I've got a jar of dirt!
Jul. 10th, 2006 05:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hafitalIf possible, I love Captain Jack Sparrow *even more* than I did before.
It's almost as if the writers, the director, all the actors and producers, all got together and asked themselves "What kind of sequel would really make hafital a happy happy, blithering mass of incoherent goo?" And then, went ahead and made it so.
First of all, they were *all*, every last one of them, beautiful and amazing and it was great to see them again. I even adored Orlando, who always has the tougher sell imo, but he was great and gorgeous. They all were.
I loved the beginning, with the poor, wet, drowned wedding. I nearly died of happy seeing Tom Hollander as Cutler Beckett - long been a fan, ever since Gosford Park - and how perfectly evil and effete he was! One thing PotC does very well is use stereotypes effectively.
I'll have you all know I did not squeal like a teenage girl in heat upon the first sight of Captain Jack, but it was a near thing. Luckily there were teenage girls right next to us who squealed enough for about 1/2 of the audience.
There was a lot of fun plot about Davy Jones (Bill Nighy!) and Cutler Beckett and some beating heart in a chest and 13 years contract for the Pearl, and a large, ugly ass squid, and a surprise ending which I really should have seen coming, which all, for the most part, worked rather well and ran pretty seamlessly with the original. But what I really enjoyed was seeing the characters we know and love, and watching them become even more developed and see their stories change and progress from point A to point B. They all changed, and evolved. None of them were static. PotC is not high literature, but it's excellent movie making and rather more than decent screenwriting - something lacking from 90% of films in the same category.
Something else that will always make me a happy pirate girl is a well developed triangle. I mean triangle in the literary sense, rather than the "threesome" fun sexy fic sense. They're not a threesome, yet. They are three separate individuals, tangled, being pulled in towards each other and also apart, in all different directions. Good literary triangles, of love or otherwise, make me very very happy. I even wrote papers on them and everything! And this particular (love) triangle is like candy.
I remember in one of the commentaries from the first film, I think it was Gore Verbinski talking about how Jack was the more static of the three. Both Elizabeth and Will change in the first film - they grow, they are not the same from beginning to end, but Jack doesn't change. In DMC, I think they worked on that - he is, in essentials, much like he always was (to misquote Jane Austen) but he was also very much effected by Elizabeth's comments on him being a good man and that one day he will chose to do the right thing. Which was, I might add feverishly, wonderfully brought to play and juxtaposed against her "betrayal" of both Jack and Will. It was like Jack and Elizabeth moving across each other, one being lifted and the other one sinking, just a little bit. I *loved* Jack calling her, with that gorgeous, knowing, half-smile of affection of his, "Pirate", just when her face shows all of her guilt and horror at her own actions. I can't wait to see what they do next! Fun stuff. :) :)
It shouldn't be a secret that I just adore Elizabeth. I love what they've done with her. She's young and flawed, and much more like Jack than she's comfortable with. She loves Will, but longs for something she can only find with Jack. Neither should it be a secret that the Jack/Elizabeth scenes were, for me, beautiful to behold and totally satisfactory, and not once did I feel they were out of character. I could just be blinded by the pretty pirates. :)
Also, there's Norrington, beautiful beautiful Norrington. Everybody's best stuck-up Commodore boyfriend. Norrington was probably the one part of the film that made me less happy, only because I adore him so much. I didn't really have a problem with the direction of the character, but I wish we could have seen more of how he got to be so destitute. Bitter, I can understand and see perfectly. I can also see him being hung out to dry by the Navy, but I miss a step when I see him drunk and slovenly. Even with Jack Davenport (who looked incredible, I might add. He should be scruffy and dirty more often!) playing the part perfectly. I suspect we haven't seen all the places Norrington will go, yet. I loved that, even with him angry and bitter, and clearly desolate and with out any recourse, I could still see the Norrington/Sparrow antagonism love/hate that launched a thousand fics. LOL. :) eta: Also, on further thought, it's interesting to see Norrington sink and become a pirate, becoming what he hates the most. It's something that's been touched upon in fic a lot, but rarely with such a bitter, revenge-filled impetus. Not that I think Norrington is all vengence - I think right now he's mostly vengence and retribution, but he's a better man then that. I just don't know if we'll get to see it. hm.
