What was the last Movie you watched?...

[DLFerguson]

JOHN CARTER

Walt Disney Pictures
2012


Directed by Andrew Stanton
Produced by Jim Morris and Colin Wilson
Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Mark Andrews and Michael Chabon
Based on “A Princess of Mars” by Edgar Rice Burroughs


It was while waiting in the theater lobby for my wife after we had just seen JOHN CARTER that I heard a snatch of conversation that most likely was duplicated in one way or another in movie theater lobbies all across the country. It went something like this; “It would have been a better movie if it didn’t try to rip off so many other movies.”

If I was not the sweet, gentle soul you all know and love I would have put that worthy in a serious headlock and informed him that the book the movie JOHN CARTER is based on, “A Princess of Mars” was written back in 1912 by Edgar Rice Burroughs who just about created the sub-genre of science fiction which could well be termed “Sword and Planet.” With his series of novels set on the Red Planet, Mr. Burroughs also created a template for heroic adventure fiction that has has been homaged, borrowed, copied and downright stolen from then until now. John Carter is the great-great grandfather of dozens, if not hundreds of heroes in comic books, novels, movies and television. Not to mention the influence the books has had on writers, artists and scientists. Most American astronauts will claim “A Princess of Mars” along with “Star Trek” as the major influence in them wanting to be an astronaut. The importance of Edgar Rice Burroughs, his creation of John Carter and his vision of Mars simply cannot be overstated.

But that’s enough of the history lesson. You’re here to find out if I think JOHN CARTER is worth your time and money. Okay, for a change I won’t make you read the whole review to find out. Yes. JOHN CARTER is most definitely worth your time and your money. Not having read the book in quite some time I’m not going to swear to the faithfulness of the adaptation but most of the major scenes rang true to me and they’re what I wanted to see and I wasn’t disappointed.

John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) is a former Confederate Army soldier who goes west to prospect for gold after The Civil War and finds a whole cave full of the stuff. He also finds trouble from a Union Captain (Bryan Cranston) and some bloodthirsty Apaches. This leads to Carter being trapped in the cave and transported to Barsoom, which is what the inhabitants of that planet call Mars.

The bewildered Carter is captured by Tars Tarkus (Willem Dafoe) the Jeddak (king) of the Tharks, the fierce Green Warriors of Barsoom. Standing some seven feet tall with tusks, and a double torso with four arms, they are the first clue to the bewildered Earthman that he isn’t in Virginia anymore. But it’s not as if Carter is entirely helpless. Due to the lesser gravity of Barsoom and his denser bone/muscular structure he has the strength of a hundred men and is able to leap incredible distances.

Meanwhile, over in Helium which is home to the human looking Red Martians, they are realizing that they cannot win their long war with their hereditary enemies, the Zodanga. Arraignments are made to marry the Princess of Helium, Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins) to Zodanga’s ruler, Sab Than (Dominic West).

However, Dejah Thoris doesn’t think much of this at all and runs away, an act which leads her to being captured by the Tharks and meeting John Carter. Once she sees his extraordinary abilities, combined with his exceptional swordsmanship, she sees a way out of her marriage and a way for Helium to win the war. However, unknown to all, there is a third faction at work in this conflict. The Holy Therns, led by Matai Shang (Mark Strong) have been secretly manipulating conflict between the various tribes and races of Barsoom for thousands of years for their own hidden purposes. And they’re not about to let a wild card like John Carter interfere in the plans they have for Barsoom. Or Earth…

The sheer joy of seeing a major motion picture based on anything written by Edgar Rice Burroughs probably prevents me from seeing any flaws in the movie. Taylor Kitsch wouldn’t have been my first choice for John Carter but after seeing him I don’t know who else could have played the role so well. He commits himself fully to the story and the character and there was never a moment he wasn’t convincing.

As Dejah Thoris, Lynn Collins has a lot to live up to as Burroughs described her in the books as being so impossibly beautiful that any real woman would have a hard time fulfilling that description but she does the job admirably. And her role in the story is fleshed out considerably by having her be a scientist/swordswoman as well and not just a princess to be rescued.

