Non-spoilery thoughts on POTC2

[amanuensis1]

Saw POTC2; well, there's something to be said for not getting one's hopes too high, because from all the so-so reviews, I was expecting disappointment. NOT disappointed. Am suprisingly delighted at how not-disappointing it was!

I was worried we'd lose the characters a la the Matrix sequels, which, as you'll recall, went for joyless personless action sequences and straight into dullsville for two movies. And though there were action sequences to beat the band in POTC2, each one maintained the characters and dialogue and humor throughout each; there's your difference. Sure, it was aiming for a bit of over-the-top; sure, the storylines got convoluted enough to be confusing. But I felt like this film simply ramped up from where it left off, knowing the viewers knew Sparrow and Will and Elizabeth already and didn't need to see them established all over again, just--here's what's key--as long as they kept the characters doin' the stuff that made us love 'em. Which they did. Sparrow flounced, Will hero'ed, Elizabeth refused to be a damsel-in-distress. And they all stayed cool. Fun stuff.

I know I was the only one in my theatre who said, "It's Paolo from AbFab!" but surely I wasn't the only on my flist?

(Everyone has my permission to get spoilery in the comments, so be advised.)

Comments

[fabularasa.livejournal.com]

YAYS! Wasn't it fun? I knew you wold love it. And I have a post for tonight that now, you can read! (It's Jake and Carson go to the movies, and it's all Elfwreck's fault, and I've had the most glorious day writing it, wheee! I'm WRITING again, oh my God!)

Please, please tell me you found Norrington positively scrummy.

Though I do have some problem with Sparrow's characterization in this one -- he didn't seem quite the fellow who would have leaped into the water to save Elizabeth in POTC1. And his great moment of heroism, that Elizabeth "salutes" him for? Actually returning to his ship to do what he shoulda done in the first place? Not very satisfying. But probably they are saving his Big Moment up for the third one.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Norrington was a big piece of manly cake that I wanted to grab and show off before I ate, because OMG FROSTING ROSES! I mean, Norrington gone streetwise alleyway drunkard is utter frosting on an already tasty bit of Devil's Food, I'll tell ya.

Yeah, I can see what you mean about Sparrow saving Elizabeth in the first film and him seeming a little off this time around. Now that I think about it. But during the film itself I found myself not too confounded by it. Though I was okay with his moment of heroism, because him rowing away in panic only to look at that compass of his, and have reaffirmed what he's always known--the Pearl is his heart's desire, always has been. To come to understanding as to why the compass won't work for Jack on his own ship. And that's why he goes back. Too good a bit of story not to forgive it.

[fabularasa.livejournal.com]

Unless, of course, the compass was pointing not to the ship herself, but to someone ON the ship. Just saying. *whistles innocently*

And by the by, the producers of Hannibal called, and they would like their scene back, please. Passionately kissing the scallawag you secretly adore while handcuffing him to an immoveable object so he can face the judgment he so richly deserves. . . uh huh. Nice one.

[awaywithpixie.livejournal.com]

As I keep telling people, I measure my movies on their 'entertainment' value. This had me thoroughly entertained, although I thought it could have been about 5 minutes shorter.

But didn't you just love all those 'out there' slashy comments?

"What do you want, Lad?"
"I'm here to find the man I love."
*eyes widen*

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Except I'd have liked it better if he'd stopped to flirt with the pretty boy who was propositioning him, rather than babble embarassedly, wouldn't you have? :D

[silentauror.livejournal.com]

I cannot believe that you, of all people, didn't comment on how intensely wonderful the whipping scene was. :D The first time I saw it, some twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl whimpered in sympathy during the whipping. I almost whimpered, too, but it was for entirely different reasons. Also, Norrington was, IMO, four thousand times more interesting all dirty and bitter and sarcastic. Delightful. :)

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I couldn't comment on the whipping scene because it was OUTSIDE THE CUT, you naughty thing. I promised non-spoilery! But now that you have brought it up: OMG PIRATE FLOGGING!!! FLOGGING!!! *orgasmdeath*

[silentauror.livejournal.com]

Ah, true dat. Wasn't it fantabulous? I drooled. Possibly even more the second time. In fact, I took my mother to the the second viewing and leaned over and made her admit that whipping could indeed be hot. She's so vanilla, ha ha. :D

[loony-moony.livejournal.com]

YES! FLOGGING! FLOGGING, AND, VICTIM: ORLANDO BLOOM.

