I honestly never thought we’d see the day.
After fifteen years of fans begging, debating, and wondering what could have been, we finally stepped back onto the red sands of Barsoom. But let’s get one thing straight right away: this isn’t a nostalgic cash grab. It’s an unrelenting, visually staggering behemoth that proves some stories were simply ahead of their time.
Back to Barsoom: A Planet on the Brink
The story throws us straight into the deep end without wasting a second. Years after John Carter was ripped away from his newfound life, he finds himself violently pulled back to Mars. Only this isn’t the world he fought so hard to unite. The political fragile peace has fractured, ancient ruins are waking up, and a creeping shadow hangs over every city.
Taylor Kitsch steps right back into Carter’s worn boots, but there’s a seasoned weariness to him now. Alongside him, Lynn Collins’ Dejah Thoris remains the fierce, beating heart of the franchise. Their reunion isn’t just sentimental fluff; it’s an urgent race against time as an unseen, godlike hierarchy moves its pieces across the Martian board.
Mild spoilers ahead — nothing past the midpoint.
The Rising Threat: When Legends Become Nightmares
For decades, the people of Barsoom whispered prayers to ancient deities known only as the Gods of Mars. But what happens when those gods turn out to be real, flesh-and-blood rulers pulling the strings of every war, every famine, and every sacrifice?
Enter the calculating antagonists played with cold precision by Mark Strong and a chillingly charismatic Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Their agenda isn’t mindless chaos—it’s total control cloaked in religious prophecy. Carter initially believes this is just another warlord squabble he can settle with Martian gravity and pure grit.
And then… everything changes.
Around the forty-minute mark, Carter and Dejah breach the hidden Valley Dor, expecting an elite army. What they discover instead dismantles every single truth Carter was told about how Mars actually functions. The gods aren’t just watching from afar—they’ve engineered the red planet’s lifecycle from the very beginning. But before Carter can even process the deception, a devastating betrayal strikes from within their inner circle, leaving their small allied force scattered and hunted across brutal stone arenas.
How do you fight an enemy that literally owns the ground beneath your boots?
Where the Sequel Soars
- Mind-Blowing World-Building: The visual scale is jaw-dropping. The aerial warfare sequences through swirling crimson canyons feel visceral, massive, and entirely practical in weight.
- Magnetic Villain Performances: Mark Strong and Joseph Gordon-Levitt deliver an unnerving masterclass in quiet, menacing authority.
- Emotional Anchors: Beneath all the laser fliers and alien arenas, Carter and Dejah’s fierce loyalty keeps the stakes deeply personal.
A Few Minor Scratches in the Armor
- Pacing Whirlwind: The opening twenty minutes move at breakneck speed, occasionally skipping room for quieter character beats.
- Dense Lore: If you haven’t brushed up on Barsoom’s geography and factions, a few early council scenes might feel overwhelming.
Standout Moment: The Arenas of the First Born
Without spoiling the outcome, the subterranean gladiatorial sequence carved from raw Martian obsidian is an instant sci-fi classic. Watching Carter adapt his Earth-born strength against creatures engineered specifically to counter his agility will have you gripping your seat armrests.
Final Verdict
John Carter 2: Gods of Mars is the epic, high-stakes cinematic redemption sci-fi lovers have been craving for over a decade. It honors the pulp roots of Edgar Rice Burroughs while elevating the stakes into a genuinely thrilling mythic showdown. Do not wait for streaming on this one—it belongs on the biggest screen possible.
What Viewers Are Saying
- “I held my breath through the entire canyon chase. They actually redeemed the franchise!” — Marcus Vance
- “Joseph Gordon-Levitt playing against type as a ruthless Martian manipulator is everything I didn’t know I needed.” — Sarah Jenkins
- “The arena sequence alone paid for my IMAX ticket three times over.” — Derek Holloway
- “Taylor Kitsch and Lynn Collins still have unmatched chemistry. That midpoint reveal left our entire theater gasping.” — Elena Rossi
- “Visually astonishing. It feels like a real epic from the golden era of cinema with modern CGI perfection.” — Brian Gallagher
- “Easily the most thrilling sci-fi adventure of the year so far.” — Chloe Bennett
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to rewatch the first John Carter before seeing this?
While the sequel provides enough context to follow the immediate conflict, watching the original film will give you a much deeper appreciation for Carter’s personal journey and his relationship with Dejah Thoris.
Is the film based directly on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ books?
Yes, it draws heavily from Burroughs’ classic 1913 novel The Gods of Mars, while streamlining certain character arcs and modernize the pacing for contemporary cinema.
Does the movie have an end-credits scene?
Yes, make sure to stay through the mid-credits for an intriguing glimpse into the wider mysteries waiting beyond Barsoom.
