"Pirates of the Caribbean : At World's End" is many things. The highly anticipated conclusion to Disney's "Pirates" trilogy. One of the highest grossing films of the year (Earning over 3/4rs of a billion dollars worldwide in the past three weeks). Not to mention being a merchandising bonanza for the Mouse.
But you know what else "At World's End" is (At least to a certain segment of moviegoers) ? Confusing. Some folks out there genuinely seem to have had trouble following the intricate plot that Ted Elliot & Terry Rossio hammered together for "Pirates 3." Which featured so many double crosses that a number of POTC fans were left cross-eyed.
So if you find that you need a little help untangling all of "At Wit's End" storylines ... Have I got a book for you ! "The Pirates' Guidelines" (Disney Editions, May 2007) is basically a Thomas Guide to the world of Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean" films written by the ultimate insider: The First Mate of the Black Pearl itself, Joshamee Gibbs.
Copyright 2007 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
That's the conceit of this clever little paperbook, anyway. That Mr. Gibbs kept a journal during all those years that he worked in close quarters with the Captains Jack Sparrow and Barbossa. And as this trio sailed 'round the globe, doing all manner of piratical things, Joshamee dutifully jotted down his observations. Sometimes revising his earlier statements and/or gluing in letters & pertinent pieces from other manuscripts into his book. With the hope of someday producing the definitive guide to pirating.
Which is what -- in the end, anyway -- makes "The Pirates' Guidelines" such a fun read. By that I mean : You've got the thoroughly researched text that the book's real authors (I.E. Monique Peterson, Jody Revenson and Jessica Ward) put together. But laced throughout are all these snarky comments that were supposedly made by Mr. Gibbs.
Take -- for example -- the section of the book that deals with Tia Dalma. Where Joshamee talks about how the voodoo priestess always demanded payment for her service. Though -- as was demonstrated in "Dead Man's Chest" (I.E. When Jack [the man] traded Jack [the monkey] for crucial information concerning a certain key) -- Tia Dalma was sometimes known to barter. In the margins of this portion of the book, Mr. Gibbs reportedly wrote:
Why she would want that wretched undead monkey, I'll never know.
In addition to touching on incidents & characters that we've previously seen in the "Pirates" pictures, Peterson, Revenson & Ward (using material from the best-selling "Pirates of the Caribbean : Jack Sparrow" series of books) have Joshamee fill us in on much of the backstory that has yet to make it into the movies.
Take -- for example -- the history of the Black Pearl :
One story that I've heard whispered is that the "Pearl" was originally the well-known merchant ship the "Wicked Wench," captained by Jack Sparrow when he was an honest seaman, ferrying cargo to and from Africa. Cutler Beckett, on behalf of the East India Trading Company, commissioned Captain Sparrow to pick up a cargo, which Jack agreed to do. But when he found out that the cargo was human, Jack refused to be involved. Furious with Jack's unwillingness to close the deal, Beckett tracked the ship down and set her ablaze. She sank to a watery grave. Not much is known about the events the occurred after that, as much of Jack's past is mired in a thick fog. Somewhere in the midst of all of it, Beckett unjustly branded Jack a pirate, leaving a mark that had nothing to do with Jack's past, but would have everything to do with his future.
One story that I've heard whispered is that the "Pearl" was originally the well-known merchant ship the "Wicked Wench," captained by Jack Sparrow when he was an honest seaman, ferrying cargo to and from Africa. Cutler Beckett, on behalf of the East India Trading Company, commissioned Captain Sparrow to pick up a cargo, which Jack agreed to do. But when he found out that the cargo was human, Jack refused to be involved. Furious with Jack's unwillingness to close the deal, Beckett tracked the ship down and set her ablaze. She sank to a watery grave.
Not much is known about the events the occurred after that, as much of Jack's past is mired in a thick fog. Somewhere in the midst of all of it, Beckett unjustly branded Jack a pirate, leaving a mark that had nothing to do with Jack's past, but would have everything to do with his future.
Jack loved that ship more than his own life. That's why he made a bargain with Davy Jones -- and I wish I'd been there to witness the negotiations ! -- to raise the ship from the bottom of the ocean, but neither he nor the ship were the same since. She emerged a ghost ship, her sails tattered and her hull blackened. Jack renamed her the "Black Pearl" and turned to a life of piracy. In return for Jack's soul, Jones allowed him to captain the "Pearl" for thirteen years. Sadly for Jack, the ship was taken from him after only two years when his First Mate Barbossa led a mutiny. After many years, Jack got his ship back, but went down with her when the Kraken pulled her down to Davy Jones's Locker. He came back with it -- and Barbossa -- when he was rescued. It's been a constant battle between the two 'Captains' ever since."
Jack loved that ship more than his own life. That's why he made a bargain with Davy Jones -- and I wish I'd been there to witness the negotiations ! -- to raise the ship from the bottom of the ocean, but neither he nor the ship were the same since. She emerged a ghost ship, her sails tattered and her hull blackened. Jack renamed her the "Black Pearl" and turned to a life of piracy. In return for Jack's soul, Jones allowed him to captain the "Pearl" for thirteen years. Sadly for Jack, the ship was taken from him after only two years when his First Mate Barbossa led a mutiny.
After many years, Jack got his ship back, but went down with her when the Kraken pulled her down to Davy Jones's Locker. He came back with it -- and Barbossa -- when he was rescued. It's been a constant battle between the two 'Captains' ever since."
You see what I'm saying here ? "The Pirates' Guidelines" does a great job of filling in all of the blank spots & plot holes that one may have encountered while viewing the "Pirates" trilogy.
I mean, were you confused by some of the terms used in these Gore Verbinski films ? Not to worry. You can now look those words up in this paperback's detailed dictionary of nautical & piratical phrases.
