Here's a blockbuster with a brain. And I couldn't be happier. This is my type of blockbuster, the type I hope to catch on with all other blockbusters.
At world's end, we catch up with the pirates where we've left off. In almost complete confusion, people switching sides for personal gain in flurries. In my last review of Dead Man's chest I mentioned the unique ability of the screenwriters to use every single characther in their own arc. This held over in spades in this movie. Each person has their own motives and goals. What this creates is a sense of chaos that permeates the entire picture. controlled chaos I must mention, if you pay attention you will understand what's going on. But you must pay attention. How many of today's blockbusters require critical thought. My point exactly, that's what makes this franchise so special. I would take the two sequel on an equal par with the original. They are all very good.
The only inferior parts are miniscule and forgivable. These are the muted restrained love scenes between Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. They put the film in a lull for stupid reasons, especially since you know there's no way they won't get back together. When they finally get married it's a huge relief. The second part is the Calypso charachter. Her seriousness just puts all of her scenes off. I didn't like her in the second film and still don't in the third. I think it's because every other characther is weird yet funny. She's just weird. Hopefully they get it right in the 4th installment.
Jack Sparrow is sorely missed when he's not on screen. So it was a good idea to provide more than one of him. Johnny Depp owns the charachter. The two are inseperable, and they shouldn't try a pirates film without him.
Geoffrey Rush looks like he's having a hell of a time. The pirate league is colorful. The bad guy is delightfully malignantly restrained. and the costumes are ridiculously cool. There's a summit of the main charachters on this desert island in the middle of the film where they're all dressed to the nines. It's a costume designers wet dream I'm sure.
Overall the film is very good and exceptional in almost all areas. Most blockbuster sequels have over the top spectacle but a deceptively hollow story. This movie has over the top spectacle but with a story that is overflowing with plot. Not your average fairy tale me harty.
Showing posts with label orlando bloom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label orlando bloom. Show all posts
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 07/09/06
fresh: This is one of those movies that I would be curious to see twice, because as a rule I hate sequels but I loved this one so darn much. Therefore I must have missed what I usually hate and only a second viewing would bring about my much brewed ire for this film.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that only a really good sequel could overcome my natural bias against sequels. This is a really good film. The best sequel since "The Empire Strikes Back."
A great part of why this film is great is because everyone came back. This seems more like a labor of love than a enterprise for more money. Here we have both producers from the first one: Walt Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer, the same Director: Gore Verbinski, the same screenwriters, the same main cast from Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley, to much of the supporting cast: each one with a place and purpose in the story. The screenwriters must have gone through hell to make this story work as a parody of a theme park ride, a action adventure with great spectacles, a witty farce in the moments where there couldn't be huge effects, a sequel as good as the first but leads charismatically into the third, lots of fun, and a great ensemble effort where each character pulls their weight, noone grandstands, and not one part of the ensemble, filled with great new charachters, does one want to quickly get off the stage. It's a great accomplishment how everything fits. I wish I knew their names. I'd mention them with great praise.
Also to mention is the way they do not fail where so many other special effect extravaganzas do. They know how to use the visuals not rely on them, and it is clear that the makers had an effective story even if there weren't any. A great moment arrives when two supporting stooges pontificate on the correct pronounciation of the word Kraken. (rack or rake) A Kraken is a large sea monster that we periodically witness killing everybody in a ship. Here we have two characters arguing on the correct grammer of the word. It reminded me of that classic moment in Ghostbusters where the characters discussed the Giant Stay Puff marshmallow man who was terrorizing the city. Future directors should pay attention. That's how to handle huge special effects. With a smile and a friendly wink. A little bit of sugar helps the medicine go down.
Just one more note: This movie has quite alot of death and destruction. Since it's a pirate movie, that's understandable. The problem is I know many parents will bring their kids (I saw quite a few in the movie theatre) and I think the creators should of had that in mind when they started slitting throats, making ravens peck out eyes, and killing people quite constantly. I myself have no problem with that, but I bet a ten year old would have nightmares.
I suppose what I'm trying to say is that only a really good sequel could overcome my natural bias against sequels. This is a really good film. The best sequel since "The Empire Strikes Back."
A great part of why this film is great is because everyone came back. This seems more like a labor of love than a enterprise for more money. Here we have both producers from the first one: Walt Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer, the same Director: Gore Verbinski, the same screenwriters, the same main cast from Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keira Knightley, to much of the supporting cast: each one with a place and purpose in the story. The screenwriters must have gone through hell to make this story work as a parody of a theme park ride, a action adventure with great spectacles, a witty farce in the moments where there couldn't be huge effects, a sequel as good as the first but leads charismatically into the third, lots of fun, and a great ensemble effort where each character pulls their weight, noone grandstands, and not one part of the ensemble, filled with great new charachters, does one want to quickly get off the stage. It's a great accomplishment how everything fits. I wish I knew their names. I'd mention them with great praise.
Also to mention is the way they do not fail where so many other special effect extravaganzas do. They know how to use the visuals not rely on them, and it is clear that the makers had an effective story even if there weren't any. A great moment arrives when two supporting stooges pontificate on the correct pronounciation of the word Kraken. (rack or rake) A Kraken is a large sea monster that we periodically witness killing everybody in a ship. Here we have two characters arguing on the correct grammer of the word. It reminded me of that classic moment in Ghostbusters where the characters discussed the Giant Stay Puff marshmallow man who was terrorizing the city. Future directors should pay attention. That's how to handle huge special effects. With a smile and a friendly wink. A little bit of sugar helps the medicine go down.
Just one more note: This movie has quite alot of death and destruction. Since it's a pirate movie, that's understandable. The problem is I know many parents will bring their kids (I saw quite a few in the movie theatre) and I think the creators should of had that in mind when they started slitting throats, making ravens peck out eyes, and killing people quite constantly. I myself have no problem with that, but I bet a ten year old would have nightmares.
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