A Princess of Mars

[John Mueller]

I went to see the movie John Carter last night. I saw it in 2D and didn't feel any need for 3D. I really, REALLY enjoyed it. Go see this ASAP 'cause it won't be in theaters for long.

I first read A Princess of Mars (the first John Carter story written in 1911 by Edgar Rice Burroughs of Tarzan fame) when I was in grade school and I've wanted to see a movie of it ever since. First off John Carter is a very good action SF movie. It stays true to the book and that seems to be the main problem for the public. Reviews are saying "We've seen this before in ...." The reason is that EVERY SciFi movie made in the past 100 years took ideas from A Princess of Mars. Mind controlling bad guys, green men, giant monsters, speeder bikes, space battles, alien planets, unusual abilities, the ultimate power source, hot guys and girls in skimpy clothing, A Princess of Mars has them all and more.

You average movie reviewer is a movie reviewer because HE/SHE DOESN'T READ BOOKS. One reviewer said, "I haven't read the book but I saw the Franzeta Cover art." The trailer is confusing and really needed a narrator. I think that Disney should have stuck with the original title, What could sound more Disney like than A Princess of Mars?

[Mark Swanson]

I can't wait to see it! John, it sounds like you think much as I do about the poor state of modern sci-fi movies...I am a huge fan of the classic sci-fi books but almost every time there's a movie made I eagerly wait only to find that they all but ruined it.

[Douglas Ingram]

I heard the interview with Taylor Kitsch on "Q"a couple of days and I must say that this intrigued me to see the movie.

And, in the vein of "Sci-Fi books from our childhood that I'd love to see as a modern movie..." I used to devour the Perry Rhodan books. There's material in there for movies to be sure. It would make an awesome TV series if well done.

I will confess to never having heard of the John Carter/Princess of Mars books. I'm pretty sure that Taylor may have mentioned that Princess of Mars may be coming yet.

[John Mueller]

The story in the movie IS A Princess of Mars. They follow the book closely for Hollywood and slavishly for Disney. They did change how John Carter gets to Mars from earth but that is a hole in the plot of the book that you could drive a truck through. The two main actors look the parts. Burroughs didn't write great dialog and there is a "me Tarzan" like scene but how else do you start to learn a language?

Mark, I'm a big fan of SF (not SciFi). I Robot movie only had the three laws of robotics so that they could be violated. Without the power suits what was the point of Starship Troopers movie.

[Mark Swanson]

Ahh, it's interesting how you make that distinction John, I know what you mean! We could make a whole thread on "SF movies that were a let down"....One of the biggest for me was the Dune movies, and any Heinlein movies too.

[Tim Douglass]

I just added "A Princess of Mars" to my Kindle. I somehow doubt that I'll get to the movie while it is still in theaters - just never seems to work that way for me.

[Thomas Dooher]

Hmmm...I know what y'all mean. My memory of the Dune movie was Sting saying "I'm gonna kill you..." but, that was decades about...

[Douglas Ingram]

There was a TV version of Dune from 2000 that was much better. William Hurt as Duke Leo Atreides. I'd watch it again.

"Frank Herbert's Dune" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Herbert%27s_Dune

[Eugene Coldrick]

With the up-to-date cgi, I would love to see an adaptation of C.J.Cherry's "Chanur" series. I am currently reading it to my 6 year old daughter. Dune I read many times....movie was a fail. I never knew there was a "Dune" Series. I will have to look for that.