Secondary characters in this movie were way weaker than the original trilogy. By far. The only one I honestly kinda cared about was the mermaid and that's only because I thought she was cute >.>
Saw it today. It was good. Really, really good. Just as good as the Black Pearl as far as I'm concerned. It also had the best 3D effects I've ever seen.
That's like saying it was the best smelling hog feces you'd ever smelled.
Found out today that my best friend is refusing to go see the movie because she thinks it's going to be stupid, for no reason other than that she's painfully cynical. So since I'm not going to go see it alone, I either have to drag my family to the movies or wait for the DVD release.
If you want 3D, go see a play. The "3D" effect that movies and games attempt to have, at best, makes it look like a shitty popup book, and at worst make it look like a nausea-inducing blob of horse manure.
It does not in any way add anything to the experience, other than a pointless distraction. It doesn't make it feel more "realistic" in any sense, and in fact, simply serves as a near-constant reminder that you aren't really there, because if you were, it certainly would look nothing like that. It would, in fact, look exactly the way it does without the 3D effect. Real life looks like a "2D" movie, nothing looks like a 3D movie.
I went to see the movie yesterday, and it was pretty awesome. Not as good as the other three, though, as I kind of missed characters like Will and Elizabeth (Not Will and Elizabeth themselves, mind you, there story is clearly finished.). I mean "good" characters among all the Chaotic Neutral pirates. There was that preacher dude, of course, but I found him very annoying and bland.
Aside from that, I really liked the movie. I'd give it about 14 points out of 25.
Me and wifey watched it last night. Not in 3D, we had free tickets but they only covered "ordinary" showings. Kinda glad I didn't get 3D though, since I've never watched a 3D movie yet, and if I get a headache, I'd rather the movie wasn't over 2 hours long.
The movie itself was good. It's good to have a standalone film again, and not one that relies on a prequel or sequel. Not overly impressed with the supportive cast, as many of them have pointed out. I think the the King (in the beginning of the film) was waaaay too much of a silly parody, and was just embarrassing to watch.
I honestly think this series tend to suffer from the same thing Monkey Island sometimes do. They sometimes makes the characters too cartoon-like. They cross the line from good old over-the-top action to just plain silly. Kinda like how the refrigerator scene in Indy 4 was. Over-the-top is good. Silly is just bad.
Also, I think Jack is getting a bit too much a super-hero status, in the way he's basically untouchable when fighting with many, but when he's fighting with only one, he seem to struggle.
As for why the 3D effect was the best I've seen, there were a lot of close-ups where you could clearly see the depth and a quite a few epic shots that looked really good. I know that sounds lame but I thought it worked really well.
As for why the 3D effect was the best I've seen, there were a lot of close-ups where you could clearly see the depth and a quite a few epic shots that looked really good. I know that sounds lame but I thought it worked really well.
Well, it WAS better than Thor's. I did enjoy the 3D effect with the
snake. The sword effects weren't nothing to sneeze at either.
worked really well also, even though I'm usually against effects that reach out for you.
I really liked that effect as well. The effects in the movie were definitely superior to recent 3D films that I've seen. They weren't overly distracting from the movie and they were well placed.
It was good at the things that the Pirates sequels are good at, it was bad at the things Pirates sequels are bad at. That is, it had massive, impressive sets, a fantastic musical score, huge action sequences, neat supernatural CGI imagery, great characterization, amusing dialog. It also had only a skeleton of a plot from which Jack Sparrow could hang and do cool shit. Seriously, the amount of times he gets "captured just so he can perform a daring escape?
People say the side characters proved uninteresting, but I don't think that was the issue at all. Rather, I feel that Jack Sparrow Does Stuff, The Movie intrudes so much on the other elements that there is literally not enough room in the movie for the other, quite interesting side characters to breathe. It has been a problem with the franchise since the second film, and Jack has become only more of a camera-hog than ever in this installment.
People say the side characters proved uninteresting, but I don't think that was the issue at all. Rather, I feel that Jack Sparrow Does Stuff, The Movie intrudes so much on the other elements that there is literally not enough room in the movie for the other, quite interesting side characters to breathe. It has been a problem with the franchise since the second film, and Jack has become only more of a camera-hog than ever in this installment.
You stole this phrase from me, you thief. You..you pirate.
As for the 3D vs 2D debate it really is just a matter of opinion... There really is no right answer... just opinion.
It is a fact that "3D" does not look anything like reality, though, and exists solely to make you go "OMG" when something randomly pokes at you from the screen, confusing your eyes with a strange illusion that doesn't resemble anything you'd see in anything other than "3D".
