pirates > ninjas

I LOVED the production design of the POTC movies, and I loved even more the last paragraph... more POTC without Will and Elizabeth, but with plent of Jack and Barbossa! Seriously, these two are such an awesome squabbling pair, like a modern day Jack Lemmon-Walter Matthau pairing but with a scary edge given that they've both tried to kill each other (one even succeeded!) and they'll always be fighting over their boat...

Why POTC worked and Haunted Mansion did not:  Black Pearl did not try to jam every ride reference it could into the film, but concentrated on telling a story and let the references appear where they helped move the story.  In each succeeding film we see a few more touches of the ride - the bayou in DMC, the 'edge of the world' waterfall in AWE.  Now finally, in the fourth film, we will see the reference that will help explain why we go to New Orleans Square or Adventureland to visit an attraction about Caribbean pirates.  Black Pearl had enough of these references to stand alone if it was the only film created.  But by emphasizing story and character the POTC series has been able to create a memorable link to the attraction that inspired it.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about a fourth "Pirates".  I'm loving the idea of more Jack and especially Barbossa, without the Turners.  That thing at the end with "Barbossa, marry us, even though you're busy trying to save your butt!" was really what kind of left me with a sour taste about this last film.  But, I don't want this to become "Land Before Time" either.  I'm betting money there will be a fourth POTC.

I saw POTC III last night.  As we were leaving the theatre, the usher asked a patron how she enjoyed the movie and she replied "Well, it was very well produced."

I came away thinking the same thing.  It was beautiful, the production values were awesome and the music was terrific.  However, the reviewers have been spot-on with their complaints of two many plot lines, too hard to follow, too violent, not fun, etc.

POTC I was easy to follow and was fun.  III got too bogged down in backstory and too many plotlines.  I really expected to like III better than II, but didn't.  And I don't anticipate watching it in the theatre a second time to see if I change my mind.

Which all makes me wonder if the guy suing Disney for "stealing" his pirate story is actually telling the truth.  How can the same guys responsible for writing the great script for POTC I come up with the gobbeldy-gook that they did for II and III?

Jim - I wish you would cite your sources on that POTC 4 claim. Up until now, all thats been heard in realm of internet POTC is that Johnny would love to a 4th, providing Gore is involved and there is a good script in place, and that it probably wouldnt begin filming until 2010, and then come out in 2011.

Are you hypothesizing it will be based on Jack and Barbossa, based on the movie? Guessing fountain of youth, as thats where this movie ends, and jack has the compass, the map, and no ship. And barbossa has a ship, but no map, or compass?

It seems logical that thats the progression, but Id also heard talks of a prequel. Just wondering if you're guessing like the rest of us, or if youve heard something from the mouse.

I need this book!

goofy89 said:  I came away thinking the same thing.  It was beautiful, the production values were awesome and the music was terrific.  However, the reviewers have been spot-on with their complaints of two many plot lines, too hard to follow, too violent, not fun, etc...

I hate these complaints. Too many plotlines? My 14 year old brother was able to follow along just fine, and hes not a huge fan of the movies. If you have seen the 1st and 2nd, and paid any attention at all, I dont understand how the plot could be confusing. Or its too hard to follow. If you know who the characters are, and what each is after (which anyone who saw the 2nd and PAID ATTENTION would) then you should have had no trouble.

As for too violent... Have you ever ridden pirates of the caribbean? Its a far cry from Its a small world. In case youve never been on it, i'll tell you. YOu start out looking at skeletons. Skeletons are bones, that were once people, but who now are dead, and have been there so long their rotting corpses have deteriorated, only to leave bone. you're then pushed right into the middle of an attack on Port Royal, with firing cannons and guns a-blazing. In case you dont know, cannons and guns kill people and can destroy towns. YOu then see the town mayor, kidnapped and being almost drowned, until he gives information. Next an auction scene, auction women to highest bidder, no one wants the fat girl, they want the red head. Moving along to the 'pooped pirate' who used to tell you how badly he wanted to 'hoist his colors on the likes of her' (the girl in the barrel) Jack is now in the barrell. While behind him, women are chasing pirates who have come into their home to rape them and steal from them. Furhter on we see the village completely in flames. Drunk pirates everywhere, singing, trying to give rum to cats. Shooting each other, falling down etc. Finally we see prisoners trying to escape and we used to see guards tied up, but now Jack is there.

If you dont get what im trying to say here, its the PIRATES ARE A VIOLENT BUNCH. Theyre not nice. And why you went on pirates, expecting small world is beyond me. The movie was rated PG-13. Check out the MPAA if you dont know what that means will be in a movie.

I think the many jacks was fun. As was the marriage scene. Different people have diferent ideas about comedy. There were many one liners, and many funny parts imo.

