Books2Movies Club discussion

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You all know what I think of both A Princess of Mars and John Carter, so no need to repeat myself except for answering your posts. (If you miraculously escaped that fate, risk and check this tread: Zeljka's Review).

You can find the book at Library of Congress website - and that edition is really awesome for an electronic book! Please, read it and watch the movie (not necessarily in that order) and then come back and share with us your thoughts and impressions.

I am enjoying the book more than I would have thought. I don't consider myself much of a science fiction reader and in both movies and books usually stories about space, or other planets don't interest me that much with a few exceptions here and there.

Strangely enough it was the movie that made me interested in reading the book. Strangely because I actually had/have no real interest in watching the movie but it was through the movie I found out about the book and being that the book is a classic I was a bit curious to read it and being that the book isn't very long I figured I would give it a try.

Needless to say I find the book fun to read and it is a fast paced adventure and it is interesting seeing Burroughs imagination in the various different sort of creatures we creates.

I just rented the movie which was in my opinion very well made, and clean, which one would expect from a Disney movie. Action, save another world, meet alien friends and a touch of romance. All in all it makes for an enjoyable evening. Oh and I love his "dog."

I had already checked out the audiobook but took time out to see the movie tonight. Now on to the story.....

Will this book never end..........

Very different from the movie and in all honestly I like the movie better which is only the second time ever I've preferred the movie to a book. Hmmmm, I had the same reaction then to Jungle Book.......the movie is infinitely better than the book.

So I JUST finished the audiobook. Jack Sondricker has the perfect voice for this story but I still prefer the movie version especially since John Carter is transported back to Mars in the movie and only possibly in the book. It's funny they didn't mention that the humans also lay eggs that take 5 years to hatch. I did enjoy the fact that the green men and the Heliunites (sp?) became friends and allies because of the ways of Carter. If nothing else it's a great story of courage, trust, friendship and love.

Powder River Rose wrote: "So I JUST finished the audiobook. Jack Sondricker has the perfect voice for this story but I still prefer the movie version especially since John Carter is transported back to Mars in the movie and..."

I think the reason John Carter does not return to Mars in the book is because it is part of a series. They left the ending open, in the other books he probsbly ends up returning.

I thought the idea if the humanoids on Mars laying eggs was an intersting idea.

Silver wrote: "Powder River Rose wrote: "So I JUST finished the audiobook. Jack Sondricker has the perfect voice for this story but I still prefer the movie version especially since John Carter is transported bac..."

You're right it is a series. Oh the things one learns when exploring the various genre. I keep laughing at the thought of the movie showing the princess squatting to lay an egg.....a lot of modern day humans might have lost their earthly minds. hehehe

Silver wrote: "I thought the idea if the humanoids on Mars laying eggs was an interesting idea. .."

Perhaps if the monotreme mammal line had "taken off" instead of the primates we would have become egg layers ourselves.

I still have almost all my Burroughs paperbacks from the 60s when I was a youngster and devoured them all but can't locate the Mars books! Perhaps my late brother "borrowed" them years ago. My favorite was always Chessmen of Mars. My cousin and I made a Martian chess set and would play it. We also made up a "Martian" language alphabet and would write secret notes to each other in this symbol alphabet. I still have pages of diary entries in "Martian".

John Carter was on TNT channel the other day - I DVRd it to rewatch but haven't had time yet. I recall thinking it wasn't bad but definitely didn't feel as rich in "world" as the books. But then I haven't read the books since I was a kid. (Did listen to a badly read audio book of Chessmen which did it no favors)

On reading a few Tarzan books more recently I realized what an abysmal writer ERB could be. Very pulp fiction and a lot of racism evident that jars the modern sensibilities. Still, as a kid the books were amazing adventures.

hehehe It might be easier then waddling around for 9 months.

Our library has the rest of the series so I will finish it off. The first couple hours were "slow as molasses" as my grandmother might say, but by the middle of the book, which is when more of the action began to take place, I just let the story envelope me.

The movie missed so much of the story, actually it was nearly a complete remake however it moved at a quick pace and was a good rendering of the people, creatures and planet. In the book the princess was the stereotypical frail beauty whereas in the movie she was a fighter, intellegent and strong-willed. Of course I loved John Carter's faithful companion, his "dog."

I think the game sounds like fun, have you played as an adult? The alphabet is really incredible. Have you used it since then? Did it drive your parents crazy? hehehe Imagination is so wonderfully unbound. What a nice memory to share. Thank you.

I have a feeling I might enjoy the movie, but this is the first book I've bailed on this year. I just could not get into it. Very slow start, then interesting for awhile, then a lot of boring. I'm not sure what it is about the writing style, but just did not engage me. I have a feeling it will be better on film where I can actually see all of this weird stuff he's describing.

Alana wrote: "I have a feeling I might enjoy the movie, but this is the first book I've bailed on this year. I just could not get into it. Very slow start, then interesting for awhile, then a lot of boring. I'm ..."

Alana, I listened to the entire series (well up to book 5 as the final two are only in written format) and you accurately described the first book but by the second you get a better feel for the story. I can't say that any were great but there were three different narrators and I think the first may have captured the story and John Carter best.

Phair is right, there are plenty of racist views throughout the series which unfortunately would have been commonplace in 1913+....I obviously don't know if ERB was overtly racist but I find it difficult to believe he was since he has John Carter befriending and protecting Mars and its inhabitants in ways I wouldn't think one of that mindset would do. Oh, what do I know....if I were to read his other books it might be more obvious. But that aside they are well worth the read.

I recommend the books to everyone as the adventures are quite extraordinary and filled with the amazing bonds of love and loyalty.

The movie really is very different from the story, filled with more fast-paced action scenes then were in the book but all scenes were well done. I felt the movie artists did do a great job of capturing the look of the green men.