Also, I hate every second of the "whoooooooooaaaaa threeeeeeeeeee deeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!" moments. I can't stand it when they randomly film things jabbing at the screen simply because they want their dumb little gimmicky effect to make people giggle like schoolchildren.
It's a decent Pirate film to pass time, not bogged down by larger plots, but does have some awkward shoved in moments like the copy/paste Will Turner and Mermaid lover plot?? Also, if you've read "On Stranger Tides", don't worry, this film only uses like three pages of material out of the whole book! Seriously, I was really looking for any subtle reference to the book, but nope, pretty much just the basic outline, Blackbeard and what have you. The voodoo part of the story is reduced to barely one scene and a bit, though it was cool to spot that slight one reference of the hand gestures that's mentioned in the book.
Saw it last night. It was quite enjoyable - not quite as fun or rewatchable as Curse of the Black Pearl, but it was spades better than 2 & 3. I'd have appreciated more humour instead of action, but the action set pieces were pretty good.
Although, to be honest:
Barbosa seemed really out of character, and the inclusion of Jack Sparrow Sr was pretty much pointless - just an excuse to put Keith Richards in it again.
Ian McShane was good, but he has been a far more commanding personality in many of his other roles (such as in Deadwood & Kings, and even in Coraline, which was voice only!)
I'd have appreciated more humour instead of action[...]
Strange - I found there to be a higher focus on humour in this movie. That's how I remember it, anyway; I found that the action was pushed to the background somewhat to make way for the humour. But maybe my memory is serving me incorrectly.
Although, to be honest:
Barbosa seemed really out of character.
Well, half the time he was sort of meant to be out of character, since he was playing a rather different role to what he has previously.
and the inclusion of Jack Sparrow Sr was pretty much pointless - just an excuse to put Keith Richards in it again.
And for the "Does this face look like it's been to the fountain of youth?" line (and Jack's response), which I thought was classic. I think that that one piece of dialogue alone was worth having him in there.
But also, I felt that he did serve some purpose - he built the early stages of the narrative by giving Jack some vital information, and they needed someone to speak these words through, so why not him?
________________________________________
Onto a different point, I've noticed that a lot of the negative reviews have come from the idea that "the series has run its course" or "we've seen too much of the same" (something I personally don't agree with, myself). This just gets me wondering, how much better would this film have been received were it released after the first film? Would it have been received as well as 'Dead Man's Chest'; perhaps better? Just a thought.
Well, were it released directly after Curse, then I believe there might have been some reaction regarding the lack of certain characters, like Will Turner and Elisabeth Swan. There would have to be a lot of changes to the story as well, since Barbossa obviously wouldn't have been in it (he was, after all, only brought back at the end of Dead Man's Chest). I think the whole movie would have to be either a prequel, or it would have to be completely rewritten. So it's difficult to say how well it would be received.
That said, I think this movie is no worse or better than any of the others in the series. All of them have fantastic stuff in it, as well as some lowpoints. For example, the beginning of At World's End (with the hanging and the singing and stuff) is perhaps one of the most epic beginnings I've ever seen in a movie, simply brilliant. Of course, that's not the only good part in the movie.
Anyway, the reviews I've read have all said that if you like the series, you will like the new movie. If you've seen the others, you know what to expect. They're basically all just "safe" reviews. One of the reviews started the entire review like this (in norwegian): On Stranger Tides is the second best Pirates of the Caribbean movie - although that doesn't say much. And then gave proceeded to give it a 3/6. It was obvious from the start that he doesn't really like the Pirates movies at all, when he writes something like that in a serious review. And still it gets a 3/6. So either he was just playing it safe by not writing the score he really wanted to give it - or the movie is good enough to warrant a 3/6 from a guy who doesn't even the series.
Either way, reviews mean nothing with a movie like Pirates. It's been an incredible success, and there's no doubt that people haven't tired of the series yet, thus there's no reason to not expect another movie. Hopefully, it won't be so long.
Just saw it with the family. We all liked it. I personally found it to be my second favorite of the "Pirates" movies (after the first.) At Worlds End was my least favorite, by far. On Stranger Tides was infinitely better than that one. It felt the most "piratey" to out of all of them actually. Less creatures and weird voodoo (but still just enough) The soundtrack was also my favorite out of the whole series. It features the familiar themes of course, but there are new sort of Spanish guitar segments that feel right at home. Also, I'm definitely in the camp of "good riddance to Will and Elizabeth" they were my least favorite aspect of the entire trilogy and thought it would have been better off without them.
