The 2012 film John Carter wasn’t exactly well-received by critics, currently holding only 52% on Rotten Tomatoes. What these reviewers don’t seem to appreciate is what makes the movie so good and memorable: a storyline that abandons safe expectations for something original and daring. That’s what we’ll be taking a look at in this article – why John Carter deserved a better critical reception than it got, why it still deserves it now, and what could have been done to change our perception.
John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) is a war-weary, former military captain who’s inexplicably transported to the mysterious and exotic planet of Barsoom, and reluctantly becomes embroiled in an epic conflict. It’s a world on the brink of collapse, and Carter rediscovers his humanity when he realizes the survival of Barsoom and its people rests in his hands. [source: themoviedb.org]
Sure, John Carter isn’t for everyone. Perhaps science-fiction is a complete turnoff for you. And if that’s the case, I have absolutely no idea how or why you landed on this article, and furthermore, why you’re still reading it. But for me, John Carter was an incredibly entertaining adventure. According to Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer, which aggregates film reviews from a variety of sources like newspapers and magazines (Rotten Tomatoes doesn’t actually release their formula), 48% of critics did not share this perspective.
The film is not without faults, of course. There are some lines of dialogue that could’ve used a little more work before going into production and there were a few moments where I couldn’t help but think, “Was there really no other take that you could’ve gone with?” I find myself asking this question during many films though. Despite it’s flaws, it was one of those movies that just totally sucked me in and had me at the edge of my seat. So when I saw John Carter‘s Rotten Tomatoes score, I couldn’t believe it. Seriously?
Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins are thoroughly compelling as John Carter and Dejah Thoris, Willem Dafoe steals the screen as Tars Tarkas, Dominic West is as captivating as he is manipulable, and Mark Strong’s Matai Shang is a force to be reckoned with as the story’s primary villain. Each member of this ensemble is perfectly cast in roles that play to their strengths and give them the ability to flex their acting skills. I have sought out films featuring performances by individuals in this ensemble as a direct result of my John Carter experience.
Let’s talk about the character of Dejah Thoris for moment… Her tenacity and strength are aspects that we should continue to see more often – especially in Disney Princess characters. She has her own goals, motivations, and ideals, and isn’t defined by her relationship with Carter or how others perceive her. She holds her own ground and does not need Carter to “save her.” But if you haven’t seen John Carter, none of this would have been even suggested from the trailer Disney released less than four months before the film hit theaters.
Trailers don’t always accurately portray a film’s plot and that can certainly affect our expectations. When trailers aren’t honest about their subject matter, viewers expect one thing and are presented with something else entirely. Sometimes this can be a good thing for the viewer as they end up getting so much more of what they’re already looking for or presented with a twist they couldn’t see coming. On the flipside, in the case of John Carter, it can be a negative where the studio sold a seemingly two dimensional sci-fi action-adventure about a human warrior kicking alien ass on Mars, but what viewers got was a deep, multi-genre, extraordinary journey of a reluctant soldier transported to another world at war where he must choose to help fight or flee all the while struggling with his own inner demons.
Sounds layered, doesn’t it? I would have loved for more of the actual plot and the film’s humanity to have made its way into the trailer. Perhaps if a better trailer was initially released, John Carter wouldn’t be known as a massive flop in the box office and instead be revered as the inventive, dynamic picture this viewer believes it to be.
I would go as far to argue that John Carter has some leading character similarities to the 2001 Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Gladiator. While the latter is a period drama about a tormented man fighting his way out of slavery to avenge the murder of this family, the former is a science-fiction drama about a man (who’s family was also murdered) fighting to save a civilization and salvage what is left of his crippled soul. Gladiator won four Oscars out of its 12 nominations. Having seen both films multiple times, I have found there is more depth and humanity in the picture with aliens. Go figure.
John Carter is visually exceptional and takes the viewer on a journey unlike any other. If you like sci-fi movies, then do yourself a favor: give John Carter a shot. Regardless of your expectations about how good it may be, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with what you find. With this or any film, don’t let subpar Rotten Tomatoes scores discourage you from seeing a movie that just might have a lasting affect on you for years to come.
Author — Michael Noens
Michael Noens is the Executive Director at Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival, a Content Producer for Imbibe Cinema, and a former independent filmmaker.
Follow @michaelpnoens
