John Carter
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: March 9, 2012
7.0
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 625 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
392
Mixed:
164
Negative:
69
Watch Now
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
6
aozetaMar 24, 2012
This one's an adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs' "A Princess from Mars" which was published almost a century ago. While the cast seem to fit their roles, their delivery falls between poor and fair. The costumes may be eye-catching,This one's an adaptation of the Edgar Rice Burroughs' "A Princess from Mars" which was published almost a century ago. While the cast seem to fit their roles, their delivery falls between poor and fair. The costumes may be eye-catching, sometimes you'll get to think whether it was appropriate in a planet farther away from the sun compared to Earth. Anyway, we can not question that much since John Carter is sci-fi. The visual effects, sound, and cinematography are satisfactory. The movie brings a lot of memories from some of the famous movies with the same genre. However, it still deserves a "good one".… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
LordLardAssOct 10, 2012
I'll have to side with the critics on this one: This movie is a failure. It failed, because the people who made it didn't understand the source material. Not the director, not the screen writer, not the creature designer, not the camera man,I'll have to side with the critics on this one: This movie is a failure. It failed, because the people who made it didn't understand the source material. Not the director, not the screen writer, not the creature designer, not the camera man, not the casting director. The movie is based on a 1912 novel that is utter crap in a literary sense, but that WORKS, because it tickles our most primal nerves. The hero in the book kills all the bad guys and saves the Damsel in Distress. That's the full extent of his characterization. The original John Carter is the unstoppable force made flesh. He is the quintessential Alpha Man that faces horrific foes of fangs, claws and tusks with nothing but sinew, muscle and an iron will. And before he even gets to the real action on Mars, he kills a bunch of hapless Native Americans loitering in his way. There's nothing sentimental or apologetic about it, them being raging savages after all, wholly deserving of the white man's lead and steel! That's the sentiment of the original novel anyway. If you for some reason wish to make a movie of such a book, for Christ's sake make it GRITTY! Make it brutal and menacing! Put the camera close to the hero's sweaty and blood-stained muscles! Make it a masterful piece of shameless macho porn dammit! But the creators just didn't get the basic fact: if you sanitize a classic raw macho porn novel to modern sensitivities, and put a brooding metro-sexual underwear model in the lead, nothing of value remains. The novel may be crap, but it has ONE redeeming quality - it reconnects the reader with the powerful untamed animus lurking under his civilized surface. Yes, I said HIS, because such works are for the boys exclusively! Strip all that away, add a little feminist/multicultural/care-bear sensitivity to the mix, and you get "John Carter" the Disney Family Movie. This John Carter doesn't want to fight, he doesn't want to tell good guys from bad, because aren't we all the same, can't we all just get along? He meets Martian Tharks, immense beast-like humanoids, formidable foes with four muscular arms and tusks they use to rip open their victim's belly (in the book), here reduced to confused skinny wimps with weak degenerated limbs and sad/scared looks on their faces. He saves the beautiful and sexy Damsel in Distress (in the book), here reduced to a not all that sexy Xena-like strong-woman who doesn't require saving in the least. When she finally (!) shows some leg, she saps all erotic charge from the moment by lamenting how "vulgar" her dress is, and that it's not in her character to wear such things. Gosh, my repressed inner Alpha Male really wants to come out of hiding and be this woman's Hero. Not. She's the stuff teenage boy's dreams are made of. Not. The overall feeling this movie gives me, is that the creators absolutely fear and loathe the masculine. They despise male strength. It's as if they do everything in their might to emasculate the poor John Carter. It's not just that they sanitize him into respecting Native American Culture, they actively sabotage his machoness. They pick camera angles that make him seem small and insignificant. They turn his helpless damsel into a formidable warrior. They even insert new super-villains to the story! This is perhaps the biggest