tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post7706513284411202..comments2023-12-24T19:38:00.242-08:00Comments on Mendelson's Memos: Review: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - A 2D 35mm ExperienceScott Mendelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08131426080984100749noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-17758771002662582822011-05-23T08:45:56.228-07:002011-05-23T08:45:56.228-07:00Also, look at it this way. Down the road they may ...Also, look at it this way. Down the road they may share regrets about this installment. Like how Shia LaBeouf said Transformers 2 was Michael Bay's best film before release, and then during preproduction for Transformers 3, he and Bay both stated it sucked.ASFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-3090762583345250992011-05-23T07:01:39.308-07:002011-05-23T07:01:39.308-07:00That is ridiculous of him to say that. I'd say...That is ridiculous of him to say that. I'd say that Rango felt more like a Pirates film than this.ASFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-84094108751849031092011-05-23T04:14:26.327-07:002011-05-23T04:14:26.327-07:00"sadly, Nighy gave a better performance with ..."sadly, Nighy gave a better performance with only his eyes than McShane gives without any special effects impediments"--brilliantly written!cordgrassnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-89435222966971454352011-05-22T20:17:25.932-07:002011-05-22T20:17:25.932-07:00This Entertainment Weekly cover story is based on ...This Entertainment Weekly cover story is based on the idea that "THIS TIME, we'll do it BETTER!!" - http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/05/05/this-weeks-cover-johnny-depp-pirates-of-the-caribbean/Scott Mendelsonhttp://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-63985265078855823502011-05-22T19:49:44.458-07:002011-05-22T19:49:44.458-07:00Can you provide a link to where Disney and Depp ha...Can you provide a link to where Disney and Depp had slammed the previous sequels? Not saying I don't believe it. I'd just like to know.ASFannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-27951978190355501292011-05-22T10:01:49.682-07:002011-05-22T10:01:49.682-07:00I should start off by saying that I intensely disl...I should start off by saying that I intensely disliked the second and third "Pirates" film. They struck me as overdone, painfully long, and desperately full of double-crosses and twists and turns in the plots used as a means to take up time between tedious action scenes. Both of those films struck me as being overly convoluted, but in a dumb and superficial way instead of a thematically rich or complicated character-driven way.<br /><br />In comparison to the last two films, I did find the fourth film to be simpler in plot and more entertaining because the story was more straight forward. In a lot of ways the film is on auto-pilot in terms of some of the elements you mentioned including the new love interest, the two pretty supporting romantic characters, and the presence of characters from the previous films. Personally, I didn't have a problem with any of these predictable parts of the film and I enjoyed the movie as a unoriginal, silly, and fun summer movie. Basically, yes, the movie is bad, derivative, and you were on the mark by noting that it's a prime example of a studio-mentality looking to cash in on every angle. I still liked it despite the many poor qualities, and the sold out crowd I saw it with during the day actually clapped after the movie ended.<br /><br />Something I was thinking about during the movie, but haven't bothered to really reflect on is the near artistic tragedy of the series (I know, dramatic words). By artistic tragedy, I mean that the franchise has had the potential to be something greater than it has been and ever will be. The first film was mainly original in the fact that the main character Sparrow was so goofy, fey, and bizarrely apathetic about so much of what was going on around him. In most summer blockbusters, the main character is a superhero type of severity and muscle, and Depp's performance was so awesomely in contrast to that typical archetype. Since the first film, the franchise has poorly built off that unique quality. The series has also been so disappointing in the way that some of the world's (yes, not the country's, but the world's) best characters including Nighy and McShane appear in these movies and are so poorly used by the weak scripts.<br /><br />Anyways, I've babbled on enough. Great review by the way, and I look forward to whatever reviews you'll post next weekend.atjordannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-41985397198205511062011-05-21T11:44:06.279-07:002011-05-21T11:44:06.279-07:00Yeah yeah, I've read that retrofit to appease ...Yeah yeah, I've read that retrofit to appease the romantics who want the happy ending. I reiterate - NOWHERE in the movie (which has to stay the 'official' record unless you want to go to FanFicLand) is there ANY indication that after 10 years Will can just stop being Flying Dutchman captain and go home. None. Zero. Zip. Nada.