off your brain before entering the theater. I'd rather not have to do that.

Now if Deejah had been naked...



NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 6:12 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
Burrough's Carter simply wished himself to Mars,

Ummm, WHAT? Where was THAT?



The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 2:05 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
Burrough's Carter simply wished himself to Mars,

Ummm, WHAT? Where was THAT?



The Mal-like Chrisisall



Ummm...in the book? At least that's the way I remember it.

Hopefully my post didn't come off as too harsh. I don't consider the time (or money) spent watching the film was wasted, but it wasn't that satisfying either. Unlike Zeek, I do consider myself to be a student of film, and I prefer style and substance. That's what makes Blade Runner one of my favorites. John Carter has a lot of great action set pieces, the story is as interesting as could have been expected considering the source material, but it still has an empty feeling. It's just one more in a long line of cliched hero stories, utilizing the Whiz-BANG! of modern SFX to dazzle the audience. For the average movie-goer not familiar with the book, the trailers will be almost indistinguishable from Wrath of the Titans.



NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 4:29 AM

ANTHONYT

Freedom is Important because People are Important


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
Burrough's Carter simply wished himself to Mars,

Ummm, WHAT? Where was THAT?



The Mal-like Chrisisall




Hello,

I also remember Carter using the power of his mind to transport himself in the book. Remember that sci-fi of the era often didn't know how to solve such mysteries as how to get to other planets or how to time travel.

In Mark Twain's classic time travel tale, the main character falls asleep and wakes up in the past. Not only does this lead one to wonder if the whole comical farce is a dream, but it solves the problem of not having any Deloreans.

--Anthony



_______________________________________________

Note to self: Mr. Raptor believes that women who want to control their reproductive processes are sluts.

Reference thread: http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=18&t=51196

Never forget what this man is. You keep forgiving him his trespasses and speak to him as though he is a reasonable human being. You keep forgetting the things he's advocated. If you respond to this man again, you are being foolish.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 5:34 AM

TWO

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
Burrough's Carter simply wished himself to Mars,

Ummm, WHAT? Where was THAT?

Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Carter 1 - A Princess of Mars (Kindle Locations 283-286). Kindle Edition.
Quote:

Few western wonders are more inspiring than the beauties of an Arizona moonlit landscape; the silvered mountains in the distance, the strange lights and shadows upon hog back and arroyo, and the grotesque details of the stiff, yet beautiful cacti form a picture at once enchanting and inspiring; as though one were catching for the first time a glimpse of some dead and forgotten world, so different is it from the aspect of any other spot upon our earth.

As I stood thus meditating, I turned my gaze from the landscape to the heavens where the myriad stars formed a gorgeous and fitting canopy for the wonders of the earthly scene. My attention was quickly riveted by a large red star close to the distant horizon. As I gazed upon it I felt a spell of overpowering fascination—it was Mars, the god of war, and for me, the fighting man, it had always held the power of irresistible enchantment. As I gazed at it on that far-gone night it seemed to call across the unthinkable void, to lure me to it, to draw me as the lodestone attracts a particle of iron.

My longing was beyond the power of opposition; I closed my eyes, stretched out my arms toward the god of my vocation and felt myself drawn with the suddenness of thought through the trackless immensity of space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness.

MY ADVENT ON MARS

I opened my eyes upon a strange and weird landscape. I knew that I was on Mars; not once did I question either my sanity or my wakefulness. I was not asleep, no need for pinching here; my inner consciousness told me as plainly that I was upon Mars as your conscious mind tells you that you are upon Earth. You do not question the fact; neither did I.

Download A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs http://bit.ly/wNw5rK


The Joss Whedon script for "Serenity," where Wash lives, is
Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/two

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 6:39 AM

CHRISISALL


He let himself embrace being whisked away as opposed to making a conscious decision to WILL himself there. There's difference.


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 7:15 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
For the average movie-goer not familiar with the book, the trailers will be almost indistinguishable from Wrath of the Titans.



Okay, I'll review John Carter in other ways for y'all.

