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Special Features
• Blu-ray 3D (TM) Feature Film • Blu-ray Feature Film + Bonus • DVD Feature Film+ Bonus • Digital Copy of Feature Film • Disney Second Screen • 360 Degrees of John Carter • Deleted Scene with Option Commentary by Director Andrew Stanton • Barsoom Bloopers • 100 Years in the Making • Audio Commentary with Film Makers
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Disney's megabudget foray into a new CGI franchise of epic sci-fi mythology arrives with a massive marketing push and an interesting pulp pedigree that will probably inspire as many fans as it will naysayers. This impressively crafted piece of escapist fantasy is based on a character and series of books by Edgar Rice Burroughs that is runner-up to his primary creation, Tarzan, and the 20-plus volumes he wrote about that iconic ape-raised jungle adventurer. Burroughs churned out books in both series concurrently for roughly his entire adult life in the first half of the 20th century. John Carter is a former Confederate Civil War captain and fortune-hunting ne'er-do-well who through a weird incident of astral projection is plopped down on the red planet, where he becomes a passionate warrior against beasts and humanoids for the security of a home world known to its inhabitants as Barsoom. John Carter presents this origin setup in a clever prologue that finds the cranky Carter on the run from frontier military authorities as well as a band of marauding Indians. Carter is played by Friday Night Lights star Taylor Kitsch with great bravado. His character undergoes radical change when confronted with something he can finally care about. It doesn't hurt that an exotic princess of Mars is part of the prize package that comes from his battle against evil and ultimately doing the right thing. John Carter is a visual feast (especially in well-conceived 3-D) with an array of digital and motion-capture techniques that create an eye-popping world of strange creatures, astounding architectural vistas, aerial panoramas, and luminous landscapes. All the extraordinary detail is not surprising considering that Pixar superstar Andrew Stanton is at the helm (he also directed Finding Nemo and WALL-E). There's a lot going on in the script, and it sometimes feels as though too much work was done in the editing suite to streamline a story that is often overly complicated. Barsoom is ruled by three species, all with their own political and social agendas. There are the humans whose city-state cultures are threatened by civil war and the aggression of Tharks, a race of giant green-skinned, four-armed warriors with horrific tusks and a deeply bellicose intellect. Separate from both are the mythic Therns, a cultlike sect of über-beings who seek to manipulate all of Barsoom into their own submission. Added to the mix are a variety of outrageous animal creatures both vicious and sublime that make for an extremely motley ensemble of beasties. The huge cast of characters, species, and names becomes a bit confusing to keep straight in all the rapid-fire exposition. Fortunately the movie doesn't ever stop long enough to allow much time for thinking; there's something new and exciting to look at in virtually every scene. Because of some fantastical leaps of physics and gravity, Carter's Martian body possesses super strength and the ability to make single bounds over huge distances. His powers not only make him a godlike presence to the natives of Barsoom, they also provide for some dizzying feats of movie magic. The most bravura element of the conceptual design is a fleet of massive solar-powered flying machines that recall something out of H.G. Wells or a steampunk fantasy. These colorful, insectlike machines soar and float in the gold-hued Martian atmosphere with thrilling precision. Even though the multitude of beings, names, and alliances may sometimes elicit a glassy-eyed response, there's plenty of attention-grabbing exactitude to behold in John Carter. There's also a good chance that the fans will make it worth Disney's while to shell out another hundred million to keep the saga going. --Ted Fry
Related Products
 Amazon's Disney Store |  More John Carter |  More Blu-ray 3D Movies |
Versions of John Carter on Blu-ray and DVD
 |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | June 5, 2012 | June 5, 2012 | June 5, 2012 |
| Format/Disc # | DVD | Blu-ray, DVD | Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD + Digital Copy |
| Blu-ray | No | Yes | Yes |
| DVD | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Digital Copy | No | No | Yes |
| Bonus Features | None | · Blu-ray Feature Film + Bonus · DVD Feature Film+ Bonus · Disney Second Screen · 360 Degrees of John Carter · Deleted Scene with Option Commentary by Director Andrew Stanton · Barsoom Bloopers · 100 Years in the Making · Audio Commentary with Film Makers | · Blu-ray 3D (TM) Feature Film · Blu-ray Feature Film + Bonus · DVD Feature Film+ Bonus · Digital Copy of Feature Film · Disney Second Screen · 360 Degrees of John Carter · Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Director Andrew Stanton · Barsoom Bloopers · 100 Years of in the Making · Audio Commentary with Film Makers |
Product Description
Based on "A Princess of Mars," the first book in Edgar Rice Burroughs' "Barsoom" series of novels, this action-packed sci-fi tale follows former Confederate cavalry officer John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) as he's mysteriously transported to the Red Planet. Lower gravity grants him super strength and the ability to jump great heights, thrusting Carter into the middle of the Martians' own civil war. Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Samantha Morton, Thomas Haden Church, Mark Strong co-star. 120 min. Soundtrack: English; bonus digital copy. Four-disc set. Also includes a DVD and a Blu-ray 3D that requires a 3D television, a 3D Blu-ray player, and special glasses to reproduce the original theatrical experience.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
697 of 747 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I went in to "John Carter" filled with trepidation. I often avoid these big, splashy CGI spectacles that never live up to their promises and I was sure that this film was going to be nothing more than lots of cinematic eye candy and short on substance. Added to that there was a lot of lackluster critical reviews. Well, all I can say is that this was a grand entertainment and I am so glad I caught it on the big screen!
