It is easy to see how Edgar Rice Burroughs influenced countless filmmakers over the years. Traces of his pulpy and epic space stories can be seen in most big budget sci-fi of the 1980s as well as modern fare such as Avatar. John Carter is very much a throwback to that style of cinema, the kind where spectacle and the development of an intricate world with different alien tribes took precedence over character or compelling storytelling. As shown by Cameron’s…

I liked this a lot, it's beautifully made and every penny of that massive budget is on screen.
However, one of the problems with adapting such influential material nearly 100 years after it was written is that lots of the good bits have been pilfered over the decades by others (Star Wars, Flash Gordon, Superman, Avatar, errr... the Chronicles of Riddick). During the film you get the strange feeling you know it already even if you haven't read the book,…

I respect the source. Edgar Rice Burrough's novel is wonderful pulp, straightforward uncomplicated fun. This, however, isn't.

I have rarely seen such a convoluted yet thinly stretched plot. It tries to cram just about everything in it, which is completely unnecessary as it is a completely predictable affair. Which could be fine, but they missed out on the fun.

This is best characterised by a completely uncharismatic lead. He's as dry, depressed and boring as most of the film. Apart…

I don't think John Carter is a bad movie. It does a few things right, such as evoke a vague sense of the serials it wants to emulate, though with none of the energy and appeal that a slightly campier approach I think it would have benefited from. Much of that can be attributed to my man Giacchino's subtly middle-eastern tinged score, which might have been the highlight of the film for me. It does veer into silliness, mainly due…

John Carter and I have had a funny history together. While everyone else was anticipating a horrible film, I was hoping for a great return to classic Sci-Fi pulp fantasy of old times. The fact that Andrew Stanton was involved (a man I credit with every genius thing Pixar ever did) only served to rise my anticipation for the film. Aside from Skyfall, this was actually my other big anticipated Hollywood film of the year.

And... I was a bit…

This was a rewatch I was a bit nervous to do, but it had to be done as preparation for my Best of 2012-list. (which is still in development, but will be finished right after the Oscars).

After seeing the film in March, reviews and opinions on how awful, uninspiring, laughable and horrible this film is has flooded my way from the internet, close friends and pretty much everyone else. I know of two (TWO) people who enjoyed it, but…