And did you have trouble understanding how a game of "Liar's Dice" was played ? Well, if so ... Then not a problem. Mr. Gibbs' manuscript features a detailed set of instructions for this bluffing game.
And then -- when you factor in that this 112-page paperback features a great selection of concept art from these Jerry Bruckheimer productions ... Well, you can then understand why POTC fans have been snatching up copies of "The Pirates' Code" to fill out their Disney-Pirates-related libraries.
And speaking of books that feature great concept art ... How many of you purchased Jason Surrell's "Pirates of the Caribbean : From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies" back when this book first became available in November of 2005 ?
Copyright 2006 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Well, Disney Editions released an updated version of this 148-page paperback back in November of 2006. Which not only talks about "Dead Man's Chest" and the then-yet-to-officially-be-named-third-film-in-the-series, but then goes on to discuss the changes that were made to the "Pirates of the Caribbean" rides at Disneyland & WDW's Magic Kingdom.
So why should you purchase a new copy of a book that you already own ? Well, not because this new section of "From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies" goes into great detail about the new playback system (Featuring over 270 speakers !) that the Imagineers added to Disneyland's version of "Pirates." But -- rather -- because only Surrell can tell you about how ...
... Johnny (Depp) ... made suggestions about the staging of the scenes in which Captain Jack appeared. As (Senior Show Producer) Kathy (Rogers) explains, "We had to figure out how to put Jack Sparrow in the [Well] scene so he's blending in with the environment, but not hiding. Johnny's recommendation was to do a gag. He said, 'You know, I should really be coming out from under the dress of the redhead. I mean that's where Captain Jack Sparrow would be, right?' Well, we couldn't do that for obvious reasons, but we came up with the gag where he's standing behind a dressmaker's form and initially he almost looks like he's wearing the dress."
Kathy also talks about how the Davy Jones character has always been a part of Disney's "Pirates of Caribbean" attraction, saying that ...
"If you listen to the (ride's) original dialogue (as it was written by Disney Legend X. Atencio, Davy Jones was mentioned) in the script. So it's the first time you see a character that has always been a part of this attraction."
It's tidbits like this that make this updated version of "Pirates of the Caribbean : From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies" well worth purchasing. So if you're a Pirates completist and have the loot to spare, pick up this newly enhanced paperback as well a copy of "The Pirates' Guidelines : A Booke For Those Who Desire To Keep To The Code And Live A Pirate's Life." You can thank me later.
Your thoughts?
Both of those sound quite good.
Ill be purchasing them, especially the first one.
I love "in universe" merch like that.
But, one thing:
With due respect, I really didn't find POTC confusing, as long as you paid attention.
I thought that there was a reference in POTC: AWE by Jack to Gibbs about Gibbs not being able to read. If he cannot read, how can he keep a journal?
Chris
I was able to follow the movie because I wanted to and was trying very hard. Something like the "Guidelines" is very welcome. As a fan, I'll pick up the book. I'll probably be referring it to others who "don't get" the movie because they haven't seen and/or paid attention to all of the details in the first two films.
I've heard some comparison of POTC: AWE to BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA, which is IMO a stand-alone movie with "too much plot" that makes it really hard to follow, and therefore less enjoyable.I can see somebody who has not seen either of the two previous POTC movies walking out of the theater after seeing AWE with a headache due to trying to follow such a rapidly and continually twisting plot!
Thanks for the info, Jim!
Jim hill!!!
I had to buy a new bookcase to house all the awesome books ive bought because of you!!
Thank goodness this one is cheap! Thanks!!
AWE wasn't too confusing for me, but there's definitely at least one plot point that didn't come across. The writers have explained Will's fate differently than how it's presented in the movie. It's a huge difference, the movie has a fairly tragic ending but according to them the curse is lifted at that point. It's a shame they weren't able to make that clear in the film.
I own and have read the original "Pirates of the Caribbean : From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies" It was a great book. I recently bought the updated one, one because it was updated and two because I was at the Pirates event at WDW and was able to get it signed! It has made a great addition to my disney library. Now, however, I have yet another book I will need to add... It looks like on my next trip to Disney I will be picking up the "The Pirates' Guidelines". One thing I hope is that it has some info on the pirate lords. They all seem interesting but have little info. I did enjoy your recent article about how they each are a lord of a different sea.
I totally would have bought a sourcebook like the GUIDELINES for just CURSE OF THE BLACK PEARL, but I found AT WORLD'S END so... unfortunate... that I'm actually considering pawning my copy of DEAD MAN'S CHEST so I don't feel compelled to be a completist with the trilogy. I didn't find it to be a confusing film really; it was just an emotional deadzone where I found myself no longer caring what happened to Jack, or Will and Elizabeth, or Calypso and Davy (which is fine since they dropped that plotline like a hot potato once she went all Harryhausen). At this point I just want to pretend that Tia Dalma, Cutler Beckett and the cuttlefish man don't exist.
I still want Surrell's book though... I just have to luck out and find a $1 copy like I did for his Haunted Mansion book.
I actually enjoyed PIRATES 3 because it didn't dumb down its plot machinations, thus making it a better movie than #2. American audiences are dumb enough. Make them think! I have always loved Disney's use of supplemental material to enhance projects, like those metioned in the article. They aren't neccesary but add a richness to the material.
(have been reading for a while and often thought of commenting on a number of issue posted here. Today is the day I start adding my two cents.)
Just found this site and really enjoy the comments and insight.
Why is there not much said about Barbossa and Geoffrey Rush's great handling of this character. He could hae played it so "cliche" and he was fresh and interesting. Every time I watch his character I get more. I am playing a pirate in Grand Cayman for their Pirates Week and I am killing myself searching for a good "Barbossa" hat.
Thank you again Jim
dj