I can't finish without mentioning Naomi Harris as Tia Dalma, who was darn near perfect. Loved the mad little light in her eyes, and she's the only woman who can look so beautiful with black teeth. :)
I totally plan on watching it again!
There will come a moment when you have the chance to do the right thing.
I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by.
It's almost as if the writers, the director, all the actors and producers, all got together and asked themselves "What kind of sequel would really make hafital a happy happy, blithering mass of incoherent goo?" And then, went ahead and made it so.
First of all, they were *all*, every last one of them, beautiful and amazing and it was great to see them again. I even adored Orlando, who always has the tougher sell imo, but he was great and gorgeous. They all were.
I loved the beginning, with the poor, wet, drowned wedding. I nearly died of happy seeing Tom Hollander as Cutler Beckett - long been a fan, ever since Gosford Park - and how perfectly evil and effete he was! One thing PotC does very well is use stereotypes effectively.
I'll have you all know I did not squeal like a teenage girl in heat upon the first sight of Captain Jack, but it was a near thing. Luckily there were teenage girls right next to us who squealed enough for about 1/2 of the audience.
There was a lot of fun plot about Davy Jones (Bill Nighy!) and Cutler Beckett and some beating heart in a chest and 13 years contract for the Pearl, and a large, ugly ass squid, and a surprise ending which I really should have seen coming, which all, for the most part, worked rather well and ran pretty seamlessly with the original. But what I really enjoyed was seeing the characters we know and love, and watching them become even more developed and see their stories change and progress from point A to point B. They all changed, and evolved. None of them were static. PotC is not high literature, but it's excellent movie making and rather more than decent screenwriting - something lacking from 90% of films in the same category.
Something else that will always make me a happy pirate girl is a well developed triangle. I mean triangle in the literary sense, rather than the "threesome" fun sexy fic sense. They're not a threesome, yet. They are three separate individuals, tangled, being pulled in towards each other and also apart, in all different directions. Good literary triangles, of love or otherwise, make me very very happy. I even wrote papers on them and everything! And this particular (love) triangle is like candy.
I remember in one of the commentaries from the first film, I think it was Gore Verbinski talking about how Jack was the more static of the three. Both Elizabeth and Will change in the first film - they grow, they are not the same from beginning to end, but Jack doesn't change. In DMC, I think they worked on that - he is, in essentials, much like he always was (to misquote Jane Austen) but he was also very much effected by Elizabeth's comments on him being a good man and that one day he will chose to do the right thing. Which was, I might add feverishly, wonderfully brought to play and juxtaposed against her "betrayal" of both Jack and Will. It was like Jack and Elizabeth moving across each other, one being lifted and the other one sinking, just a little bit. I *loved* Jack calling her, with that gorgeous, knowing, half-smile of affection of his, "Pirate", just when her face shows all of her guilt and horror at her own actions. I can't wait to see what they do next! Fun stuff. :) :)
It shouldn't be a secret that I just adore Elizabeth. I love what they've done with her. She's young and flawed, and much more like Jack than she's comfortable with. She loves Will, but longs for something she can only find with Jack. Neither should it be a secret that the Jack/Elizabeth scenes were, for me, beautiful to behold and totally satisfactory, and not once did I feel they were out of character. I could just be blinded by the pretty pirates. :)
Also, there's Norrington, beautiful beautiful Norrington. Everybody's best stuck-up Commodore boyfriend. Norrington was probably the one part of the film that made me less happy, only because I adore him so much. I didn't really have a problem with the direction of the character, but I wish we could have seen more of how he got to be so destitute. Bitter, I can understand and see perfectly. I can also see him being hung out to dry by the Navy, but I miss a step when I see him drunk and slovenly. Even with Jack Davenport (who looked incredible, I might add. He should be scruffy and dirty more often!) playing the part perfectly. I suspect we haven't seen all the places Norrington will go, yet. I loved that, even with him angry and bitter, and clearly desolate and with out any recourse, I could still see the Norrington/Sparrow antagonism love/hate that launched a thousand fics. LOL. :) eta: Also, on further thought, it's interesting to see Norrington sink and become a pirate, becoming what he hates the most. It's something that's been touched upon in fic a lot, but rarely with such a bitter, revenge-filled impetus. Not that I think Norrington is all vengence - I think right now he's mostly vengence and retribution, but he's a better man then that. I just don't know if we'll get to see it. hm.
