Writer: Syahida Kamarudin

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Watch this if you liked: “Samson and Delilah”, “Avatar” and “Wall-E”

Based on the "Tarzan" novelist, Edgar Rice Burroughs' short story "The Princess from Mars" (from the "Barsoom" series), comes the epic sci-fi movie, "John Carter", and one does have to say that it is a real job well-done. It may not be at the level of "Avatar" in terms of over-the-top technology, but his first live-action film, director Andrew Stanton deserves full compliments.

If you think that you have heard the name Andrew Stanton somewhere, that is because Stanton is the guy from Pixar who brought you animation gems like "Toy Story", "Wall-E" and "Up". His familiarity with Disney and Pixar's animated movies have left a similar atmosphere and characterization in some of the characters, especially in the members of the Tharks clan and their adorable "monster-dog", as John Carter calls it.

As John Carter, Taylor Kitsch has managed to reclaim his lack of screen time as Gambit in "X-Men Origin: Wolverine". For unsatisfied fans, this is the movie where you get to see Kitsch in all his true action-movie potential, as he goes out topless to exhibit his mean six-packs, and showing off his awesome abilities in the fight scenes. Another "X Men Origin: Wolverine" alumni, Lynn Collins plays a more satisfactory type of rough and tough princess, Dejah Thoris, which is a welcome change from the annoying female characters in epics (*cough*Gemma Arterton*cough*), although Collins should have sharpened her acting skills instead of her sword-fighting skills.

Every single fight sequence, be it from the "Gladiator"-like arena fight that may remind you of 1949's "Samson and Delilah", or any battle scenes involving the Tharks, Heliumites and the soldiers from Zodanga are satisfaction guaranteed. The only bane of the movie is that it started a little bit slow and may confuse some, especially those who don't have any sensible traits like "being patient" or "good attention span".
In short, this is a feel-good movie that combines part of the grandeur from "Star Wars", a small dosage of "Gladiator" and "Helen of Troy" and a bit of contentment from watching previous Andrew Stanton's works.

The movie is screened in 35mm and its 2D and 3D counterparts as well as 2D and 3D versions for IMAX in Malaysia and Singapore. This review was written based on the IMAX 3D version.

Cinema Online, 01 March 2012