John Carter
John Carter is a war-weary, former military captain who's inexplicably transported to the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars) and reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict. It's a world on the brink of collapse, and Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands.
Richard reviewed
October 5, 2025•
I’ve got this one on DVD, and yeah, I like it.
It’s a shame it bombed, because it really didn’t deserve the label it got.
People talk about it like it was some massive disaster, but when you actually sit down and watch it, it’s a solid sci-fi adventure.
The world-building is huge, the visuals are impressive (especially for 2012) and the cast does a good job with what they’re given.
The story’s got that old-school pulp vibe, sword fights, flying ships, ancient cities and yeah, it’s a bit dense at times, especially if you don’t know the books.
But it’s not confusing, just ambitious.
You can tell they were setting up a trilogy and it’s a shame that it never got the chance to continue.
It’s not perfect, the ending feels a little rushed and the romance is kind of forced, but it’s nowhere near the mess people made it out to be.
Honestly, it feels like the marketing killed it more than the movie did. Dropping “of Mars” from the title? Bad move.
Made it sound like a generic drama instead of the space fantasy it actually is.
But for me, it’s one of those underdog sci-fi flicks that I’ll keep coming back to.
It’s got heart, scale and a weird charm that sticks.
If you’ve never seen it, give it a shot.
Just ignore the reputation as it doesn’t deserve it in my opinion.