I loved John Carter.
I am a sucker for a good adventure movie, and John Carter is a good adventure movie. It's adapted from Edgar Rice Burroughs' A Princess of Mars, telling the tale of a gentleman from Virginia and veteran of the Civil War who finds himself stranded on the red planet. That, dear reader, is the premise. What follows is a thrilling adventure and a touching love story.
Taylor Kitsch has the difficult job of portraying John Carter, a weary veteran, hopeful prospector, and unlikely hero. There is quite a range required there, and I think Kitsch pulls it off. While his John Carter isn't exactly what I had pictured in my head while reading the novels, it is pretty damn close. Kitsch is the anchor that the audience uses to experience the wonders and majesty of Mars. Or Barsoom, should you ever find yourself exiled to the red planet.
Dejah Thoris, the titular Princess of Mars, is played wonderfully by Lynn Collins. She brings an elegance and strength to the role. Never do you feel like she is the cliched Damsel in Distress. Rather, she is a strong woman who just happens to be a princess. A princess who happens to catch the eye of a particular gentleman from Virginia. The movie hinges on whether or not Kitsch and Collins can pull off a convincing romance. Do they?
