Princess of Mars
| Princess of Mars | |
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| Directed by | Mark Atkins |
| Produced by | David Michael Latt David Rimawi Paul Bales |
| Written by | Mark Atkins |
| Based on | A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs |
| Starring | Antonio Sabato, Jr. Traci Lords |
| Distributed by | The Asylum |
| Release date(s) | December 29, 2009 |
| Running time | 90 Minutes |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
Princess of Mars is a 2009 direct-to-DVD science fiction film made by American independent studio The Asylum, based on the 1917 novel A Princess of Mars by author Edgar Rice Burroughs. The novel shares some elements with James Cameron's Avatar, as mentioned on the film's promotional art. It is not to be confused with the higher-budget 2012 film John Carter, which is also an adaptation of the novel.
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[edit] Plot
John Carter (Antonio Sabato, Jr.) is a modern day U.S. Army sniper serving in Afghanistan. Wounded in the line of duty, Carter is used in a teleportation experiment by the government. He is sent to an alien world called Mars (not the one in this solar system) by the military but which the natives call Barsoom.
On this world, Carter exhibits the ability to leap amazing distances. Initially stripped and kept on a chain and collar as a captive of a group of green humanoids (known as Tharks), he earns his place among them and also helps save a rival group's princess, the human-looking Dejah Thoris (Traci Lords), from death.
The group of Tharks, led by Tars Tarkas, take Carter to their leader Tal Hajus. Learning that Tarkus gave Carter a military rank only Hajus can give. Tarkas and Carter are forced to duel. Carter wins and then faces Sarka, an Afghan mercenary who had betrayed him. Sarka escapes, then Carter helps Tarkas kills Hajus and become the new leader of the Tharks.
Carter then learns that Thoris has fled to the planetary air-cleaning station that keeps Mars alive. Upon Carter's arrival, Sarka, in love with Thoris but spurned as she loves Carter, destroys the station's main generator, causing the atmosphere to deteriorate. Carter and Sarka face each other in a duel. Sarka is killed by an alien bug during the fight. After Carter and Thoris start the backup generator, Carter is returned to Earth. He declines to tell his superiors about his adventures for fear they will colonize the planet, and returns to military duties while hoping to find a way back to Barsoom.
[edit] Production
This film makes extensive use of the Vasquez Rocks for its alien landscape, appearing throughout the film as different locations.
[edit] Main cast
- Antonio Sabato Jr. - John Carter
- Traci Lords - Dejah Thoris
- Matt Lasky - Tars Tarkas
- Chacko Vadaketh - Sarka / Sab Than
- Mitchell Gordon - Tal Hajus
- Noelle Perris - Sola
[edit] See also
- The Land That Time Forgot, another 2009 film adaptation of Edgar Rice Burrough's works by The Asylum.
- H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds another Asylum film that features Martians.
