BethanyTorn on the Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy
September 20th 2008 19:22
I've been tossing around whether or not I should talk about this for a while now, because I like this trilogy. Really I do. But I kind of... don't. It's tricky. So I plan to ramble for a while.
Because I don't want to be a spoil-sport, I'm discussing the whole trilogy including pertinent plot points. If you still haven't seen them, then you want to avoid this.
I know, I'm just that nice.
Anyway, my feelings on this trilogy are kind of mixed. The plot run down is very tricky, and I'm going under the assumption that you've already seen the movie, because trying to explain when and where everyone seems to betray the others is just going to be... well, likely impossibly without a flow chart.
The first movie is my favorite, I have to say. It was originally conceived as a standalone movie, and that shows. I don't think they would have so solidly killed Barbossa off had they realized they'd have more use of him.
My big problem and my great love about the movies is how thoroughly complicated the plot is. On the one hand, I like it when a plot keeps me involved and guessing. Trying to figure out who's doing what, and why, is part of the fun of keeping up. It also ruins the fun of the action part of the movie- why can't the whole thing be about Pirates blowing each other up? Is that so hard?
I don't think that the intrigue and the action are well-mixed, to be honest. And I dislike that Elizabeth's character becomes 0% interesting when there's nothing between her and Jack. It also seems like she just... sits around and waits for Will to come back. On the same island. She's been a strong, deceitful, commanding character- but knock her up, and she stays on the same island forever? We're talking about a woman willing to do ANYTHING for Will Turner, mind you. But she gets pregnant and just... sits around. Okay.
I mean, I suppose she could have gone on adventures and stuff, but the movie ending implies strongly that she just set up house on the nothing island. I mean, there aren't any rules preventing her from getting on the Flying Dutchman if it comes by, to my knowledge. I know it goes places she can't, but that doesn't mean that they can't visit once in a while. Have coffee. Check on the boy.
I dunno, I'm having trouble explaining my real objections to the second and third movie, which is unlike me. It's not that I don't enjoy watching them, but the- I guess it's because everyone seems to go so far out of character before the end of the third movie. Even Barbossa- why the heck would be so helpful, code or not. He'd been a rogue pirate for years before the first movie hit. And he didn't even HAVE the Piece of Eight.
I mean, you might think 'he didn't name a successor' but when the Chinese pirate captain dies, he signals his successor by giving her his PoE. So... how necessary was reviving Barbossa? Other than being a great hook for the end of number 2, of course.
So, I suppose I'm still undecided. Just one final question: I'm not the only one who noticed the harmonica line from Once Upon a Time in the West in the middle of the third film, am I?
Because I don't want to be a spoil-sport, I'm discussing the whole trilogy including pertinent plot points. If you still haven't seen them, then you want to avoid this.
I know, I'm just that nice.
Anyway, my feelings on this trilogy are kind of mixed. The plot run down is very tricky, and I'm going under the assumption that you've already seen the movie, because trying to explain when and where everyone seems to betray the others is just going to be... well, likely impossibly without a flow chart.
The first movie is my favorite, I have to say. It was originally conceived as a standalone movie, and that shows. I don't think they would have so solidly killed Barbossa off had they realized they'd have more use of him.
My big problem and my great love about the movies is how thoroughly complicated the plot is. On the one hand, I like it when a plot keeps me involved and guessing. Trying to figure out who's doing what, and why, is part of the fun of keeping up. It also ruins the fun of the action part of the movie- why can't the whole thing be about Pirates blowing each other up? Is that so hard?
I don't think that the intrigue and the action are well-mixed, to be honest. And I dislike that Elizabeth's character becomes 0% interesting when there's nothing between her and Jack. It also seems like she just... sits around and waits for Will to come back. On the same island. She's been a strong, deceitful, commanding character- but knock her up, and she stays on the same island forever? We're talking about a woman willing to do ANYTHING for Will Turner, mind you. But she gets pregnant and just... sits around. Okay.
I mean, I suppose she could have gone on adventures and stuff, but the movie ending implies strongly that she just set up house on the nothing island. I mean, there aren't any rules preventing her from getting on the Flying Dutchman if it comes by, to my knowledge. I know it goes places she can't, but that doesn't mean that they can't visit once in a while. Have coffee. Check on the boy.
I dunno, I'm having trouble explaining my real objections to the second and third movie, which is unlike me. It's not that I don't enjoy watching them, but the- I guess it's because everyone seems to go so far out of character before the end of the third movie. Even Barbossa- why the heck would be so helpful, code or not. He'd been a rogue pirate for years before the first movie hit. And he didn't even HAVE the Piece of Eight.
I mean, you might think 'he didn't name a successor' but when the Chinese pirate captain dies, he signals his successor by giving her his PoE. So... how necessary was reviving Barbossa? Other than being a great hook for the end of number 2, of course.
So, I suppose I'm still undecided. Just one final question: I'm not the only one who noticed the harmonica line from Once Upon a Time in the West in the middle of the third film, am I?
| 28 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
