John Carter

2012

John Carter

Critics Consensus

While John Carter looks terrific and delivers its share of pulpy thrills, it also suffers from uneven pacing and occasionally incomprehensible plotting and characterization.

52%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 234

60%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 114,520
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Movie Info

From filmmaker Andrew Stanton comes John Carter-a sweeping action-adventure set on the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom (Mars). John Carter is based on a classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, whose highly imaginative adventures served as inspiration for many filmmakers, both past and present. The film tells the story of war-weary, former military captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch), who is inexplicably transported to Mars where he becomes reluctantly embroiled in a conflict of epic proportions amongst the inhabitants of the planet, including Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) and the captivating Princess Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins). In a world on the brink of collapse, Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes that the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands. -- (C) Walt Disney

Cast

Taylor Kitsch
as John Carter
Lynn Collins
as Dejah Thoris
Samantha Morton
as Sola
Willem Dafoe
as Tars Tarkas
Antonio Sabato Jr.
Thomas Haden Church
as Tal Hajus
Traci Lords
Mark Strong (II)
as Matai Shang
Ciarán Hinds
as Tardos Mors
Dominic West
as Sab Than
James Purefoy
as Kantos Kan
Bryan Cranston
as Powell
Polly Walker
as Sarkoja
Daryl Sabara
as Edgar Rice Burroughs
Arkie Reece
as Stayman #1/Helm
Davood Ghadami
as Stayman #3
Pippa Nixon
as Lightmaster
Philip Philmar
as Thern #1
James Embree
as Thern #2
Figs Jackman
as Man in the Bowler
Emily Tierney
as Pretty Woman in NYC Doorway
Edmund Kente
as Telegraph Clerk
Rupert Frazer
as Thompson
Nicholas Woodeson
as Dalton
Kyle Agnew
as Stable Boy
Don Stark
as Dix the Storekeeper
Josh Daugherty
as Rowdy #1
Jared Cyr
as Rowdy #2
Sean Carrigan
as Cavalryman
Dusty Sorg
as Twitchy Corporal
Christopher Goodman
as Stockade Guard
Amanda Clayton
as Sarah Carter
Akima Castaneda
as Apache Leader
Joe Billingiere
as Apache #1
Aldred Westley Montoya
as Apache #2
Phil Cheadle
as Thern in Cave
David Schwimmer
as Young Thark Warrior
Arnie Alpert
as Council Member #1
Ian Ray
as Council Member #2
Peggy Clements
as Council Member #3
Evelyn Dubuc
as Council Member #4
Connie Jhil McEntyre
as Council Member #5
Daniel O'Meara
as Vas Kor
Emma Clifford
as Lightman/Helm
Oliver Boot
as Bodyguard (Matai)
Rebecca Sarker
as Stayman #1/Navigator
Philip Arditti
as Spotter #2
Jon Favreau
as Thark Bookie
Art Malik
as Zodangan General
Holly Weston
as Carter's Wife (Corpse)
Gary Milner
as Zodangan Officer (Matai)
Cate Fowler
as Matron of Chamber (Matai)
Darwin Shaw
as Zodangan Officer (Matai)
Eileen Page
as Elderly Woman (Matai)
Si Evans
as Zodangan Guard
Steven Cree
as Humble Guard
Garry Tubbs
as Orkney Dig Worker
Jeremy Booth
as Doctor
Myriam Acharki
as Priestess
Jill Baker
as Additional Voice
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News & Interviews for John Carter

RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: John Carter and Act of Valor
Critics Consensus: John Carter Gets Lost in Space
Total Recall: Willem Dafoe’s Best Movies
View All

Critic Reviews for John Carter

All Critics (234) | Top Critics (49) | Fresh (122) | Rotten (112)

  • A mess.

    Mar 26, 2012

    David Denby

    New Yorker
    Top Critic

  • As one of Pixar's star players, Stanton is an experienced cinematic storyteller, which is why it's disappointing that his first live-action project is so unwieldy at times.

    Mar 16, 2012 | Rating: 2.1/2

    Leonard Maltin

    indieWire
    Top Critic

  • Stanton should go back to making machines talk. He puts much more humanity into them than he manages to extract from Burroughs, even with all that nostalgia working for him.

    Mar 9, 2012 | Rating: 2/5 | Full Review…

    Sandra Hall

    Sydney Morning Herald
    Top Critic

  • There's a delightfully unfashionable cheesiness about John Carter, a film for all the family, but in particular sci-fi fantasy geeks and older gentlemen who have never been able to relinquish the spiffing derring-do of Burroughs.

    Mar 9, 2012 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Kate Muir

    Times (UK)
    Top Critic

  • The most indelible performance in the film is not, strictly speaking, a performance at all. Rather it is Woola, a six-legged Martian hound who rather resembles a cross between a bulldog and a fetal gila monster.

    Mar 9, 2012 | Full Review…

    Christopher Orr

    The Atlantic
    Top Critic

  • The reported $250 million price tag for John Carter gives one pause. I suppose one could argue that masterpieces have no price. Then again, John Carter is no masterpiece.

    Mar 9, 2012 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…

    Peter Rainer

    Christian Science Monitor
    Top Critic
View All Critic Reviews (234)

Audience Reviews for John Carter

  • May 18, 2016
    While it may be generic, this adaptation of the sci-fi classic is wonderfully pulpy and old fashioned - and thanks to Andrew Stanton's direction, is a wonder to look at.
    Matthew M Super Reviewer
  • Feb 10, 2016
    Once every couple of years Disney releases a movie with a stupidly high budget and It always bombs at the box office, John Carter does the same thing but this time the movie itself is pretty good, Although the over told plot does ruin the pace at times and maybe abit more humour wouldn't of gone a miss, Where the film does shine is the fast paced action and the effects were pretty good too, I can't comment on the 3D as I watched the 2D version but I bet it would of been pretty good in parts with the 3D effect, With a good ending it's hard to really hate but it's easily forgettable, Predictable and with a $250 million plus budget it should of been so much better, Even though it's far from a bad movie.
    Jamie C Super Reviewer
  • Apr 27, 2014
    I like science fiction, and enjoyed the movie. Perhaps not having read "A Princess of Mars" is a good thing, as I didn't have the book to compare to.
    Red L Super Reviewer
  • Mar 28, 2014
    Its a rainy Saturday afternoon movie for tweens. That said, Edgar Rice Burroughs isn't too badly served by this leave-your-thinking-cap-off glorioski extravaganza, with miles and miles of CGI animation used to get ... meh. Yer gonna need more popcorn. Its sorta okay. Is it still raining outside?
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
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