I dont mean to attack you, but you cant just pick up Back to the Future 3, Star Wars 3, LOTR 3, and have no understanding of the previous movies. It will drag, you will be lost, and while you might enjoy "how beautiful the movie is" the story wont make sense. And you'll piss off the people who took the time to watch the other movies, and even think about them outside the theatre, and anticipated those story lines being wrapped up in this film. Which is why I was able to follow every word the first time through.

I think what can be said for the writing in these movies, is that everything is not spoon-fed to you, and you have to pick up on innuendos yourself, and figure things out for yourself. I applaud that. And if you dont, than I suppose you are excited for movies like Evan Almighty, where for sure there will be laughs and you wont have to work out the plot for yourself.

I enjoyed the movie till the point at which Will is killed and becomes the new captian of the flying dutchman which means he can only see his wife and child every 10 years!  I was kind of sad about how it ended....I wish that they could of stayed with Will, plus I have a feeling that the next movie will revolve around the fountain of youth and how maybe it would give Will the ability to be with his family or something!

Here’s my concern.

I don't want the ride that inspired the movie to turn into the movie that inspires the ride.

I think the idea of a Pirates of the Caribbean 4 is great. In fact I believe it is necessary. And I’ll tell you why I think so.

The story has already been told how management was afraid of the movie being "lame" the more it resembled the ride... so I guess that’s ultimately why there is a Jack Sparrow , Will Turner etc.... But how can you have really have a movie called Pirates of the Caribbean and not have some kind of tribute to the original ride. And i'm not talking about a dog with a set of keys.

For instance... that main pirate guy in the ride... you know ... the one with the big red coat who has one of the only main speaking roles. The guy who has been on the poster for Pirates of the Caribbean for +30 years?  I call THIS man the main pirate. Or at least one of them. Where is this guy in the movies? Why create a new hero, a new villain, a new story... and not even touch on the characters that have been familiar with audiences for years and years.

When you ride the ride today.... this guy almost seems silly front and center because there is no correlation to the movie. Little kids are asking... "who is that?" And that's backwards. Add a line to his dialog that says "where is Jack Sparrow"... what's that?

I believe that the filmmakers owe it to us to explain who that guy is... where he came from... etc. And finally take us to the place where WE are familiar with. If the idea of the next film taking place in New Orleans is true.... Then I say bravo.

I hope that the current, temporary powers that be at Disney realize that what they are charged with is preserving the few attractions left that Walt had an actual hand in imagining and not to completely redefine them. Make new attractions if you need to meddle with something.

"Pirates" should be a universe of charaters and stories... not just the adventures of Jack Sparrow. I do agree with what Moonliner said about trying to many references in one movie.... but until they touch on what WE are seeing in the ride and why.... I think the franchise is incomplete.

Here’s my concern.

I don't want the ride that inspired the movie to turn into the movie that inspires the ride.

I think the idea of a Pirates of the Caribbean 4 is great. In fact I believe it is necessary. And I’ll tell you why I think so.

The story has already been told how management was afraid of the movie being "lame" the more it resembled the ride... so I guess that’s ultimately why there is a Jack Sparrow , Will Turner etc.... But how can you have really have a movie called Pirates of the Caribbean and not have some kind of tribute to the original ride. And i'm not talking about a dog with a set of keys.

For instance... that main pirate guy in the ride... you know ... the one with the big red coat who has one of the only main speaking roles. The guy who has been on the poster for Pirates of the Caribbean for +30 years?  I call THIS man the main pirate. Or at least one of them. Where is this guy in the movies? Why create a new hero, a new villain, a new story... and not even touch on the characters that have been familiar with audiences for years and years.

When you ride the ride today.... this guy almost seems silly front and center because there is no correlation to the movie. Little kids are asking... "who is that?" And that's backwards. Add a line to his dialog that says "where is Jack Sparrow"... what's that?

I believe that the filmmakers owe it to us to explain who that guy is... where he came from... etc. And finally take us to the place where WE are familiar with. If the idea of the next film taking place in New Orleans is true.... Then I say bravo.

I hope that the current, temporary powers that be at Disney realize that what they are charged with is preserving the few attractions left that Walt had an actual hand in imagining and not to completely redefine them. Make new attractions if you need to meddle with something.

"Pirates" should be a universe of charaters and stories... not just the adventures of Jack Sparrow. I do agree with what Moonliner said about trying to many references in one movie.... but until they touch on what WE are seeing in the ride and why.... I think the franchise is incomplete.

I for one have had quite enough of the Turners. Hopefully they won't be seen - except as perhaps a cameo - in any fourth "Pirates" film. What the fourth one SHOULD have as a female love interest is a true lady pirate. And turns out there was a real-life lady pirate named Anne Bonny. She could be a sort of Calamity Jane-of-the-sea type. If such a character were handled right (and the right actress cast), that could add to the rivalry between Sparrow and Barbossa. Although I like them as wary allies more than I do than as deadly enemies.

