Comments on: John Carter and the Gods of Hollywood - free Kindle edition http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Cleo http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1649101 Cleo Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1649101 Ah, thanks for the info. Ah, thanks for the info.

]]> By: Cleo http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1649098 Cleo Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1649098 Sorry, I was being a bit snarky there. My intent really was to say that any book other than a well-known "classic" (Narnia...) or recent phenomenon (Harry Potter, Hunger Games...) is extremely obscure *to average moviegoers*. A film with a budget that large has to be aimed squarely at the masses who have never read any Burroughs. This includes me, by the way. :-) Sorry, I was being a bit snarky there. My intent really was to say that any book other than a well-known “classic” (Narnia…) or recent phenomenon (Harry Potter, Hunger Games…) is extremely obscure *to average moviegoers*. A film with a budget that large has to be aimed squarely at the masses who have never read any Burroughs.

This includes me, by the way. :-)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648918 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648918 Delta of Venus of Mars? Delta of Venus of Mars?

]]> By: washington23 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648888 washington23 Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648888 Hollywood Animal: A Memoir by Joe Eszterhas has some great bits about the making of Showgirls. Hollywood Animal: A Memoir by Joe Eszterhas has some great bits about the making of Showgirls.

]]> By: Mike Meyer http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648845 Mike Meyer Thu, 07 Feb 2013 06:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648845 I thought they should have called it Jimmy Carter of Mars.  Who wouldn't want to see that?  Most modern films sound way more interesting if you add "Of Mars" to the titles ("The Iron Lady Of Mars," "Steel Magnolias Of Mars," "The Lady Wears Prada Of Mars"), so it only made sense to put it on a film that is actually set on Mars. I thought they should have called it Jimmy Carter of Mars.  Who wouldn’t want to see that?  Most modern films sound way more interesting if you add “Of Mars” to the titles (“The Iron Lady Of Mars,” “Steel Magnolias Of Mars,” “The Lady Wears Prada Of Mars”), so it only made sense to put it on a film that is actually set on Mars.

]]> By: Gerald Mander http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648785 Gerald Mander Thu, 07 Feb 2013 04:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648785  The Hobbit was just okay. But "okay" is CItizen Kane compared to John Carter.  The Hobbit was just okay. But “okay” is CItizen Kane compared to John Carter.

]]> By: Anon_Mahna http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648731 Anon_Mahna Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648731 I read the book, listened to the LibreVox reading several times during late shifts at work and I as well throughly enjoyed the film even with the tweaking they did.  Though I do so hope that at some point someone does a 2-2.5hr fully animated version that is at least in the upper end of what'll pass for PG13. Side note, I'd piss myself in delight if I could have one of the small flyers. Ooooh damn those things strike me as pure wicked fun to go racing around on.. I read the book, listened to the LibreVox reading several times during late shifts at work and I as well throughly enjoyed the film even with the tweaking they did.  Though I do so hope that at some point someone does a 2-2.5hr fully animated version that is at least in the upper end of what’ll pass for PG13.

Side note, I’d piss myself in delight if I could have one of the small flyers. Ooooh damn those things strike me as pure wicked fun to go racing around on..

]]> By: Vnend http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648684 Vnend Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648684 Nope. I didn't read the books until after seeing the movie. I liked it, and saw it twice in the theater. Nope. I didn’t read the books until after seeing the movie. I liked it, and saw it twice in the theater.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648652 Donald Petersen Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648652 <blockquote>Yes, it's actually extremely obscure</blockquote> One of the things Sellers mentions in the preface of this book is this: <blockquote>Burroughs... at the time of his death in 1950 was the best-selling author of the 20th century, with his books translated into 58 languages and outselling his contemporaries Hemingway, Faulkner, and Fitzgerald combined.</blockquote> I don't think that's <b>entirely</b> Tarzan's fault.  The John Carter books are old, but far from "extremely obscure."  If nothing else, even casual Heinlein fans who've read <i>Number of the Beast</i> are at least aware of Barsoom. But you're right about the title. If they were so afraid of <i>A Princess of Mars</i> scaring away the boys, they could have gone with the original serial title of <i>Under the Moons of Mars</i> and sold a few dozen more tickets. Weird. Disney's marketers are not usually <b>quite</b> so dumb.

Yes, it’s actually extremely obscure

One of the things Sellers mentions in the preface of this book is this:

Burroughs… at the time of his death in 1950 was the best-selling author of the 20th century, with his books translated into 58 languages and outselling his contemporaries Hemingway, Faulkner, and Fitzgerald combined.