I can't finish without mentioning Naomi Harris as Tia Dalma, who was darn near perfect. Loved the mad little light in her eyes, and she's the only woman who can look so beautiful with black teeth. :)
I totally plan on watching it again!
There will come a moment when you have the chance to do the right thing.
I love those moments. I like to wave at them as they pass by.
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no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 02:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 06:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 02:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 06:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 02:41 am (UTC)meJack/Will/James fic....::whistles innocently off to her corner::
no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 06:34 am (UTC)Now I'm going to wait for someone to write me Jack/Will/James fic....Now I'm going to wait for someone to write me Jack/Will/James fic....
LOL. Well, there have been some already, you know, after the first film. I imagine there will be more to come. I can probably find links for you, if you want.
Jack/Will/James can be nice, but I have issues with stories that leave Elizabeth out.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 12:51 pm (UTC)And really? I wouldn't have thought there'd be much of that 3some after the first movie. I've read some very good J/W/E and liked it. With me, it's a matter of, 'So, why isn't X there?' If the author has a good reason, I'm fine with it. Come to that, I probably ought to just wander the fandom again. ::g:: 'Cause really? James/Will/Elizabeth might also be interesting.
I really am wondering what's going on with Norrington after this film. I'm not buying that a man who made commodore just handed over Davy Jones' heart without some kind of backup plan....
no subject
Date: 2006-07-14 05:45 pm (UTC)Yeah, but none of the alternatives are in-character for him:
1. He wouldn't keep it for himself because his ambitions have never been that dark; more than anything else, him keeping it for *himself* would make me despair that all honor had been lost from him because of his experiences between the two movies.
2. No matter how low things have gotten for him, James Norrington is not going to give the power to *control the sea* to Will, Elizabeth and *especially* not to *Jack*. In the choice between giving the heart to a *known* pirate and/or two people with piratical leanings vs. an individual who has some authority of law enforcement behind him, Norrington's giving it to *the cop*.
3. Destroying the heart outright (which CotBP Norrington probably *would* do because Norrington knows no one person should have the power to control the sea) leaves him with absolutely nothing to barter to get himself back into position to actually deal with things. Remember, there is a warrant out for his arrest as well; he has to have something that forces Beckett to not only back off, but to restore him to his former position of authority.
I agree that Norrington has a back-up plan. I just don't think he could put it into place *without* handing the heart over to Beckett first.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-14 06:20 pm (UTC)I agree that Norrington has a back-up plan. I just don't think he could put it into place *without* handing the heart over to Beckett first.
I would agree with this, mostly becuase it's hard to figure out how he would be able to have a back up plan in place already, but I'm not committing myself to any one way of thinking or form of speculation.
At the end of CotBP the foursome could have been easily slotted into their own little space within the dynamic of the group. Now, after DMC, they're blending a lot more. Meaning for Norrington specifically, he is capable and perhaps has already learned to be as wily as Jack. They're all heading towards the label of Pirate pretty rapidly, but I think Norrington is already there. He may be struggling with the aftermath of all his decisions and the fallout of CotBP, and I totally believe he is interested in regaining his life and finding retribution etc etc - I just wonder what he's willing to do to get it. I am not totally conviced he doesn't know Beckett is evil when he hands over the heart to him. When I say we haven't seen all the places Norrington will go yet, I mean it. I think his point of decision - that moment that Elizabeth and Jack had - hasn't occured yet. And I *really really* can't wait to see what it is!