Most of all, if there is fourth film, I'd love it if the film's writers would lay off the tricky twists and turns. A more straightforward story, full of humor and grand effects,  would be very welcome IMO.

Can't the moderator edit posts such as the one by BluHaz132?   If he/she did post the truth about the latest Pirates movie, it just spoiled it for me as I was planning to see it this weekend.  Please someone edit this post and remove the major SPOILER in it.

I don't know...I got the impression that Captain Teague took on the role of the main pirate Rluke1971. when he appeared on Shipwreck Island, sitting amidst the piles of booty. At the risk of spoiling, I'll reserve further plot comments regarding POTC: AWE.

Also, although I seem to be in the minority, I would miss the Turners. After all, Will is the protagonist of the series. Now, in turning Jack Sparrow into the protagonist by featuring his quest for the Fountain of Youth, you can center the movie around him and retain the Turners in some way as supporting characters.

Regards

Bluhaz132:

****SPOILER WARNING********

Ah but you did not listen to Tia or Gibbs.

A green flash signifies when a soul has come back to earth. We saw 2 in this movie.

Calypso and Davy and were lovers. Calypso assigned Davy the job of transporting souls who were lost at sea to the underworld. He would have the job for 10 years, and then he would be able to come back to shore, assuming that Calypso had been faithful all those years, and came to wait for him after the 10 years. Davy did his job, and he came to shore, to find it empty. Enraged at the pain he felt, because he had to continue to do the job, instead of living a normal life, he cut out his  broken heart, locked it away in a chest and hid the chest on an Island. He then abandoned the job she gave him, and started picking up sailors on the verge of death to serve 100 years on his crew. Only, they become a part of the ship and never get to leave. In doing this, he became a 'monster' and grew to be 'the sea' (as did his ship and crew), and be feared. In conjunction, he told the 1st breathern court how to bind calypso into human form, betraying her, as she had betrayed him.

When jack stabbed the heart of Davy using Wills hand, will became captain of the flying dutchman and lived under the same curse. Crew the flying dutchmanfor 10 years, and be allowed one day to land, to see your love. If your love has remained faithful and is there waiting, the curse is broken and you are mortal again and can lead a normal life.

This is proven by the end seen after the credits. The flash of green light is seen on Elizabeths face, and in comes Will. Signifing a soul coming back to earth.

gotta pay attention!!! But i know i know, this movie was too tough to follow... ;)

I've read where other people have been put off by the "Marry us" scene in POTC 3, but I'm not one of them.  I think that, facing what they felt were overwhelming odds, Barbossa married them to be absurd.  It's almost gallows humor to him.  He's killing guys as he's marrying them, they're killing guys as they exchange vows.  It seemed perfectly in keeping with the tone of these films.  I loved it.

As for a fourth film?  It could go either way.  In Harry Potter's series, they didn't get watchable for me until Chris Columbus left after the second one.  The third and fourth installments have been fantastic.  On the other hand, it turned out that two Spiderman movies would have definitely been enough for me.  None of this reflects box office, which often is unduly affected by promotion.

greenyskp said: ****SPOILER WARNING******** This is proven by the end seen after the credits. The flash of green light is seen on Elizabeths face, and in comes Will. Signifing a soul coming back to earth.

******DISCUSSION WARNING********

Now see, I saw that as being because Will is returning from the land of the dead for that one day, not that he was permanently returning.  I think he still has to go back...

Yes I see your point now greenyskp and I like it much better now :) and by the way valencia joe don't read an article with a spoiler warning if you don't want to have any part in knowing what happended

*****SPOILER ALERT*****

I'm impressed, Greenyskp - I didn't catch that Jack had stabbed Davy's heart with Will's hand, or the details of Calypso's betrayal of Davy Jones; I also got the impression that Will was now doomed to be captain of the Dutchman forever, as Davy had been. How many times have you seen the movie so far? :)

*****END SPOILERS******

**** SPOILERS MATES*****

What greenyskp said: If your love has remained faithful and is there waiting, the curse is broken and you are mortal again and can lead a normal life.

This actually is what the writers insteaded if you visit the forums at Ted and Terrys site... http://www.wordplayer.com/

Here is a direct link to one of many threads on the matter http://www.wordplayer.com/forums/moviesarc08/index.cgi?read=98679

Now when I watched the movie I was like Smilee306 I thought the flash indicated that his soul was back for the day........any Pirates 4, 5 or 6 could make this clearer because I'm sure the Flydutchman will make an appearance.....hey Davey Jones had big roles without stepping on land...why not Will?

