John Carter : A Princess of Mars - Part 3

[CConn]

How was Stanton's approach a problem for JC?

If anything, I'd say the cast and plotting were the weakest points of the movie. I didn't have any problem with the direction, nor - to me - did it seem at all amateurish.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

eh, I felt the film was lacking in visual grandeur one would expect in a film like this, there just wasn't any big "woah" money-shot type moment in the film I felt. and that does fall on the director.

 

[Kane52630]

This is my favorite money shot in the film.

 

[CConn]

Eh, I didn't have much of a problem with that myself. I mean, sure it wasn't a Transformers type of film, but I still enjoyed it visually.

My biggest problem with the direction was that the color pallette of the film was extremely monochromatic. Which is a surprising flaw considering Stanton balanced the dull brown tones of Wall-E's first act with more vibrant colors later on in the film. JC didn't have that - it was brown, tan, red, and more brown again - and I think that was disengaging.

But certainly not disengaging enough to turn it from good movie to bad, or smash hit to embarrassing bomb.

 

[Prison Mike]

That entire scene was definitely my favorite one in the movie.

 

[DyeLorean]

The plot was convoluted as hell. That was my main problem with it. It could have been a very good sci-fi film if I you knew what was going on. I didn't read or knew much about the original story, maybe that is why it was so hard for me to follow the story.

 

[CConn]

The plot also lacked a strong three-act structure.

It just kind of meandered for 80% of the movie.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

also, (and this mainly a personal preference in terms of story structure with movies where it's a human entering an fantasy/ alien world) I didn't like how they showed us mars in the first five seconds of the film. I prefer the concept of audience surrogacy, I feel the film should have just started on Earth, so we can follow them into the alien world and experience it as they do, have all our questions answered as the protagonist knows more. when you know more than the main character, it just kind ruins the experience, at least for me. this was the same problem I had with green lantern, granted there was a WHOLE lot more wrong with that movie than this one lol.

 

[moviedoors]

The plot was convoluted as hell. That was my main problem with it. It could have been a very good sci-fi film if I you knew what was going on. I didn't read or knew much about the original story, maybe that is why it was so hard for me to follow the story.

That isn't your fault. No one should have to read a book to enjoy the adaptation. If you have to do homework to get a movie, then the movie has failed.

 

[terry78]

That isn't your fault. No one should have to read a book to enjoy the adaptation. If you have to do homework to get a movie, then the movie has failed.

No, that just means you're not smart enough to get it.

 

[CConn]

That was random.

 

[AVEITWITHJAMON]

This is my favorite money shot in the film.

That was definately the best moment in the movie, the only problem was I didnt find Carter sympathetic until that point. I know it hinted at the death of his family earlier in the movie, but I think maybe showing it earlier might have benefitted it. Either way though, the movie was far from bad. In fact I enjoyed it quite a bit.

 

[Tanin]

The plot was convoluted as hell. That was my main problem with it. It could have been a very good sci-fi film if I you knew what was going on. I didn't read or knew much about the original story, maybe that is why it was so hard for me to follow the story.

Odd because my whole family understood the film without having read the books.

Did you fall asleep?

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Yeah I didn't find it hard to follow at all and my whole seem to get it with no problem. It was pretty straightforward.

 

[DyeLorean]

Odd because my whole family understood the film without having read the books.

Did you fall asleep?

No, not at all. There were too many names, Barsoom, Zodanga, I couldn't keep track of everything. Every 3 words, an unknown name showed up. I was like 'oh sh%$# I have no idea what they're talking about'.

But I know I'm not the only one, I've read a bunch of reviews and several critics had the same issue.

 

[Kane52630]

They tend to explain in the film what they mean right after they say it.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

They tend to explain in the film what they mean right after they say it.

Hence the point of making John an outsider.

 

[DyeLorean]

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

I know I'm not the only one.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

That is a different point from the one you made. Incomprehensible plotting and characterization would be that the characters and plot take incomprehensible turns that don't make sense. Not that they are hard to understand.

 

[CConn]

I would think incomprehensible plotting to mean its impossible to comprehend.

And comprehend is synonymous with understand.

So it's saying the plotting is hard to understand.

Which is what it is.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I would think incomprehensible plotting to mean its impossible to comprehend.

And comprehend is synonymous with understand.

So it's saying the plotting is hard to understand.

Which is what it is.

So they had trouble comprehending characterization?

Let me put it this way. Say you are watching a movie about a cop who is trying to bust a drug lord. Then suddenly in the middle of the third act he decides he needs to go to Hawaii and stop a volcano from erupting. You understand what is going on, it just that it makes no sense considering the plot.

 

[DyeLorean]

Some decisions from the characters made no sense. I can't remember an example right now, I only saw the movie once at the cinemas.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Some decisions from the characters made no sense. I can't remember an example right now, I only saw the movie once at the cinemas.

That would be what I am explaining. Though I don't see how this applies to the film. If you watch and pay attention, it is pretty simple to follow. My niece with no attention span understood it.

 

[CConn]

So they had trouble comprehending characterization?

Let me put it this way. Say you are watching a movie about a cop who is trying to bust a drug lord. Then suddenly in the middle of the third act he decides he needs to go to Hawaii and stop a volcano from erupting. You understand what is going on, it just that it makes no sense considering the plot.

It could easily mean either given the intereptation of the English language's similar definitions.

 

[DyeLorean]

If you watch and pay attention, it is pretty simple to follow.

I disagree. But that's the beauty of it, opinions. You and a lot of people understood the movie, myself and a lot of people didn't.
That is easy to understand.