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Pirates! Arr!
Just got back from seeing Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Yes, I was one of those dorky people who was willing to brave crowded theaters and overpriced tickets just because I had to see it the first day it was out. My conclusion: pirate movies are innately awesome, and when you've got the cast and the premise that PotC does, there's not much you can do to screw the movie up.
I liked this movie a lot. I really did. I was wary after reading a couple lousy reviews for it, but went to go see it anyway because I loved the first one so much and I seldom agree with reviews anyway. As it turned out, I would've been better off making the decision to see the movie based on the second criteria. This one was, in my opinion, nothing like the first movie. I liked it anyway.
The special effects! The big deal. This is what I think makes or breaks the movie for most people. I've heard complaints that there's too much of it, that's it's overdone. My first response to that is always: The movie was based on a theme park ride! Come on, what do you want? If you're not looking for goofy overdone fighting and villains that are either undead or sea creatures, you're in the wrong movie. That said, they did go over the line just a touch. I was laughing and thoroughly enjoying most of the effects, because they were so patently ridiculous and campy, but the fighting-inside-the-rolling-waterwheel bit made me wince. That was a little too much, yes. Come on! Still, I did like most of the special effects. The Kraken, for one, was absolutely awesome. Giant tentacle monsters make every movie better! Loved that. I liked Davy Jones himself too. Cool stuff.
Moving on to the characters. The thing I definitely enjoyed most about this movie, as opposed to the first, was the way the characters were fleshed out much, much more. They really became three-dimensional, and I loved that. Sometimes it's really had to give characters several different sides and actually turn them into 'real people', but they succeeded here, and that made me happy. They sacrificed some of their shine, their gloss, and their charm to do it, and I think some people might be disappointed by that. But it made them more real to me, and I found the effect surprisingly thrilling. Jack lost a little of his swagger and slickness in his confusion about what he wanted. Elizabeth completely rocked my socks with her new badass-sailor self. I liked Will a whole lot more as he lost the goofy posturing and become more hardcore himself.
And Norrington. Oh. Words cannot describe my squee. Norrington! Looking all sweaty and grimy, unwashed and unshaven! Hanging around in Tortuga getting into barfights! Still pulling out the snarky wit upon unsuspecting victims! Becoming a pirate! He was so incredibly great. I adore what they did with his character. It definitely gives him a lot more depth, and it was enjoyable to watch him snuggle with himself. He wasn’t a broken man, not quite, but he was certainly confused and angry. And frankly, it was kind of hot.
I really loved the way how each was going through their own moral struggle in the movie. Jack was troubled by seemingly conflicting impulses, caught between freedom and the people he cares about. Will had that lovely meeting with his father, struggling with himself and his heritage. Elizabeth totally made a break with her former life and it seemed to do her good as she got in touch with her inner pirate. But that brought its own problems too. Seeing her struggle with her own guilt and eventually trying to sacrifice Jack for herself and the others…wow. And then Norrington’s desperate attempts to get his old life back…hm. Overall, I think all the characters had to struggle with their own selfishness, their baser qualities. This really was a darker film than the first one. And I liked that. It was nicely done, I thought.
And now, moving on to the bit most likely to cause a ruckus in fandom. The Jack and Elizabeth stuff. Eh. I have very, very mixed feeling on this. At first I was okay with it, and they might've convinced me to go along with it. But they really lost me with the sleazy-flirtation in the deck scene. Bleh. I think it was intended to be sexy and playful and dramatic, but no. They both just came of as obnoxious and completely devoid of any loyalty to themselves or Will, and that bothered me. That was why I couldn't get into the Jack/Elizabeth stuff. I just really, really can't see them doing that to Will. I can't. In spite of themselves, and their own flaws, I think they have that measure of loyalty and that's what redeems them as characters. So it was a letdown for me to see them toss it aside. Also, the whole thing just felt like a rehash of the first movie's thing with Norrington and Will, and that bored me. Also, it didn't reflect all that well on Elizabeth’s character and made her look both slutty and flighty. Overall, I was disappointed.
