![]() ![]() It's a metatextual twist straight from the novel, but jumbles things up a bit as the film ends and hurtles towards a presumptive sequel. It's also possibly indicative of "John Carter" being too devoted to the original text, as the simple plot of "stranger in a strange land" is obfuscated a bit by the framing device involving Carter's nephew, Edgar Rice Burroughs himself (played by Daryl Sabara of the "Spy Kids" franchise). That has its uses in a narrative - making the audience feel the same alienation, so to speak, as the protagonist - but can be distracting in a popcorn flick. Much like John Carter himself, viewers are dropped into the ongoing territorial conflict on Mars - "Barsoom," to the natives - without much of an indication of who is on what side or what exactly they're fighting over. Willem Dafoe injects a much-need touch of humanity as Thark leader Tars Tarkas, and "Breaking Bad" actor Bryan Cranston is predictably great in a brief appearance.īut where "John Carter" stumbles is in exactly where observers suspected it might based on the trailers - it's a lot to take in sometimes too much. Kitsch similarly equips himself well in the lead role, giving a credible touch of vulnerability to a role that could easily have been reduced to over-the-top machismo. The CGI - seen most prominently with the Tharks, a Martin race that alternately helps and hinders Carter in his journey - is mostly seamless, and the 3D is smooth if not a necessity. Which is not to say the movie looks outdated in any way, especially with a quarter-billion put into the production budget. ![]() Given Stanton's past history directing timeless Pixar films "Finding Nemo" and "Wall-E," it's not an unexpected choice, but still a welcome one. The filmmakers - headlined by Andrew Stanton, who directed and co-wrote the script -stay true to the story's roots, with no clumsy attempts at modernization. ![]()
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