John Carter (2012): A Princess of Mars
2012 • Andrew Stanton • 2.39:1 • Jump to Gallery ↓
Directed by Andrew Stanton and based on the science fantasy novel A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (the first in his Barsoom series), John Carter follows a former Confederate soldier who is mysteriously transported to Mars. There, he becomes involved against his will in a conflict between rival civilisations. Due to the planet’s lower gravity, he possesses enhanced physical abilities and is drawn into political struggles, forming alliances that shape the course of the war.
This classic adventure tale follows the hero’s long journey through alien landscapes as he gradually integrates into a complex world defined by its own rules, cultures, and hierarchies. The film focuses on world-building and action set pieces full of CGI.
Staying true to its early 20th-century pulp literature roots, John Carter is a large-scale science fiction epic that blends spectacle, romance, and adventure, translating classical storytelling structures into contemporary, visual effects-driven cinema. It’s an ambitious tale of a stranger in an even stranger land trying to save the princess.
Technical Specs:
- The Story: A disillusioned Civil War veteran is mysteriously transported to Mars, where he finds himself caught in the middle of a planetary conflict and discovers he may be the key to its survival. Read my review of John Carter.
- Actors: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton, Mark Strong, Ciarán Hinds, Dominic West, James Purefoy, Thomas Haden Church.
- Director: Andrew Stanton
- Year: 2012
- Cinematographer: Dan Mindel
- Origin: American Cinema
- Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1
- Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy
