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Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated John Carter (2012) in Movies
Aug 7, 2019
Edgar Rice Burroughs is famous for literary creations that have inspired countless generations and given birth to numerous film and television projects. You would be hard-pressed to find anybody not familiar with Tarzan, one of Burrough’s great series. John Carter of Mars is another one, and at long last has finally made it to the big screen.
The film is based on the first book of eleven, a series that began in 1911 and ran through 1964 when the last book was published posthumously. John Carter stars Tylor Kitsch as the title character, a bitter Civil War veteran who, despite an accomplished service record, no longer wants anything to do with the military. Instead he is fixated upon finding a cave of gold.
Despite the fact that he served for the Confederacy, John Carter draws the attention of the U.S. Cavalry whose leader is anxious to recruit an officer of Carter’s skills and experience to aid them in their skirmishes with the Apache tribes. No longer willing to fight or get involved, Carter declines the offer but soon finds himself caught in the middle of an unplanned battle between both sides. As he attempts to find shelter for himself and a wounded officer, Carter accidentally stumbles upon the cave of gold he was seeking.
Carter’s surprise soon turns to shock when he’s attacked by a mysterious individual who presses a glowing amulet in his hand and utters a phrase that transports John Carter instantly to the planet Mars. Of course, Carter at first has no idea where he is but soon realizes that he has incredible leaping abilities due to the lower gravity of the planet.
Shortly after his arrival he gains the attention of Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe), the chief of a race of tall, skinny, four armed alien warriors. At first intrigued by Carter, Tarkas and his people become divided over what to do with the new arrival. This becomes further complicated when airships arrive and begin a massive gunbattle. Carter immediately leaps into action with his newfound ability which quickly gains the attention of Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins), princess of the city of Helium.
It is learned that Princess Dejah is being forced to marry an evil warlord who possesses an awesome destructive ability and is using it to subjugate all those he encounters. Desperate to save their city, the princess is offered up to appease the warlord. Naturally this does not sit well with the free-spirited and feisty princess and before long she and John Carter find themselves united in their quest to save Helium. Despite his reluctance to get involved and fight, Carter realizes the princess may be his only way to get home.
A stranger in a strange land, with danger all around him, John Carter takes his audience on an epic adventure. Despite having little star power, the movie works exceptionally well with amazing special effects. The CGI used to create the various alien characters infuses them with personality and vitality rarely seen in artificially created characters. The film is visually spectacular from the legions of aliens locked in combat, to the stark splendor of the planet and its inhabitants.
Even though the film was presented in converted 3-D which, as many of you will know has long been a very touchy subject with me, the final product was actually better than most conversions. While it was nowhere near the quality of films shot in 3-D, it nonetheless offered an immersive quality to epic battle scenes and did not rely on the gimmicky trick of trying to make things pop out of the screen in order to sell the film.
Kitsch does a great job handling the action of the film and manages to interact with his CGI costars in a believable enough manner to establish as much chemistry with them as he did with the flesh and blood Collins. Although some moments of the film drag, it does have enough action to sustain the nearly two-hour runtime with a touch of humor and romance thrown in for good measure.
I first became aware of the film a year ago at the D23 Expo when Disney showed a few clips and had Kitsch, Collins and Dafoeon hand to promote the pending release. While intriguing, I did not see anything that really made the film stand out as a must-see. I am very happy to say that upon seeing the completed film, the scenes that were shown to us not only had even greater effects in the finished product but were also much more entertaining and dynamic once shown within the full context of the story line.
Director Andrew Stanton, who has made a name for himself with his animated films at Pixar, skillfully blends live-action and CGI to create a very energetic and enjoyable action-adventure film that was a very pleasant surprise.
While the acting, character development, and plot are nothing spectacular in and of themselves, they combined well and set the stage effectively for what should be a series of John Carter films in the future.
The film is based on the first book of eleven, a series that began in 1911 and ran through 1964 when the last book was published posthumously. John Carter stars Tylor Kitsch as the title character, a bitter Civil War veteran who, despite an accomplished service record, no longer wants anything to do with the military. Instead he is fixated upon finding a cave of gold.
Despite the fact that he served for the Confederacy, John Carter draws the attention of the U.S. Cavalry whose leader is anxious to recruit an officer of Carter’s skills and experience to aid them in their skirmishes with the Apache tribes. No longer willing to fight or get involved, Carter declines the offer but soon finds himself caught in the middle of an unplanned battle between both sides. As he attempts to find shelter for himself and a wounded officer, Carter accidentally stumbles upon the cave of gold he was seeking.
Carter’s surprise soon turns to shock when he’s attacked by a mysterious individual who presses a glowing amulet in his hand and utters a phrase that transports John Carter instantly to the planet Mars. Of course, Carter at first has no idea where he is but soon realizes that he has incredible leaping abilities due to the lower gravity of the planet.
