John Carter of Mars

With Science Fiction and Fantasy on the rise in the movie industry, I am majorly excited about John Carter of Mars. The creator and writer of John Carter was Edgar Rice Burroughs. You may know him more for another famous character known as Tarzan. It was my friend, Steve, who showed me his Burroughs collection and said I really should read the first book of the Barsoom (Mars) series. I took it home and read A Princess of Mars, where John Carter starts his adventure.

I read the first book within two days and had book two, The Gods of Mars, in my possession shortly after finishing book one. The Warlords of Mars and Thuvia of Mars were close behind. I also started reading Burroughs’ Tarzan series. He created great worlds, heroes and villains. With Burroughs, it was brawn and brains together that overcame great odds. Hooked for life, I owe Steve a big thanks.

From all indications, John Carter of Mars looks to be a good movie and looks to follow key elements of the story. John Carter is of Earth and gets transported to Mars. He is destined to save the planet. My favorite of Burrough’s creations of Barsoom is Tars Tarkas, the twelve-foot tall, four-armed, green barbarian, a definite twist on little green men. And I cannot forget about Dejah Thoris, the Princess of Helium. She is beautiful and tough; she is sometimes identified as the warrior princess.

Although I know and accept the fact that movies are not as good as the book and that movies take creative liscensing to change the story, I do expect a certain amount of continuity to key elements of the book to be held to when turned into the movie. So, I wait patiently to see.

With sequels and remakes, I find that John Carter of Mars, refreshing, and in the words of Tars Tarkas, “…believed it was a sign... that something new can come into this world.”

It is schedule to be released to theaters in March 9, 2012.