Has “At World’s End” got you at wit’s end ? Then pick up a copy of “The Pirates Guidelines” and unravel the secrets of Disney’s POTC trilogy

Jim Hill

17 years ago

“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.

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.

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 ?

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.

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