From a non-SF/Fantasy fan POV:
There was a lot of fighting and magical stuff and belly buttons. I couldn't figure out what was going on most of the time, but it seemed exciting in places. I was certainly no "Steel Magnolias", though. **

From a professional boxer's POV:
Man, Carter had a mean right hook. He knocked that m#@!%$#@#@!r right the f$@k out! If only the flick had more of THAT! *1/2

From a hairstylist's POV:
John's hair seemed too dirty much of the time, and there were noticeable length changes during the filming which must have been well over two months. Deeja's hair, however, was flawless in every shot. **1/2

From a physics major's POV:
Oh please. [no stars]

Wow, I guess the love just isn't there for this movie...


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 7:44 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Wow, I guess the love just isn't there for this movie...


On the contrary, most of the people who have posted here agree with you. I know I have the reputation of seeming to be a party-pooper on threads like this. Someone once called me puritanical, although I think the description they were going for was elitist. I won't argue that is sometimes the case, but I have my fair share of fun movies that I like. I just don't make the mistake of saying they are great movies just because I enjoy watching them.




NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 7:56 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
I just don't make the mistake of saying they are great movies just because I enjoy watching them.

Yeah, I'm sometimes a little too enthusiastic... it was a good flick, like Avatar was a good flick. Not great, but fun. IMO.

Now, wasn't my last post at least a little funny?


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 8:28 AM

RIONAEIRE

Beir bua agus beannacht


I thought it was funny Chris.

Maybe I should read the book, I did like the movie enough to make the book seem like a cool idea, even if his ascent to Mars was totally weak as shown above. I like it way better if they go to sleep, or get electricuted, or fall off of something in order to get somewhere, some of my favorite girlhood movies are like that, Split Infinity, Young Connecticut Yankee etc.

"A completely coherant River means writers don't deliver" KatTaya

NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 8:54 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by RionaEire:
I thought it was funny Chris.

Thanks Rio!

It's pretty interestingly written IMO.


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 9:56 AM

TWO

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly


Quote:

Originally posted by RionaEire:
Maybe I should read the book, I did like the movie enough to make the book seem like a cool idea, even if his ascent to Mars was totally weak as shown above. I like it way better if they go to sleep, or get electricuted, or fall off of something in order to get somewhere, some of my favorite girlhood movies are like that, Split Infinity, Young Connecticut Yankee etc.

In the 6th John Carter book, The Master Mind of Mars, Ulysses Paxton gets transported to Mars off a battlefield in World War One in the same general fashion as John Carter. Paxton and Carter will meet.

Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Carter 6 - The Master Mind of Mars (Kindle Locations 36-37). Kindle Edition.
Quote:

It was a long time before I found the moral courage and the physical strength to draw myself up upon one elbow that I might view the havoc that had been done me.

One look was enough. I sank back in an agony of mental and physical anguish—my legs had been blown away from midway between the hips and knees. For some reason I was not bleeding excessively, yet I know that I had lost a great deal of blood and that I was gradually losing enough to put me out of my misery in a short time if I were not soon found; and as I lay there on my back, tortured with pain, I prayed that they would not come in time, for I shrank more from the thought of going maimed through life than I shrank from the thought of death.

Then my eyes suddenly focused upon the bright red eye of Mars and there surged through me a sudden wave of hope. I stretched out my arms towards Mars, I did not seem to question or to doubt for an instant as I prayed to the god of my vocation to reach forth and succor me. I knew that he would do it, my faith was complete, and yet so great was the mental effort that I made to throw off the hideous bonds of my mutilated flesh that I felt a momentary qualm of nausea and then a sharp click as of the snapping of a steel wire, and suddenly I stood naked upon two good legs looking down upon the bloody, distorted thing that had been I. Just for an instant did I stand thus before I turned my eyes aloft again to my star of destiny and with outstretched arms stand there in the cold of that French night—waiting.

Suddenly I felt myself drawn with the speed of thought through the trackless wastes of interplanetary space. There was an instant of extreme cold and utter darkness, then—But the rest is in the manuscript that, with the aid of one greater than either of us, I have found the means to transmit to you with this letter. You and a few others of the chosen will believe in it—for the rest it matters not as yet.

Download The Master Mind of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs http://bit.ly/wNw5rK



The Joss Whedon script for "Serenity," where Wash lives, is
Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/two

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 11:44 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Madame Geezer and I went to see John Carter yesterday, so I've avoided this thread until now.

I first read A Princess of Mars when I was eight, and have read pretty much everything ERB ever wrote multiple times, so I guess I'm kind'a a Burroughs wonk.