crime of all. The Mars of the novel is a barbarian world, Mars is the Planet of WAR! The conflict is about the good guys fighting the bad guys, who are just like the good guys, only BAD. But in the movie, a mysterious race of super-villains are added, shape-shifting and teleporting immortal techno-mages with beam weapons that control everything from behind the scenes, both on Mars and on Earth! The book villain is a mere puppet to these scheming godlike beings in the movie. They are as superior to John Carter as a human to an ant. Any sense of satisfaction in the Hero's ultimate victory is hollowed out by the fact it amounts to absolutely NOTHING. The true villains are still in control, and there is NOTHING poor insignificant John Carter can do to even touch them. He can swing a sword at them, and they will only dematerialize and disappear like smoke. His muscles are useless against such a foe. He is not an Alpha Male rising to power on the Planet of War, he is a pathetic loser, a primitive subhuman, a ridiculous anachronistic fossil. Yes, we get the message. The male energy is dangerous, and must be suppressed. Alright. Perhaps it's even for the best. But then, WHY did you feel a need to make a movie about John Carter?… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
Odin777Jul 29, 2012
Not a great movie by any means and a few really rough performances. But there is something to be said for the grand scope and the pretty cool effects of the aliens. Would not recommend paying a whole lot for DVD/Blu-ray, but if you can find aNot a great movie by any means and a few really rough performances. But there is something to be said for the grand scope and the pretty cool effects of the aliens. Would not recommend paying a whole lot for DVD/Blu-ray, but if you can find a copy for $5 or so you wouldn't be completely wasting your time. So much potential...but sadly that's all that remains for most of the film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
Bonzai69Mar 20, 2012
I read the entire series of books as a kid and again recently when I heard this movie was being made. Had I not read the books I would have been 95% thrilled with this movie. The special effects were superb the storyline was kind of shaky atI read the entire series of books as a kid and again recently when I heard this movie was being made. Had I not read the books I would have been 95% thrilled with this movie. The special effects were superb the storyline was kind of shaky at times but easy to follow.

Since I had read the books though I was a bit disappointed in how far from them the movie was. Small parts of the first three books were all thrown into one movie. Also certain parts seemed to be made up in order to modernize the movie for today's generation of action fans. Granted the books are older than me or most viewers of the movie. I would have preferred the movie stick closer to the books and see if keeping to traditional versions played out better on screen.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
A_NorthernerMay 27, 2013
Some time has passed since I watched John Carter and I certainly hold no grudges against it. It wasn't the complete write-off I was expecting, although it is certainly not without it's flaws. I think I preferred it to Battleship, although ISome time has passed since I watched John Carter and I certainly hold no grudges against it. It wasn't the complete write-off I was expecting, although it is certainly not without it's flaws. I think I preferred it to Battleship, although I can't think of what I must have done to deserve being forced to choose between either.

There are times during John Carter where you could really be watching either Indiana Jones or Star Wars (Episodes I-III) such is the old fashioned, character-led, gung-ho adventure and sci-fi nature of the film. However, despite it being an adventure film of massive budget, I struggle to recall any action set pieces that took place, with the exception of the picture below, despite knowing that there must have been some. This cannot be a good recollection for an action blockbuster.

I am not familiar with any of Burrough's stories and the screenplay certainly didn't help matters. Although the screenplay doesn't assume any knowledge of the character and the universe he belongs to and I appreciate that the writers are working with the original material, they made a seemingly simple plot far too complicated through the method of delivery. Surprisingly, and the surprise is relative, the script is only slightly clichéd in places and didn't stink to high heaven in the way Battleship's did. I did really like the context of the story being told from a young Burrough's perspective and the twist at the end was unexpected and satisfying.

