Boring title but this Disney adventure is an enjoyable film, if you like action-packed sci-fi epics like they used to make.

Carter is an American Civil War veteran, tired of battle, who finds himself transported to the barren wastelands of Mars.

Thrust into an age-old conflict between two humanoid nations, he rescues a princess and becomes the hero of a race of big green monsters.

Cue gunfights, fist fights, swordfights and acrobatic duels across the decks of solar-powered flying machines, coupled with romance, mysticism and a convoluted plot.

John Carter could have been shorter and sharper, but then it would have been a very different film: this is a Sunday afternoon TV epic rather than Friday night at the flicks.

The movie takes a while to get going: but the pay-off for following the meandering story it's a satisfying ending.

David Knights