And Tom Hollander! I haven't seen anyone squee about him yet, but I thought he was really good. I've always rather liked him whenever I've chanced upon seeing him in anything, and I loved him as Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice, so I immediately squealed upon seeing he was the one playing the new constipated-uptight-manipulative Lord of the East India Trading Company. Liked him a lot.
I won’t go on very long about the plot, since I think it mostly speaks for itself. I liked it, thought it was pretty well done, and wasn’t confused by anything. I didn’t really notice any glaring plotholes either, which was nice, and they tied in a lot of things from the first movie. Yay, continuity! I may think of some more questions or thoughts about the movie’s story as I think about it some more, but for now, I have no complaints.
And. I just went on for nearly a thousand words. XD In summary, I really did enjoy the movie a lot and I’m looking forward to the third one. I was surprised by Dead Man’s Chest, definitely, but not disappointed at all. It will be interesting to see what comes next. Good job, moviemakers!
I liked this movie a lot. I really did. I was wary after reading a couple lousy reviews for it, but went to go see it anyway because I loved the first one so much and I seldom agree with reviews anyway. As it turned out, I would've been better off making the decision to see the movie based on the second criteria. This one was, in my opinion, nothing like the first movie. I liked it anyway.
The special effects! The big deal. This is what I think makes or breaks the movie for most people. I've heard complaints that there's too much of it, that's it's overdone. My first response to that is always: The movie was based on a theme park ride! Come on, what do you want? If you're not looking for goofy overdone fighting and villains that are either undead or sea creatures, you're in the wrong movie. That said, they did go over the line just a touch. I was laughing and thoroughly enjoying most of the effects, because they were so patently ridiculous and campy, but the fighting-inside-the-rolling-waterwheel bit made me wince. That was a little too much, yes. Come on! Still, I did like most of the special effects. The Kraken, for one, was absolutely awesome. Giant tentacle monsters make every movie better! Loved that. I liked Davy Jones himself too. Cool stuff.
Moving on to the characters. The thing I definitely enjoyed most about this movie, as opposed to the first, was the way the characters were fleshed out much, much more. They really became three-dimensional, and I loved that. Sometimes it's really had to give characters several different sides and actually turn them into 'real people', but they succeeded here, and that made me happy. They sacrificed some of their shine, their gloss, and their charm to do it, and I think some people might be disappointed by that. But it made them more real to me, and I found the effect surprisingly thrilling. Jack lost a little of his swagger and slickness in his confusion about what he wanted. Elizabeth completely rocked my socks with her new badass-sailor self. I liked Will a whole lot more as he lost the goofy posturing and become more hardcore himself.
And Norrington. Oh. Words cannot describe my squee. Norrington! Looking all sweaty and grimy, unwashed and unshaven! Hanging around in Tortuga getting into barfights! Still pulling out the snarky wit upon unsuspecting victims! Becoming a pirate! He was so incredibly great. I adore what they did with his character. It definitely gives him a lot more depth, and it was enjoyable to watch him snuggle with himself. He wasn’t a broken man, not quite, but he was certainly confused and angry. And frankly, it was kind of hot.
I really loved the way how each was going through their own moral struggle in the movie. Jack was troubled by seemingly conflicting impulses, caught between freedom and the people he cares about. Will had that lovely meeting with his father, struggling with himself and his heritage. Elizabeth totally made a break with her former life and it seemed to do her good as she got in touch with her inner pirate. But that brought its own problems too. Seeing her struggle with her own guilt and eventually trying to sacrifice Jack for herself and the others…wow. And then Norrington’s desperate attempts to get his old life back…hm. Overall, I think all the characters had to struggle with their own selfishness, their baser qualities. This really was a darker film than the first one. And I liked that. It was nicely done, I thought.
And now, moving on to the bit most likely to cause a ruckus in fandom. The Jack and Elizabeth stuff. Eh. I have very, very mixed feeling on this. At first I was okay with it, and they might've convinced me to go along with it. But they really lost me with the sleazy-flirtation in the deck scene. Bleh. I think it was intended to be sexy and playful and dramatic, but no. They both just came of as obnoxious and completely devoid of any loyalty to themselves or Will, and that bothered me. That was why I couldn't get into the Jack/Elizabeth stuff. I just really, really can't see them doing that to Will. I can't. In spite of themselves, and their own flaws, I think they have that measure of loyalty and that's what redeems them as characters. So it was a letdown for me to see them toss it aside. Also, the whole thing just felt like a rehash of the first movie's thing with Norrington and Will, and that bored me. Also, it didn't reflect all that well on Elizabeth’s character and made her look both slutty and flighty. Overall, I was disappointed.