Changes were obviously made to the story, the 'brooding loner who lost his family' backstory and the wizard-powerful Therns being the most obvious. I could have done without those, but see how it might appeal to modern sensibilities. Various bits that were the books were sometimes shuffled around and re-ordered as well. There were also the issues related to gravity and falling rates that others have mentioned, but that'd be hard to get a handle on in the live-action portions of the film without turning it all into CGI. Gotta suspend that disbelief sometimes.

However, the movie did seem to me to be pretty true to Burroughs' vision of Mars and the beings who inhabited it. The landscape, cities, ships, etc. seemed pretty much as I'd always thought.

The Green Martians, particularly, were almost exactly as I had envisioned them, and the moviemakers managed to have fun with the ability to use four arms in a few clever scenes, but worked it in so seamlessly that after a while it became almost normal, rather than a gimmick.


I agree with others that the trailers I saw weren't the kind that would have gotten me into the theater if I didn't already know the story was better than just fighting white apes in the arena.

Overall, I enjoyed the movie thoroughly, and will probably go see it again.


"Keep the Shiny side up"

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 15, 2012 12:14 PM

CHRISISALL


Geezer, my man- excellent review. Spot on, in point of fact.
Personally, I would have made it PRECISELY according to the book(s), but I guess they came as close as they could, given the committees & money involved...


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, March 18, 2012 2:41 PM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


Chris, I've changed my mind (somewhat). I went to see it again today and just uploaded my review.

http://templetongate.net/johncarter.htm

I still don't think it will have much longevity, but it would be nice if it does well enough overseas and on video to justify a sequel.



NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, March 18, 2012 3:00 PM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
http://templetongate.net/johncarter.htm

Very good review IMO! It was by no means a perfect film, but you nailed its both positive & negative aspects.
Except that you didn't mention how hot Dejah was, LOL.


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, March 19, 2012 1:16 PM

WISHIMAY


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
I still don't think it will have much longevity, but it would be nice if it does well enough overseas and on video to justify a sequel.



Wouldn't count on it

http://news.yahoo.com/disney-says-john-carter-lose-200-million-2046329
87.html


That'd have to be a LOT of videos...


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, March 19, 2012 2:44 PM

CHRISISALL


Disney is dead then. Cool.



The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Monday, March 19, 2012 8:53 PM

HKCAVALIER


Okay, this is completely nuts. Just 10 freakin' days into the movie's run, the production company responsible for it, is telling the world: you aren't going to see this movie???

What now, are they gonna pull it? This is unbelievable. The movie had the WORST ad campaign I can remember (hey, at least people got as far as "Buffy in space" with Firefly), where most people I talk to about it say, "I had no idea what that movie was about!" And now, because they did such a shitty job of preselling it they're throwing in the towel? Cut a new trailer! Do something! Anyone know what the they are thinking here???

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 1:03 AM

CHRISISALL


Hmmmmm.. who benefits from the movie's failure...?


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 4:10 AM

PIZMOBEACH

... fully loaded, safety off...


Quote:

Originally posted by chrisisall:
Hmmmmm.. who benefits from the movie's failure...?




I think it's more, "who pays the price for the movie's failure." And that's Disney - I think they are trying to distance themselves from even worse press (if it can get worse than "Ishtar in space.")
I liked the movie, thought the acting was great (how often do you say that with scifi?), the air ships were beautiful, lots of things to like (Dejah, omg), but it felt like Disney maybe wasn't a great match for the content. I agree that this will be a must-have BluRay, looking forward to seeing it again.

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 5:23 AM

HKCAVALIER


See, Pizmo, that's the thing I don't get at all. The movie is good, full of fine actors, classically constructed, all manner of charming characters. Ishtar (which I actually did see in theatres) was terrible in all manner of ways (my quip review: an unintentional Jim Jarmusch movie). JC, here in Seattle, is getting all kinds of good word of mouth. Seems entirely possible that the audience for this movie could grow.

Yes, the internet is the Land of Snark and a Negativity Sink for the Masses, but that's no reason for Disney to get onboard. "Our movie is getting mugged in print--let's join in!" Jeez marie, they could start a viral FB campaign or something. Think out of the gorram box, Disney!

