Justin M (Tripwyre)

A lot closer in tone to the TV series than the first film, which tried to pander to a wider audience with film formula and convention. This film flies in the face of all that, is loaded with great character moments and offers several BoBandy-size belly-laughs. While this isn't the end I'd wished for the boys, I also highly doubt that this is the end. They'll keep making movies and I'll keep seeing them -- especially if the theatre experience is as wild as this one. Never been in a crowd like it.

What a shame that the press seems so eager to bury this film under a mountain of schadenfreude, as this is a fine pulp adventure very much deserving of an audience. Who cares what it cost, what matters is that it works. And it really does work. The Barsoom books have been stripped bare by Lucas, Cameron and many others, but Stanton asserts himself as a stronger storyteller than those who've walked this ground before. Lynn Collins is outstanding.

Marketing let this film down hard, however. Especially the title. Can you imagine if Raiders of the Lost Ark had simply been called "Indiana Jones". That seems like it wouldn't be such a bad idea now that Indy's become ingrained in popular culture, but before the film's release, who would have cared? The Carter books are old, yes, but they are not iconic in the way some might think they deserve to be. A suitably pulpy title for this awesomely pulpy film, like John Carter & The Princess of Mars, would serve it much better.

It's sad that it's flopping the way it is. This is funny, thrilling and moving in parts. If I were a kid, I'd have gone nuts over this. Instead, I just liked it a whole heck of a lot.