I've heard some critics say the plot was a mess and overly convoluted. Really? My suggestion to them is "don't text while watching a movie, you might miss something". I found the plot fairly well done and actually made sense (if only the last Star Trek film had that going for it) and was interesting to boot.
I also read that the look of Barsoom (Mars to you and me) was dull and uninteresting. Hmmm, never been an admirerer of the stark and raw beauty of the American southwest I guess. Personally I found Barsoom to be beautiful, alien, exotic and familiar all at the same time. After all, the Mars rovers have confirmed that the Red Planet does indeed look like our American southwest and I for one happen to think both places very scenic.
Some critics have said the story is dull and lifeless. OK, put down the crack pipe and step away from the video game console. "John Carter" has a great fast paced plot with lots of interesting twists and turns. I also thought the characters were nicely drawn, if not overly complex, and that the alien races on Barsoom to be very interesting with fascinating customs which only made me want to learn more about them.
Other critics have complained that they have seen this stuff before in movies like Star Wars and Avatar.... Read more ›
I've heard some critics say the plot was a mess and overly convoluted. Really? My suggestion to them is "don't text while watching a movie, you might miss something". I found the plot fairly well done and actually made sense (if only the last Star Trek film had that going for it) and was interesting to boot.
I also read that the look of Barsoom (Mars to you and me) was dull and uninteresting. Hmmm, never been an admirerer of the stark and raw beauty of the American southwest I guess. Personally I found Barsoom to be beautiful, alien, exotic and familiar all at the same time. After all, the Mars rovers have confirmed that the Red Planet does indeed look like our American southwest and I for one happen to think both places very scenic.
Some critics have said the story is dull and lifeless. OK, put down the crack pipe and step away from the video game console. "John Carter" has a great fast paced plot with lots of interesting twists and turns. I also thought the characters were nicely drawn, if not overly complex, and that the alien races on Barsoom to be very interesting with fascinating customs which only made me want to learn more about them.
Other critics have complained that they have seen this stuff before in movies like Star Wars and Avatar.... Read more ›
795 of 859 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
John Carter is an Epic Win Despite Horrible Marketing and Insane Critics
March 25, 2012
Format:DVD
John Carter captures the spirit of the original ERB books very well. I'm not going to give a thorough review of the movie because so many other reviewers have already done that. I will, however, say that everyone involved in the production of this movie should be commended. The film takes Burroughs' "A Princess of Mars" and combines elements of the second book "Gods of Mars" (adding a few tweaks along the way) to create what can be called a mini-masterpiece. The story is well-written, the characters are fleshed out, the FX enhance the story not overshadow it, and the acting is excellent. The stunning Lynn Collins steals the show with her performance as Princess Dejah Thoris, Taylor Kitsch is admirable as Carter, and Willem Dafoe is perfect as the Thark leader Tars Tarkas. Andrew Stanton did a great job directing, the score is memorable, and the visuals are breathtaking.
If you haven't read the original books (which are absolute classics), you'll enjoy this movie because it's a great movie. If you're already a fan of the books, you'll love the movie despite some of the changes (John Carter was never married before he went to Mars, for one), which can be overlooked (If you want an almost accurate representation of the source material, Dynamite Entertainment's "Warlord or Mars" comic series [along with the excellent spin-offs] is highly recommended. In fact, it's probably the best comic book out there right now). I'm already a huge John Carter fan, and this movie is a wonderful addition to the world of John Carter.
Do not let the critics stop you from seeing this movie. Anyone who gave this movie a bad review is an idiot and was probably on something when they saw this movie, or they based their reviews solely on the awful trailers.... Read more ›
If you haven't read the original books (which are absolute classics), you'll enjoy this movie because it's a great movie. If you're already a fan of the books, you'll love the movie despite some of the changes (John Carter was never married before he went to Mars, for one), which can be overlooked (If you want an almost accurate representation of the source material, Dynamite Entertainment's "Warlord or Mars" comic series [along with the excellent spin-offs] is highly recommended. In fact, it's probably the best comic book out there right now). I'm already a huge John Carter fan, and this movie is a wonderful addition to the world of John Carter.
