‘Ishtar’ Lands on Mars ('John Carter' a colossal bomb for Disney, $165M writeoff, layoffs...)

NY Times ^ | 3/11/12 | BROOKS BARNES

[jimbo123]

-snip-

“John Carter,” a big-budget science fiction epic from Walt Disney Studios that opened Friday and flopped over the weekend. Disney spent lavishly (some say foolishly) on the movie in large part to keep one of its most important creative talents happy: Andrew Stanton, the Pixar-based director of “Finding Nemo” and “Wall-E.”

“John Carter,” which cost an estimated $350 million to make and market, and was directed by Mr. Stanton, took in about $30.6 million at the North American box office, according to Rentrak, which compiles box-office data. That result is so poor, even when factoring in about $71 million in overseas ticket sales, that analysts estimate that Disney will be forced to take a quarterly write-down of $100 million to $165 million.

[SunkenCiv]

:’) I wonder if it’s available on IMAX, that would be worth a shot. I kinda wish I’d noticed MiB III when it came through on IMAX. If it did. Hmm, maybe I’d better check all this out. IMAX has ruined me for regular theaters. The crowd is even better.

[Impy]

John Carter is a crappy name, they should have changed it to something cool.

[who knows what evil?]

Announcing “from the creator of Tarzan” with the promos certainly might have helped...

[Eye of Unk]

I agree with all you say, it has that feel of the old time saturday afternoon movie house serials, something this country has lost all memory of and regardless of the proficient use of up to the second devices almost anyone now has access to including myself their is still the wonderful world of fantasy available in a movie like this.

We don’t need structurally PC correct films full of tree hugging, religious acceptance of un’christian cults and I will only hint at sexual orientation propaganda.

Simple fun fantasy with a story, full of cliffhangers, romance and swashbucking warfare for honor, all the basic qualities for a free society and the nemesis of any Marxist pogrom.

[SunkenCiv]

:’) I’d heard that one through the grapevine.

[mitch5501]

Saw it two nights ago in 3D.Loved it.Visually stunning.I though the cgi was brilliant.The only real let down for me was the ridiculous jumping distances.Other than that if you like this type of film you won’t be dissapointed.

[Perdogg]

You can also get the free kindle books from Amazon.

[DollyCali]

I have the trilogy on reserve at library (a bit of a wait) but also have access via a friend to the Kindle .. might go that route.

The distinctive red tattooing was interesting

[vetvetdoug]

Seeing Lynn Collins in that wedding dress was worth the $15.50 alone

The blue eyes got me. The last time I looked into a pair of eyes like that I married her. I did see a pair of eyes on Zoosk that were comparable. Sill the movie, the plot, the story, the FX, and the actors IMO were worth every penny.

[GOPsterinMA]

How about “Independence Day”? :)

[Vaquero]

Disney for the most part STINKS in the scifi arena...

Think ‘The Black Hole’

[allmendream]

Not at all. John Carter had very dark hair, this later became an important plot point as the ancient Maritans had blond hair - and the bald ‘Holy’ Therns wore blond wigs - which John Carter would occasionally use to disguise himself.

**************From “A Warlord of Mars”****************

Instead, I did the one thing of all others that might rouse his
anger and increase his hatred of me; for I knew that if I died
Dejah Thoris, too, would find a way to die before they could
heap further tortures or indignities upon her.
Of all the holy of holies which the thern venerates and worships none
is more revered than the yellow wig which covers his bald pate,
and next thereto comes the circlet of gold and the great diadem,
whose scintillant rays mark the attainment of the Tenth Cycle.
And, knowing this, I removed the wig and circlet from my head,
tossing them carelessly upon the flagging of the court. Then I
wiped my feet upon the yellow tresses; and as a groan of rage arose
from the balcony I spat full upon the holy diadem.
Matai Shang went livid with anger, but upon the lips of Thurid
I could see a grim smile of amusement, for to him these things were
not holy; so, lest he should derive too much amusement from my act,
I cried: “And thus did I with the holies of Issus, Goddess of Life
Eternal, ere I threw Issus herself to the mob that once had
worshiped her, to be torn to pieces in her own temple.”
That put an end to Thurid’s grinning, for he had been high in
the favor of Issus.
“Let us have an end to this blaspheming!” he cried, turning to
the Father of Therns.