JOHN CARTER
I remember finding a copy of Edgar Rice Burroughs A Princess of Mars in a box in one of my High School classrooms.After reading it i wondered why a film or even a t.v series was never made based on such an interesting story.There was a Marvel Comics series and recently a comic series from Dynamite
It bounced around from Looney Tunes to Paramount studios for over 80 years.
Finally in 2012 Disney has brought JC to the big screen.
The film has some wonderous,fun,funny and action packed moments.
Taylor Kitsch as John Carter does a fine job as the former Confederate captain John Carter who is mysteriously transported to Mars.
Lynn Collins as Dejah Thoris, Princess of Helium plays well with Kitsch,and those eyes....WOW.
You might need a scorecard to keep up with the warring races that inhabit Mars/Barsoom
The film does have flaws.Plot holes, an underdeveloped villain (Dominic West as Sab Than, Prince of Zodanga),interesting plot points that are never explored.
Still these flaws dont water down whats good about JC.
Such as an effective action sequence which blends in flashbacks of a tragic turning point in JC's life on earth.
Im looking forward to the DVD .It will be interesting to see what was cut from the film.
SCALE OF 1-10 AN 8
Friends with kids
Jason (Adam Scott) and Julie(Jennifer Westfeldt) have been close friends for 19 years.In fact they are so close they will call each other in the middle of the night while their lovers sleep inches away.They both want children,havent found "the one" yet,and they think they can bypass the stress and arguements,they see their friends with kids (Kristen Wiig and Jon Hamm as Missy and Ben,Maya Rudolph and Chris O'Dowd as Leslie
and Alex)having.
So they decide to have a child together...no strings attached.
Writer, director and star Jennifer Westfeldt pulls no punches in various strong scenes that are filled with humor and truth.
She never holds back the fact that having a child is life changing,time consuming,and one of the most incredible things you can do an experience in this life.
How will Jason and Julie,explain their arrangement to their new loves Edward Burns as Kurt,and Megan Fox as Maryjane,who may become stepparents to their child?
How will they explain it to their child when the child comes of age? How will they feel when the child becomes close to the stepparent?
It is impossible not to become emotionally tied to the person that you have a child with,no matter how many contracts you sign or promises you may make.
When all of the aforementioned plays out in the film, Friends with kids is at its best and most honest,but when it heads toward the basic romantic comedy path the film starts to lose steam.
But in the end its still a very good and realistic look at raising children and relationships.
Scale of 1-10 an 8
