Did I read that right? Stanton wants to make a movie version of the John Carter of mars novels that feels both "real" and "authenticate" to the books? Will he have a half naked John Carter riding along on his martian steed, hacking down green-skinned martian monsters with his martian sword, before remembering he has a martian laser gun and frying everybody? Since so many science fiction and fantasy movies have come along that "borrowed" from the John Carter stories, I doubt he'll be able to pull it off without it feeling hackneyed and derivative. But I can't wait for those Martian princesses.

The munitions on Barsoom are not "laser guns" and there are pretty strict codes of engagement that affect a warrior's standing in society. Carter is a Virginian gentleman who, though he is a fighting man, adheres to rules of conduct even on a dying world. Digging deeper into the story will give Stanton plenty of material that will remain archetypal as well as being resonant to viewers.

The mars novels were so episodic that this movie will have to NOT be straight rendition but rather run with the spirit of it. And at PG-13, the Princess of Mars and JC will have to wear clothes.

I would hope that Stanton resists the urge to do the opening Mars trilogy as one movie. There is enough scene-setting and such to fill an entire movie from "A Princess of Mars." Which should be the title, anyway. These books remain root-tales of SF 100 years after their writing, and fans may not much like severe changes.

As much as I like nipples, I can live with them being covered. I can probably forget the tusk-to-the-groin moment I've considered the acid test of authenticity, but if this is PG-13 and the director is a fan, then there's hope.

And yes, I'd love to see the title changed back to A Princess of Mars.

Just being a Burroughs fan has made me sadly depressed to watch re-interpretations of Mr. Burroughs classic works. I would love to see a movie capture the raw/ pulp nature and keeping the characters intact would be a dream to see, but lets faces it in all the Tarzan movies, Caspian movies, and the few others movies that have been attempted not one has ever held close to being true to the Novels and Novela's.

I fear will be another sad day for the Burroughs legacy. I will see it in hopes of it just one time someone would get it right. Yet as we know something franchised like John Carter of Mars will probably be written off by major heads not ever reading or knowing the full veil behind the story.

I hope I am wrong and I hope they do change the title to "A Princess of Mars", it would be fitting if by some great chance it holds its self close to the original story.

As for the characters being "naked", I think we have to remember ERB's association with nudity as it applied to his time period.

Also, in a later book it was noted that Thuvia wore a harness that made her appear as a man. Kinda hard to do if she was naked. Also, how does a woman conceal a dagger in her harness if she's naked.

I think when ERB states that a character is "naked" except for the most modest of trappings, he means that they are mostly naked, but have their privates covered.

Of course, he does note that JC was devoid of all clothing when he appears on Barsoom. So...I could be totally wrong about the rest of it.

I was hoping for a live-action/CGI version of this to be made...but with Christian Bale as John Carter. Now that we've got believable CGI capabilities, all we need is competent execution and I am a happy camper. Bring on the movie and pass the popcorn!

With all the CGI available, they could cast Woody Allen as John Carter and make him look like Christian Bale...

So many things I’d like to say, but here are a few of my hopes:

No “reboot”. I think the entire readership agrees it should be as true as possible to the hundred year old legacy, and we certainly deserve one good ERB adaption for the first time in the entire history of cinema. No pressure, Andrew ;P

Go for talented ‘unknowns’. No Tom Cruise couch dance, no flarking Christian Bale to distract from ERB. Let’s hype the movie and take the stars along, not visa versa.

The Saturday afternoon action and adventure of $tar war$, the lust visuals and antiquity of Lord of the Ring$, with just a sprinkle of $tar Trek, only for seasoning. In some ways, those on-screen successes owe ERB anyway.

On the other hand, don’t let McMarketing drive you into adding Ewoks or other “cute fuzzies”. This is an adult series that kids can enjoy, not the opposite. There’s plenty of marketing potential, and that could be done tastefully as well. Although… Martian chess pieces… I’d buy a lot of happy meals for that.

I know the “My Chieftain!” aspects are going to be impossible in today’s society, but PLEASE, don’t go to the opposite extreme. Deja was indeed a tough lady as perhaps only a princess could be, but she was still a people person. So far as the skimpy or non-existent costumes, I certainly want to share my childhood with my three young boys, and would take them more than once if it’s done well. I had so much fun with all of ERB’s writings, I’d like for them to experience the same. All of those aspects can be handled tastefully.

When I saw the first trailer for Star Wars, I remember setting in the theater with my jaw dropped, thinking “this is going to change things…big”. I also realized a few days later that’s exactly how I felt while reading my first ERB novel. Now that I know this is actually going to happen, I’m going to re-read the series. It’s been a while.