I don’t think that’s entirely Tarzan’s fault.  The John Carter books are old, but far from “extremely obscure.”  If nothing else, even casual Heinlein fans who’ve read Number of the Beast are at least aware of Barsoom.

But you’re right about the title. If they were so afraid of A Princess of Mars scaring away the boys, they could have gone with the original serial title of Under the Moons of Mars and sold a few dozen more tickets.

Weird. Disney’s marketers are not usually quite so dumb.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648637 Donald Petersen Thu, 07 Feb 2013 01:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648637 As titles go, it certainly didn't distinguish itself from, say, <i>Larry Crowne</i>. As titles go, it certainly didn’t distinguish itself from, say, Larry Crowne.

]]> By: Michael D. Sellers http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648508 Michael D. Sellers Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648508 Cleo Disney originally planned to release it as John Carter of Mars, which was the title the Paramount had intended to use when they had it (from 2000-2006) and which Disney had planned to use when they had the rights from 1986-2000 -- but then the new head of marketing MT Carney decided to change it to John Carter in May 2011.  That was the beginning of all the negativity about the movie -- in retrospect, not a good decision. Cleo Disney originally planned to release it as John Carter of Mars, which was the title the Paramount had intended to use when they had it (from 2000-2006) and which Disney had planned to use when they had the rights from 1986-2000 — but then the new head of marketing MT Carney decided to change it to John Carter in May 2011.  That was the beginning of all the negativity about the movie — in retrospect, not a good decision.

]]> By: Michael D. Sellers http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648506 Michael D. Sellers Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648506 Matthias I sent you a file. Matthias I sent you a file.

]]> By: lintman http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648494 lintman Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648494 Zing! Zing!

]]> By: lintman http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648491 lintman Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648491 Per wikipedia, the working title of the movie was "A Princess of Mars", then renamed to "John Carter of Mars" (supposedly so the "Princess" part wouldn't scare boys away), before becoming just "John Carter" (supposedly either so the "Mars" part wouldn't scare girls away or that because "Mars" was a non-starter after the "Mars Needs Moms" movie failed). Per wikipedia, the working title of the movie was “A Princess of Mars”, then renamed to “John Carter of Mars” (supposedly so the “Princess” part wouldn’t scare boys away), before becoming just “John Carter” (supposedly either so the “Mars” part wouldn’t scare girls away or that because “Mars” was a non-starter after the “Mars Needs Moms” movie failed).

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648464 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648464 They rejected <i>A Princess of Mars</i> for the title because men wouldn't want to a princess film.  Then they rejected <i>John Carter of Mars</i> because women wouldn't want to see a film about Mars.  So they ended up just calling it <i>John Carter</i>, which is pretty close to calling it <i>Generic Film Title</i>. They rejected A Princess of Mars for the title because men wouldn’t want to a princess film.  Then they rejected John Carter of Mars because women wouldn’t want to see a film about Mars.  So they ended up just calling it John Carter, which is pretty close to calling it Generic Film Title.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648451 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648451 <blockquote>The movie was badly constructed and poorly written. It was a compendium of action-movie cliches.</blockquote>But you're still going to watch parts 2 and 3 to see what Smaug looks like, right?

The movie was badly constructed and poorly written. It was a compendium of action-movie cliches.

But you’re still going to watch parts 2 and 3 to see what Smaug looks like, right?

]]> By: Ramone http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648407 Ramone Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648407 I loved it as well. Woola and Dejah were the two best things in that film. I loved it as well. Woola and Dejah were the two best things in that film.

]]> By: Ramone http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648408 Ramone Wed, 06 Feb 2013 22:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648408 A bit much...for a kids movie? A bit much…for a kids movie?

]]> By: Kris Sakara http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648315 Kris Sakara Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648315 Was a damn good movie. Was a damn good movie.

]]> By: Brother Phil http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648310 Brother Phil Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648310 UK link: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00AFCZ1S4/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AFCZ1S4&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl&tag=boingboing ; this may work for all Europe - if it doesn't, try replacing the .uk with .de (I did a similar edit to .com and it worked). UK link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00AFCZ1S4/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AFCZ1S4&linkCode=as2&redirect=true&ref_=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl&tag=boingboing ; this may work for all Europe – if it doesn’t, try replacing the .uk with .de (I did a similar edit to .com and it worked).