Do not let the critics stop you from seeing this movie. Anyone who gave this movie a bad review is an idiot and was probably on something when they saw this movie, or they based their reviews solely on the awful trailers.... Read more ›
417 of 454 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Former Confederate Civil War soldier, Captain John Carter has nothing left to fight for when he finds himself transported to a desert planet. Suddenly among a warrior tribe of four-armed aliens and a beautiful princess, Carter ends up in the middle of another war. But when faced with the chance of returning home to Earth, Carter may have found a cause worth fighting for in Princess Dejah and the people of Barsoom.
Taylor Kitsch stars as John Carter, the bitter and destitute man who cares for nothing but his found cave of gold. Kitsch has a young face and stoic countenance, perfect for the role of the ageless John Carter. He's a believable fighter and a great straight man to plenty of humor. Princess Dejah is played by Lynn Collins, who has terrific chemistry with John Carter, and is just as strong and smart as her male counterparts (if not more). Mark Strong and Dominic West are fantastic villains, especially West as a surprisingly charming and attractive (though naïve) despot. And my favorite characters in the novel (Princess of Mars) as well as the film were the Tharks, played by Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church and Samantha Morton. Though CGI, the characters still brought depth, emotion, and humor and successfully brought Burroughs' characters to life.
Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic Princess of Mars (published in 1917), John Carter is a surprising and exceptional retelling. I recently read Princess of Mars in anticipation for the film. And though the film doesn't delve into the depth of the Tharks' stories as I would have liked, it still captures the spirit of the novel. And the natives of Barsoom get an impressive technology upgrade, and the science is updated for the awe-factor in the film.
I had my reservations after seeing the official trailers.... Read more ›
Taylor Kitsch stars as John Carter, the bitter and destitute man who cares for nothing but his found cave of gold. Kitsch has a young face and stoic countenance, perfect for the role of the ageless John Carter. He's a believable fighter and a great straight man to plenty of humor. Princess Dejah is played by Lynn Collins, who has terrific chemistry with John Carter, and is just as strong and smart as her male counterparts (if not more). Mark Strong and Dominic West are fantastic villains, especially West as a surprisingly charming and attractive (though naïve) despot. And my favorite characters in the novel (Princess of Mars) as well as the film were the Tharks, played by Willem Dafoe, Thomas Haden Church and Samantha Morton. Though CGI, the characters still brought depth, emotion, and humor and successfully brought Burroughs' characters to life.
Based on Edgar Rice Burroughs' classic Princess of Mars (published in 1917), John Carter is a surprising and exceptional retelling. I recently read Princess of Mars in anticipation for the film. And though the film doesn't delve into the depth of the Tharks' stories as I would have liked, it still captures the spirit of the novel. And the natives of Barsoom get an impressive technology upgrade, and the science is updated for the awe-factor in the film.
I had my reservations after seeing the official trailers.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic Popcorn Entertainment
Really enjoyed this movie. Looks great and there was a LOT to enjoy in the story. Very very fun escapist entertainment and the type of action // escape movie that (sadly) doesn't... Read more
Published 15 hours ago by iamsid
2.0 out of 5 stars
Wow, this was bad!
No one has taken on Burroughs in along time, now I see why. Maybe he best left with the adolescent dreams of young boys in the first half of the last century
Published 22 hours ago by Kenneth Hoglund
5.0 out of 5 stars
John Carter - 50 years in the making
When I was a teenager, I read all of the John Carter series from Edgar Rice Burroughs. I waited 50 years to see it done right on film. It was worth the wait. Read more
Published 1 day ago by Donald L. Buresh
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely Awesome.
Having read this story at least 10 times over the years, this movie lives up to the legend...., it is really faithful to the primary plot points, the actors are excellent in each... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Gary Barlough
5.0 out of 5 stars
I saw this seven times in the theatre
One of my favorite movies of last year. The blu-ray transfer is perfect. You won't be disappointed. The best sci-fi movie since empire strikes back.
Published 2 days ago by S. Leslie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Makes Your Heart Leap
This movie was surprisingly fun and entertaining for me and all of my friends and family whom I was able to convince to watch it. Read more
Published 2 days ago by Robert Setari
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved it!
I actually saw this in theaters 3 times and bought the blu-ray the day it came out! I would recommend it to anyone!
Published 2 days ago by Sci-Fi Zombie
4.0 out of 5 stars
John Carter [of Mars]
Those who have read Edgar Rice Burrough's books will probably hate this movie since it stray far from their storyline: the characters are there (for the most part) but some have... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Ralph Morgan Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Adventure Yarn
I thoroughly enjoyed John Carter. This movie clearly needs to be the first of a trilogy. This installment introduced us to the characters and history of Barsoom and now I am... Read more
Published 2 days ago by Kelly LaRocque
5.0 out of 5 stars
John Carter of Mars
This was a great movie, it was great to see the books I read as a kid brought to life.
Hopefully, a sequel is in the cards - there's so much more to the story
Hopefully, a sequel is in the cards - there's so much more to the story
Published 3 days ago by Joseph Urbano