<br /><br />I know. That's not going to change your mind. I have a sister who will argue for that happy ending for hours. Well, that and how Peter J screwed over Faramir in LOTR...Sighs4lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-38940417925451649172011-05-21T07:28:48.370-07:002011-05-21T07:28:48.370-07:00There was a deleted scene that explicitly spells o...There was a deleted scene that explicitly spells out what was merely implied about the terms of the curse. They damn well should have kept the scene, but well, the writer himself confirms the intent of the epilogue:<br /><br />"But the basic requirement is that Will agrees captain the Flying Dutchmen (in return for what the film reveals) and that he can step on land but once every ten years, and that at any time, if he finds a love that is true (this is part of the original Flying Dutchman opera by the way) then his attachment to the ship is broken." -- Terry Rossio<br /><br />http://wordplayer.com/forums/moviesarc08/index.cgi?read=98721Scott Mendelsonhttp://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-84079682396849031402011-05-21T07:21:03.317-07:002011-05-21T07:21:03.317-07:00"...epilogue in At World's End implied th..."...epilogue in At World's End implied that Will's curse would be broken if Elizabeth stayed faithful"<br /><br />No No NO!!! NOWHERE in the movies is it implied that the curse would 'broken' if Elizabeth stayed faithful. Any and all attempts to shoehorn that Disney happily-ever-after ending into POTC3 ignores the plainly stated - not once, not twice, not 4 times but every single time it's referred to - eternity of ferrying souls to the other side, broken every 10 years by one day ashore. <br /><br />Sorry but you poked one of my pet peeves. I call it Gwendolyn...Sighs4lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-837355050280096302011-05-20T14:59:22.205-07:002011-05-20T14:59:22.205-07:00I took no offense. I do try to treat every review...I took no offense. I do try to treat every review as a serious discussion of its worth as a piece of art. Makes it harder for me to be funny, but I try to stay away from the easy path of petty snark and 1st-grade sarcasm.Scott Mendelsonhttp://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-88214355881853049842011-05-20T14:48:45.978-07:002011-05-20T14:48:45.978-07:00Perhaps I was too flip; I realistically meant that...Perhaps I was too flip; I realistically meant that watching your anger / frustration / disappointment boil over in a review form made for much better reading than if you simply didn't care as passionately as you do and wrote a basic review saying "this wasn't that good".Zachary Reiss-Davisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-33973824390731486322011-05-20T14:44:55.540-07:002011-05-20T14:44:55.540-07:00I appreciate the kind words, but I don't try t...I appreciate the kind words, but I don't try to take too much glee/satisfaction when panning movies. Most bad movies are a cause for sadness/disappointment. Sometimes though, such as here, the almost arrogant lack of quality on display genuinely makes me angry. And again, the fact that Disney and Depp and the gang have been slamming the previous sequels only makes this one's utter failure all the more blood boiling.Scott Mendelsonhttp://scottalanmendelson.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-35271671923236775002011-05-20T14:44:02.236-07:002011-05-20T14:44:02.236-07:00I have to heartily agree with this assessment. I ...I have to heartily agree with this assessment. I stand as one of the few who actually kinda enjoyed At World's End. In all three previous films I couldn't stand either Knightley or Bloom and I was surprised how much I missed them in this film. I had no affinity for any of these characters, bar Sparrow and Barbossa and that's really only cause we knew those two characters well. The thing I missed most in this movie were the crew of the Black Pearl. While, they were never big parts of the originals, they helped continuity through the series and always led to some comic moments...which were sorely lacking here. Upon re-watching the originals I haven't liked them anywhere as much as I did before, but they were fun. This wasn't. It fails on all counts.Sharrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-30447296547081350402011-05-20T14:31:19.927-07:002011-05-20T14:31:19.927-07:00There is something fundamentally enjoyable about r...There is something fundamentally enjoyable about reading a review from a reviewer who's having a great time trashing a film - I loved reading this review.Zachary Reiss-Davisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-60624589921778362912011-05-20T14:18:37.666-07:002011-05-20T14:18:37.666-07:00I'll ending up watching this on video eventual...I'll ending up watching this on video eventually (not impressed enough with the trailer to bother with the theatre) but I doubt I'll miss Knightly. Cute as a button but usually a debatable actress, at best.mousenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6937848248469121586.post-54810292830521226672011-05-20T14:05:25.503-07:002011-05-20T14:05:25.503-07:00I'll take your word for it:-) I wasn't too...I'll take your word for it:-) I wasn't too impressed with the trailers either. ThanksBettybmusingnoreply@blogger.com