Shortly after his arrival he gains the attention of Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe), the chief of a race of tall, skinny, four armed alien warriors. At first intrigued by Carter, Tarkas and his people become divided over what to do with the new arrival. This becomes further complicated when airships arrive and begin a massive gunbattle. Carter immediately leaps into action with his newfound ability which quickly gains the attention of Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins), princess of the city of Helium.
It is learned that Princess Dejah is being forced to marry an evil warlord who possesses an awesome destructive ability and is using it to subjugate all those he encounters. Desperate to save their city, the princess is offered up to appease the warlord. Naturally this does not sit well with the free-spirited and feisty princess and before long she and John Carter find themselves united in their quest to save Helium. Despite his reluctance to get involved and fight, Carter realizes the princess may be his only way to get home.
A stranger in a strange land, with danger all around him, John Carter takes his audience on an epic adventure. Despite having little star power, the movie works exceptionally well with amazing special effects. The CGI used to create the various alien characters infuses them with personality and vitality rarely seen in artificially created characters. The film is visually spectacular from the legions of aliens locked in combat, to the stark splendor of the planet and its inhabitants.
Even though the film was presented in converted 3-D which, as many of you will know has long been a very touchy subject with me, the final product was actually better than most conversions. While it was nowhere near the quality of films shot in 3-D, it nonetheless offered an immersive quality to epic battle scenes and did not rely on the gimmicky trick of trying to make things pop out of the screen in order to sell the film.
Kitsch does a great job handling the action of the film and manages to interact with his CGI costars in a believable enough manner to establish as much chemistry with them as he did with the flesh and blood Collins. Although some moments of the film drag, it does have enough action to sustain the nearly two-hour runtime with a touch of humor and romance thrown in for good measure.
I first became aware of the film a year ago at the D23 Expo when Disney showed a few clips and had Kitsch, Collins and Dafoeon hand to promote the pending release. While intriguing, I did not see anything that really made the film stand out as a must-see. I am very happy to say that upon seeing the completed film, the scenes that were shown to us not only had even greater effects in the finished product but were also much more entertaining and dynamic once shown within the full context of the story line.
Director Andrew Stanton, who has made a name for himself with his animated films at Pixar, skillfully blends live-action and CGI to create a very energetic and enjoyable action-adventure film that was a very pleasant surprise.
While the acting, character development, and plot are nothing spectacular in and of themselves, they combined well and set the stage effectively for what should be a series of John Carter films in the future.
Bodyguard: Hostage
10.0
Rate It
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In a dangerous world, everyone needs protection. Bodyguard: Hostage is the new thriller from Chris...
How to be a Space Explorer: Your Out-of-This-World Adventure
Book
Everything young explorers needs to know to travel in space, covering what life in zero gravity is...
Lyndsey Gollogly (2893 KP) rated Desired by Dragons (Dragons of New York #2) in Books
Jul 7, 2020
123 of 200
Kindle
Desired by Dragons (Dragons of New York book 2)
By Terry Bolryder
Drake and Quill are dragon shifters, the big bad protectors of the shifter world, tasked with missions no one else can handle. Though hot, rich and capable, their partnership is held back by their sometimes clashing personalities. When they save a curvy woman named Tara from drowning, they may have just found the one thing they can agree on. They want her. Forever.
When Tara jumped into icy water to save a drowning child, she was expecting to die. Instead, she wakes up to find that two tall, beautiful men with rare powers want her for their own. Tara's intrigued by the dragons and the off-the-charts sexual chemistry she feels with them, and agrees to spend a week figuring out if she can really belong in their world of magic and adventure.
But the dragons aren't the only ones who want Tara forever, and an obsessed ex from her past may bring the dragons the biggest challenge they've ever faced. Drake and Quill will have to put the past aside and learn to work together if they want to attain their most important goal: protecting their mate.
What’s not to like? Hot dragon shifters ✅! Damsel in distress✅ a bit of action ✅
I do enjoy how Terry doesn’t over complicate things. Nice to see this boys get some happiness!
Kindle
Desired by Dragons (Dragons of New York book 2)
By Terry Bolryder
Drake and Quill are dragon shifters, the big bad protectors of the shifter world, tasked with missions no one else can handle. Though hot, rich and capable, their partnership is held back by their sometimes clashing personalities. When they save a curvy woman named Tara from drowning, they may have just found the one thing they can agree on. They want her. Forever.
When Tara jumped into icy water to save a drowning child, she was expecting to die. Instead, she wakes up to find that two tall, beautiful men with rare powers want her for their own. Tara's intrigued by the dragons and the off-the-charts sexual chemistry she feels with them, and agrees to spend a week figuring out if she can really belong in their world of magic and adventure.
