Princess of Mars (a.k.a. John Carter of Mars and The Martian Colony Wars) is a 2009 direct-to-DVD science fiction film made by American independent studio The Asylum, loosely based on the 1917 novel A Princess of Mars by author Edgar Rice Burroughs.
John Carter (Antonio Sabato Jr.) is on a tour of duty in Afghanistan as a sniper when he is critically wounded by enemy fire. Dying, he agrees to take part in an experimental teleportation procedure that could help his injuries. When he wakes up, he discovers he's been transported to a planet named Mars orbiting Alpha Centauri. As John explores his surroundings, he's captured by a group of aliens. He earns their respect when he helps them save the princess, Dejah Thoris, and later battles an old enemy from Earth.
Tropes of Mars:
- Adipose Rex: Tal Hajus, supreme leader of the Tharks, is noticeably larger and fatter than any of his subjects: invoking Large and in Charge and this trope in equal measures.
- Big Creepy-Crawlies: Mars is not only home to Giant Spiders, but also swarms of giant wasp-like insects, one of which plays a major role in the climax.
- Excrement Statement: After being made prisoner by John Carter, Dejah Thoris flings the content of her pee bucket in his face.
- Forced Prize Fight: Tal Hajus has both John Carter and Tar Tarkas sentenced to the fighting pits and forces them to battle each other in Gladiator Games.
- Giant Spider: The Thark patrol which captures is attacked by a pack of giant spiders. John helps to fight them off, thereby earning the respect of Tars Tarkus.
- Gladiator Games: Tal Hajus sentences Carter to the fighting pits.
- Heavyworlder: Of the second variety - John Carter is an Earth-normal human on a light-gravity world.
- I Ate WHAT?!: John Carter is less than impressed to learn that the liquid he has been drinking had been vomited up by a giant grub.
- In a Single Bound: John Carter is capable of this on Mars, due to being a Heavy Worlder (Earth has more than twice the gravity of Mars).
- Large and in Charge: Tal Hajus, supreme leader of the Tharks, is noticeably larger and fatter than any of his subjects: invoking Adipose Rex and this trope in equal measures.
- Mockbuster: Originally made to cash in in Avatar, it was re-titled and re-released when John Carter came out.
- Naked on Arrival: John Carter is naked when he arrives on Mars, presumably because his consciousness and genetic information is being beamed to Alpha Centauri and a new body created on the other planet. Of course, the whole teleportation process is only very vaguely explained, and his new body still has his old tattoos, so who knows?
- Percussive Prevention: Carter stops Dejah Thoris from staging a futile Last Stand against the Tharks by knocking her out and claiming her as his prisoner.
- Rocket Ride: The Martian flyers are essentially rockets with handlebars.
- Setting Update: While Burrough's Barsoom novels feature John Carter as an American Civil War soldier, the film features Carter as an American soldier in contemporary Afghanistan.
- Slave Collar: When he is captured by the Tharks, John Carter has a slave collar placed around his neck and he is dragged along by a chain attached to it.
- Stab the Scorpion: While being held prisoner, Dejah Thoris snatches a knife from Tars Tarkas' belt and stabs at his back. She then holds up the knife, showing the spiderling impaled on the tip.
- Super-Strength: With muscles built for Earth's gravity, John Carter is far stronger than anyone else on the planet.
- Translator Microbes: The Tharks force-feed Carter a bug that allows him to understand all languages.
