John Carter

One Hundred years after his first literary appearance in A Princess of Mars, and some eighty years after his film rights were first acquired, Edgar Rice Burrough's pre-superman John Carter is now on movie screens.

During the Civil War, John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) served the Confederate Army. Years later, he's just mining his own business in Arizona when the army tries to recruit him. He turns down the offer and goes to his cave, where a mysterious man transports him to Barsoom, the planet also known as Mars.

On Mars, the gravity gives John super strength and jumping ability. He joins up with the warrior tribe of Green Martians, the Thark, and the Red Martian Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). The Bad Guys are the eerie White Martians, the Thern, and the evil Prince Sab Than (Dominic West), who wants to marry Dejah.

It's the live-action debut of Pixar alumnus Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, Wall-E), who also co-wrote with Michael Chabon and Mark Andrews. It's a big, sprawling 3-D movie that will also wow its flatscreen audience. It's also terribly convoluted and tends to drag on more than it needs to. It maybe around 137 minutes, but it sure felt like a year or so.

But still, there were quite a few moments that made the film worth it. It has plenty of comedy from John's interactions with the Martians, including the giant lizard dog Woola. There's plenty of spectacular scenery to behold as John battles numerous villains and creatures. Those moments were when the film was most focused and help smooth John's silver screen landing.

If you have the patience, then the film is worth the trip to the multiplex. If not, then there's always DVD or Blu-Ray or whatever they come up with next.