But the dragons aren't the only ones who want Tara forever, and an obsessed ex from her past may bring the dragons the biggest challenge they've ever faced. Drake and Quill will have to put the past aside and learn to work together if they want to attain their most important goal: protecting their mate.
What’s not to like? Hot dragon shifters ✅! Damsel in distress✅ a bit of action ✅
I do enjoy how Terry doesn’t over complicate things. Nice to see this boys get some happiness!
Matthew Krueger (10051 KP) rated Maverick (1994) in Movies
Jul 14, 2020 (Updated Jul 14, 2020)
Play Your Cards Right
Maverick- is a funny entertaining western with action, poker and adventure. Richard Donner does it once again.
The plot: This film update of the "Maverick" TV series finds the title cardsharp (Mel Gibson) hoping to join a poker contest with an impressive payoff. In order to enter, Maverick must first put up a large cash sum. He scams hopeful contestants Annabelle (Jodie Foster) and Angel (Alfred Molina) in a preliminary card game to win the money he needs, making enemies of both players. While trying to evade Annabelle and Angel, the crafty Maverick realizes a cunning marshal (James Garner) is also on his tail.
Many cameo appearances by Western film actors, country music stars and other actors. Including Danny Glover, Hal Ketchum, Corey Feldman, Read Morgan, Steve Kahan, Art LaFleur, Leo Gordon, Denver Pyle, Robert Fuller, Doug McClure, Henry Darrow, William Smith, Charles Dierkop, William Marshall, Dennis Fimple, Bert Remsen and Margot Kidder.
Danny Glover's cameo appearance references Donner's Lethal Weapon film series starring Glover and Gibson as cop partners. Their meeting in Maverick sees them share a moment of recognition, complete with Lethal Weapon music, and as he leaves, Glover says Roger Murtaugh's catchphrase: "I'm getting too old for this shit."
Country singers also cameo including Carlene Carter, Waylon Jennings, Kathy Mattea, Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Vince Gill and Janis Gill.
Its a funny entertaining western. A must watch.
The plot: This film update of the "Maverick" TV series finds the title cardsharp (Mel Gibson) hoping to join a poker contest with an impressive payoff. In order to enter, Maverick must first put up a large cash sum. He scams hopeful contestants Annabelle (Jodie Foster) and Angel (Alfred Molina) in a preliminary card game to win the money he needs, making enemies of both players. While trying to evade Annabelle and Angel, the crafty Maverick realizes a cunning marshal (James Garner) is also on his tail.
Many cameo appearances by Western film actors, country music stars and other actors. Including Danny Glover, Hal Ketchum, Corey Feldman, Read Morgan, Steve Kahan, Art LaFleur, Leo Gordon, Denver Pyle, Robert Fuller, Doug McClure, Henry Darrow, William Smith, Charles Dierkop, William Marshall, Dennis Fimple, Bert Remsen and Margot Kidder.
Danny Glover's cameo appearance references Donner's Lethal Weapon film series starring Glover and Gibson as cop partners. Their meeting in Maverick sees them share a moment of recognition, complete with Lethal Weapon music, and as he leaves, Glover says Roger Murtaugh's catchphrase: "I'm getting too old for this shit."
Country singers also cameo including Carlene Carter, Waylon Jennings, Kathy Mattea, Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Vince Gill and Janis Gill.
Its a funny entertaining western. A must watch.
Tristan (The Hawks, #1)
10.0
Rate It
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His redemption might be her downfall… Tristan has nothing left to lose. His best friend’s...
Adult Fantasy Romance
Merissa (13950 KP) rated Becoming Brooklyn in Books
Jul 13, 2021 (Updated Jul 17, 2023)
BECOMING BROOKLYN is a standalone novel that has the potential for a series. A series I really hope happens!
Brooklyn is a 9/11 baby, her father died in the terrorist attack. During a memorial service, terrorists attack again and Brooklyn, along with five others, are told the impossible -- that their parents had superpowers and worked with the government to stop terrorists. They are given the choice to follow in their footsteps. But things aren't always as they appear and they all have hard lessons to learn.
This was a great story. It is filled with action, adventure, and a touch of romance. I loved how the story panned out, and how they worked together, which made the ending even more jaw-dropping.
The characters are all well thought out and play to their own strengths. Told from Brooklyn's point of view, obviously, we learn more about her, but through her eyes, we learn about the others too. Brilliant storytelling!
I don't know if there are any plans for a sequel or series, but I would love to hear more from Brooklyn and see where the future takes her.