My biggest gripe with the acting, and being such a massive fan of The Wire it pains me to do this, was with Dominic West. I thought he almost looked embarrassed to be on screen in most scenes and delivered one of the hammiest performances I think I've ever seen. Sorry Dominic. Lyn Collins was a vibrant presence and I felt Taylor Kitsch did enough in shouldering the responsibilities of the lead role, considering the film's inherent flaws. He certainly can't be held accountable for the films failings at the box office.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
ObbiePR18Mar 29, 2012
Es decepcionante ver como la adaptacion de un libro que inspiro tantas grandes peliculas, se queda corta en todos los aspectos. John Carter podra tener unos buenos efectos especiales, pero eso es todo. Le falta muchisimo para poder ser lo queEs decepcionante ver como la adaptacion de un libro que inspiro tantas grandes peliculas, se queda corta en todos los aspectos. John Carter podra tener unos buenos efectos especiales, pero eso es todo. Le falta muchisimo para poder ser lo que uno espera. Tiene un grave problema de secuencia y la banda sonora es obsoleta. Una de las peliculas mas decepcionantes que he visto.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
SatiricalewokNov 7, 2014
Having heard the reviews about this movie, I went in with expectations below sea level. Now it was better than what I expected, in that it wasn't absolutely awful, having said that, it wasn't good either. Really this film falls down due to aHaving heard the reviews about this movie, I went in with expectations below sea level. Now it was better than what I expected, in that it wasn't absolutely awful, having said that, it wasn't good either. Really this film falls down due to a charisma less leading performance, a silly plot which makes less than no sense, and really it's just terribly dull. Although Mark Strong, as always- is a fantastic screen presence, and those big white monsters fellows are quite impressive.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
Apemonkey666Jun 11, 2012
Disney's marketing department almost killed this 250m$ film by animation director Andrew Stanton with their incompetence. It's based on the book by Edgar Rice Burroughs, has tons of computer animation and doesn't look too bad, but I didn'tDisney's marketing department almost killed this 250m$ film by animation director Andrew Stanton with their incompetence. It's based on the book by Edgar Rice Burroughs, has tons of computer animation and doesn't look too bad, but I didn't find the story overly interesting or original and the 'long jumps' Carter can make, look fake (the physics don't compute) and the green aliens look too much like creatures from Attack of the Clones. Taylor Kitch (who also played in 209 m$ flop 'Battleship') does an ok acting job (they dug him up from a TV series apparently), but the supporting cast (mostly Britisch actors) is luckily somewhat better. From a quarter billion dollar scifi flick you would expect it to be at least epic, but this film is nothing more than a sunday afternoon snack, so don't feel bad if you missed in at the cinemas :)… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
Tbrown15Jun 24, 2012
John Carter is silly. Those are the four defining words for this mega theatrical flop. The story was very corresponding to both big hit cinema films in Avatar, and the Star Wars sage. you been there, done that, but seen better. The movieJohn Carter is silly. Those are the four defining words for this mega theatrical flop. The story was very corresponding to both big hit cinema films in Avatar, and the Star Wars sage. you been there, done that, but seen better. The movie starts off well, and keeps my mind on the movie with a couple humorous scenes, and a good action sequence. Then, the movie picks up even more when John Carter is first transported to Mars. You then learn that he has a special gift that allows him to jump extremely high. All of this was very intrigueing to me, and I was defiantly enjoying the movie, but them the movie catapults straight down. The plot becomes full of holes with uneven pacing. John Carter became lifeless with mediocre action scenes and added characters with maps depth. yes, the movie has amazing visual effects that are outstanding, and very good looking set pieces, and with the acting being bi-able, with Taylor Kitsch playing a decent role. the movie becomes very forgetting. John Carter had potential, but with a lot of flaws and not a lot of rights, John Carter became a below average syfi adventure.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
Riflenator1234Nov 2, 2012
While this movie is nothing special it is certainly entertaining. One should not go to the theater expecting some masterpiece but simply a fun and simple movie. If posed with the choice to see this movie again, I would likely not watch it dueWhile this movie is nothing special it is certainly entertaining. One should not go to the theater expecting some masterpiece but simply a fun and simple movie. If posed with the choice to see this movie again, I would likely not watch it due to the fact that while it is not confusing, it's also extremely simple.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
TheDRauchJun 28, 2012
It is obvious to say that John Carter's visuals are simply awesome and its action scenes are fun to watch, but I would still say it suffers enough from other factors to not completely recommend it. It has a very convoluted plot and someIt is obvious to say that John Carter's visuals are simply awesome and its action scenes are fun to watch, but I would still say it suffers enough from other factors to not completely recommend it. It has a very convoluted plot and some unmemorable - but not bad - performances. Andrew Stanton seemed like he could make the foray to directing live action, but he doesn't seem to notice that there is an enduring tone of seriousness throughout that takes the fun away from the picture. This is what can be said for most studio releases these days, so compared to the norm, John Carter isn't actually half bad, its just the other half isn't magnificent enough to sustain the gigantic budget supporting the film. But in the end the question remains - would I recommend John Carter? Eehhhhhh . . . I guess so.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