Thought the story was pretty straight forward....Beckett wants to kill all the pirates....the pirates dont want to be killed....Will wants to release his father...Barbossa tends to release Calypso...that's pretty mostly it.  Now some of the backstabbing double crosses came at you so fast it was a little hard to keep up..but on a second viewing I think it will come together......it would have been cool to find out more about the connection between Beckett and Sparrow.. what mark did he leave on you?  we may never know.....a few missed opportunites....is calypso going to take revenge on the brethren or is she satisfied with the demise of he would helped imprision her...Davey Jones.... I appreciate the attention to wrap up things with the lead characters...thought it was a lot more fun than 2..and I'm looking forward to seeing it again....

btw all the reviewers that are complaining about the "almost rap"....Sao Feng tried to steal a kiss and got the smack down....easy people...

I didn't get that the curse was broken, just that ten years at sea earns one day on land.  What would be the point of "one day" if after ten years you're off the hook?  And if the curse were broken, who takes over the job of sailing the dead to the afterlife?  The movie made it seem like you have the job until you die.

And this article has a spoiler warning.  If you haven't seen the movie, don't read articles about it until you have.

I love the "it was too complicated".  Yeah and Rings was an easy trilogy to follow!

My 7 year old followed it with no problem.  We watched 1 and 2 and he was pointing out specific plots and one liners that stood out.  I guess if you make a movie so simple everyone would be happy and the story would be so easy to follow.  But you probably would only see once and move on.

We loved this movie and it was beautiful to watch and we appreciated the hard work the artists and writers put in to this.

My favorite SPOILER ALERT!!!! part was "What are you doing"-Jack, "What ARRRGGGH you doing"-Barbossa, "What are you doing"-Jack, "What ARRRGGGH you doing"-Barbossa,"What are you doing"-Jack, "What ARRRGGGH you doing"-Barbossa

Simply hilarious!!!!

*** SPOILER ALERT! ***

something about a deleted scene where tia dalma says that if your true love came back after ten years the curse was broken?  

still doesn't clear up who would take over on the flying dutchman - although i did like someone's idea that maybe the world is shrinking and the flying dutchman doesn't have a place in that shrunken world....i don't know...guess we'll have to wait for gore, johnny and ted/terry to give us the next one...

Simple .... if you are fortunate enough to still have true love after 10 years.... you get to go free and you PICK someone to take your place. Like ... duh.

I used to think "yeah, a forth one would be nice, maybe a few years down the road, let everything settle down as to not oversaturate the market", but then I got out of At World's End and the first worlds out of my mouth were literally "I cannot wait for the next one!"

I really enjoy the fact taht Barbossa is back, and not cursed. I think that Curse of the Black Pearl was so successful partially because of it's characters: Jack and Barbossa worked well together. Dead Man's Chest failed to please me because although it introduced one of my favorite film villains of all time Davy Jones, the chemestry with Jack wasn't there and I felt underwelmed. When I heard that Jack wasn't going to be in the first half-hour of At World's End, I was worried I'd be board, but the absence of Jack was made up far beyond what I expected by the presence of Barbossa and Sao Feng, two great, interesting characters played by actors who work well together.

I am in the minority by saying I'd like to see Elizabeth and Will back, since (spoiler here) the last scene after the credits shows Elizabeth out of her usual dressy clothes, and I'd like to know where she's ended up. I don't think she's one just to settle for an idle life. I'd like to see her compete for the fountain of youth just for the sake of piracy. Then again, the scene takes place 10 years later, so I hope that her child is only an infant in the next instalment.

On a final note, I'm happy with the ending. I'm happy to think of Will as the new captain of the Flying Dutchman, and I'm happy to see Barbossa with the Pearl, and I'm happy to see Port Royal as a pirates town again, and I'm happy to see Jack and Gibbs still together (they've stuck by eachother trough thick and thin, and I like it). I was scared that everything was going to end up just like it began, with no progress from before Dead Man's Chest.

I cannot wait for Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Fountain Of Youth!!!

Savvy?

Thanks Jim for the heads up on the coffee table book.....I bought it at Amazon and their price is $30!

Jim Hill's back with even more answers to your Disney-related questions. This time around, Jim talks about why the Mouse was willing to abandon its negotiations with J.K. Rowling, what rethemed rides you can expect to find when you visit the "Wizarding

Is there any Marc Davis art in the book, if only to show the springboard from which the movies developed?

I would just like to throw my two cents into the fountain of POTC III commentary. I thought the third one was terrible. Way, way too much going on, and the fight scene at the end stretched on FOREVER. I can't ever remember yawning during a fight scene before. My girlfriend thought the same thing, and her little sister (a 13 year old POTC maniac) was disappointed and wondered why there wasn't more Jack Sparrow.

And the consensus among everyone I know is that the "multiple Johnny Depp thing" was absurd and used far too many times (i.e. more than once).