So the latest fireworks display of CG special effects and in-your-face, headache inducing 3D has become the latest and greatest flop of all time. Am I surprised? Well actually yes and no.
Surely this movie should have done quite well based on the success of similarly brain-dead CG fests that have come before it? Many have cited the boring, plodding story and dull title as the root causes. I could say the same about many blockbusters that have still managed to make money for the studios. Others say it was badly marketed. What ever the cause it is my hope that flops like these may help movie studios move on from the CG and 3D gimmicks and invest more in quality writing, production and direction.
I read that John Carter was directed by the special effects director of Finding Nemo and WALL-E fame so is it any surprise that the result was so CG/3D-biased? This brings back memories of the ‘making of’ featurettes for the Star Wars prequels where Lucas seemed to be surrounding himself with experts in eye candy. The result was a trilogy that succeeded purely on the title. If Star Wars The Phantom Menace had been released under the title ‘John Carter’ would it have made as much money? Hmmmm.
