John Carter

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?

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol

Tom Cruise's Mission Impossible series has always been one of my guilty pleasures. Even the second one, which is the weakest of the bunch, still benefited from John Woo's crazy style. Prior to this entry it almost seemed as if each of the MI movies existed in their own continuity. Sure, some of the characters are the same, and they all star Dreamy McHawtpants (Tom Cruise), but the stories always seemed to be their own thing. Ghost Protocol is the first one, in my opinion, that is a true "sequel", meaning that it fits in the same universe that JJ "ManGod" Abrams created with the third film. And that's a positive. Abrams' MI seemed more "grounded", as if you could ever accuse a spy flick of being grounded in reality. Perhaps it's because the characters are treated like characters, rather than just a bunch of scenes thrown together that make Ethan Hunt look cool (I'm looking at you, Woo).

Ghost Protocol also represents the first live action flick from another ManGod: Brad Bird. For those of you not in the know, Mr. Bird is the guy who gave us The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, and Ratatouille. I wouldn't hesitate to put all three of those flicks in my top 20 movies of all time. Does Ghost Protocol make that list? Ummmm not sure yet. Maybe. Ask me again in 2 years. If I've watched MI:GP multiple times then yes, it probably will be. If not, the only criticism I can level at the film is that it is an extremely competent, entertaining, masterfully crafted action flick.