And Tom Hollander! I haven't seen anyone squee about him yet, but I thought he was really good. I've always rather liked him whenever I've chanced upon seeing him in anything, and I loved him as Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice, so I immediately squealed upon seeing he was the one playing the new constipated-uptight-manipulative Lord of the East India Trading Company. Liked him a lot.
I won’t go on very long about the plot, since I think it mostly speaks for itself. I liked it, thought it was pretty well done, and wasn’t confused by anything. I didn’t really notice any glaring plotholes either, which was nice, and they tied in a lot of things from the first movie. Yay, continuity! I may think of some more questions or thoughts about the movie’s story as I think about it some more, but for now, I have no complaints.
And. I just went on for nearly a thousand words. XD In summary, I really did enjoy the movie a lot and I’m looking forward to the third one. I was surprised by Dead Man’s Chest, definitely, but not disappointed at all. It will be interesting to see what comes next. Good job, moviemakers!
no subject
I have utter love for the movie as well. In some ways I like the first movie better (Jack's entrance is just priceless in the first) but I definately agree that the conflicting and shifting and not immediately apparent (as in not seeing those qualities in the first movie) characteristics of each character's personality was both fascinating and utterly delicious. It started to feel like being immersed like you are with a very good book. I think each main character ended up with four sides. But I'd have to see the movie again to identify everything. Just love.
I ended up at the movie tonight as a spur of the moment idea, my friend and I deciding that a movie sounded awesome after dinner, so we went to the theatre, saw the Pirates was playing and hung out at the bar next door for an entire movie showing to pass by due to sold outness. I didn't even realize that the movie had opened today, I thought that it had been out for a while. ~_^ But I am so very glad that I went as I loved it.
So glad that we can squee together! ^_^
(And I totally share your squee for Norrington. Incredible ^__________________________^)
D ^_^
no subject
The big improvement is with Norrington, who was so dreadfully pompous in the original and much more alive here. Elizabeth annoys me a little: while I appreciate the kick-ass attitude, she is so intent on manipulating Jack that she doesn't consider Will's feelings.
For some reason I never got into fanfic for this fandom, though
Finally, the unexpected return of a character from the first film at the end got a big cheer from me.
no subject
See, you make it make sense. I need to see it again so I can be going "Okay, so what's going on here, character development? Yes?" instead of "OMG GIANT KRAKEN OMG NORRINGTON OMG SQUEEE"
Also: scruffy!Norrington = &hearts
no subject
Only glaring plothole I saw (and its really minor and made for a good running gag, so I'm forgiving) is: how is the monkey still undead? If the monkey was affected by the curse in the first movie, but they resolved the curse in the first movie, how can Jack keep on shooting him?
Elizabeth...I don't know. She was so incredibly cool in some parts, but the whole flirting thing, and even the weeping and the moping after what she did... At the end when she's just feeling sorry for herself, I really did feel like screaming, because either way, she should own up to what she did and face the consequences. At the very least, explain it to Will, who should know the truth even if he hadn't seen the kiss (and its not very hard to figure out that he had, considering I don't think he willingly put that much distance between himself and Elizabeth in a "relaxed" setting during either movie). Considering he was pretty pissed at Jack anyway, he might understand her motivation...even if he didn't agree with her actions.
But mopey? Eh. I don't like mopey. ;)
But Norrington, oh my gods Norrington... I love what they did with him. What he's become, how clever he is, how desperate, and leaving you wondering if you're going to end up loving him more, or hating him in the next movie...and everything, yes.
Rolling waterwheel...I will admit, a bit overdone, especially after they put in a sequence that was similiar with the round cage. But how funny was Will and Norrington trying to get up afterwards?
And so much more that I really should put in my own journal, I think, after I've stopped squeeing so much over Norrington.