Willem Dafoe as Tars Tarkus and Thomas Haden Church as Tal Hajus, a rival Thark warrior do a superb job of giving the giant green warriors personality but Dominic West’s character could have been a better villain. He’s little more than the errand boy for the Holy Tharns but West is such a good actor, I’m willing to let it go.

And maybe it’s just my thing, but when a movie costs as much as JOHN CARTER, I appreciate seeing it up on the screen and I certainly did. This is a big-budget movie that actually does look like a big-budget movie with some really astonishing sets and eye-popping locations. This is how a larger than life movie with larger than life characters is supposed to look. Not like a TV movie on steroids.

Bottom line: I liked JOHN CARTER a lot. It’s a movie made by talented folks who respect the source material and delivered what I was looking for and that’s more than enough for me. Enjoy.

132 minutes
Rated PG-13

[n11pilot]

Great review, DL. I have to disagree on one point; there is never enough History.

[DanielJones]

Great review DLF. I couldn't agree more with you on the vast ignorance of the human populace. Most of them speak without thinking or knowledge of what they are talking about. We had planned on seeing John Carter today anyway but your review has really sold me on the 100 year old story. Heck one of my favorite sci-fi/fantasy novels, Dragonsword, owes most of its tale to this story line.

On that note I move on. Last night we watched Woody Allen's Midnight in Paris. We found it very charming and engaging and you can tell it was distinctly a Woody Allen story. Honestly, this film is right up most of our alleys. Which one of us hasn't fantasized about living in a past era because you thought it was an "ideal" time to live? Which one of us hasn't been told that we were born in the wrong decade? Midnight in Paris speaks to us on that level. But we do realize that this is a pretty good time and that the only parts of the past era that we love are the "ideal" parts. And that is why we try to bring those sensibilities to our lifetime, even if the rest of the world can't wrap their feeble minds around it.
This is one of those films I will watch again like The Holiday or Love Actually. In those times that need a warm and fuzzy story and remind you that not all of humanity is utterly worthless. That there are some finer points to living in our era that we will incorporate with past ideals. I suppose if there was one ideal of the past the could be really brought to the present right now is that most folks need to dress better and enjoy their lives more.

This is one story I can watchover and over and find new little easter eggs everywhere. I especially loved Adrian Brody as Salvador Dali. True mad genius. Would have loved it more if he had the waxed mustache though.

Cheers!

Dan

[Blackthorn]

Mrs B and I saw John Carter yesterday and liked it a lot.

[Cousi]

I'm fully with DL on John Carter. A Princess of Mars was what got me interested in sci-fi/fantasy. I remember quite clearly buying the book in 5th grade because it had a half-naked woman on the cover (a great cover painted by the late and much-missed Frank Frazetta). Burroughs' tale filled me with a sense of wonder and excitement that continues to fire my imagination to this very day. I loved the movie. I can attest that like DL I heard someone stating they thought it was a rip-off of movie X and I did mention that the Barsoom novels predated movies in general and that movie in particular by several decades. There were two movies I wanted to see this year, this one and Avengers. I am so happy with this one and disappointed it didn't do better. It deserved so much more than it got.

This movie actually covered the first three novels and while there were some inaccuracies from my memories of the stories, they were very minor and most were made to accommodate making the three stories into one (like the bookend scenes actually took place between book one and book two, which take place ten years apart). A great movie that was a fitting tribute to the source material. I will be getting this on blue-ray when it comes out.

Oh, and this is Dejah Thoris in the movie:

[DanielJones]

Last night it was The Adventures of Tintin. Wow! The animation was spectacular. The adventure was fast paced and I love how they combined three stories into one. The music is what I expect of John Williams and in many parts it borrows heavily from Last Crusade, with a little Harry Potter thrown in in the lighter more mysterious parts. Over all I was well pleased and will watch it again for sure. Can't wait for the next one to come out in the trilogy.
I loved how they tore up a town piece by piece getting down to the port. That part there had the fast paced Indy feel to it and Spielberg action written all over it. Even had a tank for good measure. I think Spielberg did right by this story and cast of characters. He was a huge fan of the comic & cartoons so it stands to reason he would do it a justice.