snazzyjuiceJul 18, 2012
Wow, did this movie look beautiful. "John Carter" is a fun adventure movie that'll keep you entertained. Unfortunately, it's a little hard to follow and drags a little towards the middle.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
ImOnFireMar 18, 2013
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's great to look at. Disney does that well. You gotta give it up for them on this aspect. The original score is good as well. On the other hand, despite the reasonably good acting, the characters were simply not very likable to me. Story-wise, it feels familiar, which is generally never good in a sci-fi/fantasy movie, and it lacks a bigger differentiation between the people from Zodanga and the people from Helium, as well as a background on how the war started. I felt bored a couple of times watching it. Overall, this movie is just passable. It had a lot of potential, though… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
gzayas91Jul 20, 2018
If this movie release in 1950s, this would have been popular film as the first Star Wars. But doesn't matter because it bombed. As my thought, it's okay, granted I like at first, but than I realized this is a kinda unfocus mess.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
worleyjamersDec 5, 2012
John Carter has some amazing visual elements that are some of the best I have ever seen; the cgi is absolutely fantastic and certainly makes the film easy to watch. It's easy to see where the money was spent on this project. However, itJohn Carter has some amazing visual elements that are some of the best I have ever seen; the cgi is absolutely fantastic and certainly makes the film easy to watch. It's easy to see where the money was spent on this project. However, it suffers considerably due to major pacing problems, making the film feel uneven. Thus resulting in a film that, unfortunately, is disappointing and forgettable.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
9
m0ngyJul 21, 2013
'John Carter' is brilliant, and I'd love to see a sequel. The cast is perfect, the plot, pace, cinematography, CGI, it's all very good. What it is, is a swashbuckling, Errol Flynn-like melodrama set in space, as the author intended. It is,'John Carter' is brilliant, and I'd love to see a sequel. The cast is perfect, the plot, pace, cinematography, CGI, it's all very good. What it is, is a swashbuckling, Errol Flynn-like melodrama set in space, as the author intended. It is, dare I say 'traditional' story telling, in turns funny, exciting, dramatic, and easily as good as any Spielberg or Lucas production. What it isn't, is the kind of film deemed interesting to the critics, because they've unfairly panned it. I even shed a tear at the end, I was that caught-up in this fantastic, old school space adventure. Highly recommended.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
7
kyle20ellisMar 31, 2022
Of course John Carter is a long way from flawless, but it is also not that bad but you wouldn't think so looking at its box office failure, its reputation and also how terribly marketed it was. Sure the plot is thin as ice in places withOf course John Carter is a long way from flawless, but it is also not that bad but you wouldn't think so looking at its box office failure, its reputation and also how terribly marketed it was. Sure the plot is thin as ice in places with scenes that go on for far longer than they needed to, and it is also predictable and with the odd convoluted part, with the many logical lapses not helping in its favour. Particularly at the end, which gave off a sense that the film didn't know how to end itself. The script is uneven too, a fair bit of it is actually quite intelligently handled with some entertainment and suspense but there are other points where the dialogue does make one cringe and you do wish you learnt more about the characters and that the romance wasn't so disjointed and forced. John Carter however does look incredible, the backdrops and scenery are bursting with colour and detail and don't look fake at all and the special effects are equally impressive and not cartoony at all, they are at least well modelled and move easily. Michael Giaccino's music score is outstanding being full of bombastic energy and sweeping intensity, doing all that while fitting with the action and not swamping it. There is plenty of action and it is action that is a feast for the eyes and choreographically is very well-executed, the best of them dazzlingly so. Of the characters, the most enjoyable one was Woola, a very cute and very funny dog creature- the CGI for the character is very well done and some of the best of the film actually- that children and adults alike will take a shine to. Andrew Stanton, considering that his field is more in animation and that the crew for John Carter is so huge, had a very daunting task and does so bravely, though with the odd understandable occasion where he seemed out of sorts with the live actors. While the story may not be the greatest, John Carter shouldn't be taken too seriously, it was intended to be harmless family fun and is so and it has an earnest, old-fashioned approach that works and in keeping with the source material. The performances are not bad at all, Taylor Kitsch does start off for a while ill at ease and over-serious but once he relaxes he does make for a likable hero. Lynn Collins is both feisty and human, and the supporting cast all make an effort to make much of little with Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong(in a role that suits him to a tee) and Ciaron Hinds being the most successful. In conclusion, not flawless by any stretch of the imagination but far from a disaster either. 7/10 Bethany Cox… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
