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1[[foldercontrol]]
2
3[[folder:John Carter]]
4
5!!John Carter
6->'''Played By''': Creator/TaylorKitsch
7
8* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: Book Carter is a very straight-up heroic type. Movie Carter starts out embittered after the Civil War and the loss of his family. For a good portion of the movie, all he wants is to get back home, not wanting anything to do with the war, before finding his inner hero on Mars.
9* TheAgeless: After returning from Barsoom, John appears to have stopped aging after ten years.
10* BatmanGambit: Pulls off a surprisingly good one [[spoiler: against the Thern agent on Earth]].
11* BattleCouple: With Dejah at the climax.
12* ChallengingTheChief: Against Tal Hajus. [[spoiler: [[CurbStompBattle Which he wins effortlessly]]]].
13* ChronicHeroSyndrome: If John sees someone is in serious danger he ''will'' intervene on their behalf. He just can't help himself.
14* DarkAndTroubledPast: His wife and child were tragically lost in a house fire, presumably started by Union soldiers.
15* DesperatelyLookingForAPurposeInLife: He seems a bit wayward at first, and even when he first shows up on Mars, the only thing he really wants to do is go back home. Then he starts getting attached to the Tharks as well as Dejah...
16%%* {{Determinator}}
17* DualWielding: Most scenes depict him wielding two swords in battle.
18* EmpoweredBadassNormal: John is a completely normal, though reasonably skilled, cavalry soldier on Earth. On Mars, he's a OneManArmy.
19* TheHero
20* IChooseToStay: Once he learns how to get back to Earth, Carter, having fallen in love with Dejah and befriending the Tharks, chooses to stay on Mars. [[spoiler:This is then tragically subverted almost immediately when he is sent back to Earth by Matai Shang.]]
21* MasterSwordsman: He turns out to be quite the fighter with a sword, although it's possible his enhanced abilities on the surface of Mars might play a big part in it as well.
22* NormalFishInATinyPond: Barsoom's lower gravity makes this average human capable of superhuman feats of strength and endurance.
23** Which is just silly; Barsoom (Mars) has 0.38 of Earth's surface gravity, so John Carter would only be able to lift a bit over 2.5 times more than what he is capable of on Earth. Also mass is independent of local gravity, he'd still have to overcome the same amount of inertia to get something to move. Pretty much all of his feats can be chalked up to RuleOfCool.
24** However, the original books were written at the very beginning of the 20th century, when no one really knew what operating in low gravity would be like, so it's excusable for Burroughs to amp it up quite a bit...
25* TookALevelInKindness: The bonds he forms with the Tharks as well as his relationship with Dejah, help John become a more noble and heroic man by the end of the movie.
26* WalkingShirtlessScene: In his Barsoomian outfit.
27
28[[/folder]]
29
30[[folder:Tharks]]
31!!In General
32
33* AdaptationalNiceGuy: The Tharks of the movie are plenty brutal but a lot nicer than their cruel and sadistic book counterparts. The book Tharks are noted to only ever smile or laugh at the pain of another.
34* TheBigGuy: A normal Thark is almost twice as tall as an ordinary human.
35* BloodKnight: Tharks love fighting, and their usual means of dealing with prisoners is having them thrown into fighting pits.
36* FantasticRacism: They are well-aware of the centuries-long war between Helium and Zodanga, but would rather watch both sides kill each other than pick a side.
37-->'''Tars Tarkas''': I say let red men kill red men until only Tharks remain.
38* MultiArmedAndDangerous: Tharks all have four arms and are a very brutal race of fighters and scavengers.
39* VirtueIsWeakness: Thark society generally views aspects such as sympathy and compassion as crimes in Thark society, which is why they are so quick to turn on Tars once they learn that he spared John and Sola.
40
41!!Tars Tarkas
42->'''Played By''': Creator/WillemDafoe
43
44* AllOfTheOtherReindeer:
45* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: He's the head of his own tribe of Tharks and is also a fearsome warrior to boot.
46* BadassBoast: ''"Leave a Thark his head and one hand, and he may yet conquer!"''
47* TheBigGuy
48* BruiserWithASoftCenter: He's a member of a brutal race of alien warriors, but he has a soft spot that he has to keep hidden from the others due to their [[VirtueIsWeakness brutal lifestyle]]. He even has a case of ManlyTears during Carter and Dejah's wedding.
49* TheChainsOfCommanding: He takes his role as Jeddak of the Tharks very seriously, but having to continually live up to the downright brutal expectations of a Green Martian leader plainly wears heavily on him.
50* CompositeCharacter: In the book, the leader of the Thark horde that Carter falls in with is Lorquas Ptomel; Tars is his second-in-command. As Tars is a much more important character -- and Lorquas pretty much drops off the face of Barsoom after a while -- Tars gets to take over the leader role in the film.
51* DopeSlap: PlayedForLaughs when John ends up leading him and the Tharks to the wrong city to stop Sab Than.
52* GeniusBruiser
53* HiddenDepths: Tars has an unusual amount of compassion and sympathy that does not otherwise exist in his race, a fact that is frowned upon by Thark society.
54* NobleDemon: Even before his HeelFaceTurn, it's clear he's a lot more honorable and compassionate than most of the other Tharks.
55* PapaWolf: He is fiercely protective over his daughter,[[spoiler: Sola,]] something that is frowned upon in Thark society.
56* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Like any Thark, he takes great pride and pleasure in warfare and battle.
57* VitriolicBestBuds: His relationship with Carter in a nut-shell. Even when he gets so mad at Carter he could rip his arms out, he continues to support him at all times.
58
59!!Sola
60->'''Played By''': Creator/SamanthaMorton
61
62* TheDogBitesBack: After spending much of the film being [[TheBully abused by Sarkoja]], Sola finally gets even with her rival [[spoiler: by dragging Sarkoja into the arena and the path of a rampaging white ape, which promptly tears Sarkoja apart]].
63-->'''Sarkoja''': Watch your father ''die'' like the whimpering calot he is!\
64'''Sola''': [[BigNo No!]] Let us watch ''you''!
65* InTheBlood: Tars Tarkas is her father, and it's no coincidence they're the two nicest Tharks. "The blood of my father drives me" indeed. Her MissingMom is implied to have been in the same vein.
66* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: She's a good deal less brutal and more compassionate than is considered seemly in a Thark, which has led to a very hard life for her.
67* ProudWarriorRaceGirl: Played with. Sola is rarely seen without her weapons, but her personality is such that she only fights when necessary. She clearly believes in the Thark ideals of courage and honor, but can't deal with her people's brutality.
68
69!!Tal Hajus
70->'''Played By''': Creator/ThomasHadenChurch
71
72* AdaptationalBadass: Tal Hajus is much more imposing and ambitious that his book counterpart, who was pretty much a degenerate pervert.
73* AdaptationalNiceGuy: He's still a terrible person but he seems to be doing what he thinks is best for the Tharks while his book counterpart was purely self indulgent. Also unlike the book he's not a rapist.
74* BigBadWannabe: Factors into the plot even less than Sab Than does.
75* BloodKnight
76* TheBrute
77* EvilCounterpart: To Tars Tarkas. Both of them are part of a ProudWarriorRace. However, while Tars has HiddenDepths and a strong sense of compassion for others, Tal has none of those qualities and [[VirtueIsWeakness considers Tars' "softer" emotions grievous flaws and proof he is not fit to be their Jeddak.]]
78* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: There appears to be some degree of closeness between him and Sarkoja, as they often scheme together [[spoiler: and Tal appears quite shocked when [[HalfTheManHeUsedToBe she dies at the hands of a white ape]].]]
79* HatedByAll: It's clear the other Tharks don't like him, either before or after he becomes Jeddak. [[spoiler: Most of them are perfectly willing to support Carter's right of challenge as a result]].
80* {{Jerkass}}: Tal is not a very pleasant guy to say the least. He's callous, insubordinate and general pain to be around.
81%%* OffWithHisHead
82* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: A much more sinister version.
83* TheStarscream: Tal Hajus tries to challenge Tars and take his place as Jeddak, but is unable to get the rest of the Tharks to back him up. [[spoiler: It isn't until Tars helps Sola and Carter escape that he is able to overthrow Tars and become the new Jeddak. It doesn't last long, though...]]
84
85!!Sarkoja
86->'''Played By''': Polly Walker
87
88* AdaptationRelationshipOverhaul: In the book she was responsible for the exposing and horrific death of Tars' lover, Sola's mother. There is no hint of this in the film.
89* AxCrazy: She takes a ''lot'' of pleasure in abusing Sola.
90* TheBully: Towards Sola.
91* BloodKnight
92* EvilCounterpart: To Sola. Both of them are the only female Tharks featured in the film, but while Sola has a strong sense of compassion that was handed down from her father, Sarkoja has none of that and acts as one of the most violent and aggressive Tharks.
93* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: [[spoiler: Torn in half by a white ape after [[TheDogBitesBack Sola throws her into the arena]].]]
94* HotBlooded
95* KickTheDog: Pretty much any moment she shares with Sola features her tormenting or abusing her.
96* KilledOffForReal
97* ProudWarriorRaceGirl: As is normal for Tharks.
98
99[[/folder]]
100
101[[folder:Red Martians]]
102
103!!Tardos Mors
104->'''Played By''': Creator/CiaranHinds
105
106* BigGood: He leads Helium, the last city standing against the tyrannical Zodanga.
107* BumblingDad: He clearly loves his daughter but has a real hard time understanding her or listening to what she has to say.
108* CompositeCharacter: Of the books' Tardos Mors, who was the Jeddak of Helium but was Dejah's grandfather, and Mors Kajak, who was Dejah's father in the books but didn't do much.
109* HorribleJudgeOfCharacter: Thinking he could trust Sab Than to keep his word about not attacking his people in exchange for his daughter's hand in marriage.
110* NiceGuy: He really does want what's best for his people but life is not offering him many good options.
111* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: Once the final battle gets going he's quick to pitch in.
112
113!!Dejah Thoris
114->'''Played By''': Creator/LynnCollins
115The Princess of Helium and the {{Deuteragonist}} of the movie.
116
117* AdaptationalBadass: In the original story, Dejah was portrayed as the stereotypical damsel in distress (albeit one with a great deal of personal pride and dignity). Here, she's a bonafide badass who can handle herself just fine, only needing to be saved once or twice by John.
118* AdaptationalWimp: Thoris is significantly less political in the movie. It may not sound like much, but she was the original inspiration for [[Franchise/StarWars Princess Leia]], and the book makes it clear that for all her attraction to Carter, she was not above manipulating him for the greater good of Barsoom.
119* ArrangedMarriage: Forced into one with Sab Than in exchange for a truce between their cities.
120* BattleCouple: With Carter at the climax.
121* DamselOutOfDistress: When Sab Than takes her captive during the final battle, she ''stabs him through the wrist'' to escape.
122* HumanAliens: Of the [[GreenSkinnedSpaceBabe Red-Skinned Space Babe variety]].
123* LadyOfWar: There's a definite fire in Dejah that nobody can ignore.
124* TheLancer: She trades off this role with Tars and Kantos depending on who's with John at the time.
125* ProudWarriorRaceGirl: Quickly makes it clear that she can hold her own. If not for John's superpowers she'd probably be his equal.
126* TheSmartGirl: She's definitely got a brain on her.
127* WarriorPrincess: Due to being a ProudWarriorRaceGuy and a princess she can handle her own in a fight is far from a damsel in distress. Lampshaded by John Carter after their first meeting.
128-->'''John''': "Maybe I ought to get behind you."
129-->'''Dejah''': "Let me know when it starts getting dangerous."
130
131!!Sab Than
132->'''Played By''': Dominic West
133
134* AdaptationalVillainy: Movie!Sab is much more vicious than Book!Sab (though admittedly, Book!Sab had next to no characterization). He's also leading Zodanga whereas in the books he was subordinate to his father Than Kosis, who was the real threat to Helium. The only reason Sab Than particularly needed to die in the book was to break his engagement with Dejah.
135* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Carter lops off his hand during the climax.]]
136* BigBadWannabe: He's pretty happy in the hopeless delusion that he's the toughest, smartest guy in the room, when really he's more of an UnwittingPawn to the Therns.
137* BloodKnight: He takes great pleasure in slaughtering the people of Helium.
138* TheBrute: Explicitly described as such by both Dejah and Matai Shang.
139* CompositeCharacter: In the book, Sab Than was the ''prince'' of Zodanga and its Jeddak was his father Than Kosis. In the movie, Sab is Jeddak and Than Kosis is nowhere to be seen.
140* TheDragon: Though Matai Shang lets him think he's the BigBad.
141* EmpoweredBadassNormal: Starts out "normal" for a Red Martian, and then he gets Thern technology…
142* EvilCounterpart: To Carter. Both were warriors who found themselves in possession of incredible power, but where Carter at first just wanted to go home, and then used his abilities to save Dejah, Helium, and Barsoom, Sab revels in his power and wants to TakeOverTheWorld.
143* EvilOverlord: Of the city of Zodanga.
144* FauxAffablyEvil: Can turn on the charm when he wants, but underneath it he's a complete slimeball.
145* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:When he's about to tell Carter everything he knows about the Therns, Matai Shang kills him using the Ninth Ray against him.]]
146* HumanAliens
147* KilledOffForReal
148* OhCrap: His reaction to seeing an army's worth of Tharks taking aim at his flagship.
149* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething: He's a horrible person, make no mistake of that. But unlike most Evil Overlords, he actually leads from the front lines on several occasions, even before getting his super weapon from the Therns.
150* SmugSnake
151* {{Slimeball}}: How he comes across when he tries to be charming. He's actually more affable when he's being his real, evil self.