And I'm sorry, they sank some 350 million into this movie, they don't--by any measure of reason--have the luxury not to like it. Because, obviously, they, the suits at Disney, didn't like it. Had absolutely no clue how to market the thing--which boggles the mind! The movie sells itself. (Now, I know, there's a lot of critics who said it was "too complex" and the actor playing JC was "too stoic/wooden," and then, of course, the richly ironic accusation of the piece being "deriviative," but a lot of these perceptions, unfathomably, were actually seeded by the marketing itself!) This has the aroma of Fox/Firefly all over it.

Anyway. Yeah. I will own this movie when it becomes available, no question.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 5:52 AM

PIZMOBEACH

... fully loaded, safety off...


Quote:

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
See, Pizmo, that's the thing I don't get at all. The movie is good, full of fine actors, classically constructed, all manner of charming characters. Ishtar (which I actually did see in theatres) was terrible in all manner of ways (my quip review: an unintentional Jim Jarmusch movie). JC, here in Seattle, is getting all kinds of good word of mouth. Seems entirely possible that the audience for this movie could grow.

Yes, the internet is the Land of Snark and a Negativity Sink for the Masses, but that's no reason for Disney to get onboard. "Our movie is getting mugged in print--let's join in!" Jeez marie, they could start a viral FB campaign or something. Think out of the gorram box, Disney!

And I'm sorry, they sank some 350 million into this movie, they don't--by any measure of reason--have the luxury not to like it. Because, obviously, they, the suits at Disney, didn't like it. Had absolutely no clue how to market the thing--which boggles the mind! The movie sells itself. (Now, I know, there's a lot of critics who said it was "too complex" and the actor playing JC was "too stoic/wooden," and then, of course, the richly ironic accusation of the piece being "deriviative," but a lot of these perceptions, unfathomably, were actually seeded by the marketing itself!) This has the aroma of Fox/Firefly all over it.

Anyway. Yeah. I will own this movie when it becomes available, no question.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.



I agree with your sentiments HKC, seems rather premature and unthinking, but these studios have all of these metrics that tell it what to do when x theaters return y dollars in z days so they can stave off even worse financials. "Disney shares fell 43 cents to $43.01 in extended trading Monday." So that's in addition to the box office losses.

Worse for us fans, it probably means no more from the ERB JC series. That is damn near as tragic as no more FF - there's lots of great drama and scifi wonderousness to be had in those stories.

Something else to consider: "Disney hopes to overcome the setback with other big-budget movies this year, including "The Avengers" from its Marvel subsidiary in May and Pixar's "Brave" in June."

Scifi movie music + Firefly dialogue clips, 24 hours a day - http://www.scifiradio.com

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 10:15 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


I suppose I missed the memo, but when did Disney acquire the Marvel contract? It used to be with Paramount, right? At least it was for the Iron Man movies, Thor and Captain America.









NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 4:17 PM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

The movie had the WORST ad campaign I can remember (hey, at least people got as far as "Buffy in space" with Firefly), where most people I talk to about it say, "I had no idea what that movie was about!" And now, because they did such a shitty job of preselling it they're throwing in the towel? Cut a new trailer! Do something! Anyone know what the they are thinking here???


I know!!

I saw reports that Disney spent $100 million on the promotion for John Carter, but I'm finding that hard to believe. I saw about two commercials on TV, and they were both the "whacking the white apes with a chunk of rock" scene. Looks like the publicity folks just didn't 'get it'.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 3:27 AM

ZZETTA13


Hello everybody,

It’s been a long time (way before the internet and web hosting) but if I’m thinking right, when reading the ERB Mars novels I got the feeling that John C was teleported to the red planet. Almost the same as when the soul leaves the body at one’s death.
Whatever power(s) were used to get him there wasn’t really explained. The reader just had to release their grip on reality and visualized that it happened…..science fiction/ fantasy.
Once, JC landed in the red sand of Mars, and all the weird stuff started happening, well that’s when it got fun!
I agree that the superman-ish leaping from here to there was a bit of a stretch, literally, but I didn’t dwell on it, as my wife seemed to be enjoying it more that I thought she would. She kept asking questions about the books, and I found it fun explaining to her.
All in all I think the film was used to, …. stay friends with the masses of loyal ERB’s population, and at the same time create new fans with a well formed introduction between the connection of two worlds. I think it succeeded in doing both!

Z

“The only one who can kill Barnes is Barnes!”