On a whole these movies really have never been super great to me, but at least some pretty good entertainment. This one rests comfortably in that area.
Yeah I do not miss Will and Elizabeth either... But I did really miss Pintel, Ragetti, Marty, Cotton and his parrot.
Their loss is indeed tragic. While I haven't seen the movie yet, I do hope that some of the replacement side characters grow in this and the next one (because there probably will be a next one) to become just as fun.
The soundtrack was also my favorite out of the whole series. It features the familiar themes of course, but there are new sort of Spanish guitar segments that feel right at home.
Yeah, it certainly was a great soundtrack. You can't thank these two for those guitar parts. And I agree that they felt right at home in the mix; I thought they were great. I felt they brought a lot to the music. I hope these guys are called back to contribute on the next soundtrack.
Yeah I do not miss Will and Elizabeth either... But I did really miss Pintel, Ragetti, Marty, Cotton and his parrot.
Same, I absolutely loved this movie, then again I love all 4 of them. But yes,
either they are all dead, shrunk in the bottle with the ship, Jack the monkey, and Cotton's parrot, or, in normal pirates fashion, they are hiding yet another secret from us, like most of dead man's chest, man, I watched that over again with my family and friends just to find certain hidden clues, good times!
Someone once described the Simpsons as having devolved into becoming "Homer Simpson does stuff". That's roughly how I feel about Pirates at this moment. "Jack Sparrow does stuff". Whatever depth it might have had it's tossed out the window.
I'm not sure that's entirely fair. He is the main character, without Jack Sparrow,there wouldn't be a POTC movie. Not downplayiing the importance of other characters, but the story kinda relies on his quest for whatever it is he's after at the moment (like Indy). It's only natural that he's in the picture a lot. And in the last movie, I think the stuff he does was much better incorporated into the story than usual. We didn't have random scenes where he does stuff randomly, every scene was carrying the story forward and made sense to me.
I think Barbossa suffered more from this, really making a point out of him pretending to be "mannered" and failing miserably.
I thought the the entire opening scene was just 'Jack Sparrow doing stuff'. It was just a way to make him look fancy pants and goof out of yet another scenario.
But the opening scene is just a small part of the rest of the movie. Surely not enough to call the entire movie "Jack Sparrow doing stuff". Also, it kinda set up the story. If anything, the charicature of the king was much worse than anything in the entire series, imo. He was just embarressing to watch.
Yeah, I think I might actually have to agree with you here. It could have done with a few more exciting, elaborate action sequences. This could perhaps be my one criticism, but I felt that the dialogue and humour more than made up for the lack of action.
But, next time around, I do hope that we see a bit more action - hopefully something as memorable as the giant rolling wheel scene from 'Dead Man's Chest'.
I just saw the movie ^_^ I loved it, I like Philip/syrena more then I ever liked will/elizabeth, I hope they come back as protagonists in the 5th and 6th movies because I truly liked the characters...
On a side note, does anyone else have a feeling that theres more healing power in the mermaids tear then in the fountain of youth water, I have a feeling that the fountain isn't really all that necissary...
Comments
That's like saying it was the best smelling hog feces you'd ever smelled.
No.
If you want 3D, go see a play. The "3D" effect that movies and games attempt to have, at best, makes it look like a shitty popup book, and at worst make it look like a nausea-inducing blob of horse manure.
It does not in any way add anything to the experience, other than a pointless distraction. It doesn't make it feel more "realistic" in any sense, and in fact, simply serves as a near-constant reminder that you aren't really there, because if you were, it certainly would look nothing like that. It would, in fact, look exactly the way it does without the 3D effect. Real life looks like a "2D" movie, nothing looks like a 3D movie.
Aside from that, I really liked the movie. I'd give it about 14 points out of 25.
The movie itself was good. It's good to have a standalone film again, and not one that relies on a prequel or sequel. Not overly impressed with the supportive cast, as many of them have pointed out. I think the the King (in the beginning of the film) was waaaay too much of a silly parody, and was just embarrassing to watch.
I honestly think this series tend to suffer from the same thing Monkey Island sometimes do. They sometimes makes the characters too cartoon-like. They cross the line from good old over-the-top action to just plain silly. Kinda like how the refrigerator scene in Indy 4 was. Over-the-top is good. Silly is just bad.
Also, I think Jack is getting a bit too much a super-hero status, in the way he's basically untouchable when fighting with many, but when he's fighting with only one, he seem to struggle.
...really? Because I'm pretty sure there's a bit of a difference.
