FINALLY saw POTC 3

[jedishampoo]

So sharpeslass and I FINALLY made it to the theater to see POTC 3: At World's End last night. We're really behind on our movie-viewing this summer, and figured that we had to see POTC3 before we were allowed to see Order of the Phoenix this week, because hey, it's PIRATES.

Cut for WTF. Trying not to be bitter, and asking for help.

Huh? What the heck was happening in this movie? I sort of got the main gist-- rescue Jack, get rid of Davy Jones & Beckett, see what happens to the three main amigos. But I really didn't understand it all that well. It was... twisty without being fun. I stopped following the twists and turns because I didn't care any more. By the time Elizabeth was giving her Power to the Pirates speech my eyes were rolling.

The Good: (1) IMHO, the cutest scene was the wedding scene, where Will and Elizabeth and Barbossa were all fighting while Barbossa tried to marry the two. Very reminiscent of some of the more clever scenes in the first movie. (2) Will Turner is HOT. (3) A bit of amusement in showing Jack's insanity here and there.

But no happy ending, really. Just more ambiguity. When I say "happy ending," I mean like the ending of the first movie-- Will + Elizabeth = happily evar after, and Jack + the Sea = happily evar after. But... Will dead? (People are trying to tell me that, well, after 10 years Will comes back to life, but they told us three times that the Dutchman MUST have a captain. Am I crazy?) And poor Bootstrap Bill, never free? Jack betrayed again by his crew? The most interesting storyline (to me) in this one, Davy + Calypso-- no resolution. They just disappeared, for all I know. And really, the EIC wasn't defeated, just the ringleader of the anti-pirate movement. I'm very confused.

Please, F-list, please please explain this movie to me in a happy way. Because I want to like it. I don't want to end up with "Matrix syndrome," where I can't ever watch the Matrix again because I've seen the craptastic second two movies in that trilogy. No matter what, though, I really do love POTC 1, so I'll try my best not to be depressed when I rewatch it.



Let's hope HP5 is great! :)

Comments

[patgund.livejournal.com]

From what I've gathered, (and I've been told one of the novelizations explains this):

The curse of the Flying Dutchman can be broken if the loved person is faithful for 10 years while the captain is at sea. Which is why Davy Jones was forever tied to the Dutchman - Calypso wasn't faithful, and Davy went mad and abandoned the Dutchman's purpose. The green flash when the Dutchman came back 10 years later, Elizabeth had remained faithful to Will, Will had remained faithful to the purpose of the Dutchman, therefore his soul was released from the land of the dead and Will could be with Elizabeth and their son from that point on.

Which, of course means the Dutchman needs another captain. I suspect Bootstrap Bill would be the next one - while he redeemed himself and saved his son, he still feels he has a debt to the Dutchman to be paid.

[wookiee99.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the explanation! I saw the movie and was totally confused and befuddled by the ending (and a lot before that). Now that I know that Will and Elizabeth are finally together, I feel better about the movie!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Hee hee... I was totally a "secret" Will/Elizabeth shipper, and I think that his death and banishment to the Dutchman went a long way toward making me angry at the movie... I just can't say that too often aloud 'cause people will think I'm one of those "batshit" shippers!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the concise explanation-- it is happier and it sort of makes sense. I don't think they emphasized that enough in the movie, or maybe there was just too much going on to focus. Or maybe I just want to be spoon-fed a little, especially with such twisted plotting and vague mythology. ;) I suppose I'll watch it again at some point, and give it another chance and look for those things specifically.

[jedihealer.livejournal.com]

Ok, I am clinging to this explaination like a barnacle! I can believe that the two of them would agree to a 10 year separation, but the idea of their only having one day together every 10 years was way too much! I was so depressed about the lack of a happy ending. But this makes me feel much better.

Yay!

[knight-ander.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with just about everything you said. I love the idea of a "Matrix syndrome" too. I think I may have that. One of the folks on my f-list has an interesting mythology related theory that I find to be a bit of a stretch, especially for a pair of sequels that didn't have a script when they started shooting. I've heard patgund's explanation before, but why didn't they mention those little details in the movies? Especially in DMC when Will was planning on stabbing Jones' heart? He took a vow to do so in front of his father, why didn't Boot-Strap say anything then?

Grr.... I must have had my expectations set way too high for that film. It is a good thing that the movies that have come out since have been good, either that or my expectations have been much lower.

In regards to HP5... I'm proud to say that I haven't read any of the books, so I won't be disappointed if something from the book isn't in the movie. I have a feeling that it'll be just fine. :)

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

LOL! That theory is something else. Interesting, but they do make a few stretches. (Sometimes patterns are just coincidences, methinks.)

POTC3 really was a mess, and I'd read baddish reviews, but I was hoping it would at least be a romp. It was too dark for that, though, so I was disappointed on two counts. And you're right, the explanation is cool but wasn't forced down my throat enough during the movie, and I consider myself a semi-intelligent movie-watcher! :)

[slyvermont.livejournal.com]

Granted, I slept through some of the movie, but I also had no idea what was going on. I probably dozed off because I was so lost plot-wise. So, you are not alone in your confusion. I have no plans to see it again in a theater; I'll buy it (since I own the other two, why not finish the set), and maybe then I'll figure it out.

I just read six reviews of HP5 (trying to find one to run in the paper), and only one was negative. Yea!!

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I suppose I'll watch it on DVD, looking for the things I purportedly missed or didn't understand, and hoping I like it better. And yup, based on reviews so far I should fare better with OOTP. I certainly hope so, 'cause we've already Fandango'ed tickets for Wednesday AND Thursday! :)

POTC 5

[pheron.livejournal.com]

I must admit that the film did not work for me. It lakced the sheer fun that the first film had. I think it took itself too seriously with too many plot, sub-plots, and deep motivations.
I did not get that Will had been freed at teh end I just thought it was time for his once a decade nookie fest.

Re: POTC 5

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

I did not get that Will had been freed at teh end I just thought it was time for his once a decade nookie fest.

LOL! That's just what I thought!

[raykel.livejournal.com]

I dunno, I thought it was an awesome movie from beginning to end, and had no trouble following it. I thought the first one was more confusing, to be honest. ::shrug::

And I loved the ending, whether or not Will's term as Captain of the Dutchman is over or permanent. I found it really poignant and satisfying.

[jedishampoo.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear someone liked it-- I did want the franchise to succeed! It was pretty, but I guess I was expecting something else. :)