A fantastic contemporary superpower novel that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 13, 2021
Brooklyn is a 9/11 baby, her father died in the terrorist attack. During a memorial service, terrorists attack again and Brooklyn, along with five others, are told the impossible -- that their parents had superpowers and worked with the government to stop terrorists. They are given the choice to follow in their footsteps. But things aren't always as they appear and they all have hard lessons to learn.
This was a great story. It is filled with action, adventure, and a touch of romance. I loved how the story panned out, and how they worked together, which made the ending even more jaw-dropping.
The characters are all well thought out and play to their own strengths. Told from Brooklyn's point of view, obviously, we learn more about her, but through her eyes, we learn about the others too. Brilliant storytelling!
I don't know if there are any plans for a sequel or series, but I would love to hear more from Brooklyn and see where the future takes her.
A fantastic contemporary superpower novel that I have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 13, 2021
Merissa (13950 KP) rated The Lost Art of Finding Where You Belong (The Lost Arts #2) in Books
Jul 17, 2025
THE LOST ART OF FINDING WHERE YOU BELONG is the second book in The Lost Arts series that gives you Brannal and Perian as the main characters. It does follow on from the first book, so I would absolutely recommend you read that one first.
This book is told from Perian's perspective, and you find out just how he's fitting in at the castle, what others think of him, plus his relationship with Brannal. Now, I may be jumping to conclusions, but I am picking up hints about what the future might hold! 😁 I'm keeping everything crossed that what I'm thinking comes to pass, but I'm also happy to go wherever this story arc takes me.
This book isn't full of action and adventure, but rather seeing more of the day-to-day routine and different relationships Perian has. The one with Renny is so sweet, and I love how fiercely she defends him, even when it shouldn't be necessary.
I am loving this world and the characters who are there. With some seriously spicy scenes, this was a delight to read, and I can't wait to return and find out more. Definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 17, 2025
This book is told from Perian's perspective, and you find out just how he's fitting in at the castle, what others think of him, plus his relationship with Brannal. Now, I may be jumping to conclusions, but I am picking up hints about what the future might hold! 😁 I'm keeping everything crossed that what I'm thinking comes to pass, but I'm also happy to go wherever this story arc takes me.
This book isn't full of action and adventure, but rather seeing more of the day-to-day routine and different relationships Perian has. The one with Renny is so sweet, and I love how fiercely she defends him, even when it shouldn't be necessary.
I am loving this world and the characters who are there. With some seriously spicy scenes, this was a delight to read, and I can't wait to return and find out more. Definitely recommended by me.
** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 17, 2025
Sassy Brit (97 KP) rated Cold Winter Sun in Books
Jun 5, 2019
Cold Winter Sun by Tony J. Forder is as loosely connected sequel to Scream Blue Murder, easily read as a stand-alone. I know, because I’ve not read any of his other books, but boy, oh boy, will I do now! From the first page readers will be thrown into an fast-paced, eye-opening scene, which foreshadows the exact style of writing and plot you’re going to encounter throughout.
The storyline begins with a man being tortured; who he is, and why he is there is the beginning of an adventure that will quickly throw you into the deep and hold you down until you finish and can breathe again.
When main character, Mike, gets a phone call from his ex-wife, about her new husband’s missing nephew, Vern, he and his friend Terry, decide to track him down, but it soon becomes clear there’s more to this case than they bargained. But what secrets are being hidden? Why is this happening? Who is really the guilty party in all of this?
With hostage situations, crossfires and lives at risk, Mike must do his best to save his nephew, ex-wife and daughter from danger before it’s too late.
Cold Winter Sun is a crime thriller bursting with action, and there’s many twists and turns to keep readers guessing right up until the end. If you like crime thrillers, packed with great characterisation and gut-punching shocks, you’ll enjoy this. It hit me like a bullet that won’t dislodge. Loved it!
The storyline begins with a man being tortured; who he is, and why he is there is the beginning of an adventure that will quickly throw you into the deep and hold you down until you finish and can breathe again.
When main character, Mike, gets a phone call from his ex-wife, about her new husband’s missing nephew, Vern, he and his friend Terry, decide to track him down, but it soon becomes clear there’s more to this case than they bargained. But what secrets are being hidden? Why is this happening? Who is really the guilty party in all of this?
With hostage situations, crossfires and lives at risk, Mike must do his best to save his nephew, ex-wife and daughter from danger before it’s too late.
Cold Winter Sun is a crime thriller bursting with action, and there’s many twists and turns to keep readers guessing right up until the end. If you like crime thrillers, packed with great characterisation and gut-punching shocks, you’ll enjoy this. It hit me like a bullet that won’t dislodge. Loved it!
Fiddlers and Whores: The Candid Memoirs of a Surgeon in Nelson's Fleet
Book
'A country of fiddlers and poets, whores and scoundrels', Nelson's famous description of Naples, was...