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 9:14 PM

HKCAVALIER


Here's a fan-made trailer that could still sell the movie.



HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 10:03 PM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
Okay, this is completely nuts. Just 10 freakin' days into the movie's run, the production company responsible for it, is telling the world: you aren't going to see this movie???

What now, are they gonna pull it? This is unbelievable. The movie had the WORST ad campaign I can remember (hey, at least people got as far as "Buffy in space" with Firefly), where most people I talk to about it say, "I had no idea what that movie was about!" And now, because they did such a shitty job of preselling it they're throwing in the towel? Cut a new trailer! Do something! Anyone know what the they are thinking here???

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.



There is no precedent for a movie flopping on release, then coming back and turning into0 a hit. And what you suggest would cost several million more in ad buys - putting them further in the red in a move that has almost no chance of paying off.

Spoon!

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 10:04 PM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by Geezer:
Quote:

The movie had the WORST ad campaign I can remember (hey, at least people got as far as "Buffy in space" with Firefly), where most people I talk to about it say, "I had no idea what that movie was about!" And now, because they did such a shitty job of preselling it they're throwing in the towel? Cut a new trailer! Do something! Anyone know what the they are thinking here???


I know!!

I saw reports that Disney spent $100 million on the promotion for John Carter, but I'm finding that hard to believe. I saw about two commercials on TV, and they were both the "whacking the white apes with a chunk of rock" scene. Looks like the publicity folks just didn't 'get it'.



Your not seeing ads merely means they were not targeting shows you watch. I myself, saw dozens. And they had a superbowl spot - that right there is millions upon millions alone. There were three official trailers, as well.

The ads were, as others have pointed out, terrible - but they were out there.

Spoon!

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 10:07 PM

STORYMARK


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
I suppose I missed the memo, but when did Disney acquire the Marvel contract? It used to be with Paramount, right? At least it was for the Iron Man movies, Thor and Captain America.











Disney bought Marvel Comics altogether a few years back. Paramount got to finish out their deal for the movies you mentioned, and they get to have their name on Avengers (though it was made under Disney), but all further Marvel studios movies will bear the Disney banner after that.

Spoon!

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 22, 2012 3:42 AM

CHRISISALL


Quote:

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
Here's a fan-made trailer that could still sell the movie.




Uh, does the maker of this trailer work in marketing? I don't think so, it's simply TOO effective.
Really stresses the goodness of the flick.

Damn that was a good movie...


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 22, 2012 4:56 AM

ZZETTA13


I am already getting the urges of wanting to see JC again! Likely it won’t be in the theater but on a dvd, which I will own and store in my sci/fi collection.

For the movie itself I think it was fabulous!!! For someone I know on an art site that has been waiting for this movie a long time……. I think that it was everything that they had hoped for. For me, I think it does the ERB’s fanship honor & justice, and my hat is off to Disney films for their dedication!!! Of course I’m a big fan of “Robinson Crusoe of Mars” also.

Those wide shots of the Mars atmo could have been used in the our BDM Serenity2! There is just something about those wide-shot sequences that give a bit of scope to an alien world, that bit of reality, shown at 1800 hundred feet just makes a story so real! Sorry if I’ve become lost in the romantics of literature!

One thing that would have cemented the film, in my regard, was the use of the song that is linked in the JC trailer “My body is a Cage”…… I think fits perfectly and should have been used at least when running the final credits!

JMO, Z

“The only one who can kill Barnes is Barnes!”

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 22, 2012 5:00 AM

CHRISISALL


I would say... Get youah ass to Mahz!


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Thursday, March 22, 2012 5:22 AM

ZZETTA13


Hello DjinnChris!!

Not only to Mars, but as ERB would say…..to “Venus and Beyond Farthest Star“!! Yepper, I’m a geek like that!

Btw…waiting on WH13 to update! The ferret is an expert at reciting his lines. Like to see some more FF alum in the coming season. Like Jayne on Castle! It could work!!

Z, holding!

“The only one who can kill Barnes is Barnes!”

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, March 30, 2012 5:24 AM

GEEZER

Keep the Shiny side up


Quote:

Originally posted by HKCavalier:
Here's a fan-made trailer that could still sell the movie.



HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.



Damn.

When's that movie coming out?

I'd go see that.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, March 30, 2012 3:11 PM

HKCAVALIER


Quote:

Originally posted by Geezer:
Damn.

