Yo, Ho! Yo, Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me!
Joel here. Another week, another midnight showing for the Drunken Rogue. It's starting to get to be a habit, and I sort of like it. As if my geekdom needed validation, not once but twice this summer I have been one of the first two in line for a summer blockbuster. The first time it was my esteemed colleague, Dre that was ahead of me, and last night for "Pirates II" my lovely wife got the honor. Although I got the dirty looks for dragging her there so early.
We arrived at our neighborhood Celebrity Theatre at roughly 9:40. We were indeed the first ones in line, but the workers were so impressed they gave us chairs to sit in while we waited in line. We were joined before too long by a motley crew of hooligans, F-O-X and his lady friend, Tina. Chuckles and his two lady friends, Lee and Josh, and a regular rogue's gallery of other Ruston area Geeks. The house was packed, not one but TWO sold out screenings. We couldn't have seen the movie with a more excited audience.
The lights went down and we were treated to...a new Disney logo? Same old castle but in live action now, filmed from Disneyland, not the animated silhouette we are used to. This may not be the premier of this logo, but I hadn't seen it before. Sort of excited me to tell you truth. Then without further ado "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
I've already shouted my love for the first film from the heights of cyberspace, so you know going in, I was completely hyped up. The short of it is the film does not disappoint. If you are looking for hijinks and hilarity, we've got it. Looking for swordplay and sex appeal, check and check. Want demonic villains and dashing heroics? It's here in spades. Johnny Depp (one of my favorite actors) was perhaps born to play the role of Captain Jack Sparrow. He puts it on again like an old cold, comfortable and familiar. One of the most surprising things about the film was that they found an entrance for Jack that is almost as unbelievably cool as his mast riding entrance in the first film.
I'll stay out of spoilers here, but I do want to give an overview of the production. The whole team from the first film largely returned, and it shows. Gore Verbinski, who had little in his career to suggest he was ready to head up a huge franchise such as this, brought a dark twist and sly humor to the first movie and it is on display here. Again, fans of the ride will find some scenes very familiar. This alone is an achievement because the film is such a drastic departure from the ride, to find ways to give homages to it without breaking the storyline deserves applause. The film is beautiful. After the success of the first film, Disney ponied up a little extra and it shows.
The two bumbling pirates from the Black Pearl are back again, and provide a great deal of humor, a good thing since overall this film is a little more serious-minded than the original. Orlando Bloom is again fine, in the role of Will Turner, he is just outshone by much more experienced and gifted actors. One of those gifted actors if Bill Nighy. You probably remember him as the aging rocker from "Love Actually," but that memory will be quickly replaced by the devilish Davy Jones. His squid like face was completely computer generated, using similar techniques to Andy Serkis and Weta for "Lord of the Rings" and "King Kong." Davy Jones is a step up villain-wise from the delicious Capt. Barbosa of the first film. Jones doesn't want the death of Sparrow, he wants to own his soul. Yep, the stakes are higher this time. Keira Knightley is given much more to do here, included a starring role in one of the biggest (and longest) fights in the film. That fight alone surpasses the Will Turner and Sparrow fight in the blacksmith shop from the original. Keira is not a damsel in distress here, but a participant in all the adventures. There are a number of wonderful characters and actors on display in this film, but the reason we all love this franchise is Johnny Depp. Why do we love Jack Sparrow so much? I think this line tells the tale:
Elizabeth Swann: There will come a moment when you have the chance to do the right thing.
Jack Sparrow: I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by.
Jack is unrepentantly self-serving. As he tells Ms. Swann, "You'll want to know what it feels like. To do what you want because you want it." We all want that, at least sometimes. We all wish we could take what we can, and give nothing back. We live vicariously through Sparrow. And I for one can't wait to do it again.
The only knock on the film that I expect, is that it has little or no resolution. There is no real finale, but then we all know the finale is coming a little less than a year from now in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." So can I officially start the line now?
We arrived at our neighborhood Celebrity Theatre at roughly 9:40. We were indeed the first ones in line, but the workers were so impressed they gave us chairs to sit in while we waited in line. We were joined before too long by a motley crew of hooligans, F-O-X and his lady friend, Tina. Chuckles and his two lady friends, Lee and Josh, and a regular rogue's gallery of other Ruston area Geeks. The house was packed, not one but TWO sold out screenings. We couldn't have seen the movie with a more excited audience.
The lights went down and we were treated to...a new Disney logo? Same old castle but in live action now, filmed from Disneyland, not the animated silhouette we are used to. This may not be the premier of this logo, but I hadn't seen it before. Sort of excited me to tell you truth. Then without further ado "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."
I've already shouted my love for the first film from the heights of cyberspace, so you know going in, I was completely hyped up. The short of it is the film does not disappoint. If you are looking for hijinks and hilarity, we've got it. Looking for swordplay and sex appeal, check and check. Want demonic villains and dashing heroics? It's here in spades. Johnny Depp (one of my favorite actors) was perhaps born to play the role of Captain Jack Sparrow. He puts it on again like an old cold, comfortable and familiar. One of the most surprising things about the film was that they found an entrance for Jack that is almost as unbelievably cool as his mast riding entrance in the first film.
I'll stay out of spoilers here, but I do want to give an overview of the production. The whole team from the first film largely returned, and it shows. Gore Verbinski, who had little in his career to suggest he was ready to head up a huge franchise such as this, brought a dark twist and sly humor to the first movie and it is on display here. Again, fans of the ride will find some scenes very familiar. This alone is an achievement because the film is such a drastic departure from the ride, to find ways to give homages to it without breaking the storyline deserves applause. The film is beautiful. After the success of the first film, Disney ponied up a little extra and it shows.
The two bumbling pirates from the Black Pearl are back again, and provide a great deal of humor, a good thing since overall this film is a little more serious-minded than the original. Orlando Bloom is again fine, in the role of Will Turner, he is just outshone by much more experienced and gifted actors. One of those gifted actors if Bill Nighy. You probably remember him as the aging rocker from "Love Actually," but that memory will be quickly replaced by the devilish Davy Jones. His squid like face was completely computer generated, using similar techniques to Andy Serkis and Weta for "Lord of the Rings" and "King Kong." Davy Jones is a step up villain-wise from the delicious Capt. Barbosa of the first film. Jones doesn't want the death of Sparrow, he wants to own his soul. Yep, the stakes are higher this time. Keira Knightley is given much more to do here, included a starring role in one of the biggest (and longest) fights in the film. That fight alone surpasses the Will Turner and Sparrow fight in the blacksmith shop from the original. Keira is not a damsel in distress here, but a participant in all the adventures. There are a number of wonderful characters and actors on display in this film, but the reason we all love this franchise is Johnny Depp. Why do we love Jack Sparrow so much? I think this line tells the tale:
Elizabeth Swann: There will come a moment when you have the chance to do the right thing.
Jack Sparrow: I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by.
Jack is unrepentantly self-serving. As he tells Ms. Swann, "You'll want to know what it feels like. To do what you want because you want it." We all want that, at least sometimes. We all wish we could take what we can, and give nothing back. We live vicariously through Sparrow. And I for one can't wait to do it again.
The only knock on the film that I expect, is that it has little or no resolution. There is no real finale, but then we all know the finale is coming a little less than a year from now in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." So can I officially start the line now?
posted by Daddy Rogue at 8:29 AM
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