EpicLadySpongeFeb 21, 2016
Taylor Kitsch looks like that he felt so seriously thinned after being in the set for his role as John Carter. The visual effects kept me up but this movie does not feel like a decent time waster because after a few minutes, the movie beginsTaylor Kitsch looks like that he felt so seriously thinned after being in the set for his role as John Carter. The visual effects kept me up but this movie does not feel like a decent time waster because after a few minutes, the movie begins to make no sense at all thus making me stop watching it.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
ty92Feb 29, 2020
This was a weird movie. I'm not sure what I just watched. I bought the 3D Blu-Ray and watched it on my PSVR. The 3D was pretty good overall. But the story and plot was all over the place. One moment I was watching a western and the next I wasThis was a weird movie. I'm not sure what I just watched. I bought the 3D Blu-Ray and watched it on my PSVR. The 3D was pretty good overall. But the story and plot was all over the place. One moment I was watching a western and the next I was watching Star Wars Attack of the Clones lol And then sometimes it felt like I was watching Prince of Persia and True Blood. It's also kind of like Superman. The entire time I was trying to figure out where I've seen that hot woman before. And yup it was Lynn Collins from True Blood. She was so hot in this movie. I almost want to give it a 10/10 just for that. But honestly this was a interesting sci-fi movie that borrows things from other films. The acting was ok but the ending was kind of terrible. It's a must watch and I could see people loving and hating it. This is easily the weirdest movie I've seen.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
10
AaronJupiterSep 7, 2019
John Carter is terribly underrated. It’s an awesome and magical and at the same time action loaded movie with a great love story. I really get angry when i read the reviews by so called official critics who rated The Last Jedi so high andJohn Carter is terribly underrated. It’s an awesome and magical and at the same time action loaded movie with a great love story. I really get angry when i read the reviews by so called official critics who rated The Last Jedi so high and this gem so low. But time will do justice to John Carter: It will get respect and fans in retrospective for sure. The Last Jedi and here i want to mention the director Rian Johnson will write history as one of the worst big budget movies ever - it gained money, yes, but it destroyed the whole star wars universe with its stupid and subversive storytelling, hundreds of plotholes and cringeworthy humor. John Carter creates a whole new universe in a very intelligent, magical and emotional way. All the people and friends i know love John Carter. We need more originals and less sequels and copies!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
OdinsMovieBlogFeb 19, 2018
Not a great movie by any means and a few really rough performances. But there is something to be said for the grand scope and the pretty cool effects of the aliens. Would not recommend paying a whole lot for DVD/Blu-ray, but if you can find aNot a great movie by any means and a few really rough performances. But there is something to be said for the grand scope and the pretty cool effects of the aliens. Would not recommend paying a whole lot for DVD/Blu-ray, but if you can find a copy for $5 or so you wouldn't be completely wasting your time. So much potential...but sadly that's all that remains for most of the film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
Vectis99Nov 9, 2018
A boring, run of the mill "heroic white guy saves the girl" film. John Carter doesn't do anything especially interesting with the sci-fi setting, instead mimicking the general appeals of a fantasy story set on an alien planet. If you removeA boring, run of the mill "heroic white guy saves the girl" film. John Carter doesn't do anything especially interesting with the sci-fi setting, instead mimicking the general appeals of a fantasy story set on an alien planet. If you remove the fantastic setting, the story is wildly uninteresting, and you may as well do so because the story would probably be more interesting on Earth, which is bad for a movie who's central gimmick is not being on Earth. A lot of the movie looks pretty, though, which is nice.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
2
All_ButTrU4Jul 6, 2022
Fascinating buy poorly done. The visuals are good enough but the story is a rushed yet slow homage to star wars/star trek that doesn't justify it's existence
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
BacktexDec 14, 2020
A good looking movie, but the story is lacking. There is not a lot of introduction, and that is why this movie suffers. It also has a problem with leaving the viewer clueless of what just happened, especially towards the end.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
Nightcrawler69Sep 1, 2022
Went into this movie not knowing anything. I'm surprised by its setting and stunning visuals. The factions were very interesting, However I felt like the scenes were too linear and abrupt featuring dry dialogue.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
next
Page:
More From This Movie

51 Critic Reviews

7.0 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL