Pirates
Lindsey and I went to see the latest Pirates movie with four friends last Friday, opening night. After the movie, we split up into two cards for the drive back to my place and 66%/33% liked/disliked it. I was in the majority there.
I've heard a lot about how these movies aren't doing so well with the critics. I heard a lot of solid arguments in the post-show ride home, too, regarding its suckitude. I disagreed with most of those comments at the time and even further disagree with them now.
Yes: Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom are "t3h crap". Their acting was consistently dry. I would give Keira "Worst Performance in the Movie" for her speech before the final battle. Strike that. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and call it the "Worst scene that should have been cut but actually the directors and editors left alone." Seriously, it was unnecessary and out of place.
Outside of that I believe the movie to be a barrel of fun and well pulled off.
I had a different perspective than the other five people in my group, though. I spent Thursday night and Friday afternoon re-watching Dead Man's Chest. The refresher proved useful when the third movie simply starts you right in without a recap. Further, certain scenes and subtle comments made more sense to me than to my friends (as was made clear by the comments made after the movie). If you haven't seen At World's End yet, go and rewatch the second film first. You will appreciate everything a lot better.
You can do better, though. I've heard a lot of people claim that they didn't really like Dead Man's Chest. Trust me this: you will like it a whole lot better after you see At World's End. As it turns out, Lindsey hadn't seen the second one. We watched it Saturday, after having been to the final flick. Did you notice the heart amulets the first time? Yes, plural. Davey Jones has one that he keeps in his organ room but a second is also visible for a split-second. It's very subtle and quick but brings meaning to a scene that seemed just a tad awkward before. Heck, it adds a ton of weight to the final scene of movie. Why would she be so anxious to get Jack back? You find out in the third movie (Arrr, there be two reasons!).
I don't wish to give too much away and will simply end the post here with a few closing words. Think of the Pirates trilogy in the following way:
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl = The Matrix
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest = Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End = Kill Bill: Vol. 2
In summation, the second two Pirates movies are really one movie split up into two parts. They were produced like the Lord of the Rings trilogy in that the filming for the two movies happened concurrently. There's two caveats to consider with what's been said so far:
As I see it, the Pirates series worked out quite similarly to the original Star Wars Trilogy. A New Hope was released under the title "Star Wars" and not "A New Hope" because the prior had a catchier title and Lucas et al weren't sure if it would be commercially successful enough to warrant the latter two. Certainly Lucas had plans for the three (six?) but was not sure if he would get the chance to make them. Curse of the Black Pearl worked similarly: producer's likely weren't sure how a movie based on an aged Disney ride would be accepted but left space for sequels (as Disney is prone to doing). Just as Empire and Jedi were better woven together than Hope, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End make for a tightly woven experience. I can't wait for At World's End to hit DVD shelves so I can view the trilogy together. Perhaps there's yet more to discover!
If my little blurb on the movies doesn't do it for you, read this article/blog thingy. Good stuff there!
I've heard a lot about how these movies aren't doing so well with the critics. I heard a lot of solid arguments in the post-show ride home, too, regarding its suckitude. I disagreed with most of those comments at the time and even further disagree with them now.
Yes: Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom are "t3h crap". Their acting was consistently dry. I would give Keira "Worst Performance in the Movie" for her speech before the final battle. Strike that. I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and call it the "Worst scene that should have been cut but actually the directors and editors left alone." Seriously, it was unnecessary and out of place.
Outside of that I believe the movie to be a barrel of fun and well pulled off.
I had a different perspective than the other five people in my group, though. I spent Thursday night and Friday afternoon re-watching Dead Man's Chest. The refresher proved useful when the third movie simply starts you right in without a recap. Further, certain scenes and subtle comments made more sense to me than to my friends (as was made clear by the comments made after the movie). If you haven't seen At World's End yet, go and rewatch the second film first. You will appreciate everything a lot better.
You can do better, though. I've heard a lot of people claim that they didn't really like Dead Man's Chest. Trust me this: you will like it a whole lot better after you see At World's End. As it turns out, Lindsey hadn't seen the second one. We watched it Saturday, after having been to the final flick. Did you notice the heart amulets the first time? Yes, plural. Davey Jones has one that he keeps in his organ room but a second is also visible for a split-second. It's very subtle and quick but brings meaning to a scene that seemed just a tad awkward before. Heck, it adds a ton of weight to the final scene of movie. Why would she be so anxious to get Jack back? You find out in the third movie (Arrr, there be two reasons!).
I don't wish to give too much away and will simply end the post here with a few closing words. Think of the Pirates trilogy in the following way:
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl = The Matrix
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest = Kill Bill: Vol. 1
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End = Kill Bill: Vol. 2
In summation, the second two Pirates movies are really one movie split up into two parts. They were produced like the Lord of the Rings trilogy in that the filming for the two movies happened concurrently. There's two caveats to consider with what's been said so far:
- Pirates of the Caribbean does not have a book series as its source. It was created in-house with plot twists and such kept close. People were not upset with Return of the King and its war-mongering because, well, that's what the book is like. They were, however, upset that there was no "Scouring of the Shire." Whatever.
- Pirates of the Caribbean2 and 3 were not marketed as parts 1 and 2 as were the Kill Bill movies. I suspect that much would have been forgiven amongst critics if they had chosen to do so.
As I see it, the Pirates series worked out quite similarly to the original Star Wars Trilogy. A New Hope was released under the title "Star Wars" and not "A New Hope" because the prior had a catchier title and Lucas et al weren't sure if it would be commercially successful enough to warrant the latter two. Certainly Lucas had plans for the three (six?) but was not sure if he would get the chance to make them. Curse of the Black Pearl worked similarly: producer's likely weren't sure how a movie based on an aged Disney ride would be accepted but left space for sequels (as Disney is prone to doing). Just as Empire and Jedi were better woven together than Hope, Dead Man's Chest and At World's End make for a tightly woven experience. I can't wait for At World's End to hit DVD shelves so I can view the trilogy together. Perhaps there's yet more to discover!
If my little blurb on the movies doesn't do it for you, read this article/blog thingy. Good stuff there!