152* TakeOverTheWorld: His main goal is to take over Barsoom. ''OF COURSE!''
153* TookALevelInBadass: Thanks to the Thern technology.
154* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Courtesy of Matai Shang.
155
156!!Kantos Kan
157->'''Played By''': Creator/JamesPurefoy
158The Jedwar of the Helluminatic navy who becomes one of Carter and Dejah's closest allies.
159
160* TheCharmer: Downplayed. While it isn't presented outright, he manages to make his way to Carter's cell without drawing his weapons and smoothly talks his way past the guards. And when he and Carter crash into Dejah's bed chamber, his first instinct is to flirt with her handmaidens.
161* DeadpanSnarker: He gets a few good ones every now and then.
162* DemotedToExtra: In the novels, Kantos was one of Carter's best friends. Here, his screentime is limited to only a few, albeit entertaining, scenes. On the other hand he gets far more characterisation here, as in the books he was just generally friendly.
163* PluckyComicRelief: Him helping Carter escape certainly establishes this.
164* UndyingLoyalty: To Tardos Mors, Dejah Thoris and the rest of the Helluminatic city.
165
166[[/folder]]
167
168[[folder:Therns]]
169
170!!Matai Shang
171->'''Played By''': Creator/MarkStrong
172
173* AdaptationalBadass: In addition to the Therns as a whole getting a major tech-upgrade, Book!Matai Shang basically [[OrcusOnHisThrone sat on his throne]] and didn't get involved until Carter was already exposing the Therns' false religion. In the movie, he's a much more proactive, [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Sidious]]-esque schemer.
174* AGodAmI: Given that fact that he and the rest of the Thern supervise and manipulate the destruction of civilizations and planets, Matai feels a sense of superiority and power over beings such as Carter.
175* BaldOfEvil: He's got a bald head and is undeniably evil.
176* BigBad: He and the Thern are the Catalysts of the conflict.
177* BreakoutVillain: He's not mentioned until the second book and doesn't get involved personally until the third. Here, he's established as the BigBad from the get-go.
178* TheChessmaster: The Therns basically manipulate and supervise the wide-scale destruction of planets and civilizations.
179* CreepyBlueEyes
180* EmotionEater: At one point he explains that he (and by extension all Therns) feed off of the negative emotions of other life forms. Thus making the Therns a kind of [[OurVampiresAreDifferent Psychic Vampire]] race.
181* FauxAffablyEvil: He's not an unpleasant sort to be around, for a chessmastering planet-conquering alien godling, and actually seems to enjoy his cat-and-mouse game with Carter. "Your move, Earthman."
182* ForTheEvulz: Explicitly says he has no cause. 'Course, he may have been lying- Therns tend to do that.
183* HumanAliens: Assuming his ShapeshifterDefaultForm is what he really looks like, he's completely indistinguishable from a Caucasian human.
184* MagicFromTechnology
185* ManipulativeBastard: Given that he and his race can be categorized as a group of [[ChessMaster Chess Masters]], this can easily be his second most defining quality. He acts as a sort of advisor for Sab Than, but in actuality is manipulating his every move as an UnwittingPawn.
186* SquishyWizard: His MagicFromTechnology may give him great power, but it doesn't save him from being tackled by Woola.
187-->'''John Carter''': Immortal ain't bulletproof.
188* SufficientlyAdvancedAlien
189* VoluntaryShapeshifting: One of the many abilities conferred by the Thern medallions.
190** ShapeshifterDefaultForm: He usually looks like a tall, bald, pale-skinned humanlike man in grey robes.
191
192[[/folder]]
193
194[[folder:Humans]]
195
196!!Edgar Rice Burroughs
197->'''Played By''': Creator/DarylSabara
198
199* HistoricalDomainCharacter: In real life, Edgar Rice Burroughs was the author of the ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'' series, which the film is based on.
200* NiceGuy
201* SecretKeeper
202* YoungFutureFamousPeople: The movie is essentially a LeaningOnTheFourthWall of Edgar becoming inspired to write stories based on John Carter's adventures on Mars. The books opened with the exact same idea (minus the active threat of the Therns).
203
204!!Colonel Powell
205->'''Played By''': Creator/BryanCranston
206
207* AntiVillain: He was never really a villain, just at odds with John most of the time.
208* ColonelBadass
209* EnemyMine: Despite the fact they're at odds with each other, the two team up to fend off an attacking group of Native Americans.
210* GoodIsNotNice: He's really not much of a villain, just a Colonel in desperate need of recruits. That doesn't mean he has to be nice about it, though.
211* HeroAntagonist
212* KilledOffForReal
213
214[[/folder]]

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