]]> By: entireleaves http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648308 entireleaves Wed, 06 Feb 2013 21:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648308 I thought it was great. I liked it more than I liked the Avengers that is for sure. I thought it was great. I liked it more than I liked the Avengers that is for sure.

]]> By: Cleo http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648226 Cleo Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648226 They could have simply named the film better. The title only appeals immediately to readers of an obscure sci-fi book*. Just put "Mars" somewhere in the title, anywhere, and you've driven up the appeal. * Yes, it's actually extremely obscure. They could have simply named the film better. The title only appeals immediately to readers of an obscure sci-fi book*. Just put “Mars” somewhere in the title, anywhere, and you’ve driven up the appeal.

* Yes, it’s actually extremely obscure.

]]> By: rocketjam http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648180 rocketjam Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648180 Like many other commenters here, I saw the movie, thought it was entertaining and was really surprised when it bombed like it did. And I've never read any of Edgar Rice Burroughs' books. Like many other commenters here, I saw the movie, thought it was entertaining and was really surprised when it bombed like it did. And I’ve never read any of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ books.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648173 Donald Petersen Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648173 I'll read it anyway.  I like all those books about epic Hollywood flameouts.  <i>Final Cut</i>, the book about how Michael Cimino's <i>Heaven's Gate</i> just about destroyed United Artists, might be my favorite, but <i>Monster</i> (John Gregory Dunne's memoir about his and his wife Joan Didion's experiences getting <i>Up Close and Personal</i> made) is almost as much fun.  <i>Hit & Run</i>, about the way Jon Peters and Peter Guber ran Columbia Pictures into the ground and made a mint off of Sony in the process, is a hoot and a half too. I’ll read it anyway.  I like all those books about epic Hollywood flameouts.  Final Cut, the book about how Michael Cimino’s Heaven’s Gate just about destroyed United Artists, might be my favorite, but Monster (John Gregory Dunne’s memoir about his and his wife Joan Didion’s experiences getting Up Close and Personal made) is almost as much fun.  Hit & Run, about the way Jon Peters and Peter Guber ran Columbia Pictures into the ground and made a mint off of Sony in the process, is a hoot and a half too.

]]> By: Nathaniel Riethmann http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648120 Nathaniel Riethmann Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648120 I, for three... I, for three…

]]> By: Micah Seymour http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648119 Micah Seymour Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648119 This is not like Devil's Candy at all.  This is an excuse for "why John Carter wasn't really that bad of a movie and it was all the studio's fault and they should totally make a sequel to this bomb".  Good history of the Carter franchise to start though. This is not like Devil’s Candy at all.  This is an excuse for “why John Carter wasn’t really that bad of a movie and it was all the studio’s fault and they should totally make a sequel to this bomb”.  Good history of the Carter franchise to start though.

]]> By: Matthias Giese http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648103 Matthias Giese Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648103 I´d very much like to read the book as I work in screenwriting, however I can´t download it as my Kindle Account is registered in Germany. Ideas? Anybody send me the file? Gracias. m.giese@dark-star.biz. I´d very much like to read the book as I work in screenwriting, however I can´t download it as my Kindle Account is registered in Germany. Ideas? Anybody send me the file? Gracias. m.giese@dark-star.biz.

]]> By: noah django http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648104 noah django Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648104 yeah, what gives?  my roommate saw it with his daughter in the theater, loved it, and then we watched it at home.  John Carter is a cool movie if you ask me yeah, what gives?  my roommate saw it with his daughter in the theater, loved it, and then we watched it at home.  John Carter is a cool movie if you ask me

]]> By: euansmith http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648071 euansmith Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648071 In the Hobbit, that's not a CGI monster; its just that Barry Humphries has let himself go. In the Hobbit, that’s not a CGI monster; its just that Barry Humphries has let himself go.

]]> By: lintman http://boingboing.net/2013/02/06/john-carter-and-the-gods-of-ho.html#comment-1648012 lintman Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211324#comment-1648012 Film Crit Hulk does a nice analysis of the failure of John Carter here: http://badassdigest.com/2012/04/08/film-crit-hulk-smash-hulk-vs-the-john-carter-script/ If you're unfamiliar with Film Crit Hulk, have some patience with the ALL-CAPS style; he's actually an insightful read. Film Crit Hulk does a nice analysis of the failure of John Carter here: http://badassdigest.com/2012/04/08/film-crit-hulk-smash-hulk-vs-the-john-carter-script/

If you’re unfamiliar with Film Crit Hulk, have some patience with the ALL-CAPS style; he’s actually an insightful read.

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