Watch John Carter
- PG-13
- 2012
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6.6 (289,177)
In the movie John Carter, we meet an ex-military captain named John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) who has been transported from his Earthly existence to the planet Mars. This narrative is based on the 11-volume book series titled 'Barsoom' by Edgar Rice Burroughs. John Carter's journey through Mars is the basis of the story. John Carter is a veteran of the Civil War who has become disillusioned with his life after losing his family to violence. Carter is wandering the desert searching for riches in the 1890s when he finds a cave full of gold â but he is suddenly transported to Mars. Here, he discovers a world in turmoil.
Mars is called 'Barsoom' by its residents, and the planet is held together by a tenuous balance between warring factions. John Carter becomes embroiled in the war when he meets the Tharks, a towering alien race. The Tharks, led by Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe), capture John Carter and take him to their city. Here, Carter is trained in the art of combat and learns the culture of the Tharks.
The Tharks use Carter as a way to gain access to the human city of Helium, a powerful city-state that is under threat of attack from an evil overlord named Sab Than (Dominic West). Sab Than has been promised a powerful weapon by the Therns, a mysterious and powerful race of beings who have the power to shape the course of Martian destiny.
John Carter falls in love with Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins), a princess of Helium who is promised to Sab Than as part of a marriage alliance. The bride is a pawn in a larger game, with the Therns manipulating all sides in the conflict. Dejah Thoris is a complex character who is portrayed as intelligent, determined and strong-willed. She shares Carter's desire to save Barsoom from certain doom, even if it means sacrificing herself.
The movie has many epic battles, ranging from small scale skirmishes to massive battles featuring thousands of soldiers. The film's action sequences are the highlight of the movie, with swooping aerial battles and dynamic swordfights. The special effects in the movie are top-notch and help create a vivid, alien world onscreen. The different alien creatures in the movie are imaginative and well-designed, with the Tharks being a standout race.
The acting performances are strong, with Taylor Kitsch imbuing John Carter with a certain charm and dry wit. Lynn Collins is excellent as Dejah Thoris, bringing a dignity and strength to her role. Willem Dafoe is almost unrecognizable as Tars Tarkas, but he gives the character heart and depth.
The movie's pacing is a bit uneven, with some scenes feeling rushed while others drag on. As the movie progresses, the narrative becomes more complex, and it can be hard to keep track of all the different factions and their motivations.
Overall, John Carter is an enjoyable movie that features excellent action set-pieces, solid acting, and stunning special effects. The world-building is impressive, and the movie is an imaginative interpretation of the Barsoom series. The movie stands out because of its epic vision and scope, as well as its successful blending of science fiction and action-adventure genres. While not a perfect film, John Carter is well worth watching for anyone looking for an entertaining and exciting fantasy adventure.
John Carter is a 2012 action movie. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 51.