Well, it WAS better than Thor's. I did enjoy the 3D effect with the
I thought the
I really liked that effect as well. The effects in the movie were definitely superior to recent 3D films that I've seen. They weren't overly distracting from the movie and they were well placed.
As for the 3D vs 2D debate it really is just a matter of opinion... There really is no right answer... just opinion.
It was good at the things that the Pirates sequels are good at, it was bad at the things Pirates sequels are bad at. That is, it had massive, impressive sets, a fantastic musical score, huge action sequences, neat supernatural CGI imagery, great characterization, amusing dialog. It also had only a skeleton of a plot from which Jack Sparrow could hang and do cool shit. Seriously, the amount of times he gets "captured just so he can perform a daring escape?
People say the side characters proved uninteresting, but I don't think that was the issue at all. Rather, I feel that Jack Sparrow Does Stuff, The Movie intrudes so much on the other elements that there is literally not enough room in the movie for the other, quite interesting side characters to breathe. It has been a problem with the franchise since the second film, and Jack has become only more of a camera-hog than ever in this installment.
You stole this phrase from me, you thief. You..you pirate.
It is a fact that "3D" does not look anything like reality, though, and exists solely to make you go "OMG" when something randomly pokes at you from the screen, confusing your eyes with a strange illusion that doesn't resemble anything you'd see in anything other than "3D".
Also, I hate every second of the "whoooooooooaaaaa threeeeeeeeeee deeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!" moments. I can't stand it when they randomly film things jabbing at the screen simply because they want their dumb little gimmicky effect to make people giggle like schoolchildren.
I take it you're finally at Act II?
I don't think you did. But then again, I could be gravely mistaken. In any case, I know now!
Although, to be honest:
Strange - I found there to be a higher focus on humour in this movie. That's how I remember it, anyway; I found that the action was pushed to the background somewhat to make way for the humour. But maybe my memory is serving me incorrectly.
But also, I felt that he did serve some purpose - he built the early stages of the narrative by giving Jack some vital information, and they needed someone to speak these words through, so why not him?
Onto a different point, I've noticed that a lot of the negative reviews have come from the idea that "the series has run its course" or "we've seen too much of the same" (something I personally don't agree with, myself). This just gets me wondering, how much better would this film have been received were it released after the first film? Would it have been received as well as 'Dead Man's Chest'; perhaps better? Just a thought.
That said, I think this movie is no worse or better than any of the others in the series. All of them have fantastic stuff in it, as well as some lowpoints. For example, the beginning of At World's End (with the hanging and the singing and stuff) is perhaps one of the most epic beginnings I've ever seen in a movie, simply brilliant. Of course, that's not the only good part in the movie.
Anyway, the reviews I've read have all said that if you like the series, you will like the new movie. If you've seen the others, you know what to expect. They're basically all just "safe" reviews. One of the reviews started the entire review like this (in norwegian): On Stranger Tides is the second best Pirates of the Caribbean movie - although that doesn't say much. And then gave proceeded to give it a 3/6. It was obvious from the start that he doesn't really like the Pirates movies at all, when he writes something like that in a serious review. And still it gets a 3/6. So either he was just playing it safe by not writing the score he really wanted to give it - or the movie is good enough to warrant a 3/6 from a guy who doesn't even the series.
Either way, reviews mean nothing with a movie like Pirates. It's been an incredible success, and there's no doubt that people haven't tired of the series yet, thus there's no reason to not expect another movie. Hopefully, it won't be so long.
On a whole these movies really have never been super great to me, but at least some pretty good entertainment. This one rests comfortably in that area.
Their loss is indeed tragic. While I haven't seen the movie yet, I do hope that some of the replacement side characters grow in this and the next one (because there probably will be a next one) to become just as fun.
Yeah, it certainly was a great soundtrack. You can't thank these two for those guitar parts. And I agree that they felt right at home in the mix; I thought they were great. I felt they brought a lot to the music. I hope these guys are called back to contribute on the next soundtrack.
Same, I absolutely loved this movie, then again I love all 4 of them. But yes,
I think Barbossa suffered more from this, really making a point out of him pretending to be "mannered" and failing miserably.
Definitely needed more action though.
Yeah, I think I might actually have to agree with you here. It could have done with a few more exciting, elaborate action sequences. This could perhaps be my one criticism, but I felt that the dialogue and humour more than made up for the lack of action.
But, next time around, I do hope that we see a bit more action - hopefully something as memorable as the giant rolling wheel scene from 'Dead Man's Chest'.
On a side note, does anyone else have a feeling that theres more healing power in the mermaids tear then in the fountain of youth water, I have a feeling that the fountain isn't really all that necissary...