John Carter

John Carter (Kitsch) is a former military captain, having fought for Virginia in the Civil War. Whilst attempting to mine his way to a fortune in the desert, he is transported to the planet of Barsoom, a world torn apart by conflict between its people.

Whilst a strong man on Earth, John Carter finds that he has super-strength on Barsoom, thanks to the weaker gravity. As such, the insect like aliens he encounters respect him as a mighty warrior, in spite of his inferior size. Through helping them, he fights another race – the humanoids of the planet, whose Princess (Collins) he captures, but subsequently falls for.

With the atmosphere generators failing and the war between Barsoom’s races deteriorating the situation further, one man must discover his humanity and attempt to prolong the planet’s survival, at the same time as trying to save the Princess he loves.

Newcomers Kitsch and Collins do well, and are more than ably supported by the voice parts of the senior pros (Strong and Dafoe). As the winner of two Oscars, for Finding Nemo and Wall-E in recent years, John Carter represents a break from Pixar animation for Andrew Stanton.

Based on ‘A Princess on Mars’, John Carter is Disney’s take on the first Barsoom novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The film is lively, with action aplenty and aliens galore. Elements are common with other sci-fi franchises – hardly surprising given how much the novels have inspired others over the past century.