The plot points and the deep thematic importance are a loss, yes, but worse so is the impact on the characters: most of which have been altered in an attempt to add a sense of development and dramatic weight. Unfortunately the script utterly fails in this pursuit.Carter is a hero, a lot like Superman. In the novel Carter is THE hero just like Superman, he dukes it out with bad guys and saves the day. His sense of development in the novel comes from his adaptation to his new environment. In the film Carter is an angst-y superhero who according to his own account has nothing to fight for. While this changes by the end of the film I couldn’t help but dislike the fact that this superhero, with the ability to beat the living crap out of anything on Mars, chooses not to save the oppressed because he simply does not care.

Is this film worth seeing? There are great reasons to see the film. Outside of awkward pacing the film features some fantastic visual effects, action and some very funny writing. While its thematic drive fails in comparison to the work it is based upon it’s a good movie in its own right and does feature a thematic high and low between its characters. Hopefully this is the start of a great franchise, not a great big flop that every dumb-ass critic -who -can’t -understand- why- people -would want- to- see -fantastically- imagined- fantasy- world dooms to fail. Do yourself a favor, go see John Carter because above all else: it’s visually stunning.

Rating:    Burroughs fan who knows the book 7/10          others 8/10

Max Romano