Cheers!

Dan

[Eric Renderking Fisk]

One of the things I wish they would do is take that same technology and crank out a bunch of Diesel Punk sequels of "Raiders Of The Lost Ark" with Harrison Ford doing the voice over work.

[DanielJones]

Last night to lighten things up we watched The Great Race. I absolutely love this film. It is so much fun. Make me think about the what if they did a remake scenario. Though I hope they never do it. But I have my dream cast picked out in my mind already. I mean who could do a better rendition of Max Meen than Kevin Pollak? The only one I struggle with is Hezekiah Sturdy. I can't think of too many actors that could play his role, especially if they keep it a period piece. Only two possibilities come to mind and that is Bruce Willis or Timothy Olyphant.
Anyway that is just dream casting. I have others in mind for other characters but that may be for another thread entirely.
I get such a kick out of Jack Lemon in this film with his dual roles as the Professor & the Prince. It just goes to show what a versatile Actor Jack was and how much fun he could bring to a role. I wish that some company would make a scale model of the Hannibal Twin 8 & The Leslie Special. Those would be fun to build and put on an ice burg diorama. And, maybe for Halloween one year I'll dress up as Professor Fate and scare the kids away.

This is one of those fun uplifting films that I can't get enough of. Blake Edwards really had something with this film and I am continually surprised at how many folks don't know about this film and never heard of it.

Cheers!

Dan

[DLFerguson]

Last night to lighten things up we watched The Great Race. I absolutely love this film. It is so much fun. Make me think about the what if they did a remake scenario. Though I hope they never do it. But I have my dream cast picked out in my mind already. I mean who could do a better rendition of Max Meen than Kevin Pollak? The only one I struggle with is Hezekiah Sturdy. I can't think of too many actors that could play his role, especially if they keep it a period piece. Only two possibilities come to mind and that is Bruce Willis or Timothy Olyphant.
Anyway that is just dream casting. I have others in mind for other characters but that may be for another thread entirely.
I get such a kick out of Jack Lemon in this film with his dual roles as the Professor & the Prince. It just goes to show what a versatile Actor Jack was and how much fun he could bring to a role. I wish that some company would make a scale model of the Hannibal Twin 8 & The Leslie Special. Those would be fun to build and put on an ice burg diorama. And, maybe for Halloween one year I'll dress up as Professor Fate and scare the kids away.

This is one of those fun uplifting films that I can't get enough of. Blake Edwards really had something with this film and I am continually surprised at how many folks don't know about this film and never heard of it.

Cheers!

Dan

I love it when TCM shows this back-to-back with THOSE DARING YOUNG MEN IN THEIR JAUNTY JALOPIES, also starring Tony Curtis. Just as much fun as THE GREAT RACE with a wonderful theme song sung by Jimmy Durante of all people

[DanielJones]

DLF I totally forgot about that one. I do have Those Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines. Must find the Jaunty Jalopies to complete the set.

Cheers!

Dan

[MacFett]

Went and watched 21 Jump Street tonight. Definitely leave the kids at home. But I found it enjoyable and funny. Even a few cameos from the original TV cast.

[DLFerguson]

Went and watched 21 Jump Street tonight. Definitely leave the kids at home. But I found it enjoyable and funny. Even a few cameos from the original TV cast.

I never could get into 21 JUMP STREET. I think the only reason people remember it is because Johnny Depp was one of the stars. I was much more a fan of the spin-off show, BOOKER starring Richard Greico.

So when do I get my PARKER LEWIS CAN'T LOSE movie?

[Eric Renderking Fisk]

Can't say enough good things about "The Help" and Tin Tin.

[Cousi]

I never could get into 21 JUMP STREET. I think the only reason people remember it is because Johnny Depp was one of the stars. I was much more a fan of the spin-off show, BOOKER starring Richard Greico.

I enjoyed Booker more than Jump Street, too. I watched Jump Street for Holly Robinson.

So when do I get my PARKER LEWIS CAN'T LOSE movie?

I never saw the show but I think the movie was called Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

I loved TinTin but my wife didn't. Can't agree all the time I guess.

