TheDenizen wrote:I have zero familiarity with the source material for John Carter. Is it a book?
I was just reading up on it yesterday on Wikipedia, so I think I can provide a summary. Under the Moon of Mars was the first novel ever written by Edgar Rice Burroughs (the guy who created Tarzan), back in 1912. The main character was "John Carter of Mars", a seemingly immortal man who used to be a Confederate officer during the Civil War, and through death, travels back and forth between Mars and Earth. Most of his exploits and adventures occur on the red planet.
Amusingly enough, they have tried to make a film adaptation for over 80 years. At first, it was going to be an MGM animated feature, which would have made it the first such movie, predating even Disney's "Snow White". Most recently, in the mid-2000s, Robert Rodriguez was going to direct, and later, Jon Favreau.
Honestly? I think one could make a very good movie from the source material, although the original books seem like the standard milquetoast, unimaginative science fiction from the early 20th century aimed squarely at teenage boys.
However, no way does it look like the new film does so.