I think I'm not making any sense at all. heh.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-14 07:00 pm (UTC)The reason I keep harping on this everywhere is because if I'm to *condemn* a character for their behavior, then I'm only willing to do that based on what I've actually been *shown*. I'm never going to say a character absolutely did something wrong if I've not been shown anything in the text to support that. The movie makes a point of telling us that Beckett and Jack have a history (cf. Beckett's line to Will about them both leaving their marks on each other). The movie makes a point of letting Governor Swann actually see Beckett's henchman *kill* an innocent who didn't need/have to die. And the movie makes a point of making Governor Swann privy to the idea that Beckett's own personal ambitions trump everything else (cf. the scene between them in Beckett's office).
What the movie *never* does, though, is tell us that Beckett and *Norrington* have any kind of history; as far as we're shown, Beckett didn't even know Norrington had not only resigned his commission, but *wasn't even in Port Royal* any more. If Beckett knows Norrington, or if he'd been keeping tabs on him, then he would have known these things about him. He would have already known that Norrington resigned and left in disgrace.
There's just never any moment in the movie where I get the sense that Norrington had Beckett *have* crossed paths before; they may *know of* each other, but that's not the same thing as knowing each other. So I'm simply not prepared to say that Norrington knows anything about Beckett's actual character, because the movie is, for all intents and purposes, silent on the issue of the two of them actually knowing each other *at all*. Which is why, every time I've encountered it in comments so far, I've reminded people that they really shouldn't judge Norrington on the basis of things they know as members of the audience that he arguably does *not* know as a character in the story.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-14 07:37 pm (UTC)I think Norrington might have a clue that Beckett is not up to any good -- Norrington is smart and I wouldn't dispense with the possiblity that he knows much more of what's going on then it would seem, even while drunk. That's a trait he shares with Jack, and he learns faster than either Elizabeth or Will. So, if I believe that about Norrington, then I can't believe he's entirely blind to what he's doing when he hands over the heart to Beckett, and that's what I mean when I say I have faith that Norrington knows what he's about.
I don't think that condems him, at all. Anymore then I think Jack agreeing to sign over 100 souls to Davy Jones condemns *him* or Elizabeth manacling Jack to the Pearl condemns her.
I am fully aware that I could be totally wrong about this and only the AWE will tell. :) I think, for myself, I would prefer Norrington know and be aware Beckett is evil (or at least not entirely trustworthy) and have some sort of sketchy plan of action to get the heart back from Beckett (and even keep it for himself) rather then realize afterwards just what a mistake it was to give Beckett that heart. That would be one more mistake on his head.
But this is all speculation and I said I wouldn't commit myself to anyone way of thinking, and I have yet to see the movie a second time, too, and so might completely change my mind afterwards. I really have no clue what TPTB have in store.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-14 07:51 pm (UTC)The bad thing is that obviously I wasn't clear; the good thing is that you were. Exactly what I *meant*, only said much more precisely. Thanks!
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Date: 2006-07-11 02:42 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-07-11 06:21 am (UTC)They are! They're beautiful little broken pirate poppets. Let's cuddle them! *g*
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Date: 2006-07-14 05:37 pm (UTC)I am not kidding, during all of the Jack/Elizabeth scenes, I was very much thinking, "Hafital is going to *love* this!"
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Date: 2006-07-14 06:28 pm (UTC)Bwah! Yeah, that's almost an understatment. Honestly, I never really thought the writers would actually go there. I was *thrilled*, not only for the J/E-ness, but the dynamic they're hitting is almost exactly how I would approach the pairing myself.