When's that movie coming out?

I'd go see that.




HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, March 30, 2012 9:36 PM

SHINYGOODGUY


lol.....I got it.

Tawabawho?

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, March 30, 2012 9:40 PM

SHINYGOODGUY


Now that's how you promote a movie.

Epic in every way.

Thanks for posting Geez.


SGG

Tawabawho?

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, March 30, 2012 9:44 PM

SHINYGOODGUY


Hey HK, sorry I gave credit to Geezer for posting this without really checking. But thanks for posting this gem.

Like I said below: Now that's how you market a film. Somebody hire that dude, or dudette!

I'd buy that for a dollar!


SGG

Tawabawho?

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Friday, March 30, 2012 9:59 PM

SHINYGOODGUY


You too..........Robinson Crusoe of Mars......so you're the other fan.

As far as the wide shots of Mars atmo - I'm right there with ya. Loved it! It does give scope and sense of wonder, awe and excitement. It's like we're approaching the planet, or making our descent on the good ship Serenity.

That's what gets me all geekafied whenever I watch sci-fi. Those wide shots in Star Wars, Stargate, etc.

One of the things that had me hesitating to go see this film was the fact that Disney was involved. But then I saw that Stanton was the director and thought better of it.

Which brings me to the million dollar question?

Who poo-poo'd this movie so much that had critics and other film pundits declaring it a disaster? This was an excellent movie with very few flaws. Was it purposefully sabotaged? And by whom?

When I left the theatre the audience was cheering. The last time I experienced that was at a "Dreamgirls" screening at the Ziegfield Theatre (where I first saw Star Wars many years ago). You just don't get that these days.


SGG

Tawabawho?

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, March 31, 2012 10:57 AM

CHRISISALL


*ouch*
It made only a paltry 236 mill so far.
At least the chickens will be fed.


The Mal-like Chrisisall


NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Saturday, March 31, 2012 6:42 PM

SHINYGOODGUY


Hey EC,

Your review hits on many points, both positive and negative, that I found. Although I think that for me the confusing part was that of the bad guys who were helped by the Thurns. It was revealed that they were from an opposing city on Barsoom, but not much more info was given.

Pretty much happens again with the opposing tribe to the Tharks (I actually don't recall their names), and that's where the confusion became somewhat annoying for me. I couldn't keep track of the bad guys. But then I decided to sit back and just enjoy. And enjoy I did.

I'm not going point by point here, but I do agree with your overall take on this (Disney made this?) gem of a movie. Yes, I said it, gem.
Why? Because it hit it's mark on almost every point, and it was entertaining. Fun is the operative word here. I came into this completely oblivious to the story other than it was based upon a set of ERB books from the 30s, so no bias.

But I agree that for them to make truckloads of cashy money they had to tighten up the story a bit. The actors who lent their voices to this project gave the movie it's weight, but the 2 leads were both credible and served the movie well. The sound, visuals, cinematography and editing were rock solid. So was the direction. Just needed a few tweaks to the script maybe.

Which brings me to who said this movie was bad? I wonder about that, because I felt the way I did when I saw Stargate many years ago, thoroughly entertained, if not blown away.
By the way, Dejah Thoris is awesome.

I will be getting the blu-ray when it comes out later this year. Oh, and I saw it in 3D......don't bother, it's not worth the extra bucks.

SGG

Tawabawho?

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, April 1, 2012 2:36 AM

DUN

nods head


With all the bad reviews of the film I said I'd still give it a go.I remember something of the books but not much but I still walked away a little disappointed and I'm not sure why,old fashoined or disney or something else,but then on the other hand, where did the time go,I wasn't bored .Maybe on some level I knew that there wasn't going to be a sequel with all the bad reviews and so I didn't invest myself totally into the film.More confusing still is I'll buy it when it comes out on dvd but as I write this I remember saying to myself I hope theres a directors edition when it does come out.Would I recommend it,Yes,so the rest is all woffle.

anyway

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, April 1, 2012 2:51 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


Quote:

Originally posted by Shinygoodguy:
...it was based upon a set of ERB books from the 30s, so no bias.


Try 1917-41, eleven books in all.

Quote:


Which brings me to who said this movie was bad?


I think the major consensus is that the movie was a victim of a change in management at Disney. The new guy could not let the old guy's project succeed.



NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, April 1, 2012 3:16 AM

TWO

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
I think the major consensus is that the movie was a victim of a change in management at Disney. The new guy could not let the old guy's project succeed.

Did Disney do some anti-marketing exclusively within the USA? The Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic is a low 27%. Compare with The Hunger Games where Total Lifetime Grosses Domestic is high 78%.

It does look as if Disney sabotaged their own John Carter, at least within the USA, for inscrutable reasons. It's FOX versus Firefly, all over again.

www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=johncarterofmars.htm
John Carter Total Lifetime Grosses
Domestic: $66,713,331 26.2%
+ Foreign: $188,300,000 73.8%
= Worldwide: $255,013,331

www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hungergames.htm
The Hunger Games Total Lifetime Grosses
Domestic: $258,330,642 69.2%
+ Foreign: $115,000,000 30.8%
= Worldwide: $373,330,642

The Joss Whedon script for "Serenity," where Wash lives, is
Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/two

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, April 1, 2012 3:47 AM

ECGORDON

There's no place I can be since I found Serenity.


I have no doubt John Carter will recoup its production budget but it will still be considered a flop. Consider that its budget is estimated at $250 million, then add maybe another $100 for promotion, it won't break even until the video release. Contrast that with The Hunger Games budget of about $78 million, maybe double that for promotion (which wasn't as necessary with its built-in audience), and you can see it is already into the black.



NOTIFY: N   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

Sunday, April 1, 2012 4:03 AM

TWO

The Joss Whedon script for Serenity, where Wash lives, is Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/folder/1uwh75oa407q8/Firefly


Quote:

Originally posted by ecgordon:
I have no doubt John Carter will recoup its production budget but it will still be considered a flop.

Other recent top weekend movies's Total Lifetime Grosses - Domestic %
69% The Hunger Games www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=hungergames.htm
85% 21 Jump Street www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=21jumpstreet.htm
90% Dr. Seuss' The Lorax www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=lorax.htm
97% Act of Valor www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=actofvalor.htm
65% Safe House www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=safehouse.htm
72% The Vow www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=vow.htm
54% Chronicle www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=chronicle2012.htm
72% The Grey www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=grey.htm

Did you notice how all the above numbers are more than 50% ?
And then we have John Carter

26% John Carter www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=johncarterofmars.htm

Why is it 26% ? What went wrong with Disney's marketing for John Carter inside the USA?

If John Carter had received a paltry 50% of its gross inside the USA, then it would have done
Domestic: $188,300,000 50%
+ Foreign: $188,300,000 50%
= Worldwide: $376,600,000, which is bigger than The Hunger Games, the smashing success, so far, of 2012. www.boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2012&p=.htm

The Joss Whedon script for "Serenity," where Wash lives, is
Serenity-190pages.pdf at www.mediafire.com/two

NOTIFY: Y   |  REPLY  |  REPLY WITH QUOTE  |  TOP  |  HOME  

YOUR OPTIONS

NEW POSTS TODAY

USERPOST DATE

OTHER TOPICS

DISCUSSIONS
Marvel / DC / Comic Thread
Sat, December 21, 2024 18:37 - 45 posts
Shogun, other non scifi series
Sat, December 21, 2024 15:30 - 28 posts
another dead year for Scifi tv Shows and Block Buster Cinema movies?
Sat, December 21, 2024 13:36 - 23 posts
Game of Thrones - Season 2
Wed, December 18, 2024 22:13 - 64 posts
Good News, Everyone!
Tue, December 17, 2024 19:06 - 5 posts
Overseas tv - Parasyte The Grey
Mon, December 16, 2024 11:45 - 17 posts
Best. Villain. Ever.
Mon, December 16, 2024 09:59 - 132 posts
US Remakes
Mon, December 16, 2024 09:53 - 6 posts
What's everyone's Halloween movie(s) this year?
Mon, December 16, 2024 09:29 - 23 posts
Resident Alien; Tudyk is on Sy-fy this summer
Sun, December 15, 2024 13:57 - 7 posts
Board Games to tv shows...Henry Cavill's Warhammer 40,000 show officially moving forward at Amazon
Sun, December 15, 2024 13:56 - 2 posts
Batwoman
Sat, December 14, 2024 04:51 - 25 posts

FFF.NET SOCIAL