[DLFerguson]

THE HUNGER GAMES

2012
Lionsgate

Directed by Gary Ross
Produced by Nina Jacobson
Screenplay by Suzanne Collins and Billy Ray
Based on “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins


In the interest of full disclosure I should start of by saying that I haven’t read the book the movie THE HUNGER GAMES is based on nor did I have any intention of reading it. Now before you start jumping up and down and calling me a hater, hear me out. THE HUNGER GAMES is a Young Adult novel and I generally don’t read Young Adult novels because…well, let’s face it: I’m not a Young Adult. That’s not to say I wouldn’t read it if recommended to me by folks I trust. I ain’t that much of a snob. It’s just that I leave the Young Adult novels to the young adults. After all, there are things I read that I think should be strictly for adults my age that they shouldn’t be reading. It’s all about respecting boundaries for me.

But I ended up seeing THE HUNGER GAMES because of a couple of reasons: the first is that since the movie opened there has been a small firestorm due to some really nasty and unpleasant racially inflammatory tweets going around. Seems as if some ‘fans’ of the book were upset upon seeing the movie and that some their beloved characters were (horrors!) played by black actors and actresses. Now if they are fans of the book as they claim they they must not have read the descriptions of the characters. From what I’ve read, the way Suzanne Collins describes a lot of the characters they could be biracial or black. If you’ve been hanging out here for any length of time or listened to me on Better In the Dark then you’ve heard me quote Harlan Ellison: “We are not entitled to our opinions; we are entitled to our informed opinions.” So I felt that in order to know what I was talking about if this subject came up in discussion with my friends and/or enemies, I should at least see the movie.

The second reason? Patricia wanted to see it.

Before jumping into the movie proper I should get out of the way that I don’t see what the fuss about the black characters are. The way the characters are written, they could honestly have been played by any ethnicity.

THE HUNGER GAMES take place in a future North America that has been devastated by war. Rebuilt into the nation of Panem it is not divided into 48 states but 13 Districts. District 13 attempted to overthrow the oppressive government with no success. Ever since then, The Capitol of Panem created The Hunger Games. A yearly competitive televised pageant in which two teenagers from each District between the ages of 12 to 18 are selected by lottery. The teens are trained, placed in an arena and fight until only one is left alive.

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) volunteers to save her sister Primrose (Willow Shields) from The Hunger Games. Along with Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) she is sent to The Capitol for training. They have an entire staff to supervise them including chaperone Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks) alcoholic mentor Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) himself a survivor of The Hunger Games and Cinna (Lenny Kravitz) their stylist.

In between training and televised interviews with Hunger Games commentator Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) Abernathy struggles to get Katniss to open up and be more friendly to attract ‘sponsors’ who will help her stay alive through the competition. The situation is complicated by Peeta, who during his interview claims to have been in love with Katniss ever since they were children. But is he telling the truth or is he playing to the audience, hoping to win favor from sponsors? And does any of this matter when they’re in the arena?

For a movie that promises mass slaughter, THE HUNGER GAMES doesn’t deliver. In fact, most of the killings take place off camera and the ones that we do see are shot in that mollyfoggin’ shaky cam so that it’s impossible to tell what’s going on. I enjoyed the look of the movie as it has wonderful costume and production design. The Capital feels like a real city inhabited by real people. But I don’t understand the point of building us up with the promise of seeing these characters fight to the death and then not showing it. And the movie is so emotionally distant so that when someone does die it has no impact, no feeling. At least not to me as I feel I never got to know any of these characters at all. It doesn’t help that the movie is directed with such seriousness and grim despair. The movie badly needs energy and it just doesn’t have it at all. It’s actually pretty dull going most of the way. My thanks go to Woody Harrelson and surprisingly, Lenny Kravitz as the both of them are highly entertaining to watch and they kept my interest up.

So should you see THE HUNGER GAMES? Chances are if you’re a fan of the books then you already have or plan to do so and so nothing I say will change your mind. And that’s okay. I get the very strong idea that this movie was made very much with the fans in mind. But for the rest of you, I recommend you wait for the DVD.

142 minutes
PG-13