JERRY BRUCWHATSHISNAME WINS AT LIFE SO, SO MUCH.

[telepwen.livejournal.com]

I almost wet myself from squee at that scene. So did the person I went to see it with. Our eyes went wide and we started frantically pointing at the screen at each other.

Just. OMG.

"He prides himself on being able to cleave flesh from bone, with every strike of the lash."

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Someone told me before I went there was flogging, and this is one case where I'm glad I got spoiled beforehand, because I would have been convinced through that scene that they wouldn't have gone through with it. That Bootstrap would have taken it for Will, or Jones would have let it go. But instead I was thinking, "They're gonna go through with it! They told me it was five strokes and that Will got it! Squeee!" Am such a nutter. ^_^

[telepwen.livejournal.com]

I maintain that it's better not to know the first time, 'cause hell. You're gonna know every time after that and then you can have that delicious "They're gonna go t hrough with it squee!" the second time!

*nods sagely* Must be better. *convinces self*

Must. Go. See it. Again.

Guh.

[fabularasa.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, I spoiled you, I admit. *waves hand* How shall you deal with the pain of having such high art destroyed for you forever.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

1. Pirate movie.

2. Over-the-top pirate movie.

...what part of "there's flogging" could I NOT have predicted, I ask you?

[loony-moony.livejournal.com]

Pintel and Ragetti. PINTEL AND RAGETTI. 'Nough said.

I didn't say that, but I did have a flashback everytime the little midget appeared to that time in The Surreal Life where he basically went into solotary drunken heat. Good times, man.

you know you can't read

[slinkhard.livejournal.com]

I like your priorities.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Hee, I didn't even know their names! They'll always be Frick and Frack to me.

[melonaise.livejournal.com]

I, too, was pleasantly surprised by PotC2. I was worried the animation would be distracting, but it wasn't.

I have a couple sort-of complaints. I wish we had learned *more* about the characters. That Jack has a shoe fetish or Elizabeth has a friend. And I was sad that so many of the jokes were recycled from the previous movie. They've lost all their zing for me, possibly because I've seen PotC about, um, 15 times. There were some new ones that made me go "BWAH!" but that's not much compared to the near-incessant giggling and grinning during my first few viewings of PotC.

And speaking of "BWAH!" -- I was looking through your icons for no particular reason, and this one (http://www.livejournal.com/userpic/38032540/955565).... BWAH!

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

That icon kills me every time! Made by beardedtroll to commemorate a babb_chronicles piece of painfulness.

[annephoenix.livejournal.com]

I only watched it for the whipping ... so I was disappointed because I felt the issue was passed over a bit too fast and not dealt with appropriately; i.e. no screams, no splashing blood.

Apart from that, the film was good :D.

[annephoenix.livejournal.com]

I trust you saw the whipping!fanart, right? Can't remember where it was, but OMGYUM/

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

NO. POINT ME!!

(*cracks up over your icon*)

[annephoenix.livejournal.com]

http://community.livejournal.com/rahly_furverted/10771.html

:D.

Icon is from a Narnia illustration - it's Edmund being dragged along and whipped by the mean ole Queen ...

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

GUH.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I only watched it for the whipping

*cracks up* I DO love you. Yeah, when they cut away, I was all, "Come on, I only get five here! Show me!"

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

A fourth? Really? Wow, I'm naive, I never even thought they might!

[ladyrelaynie.livejournal.com]

I was too busy saying "OMG MR. COLLINS!"

Also, Norrington=YUM.

(got here from epicyclical, BTW)

~Relaynie

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

Ha ha ha! I had forgotten that he was Mr. Collins until much later!

Norrington was suddenly the hottest thing, wasn't he?

[(Anonymous)]

Totally. I liked him already from the first film, but OH MAMA was he a cutie in this one.

~Relaynie

[godlikepiro.livejournal.com]

I thought I was going to be dissapointed too, and I'm glad I wasn't. I'll be seeing it for the 3rd time today. I can say the whipping scene..well thanks for telling me what that odd feeling in my nether regions was. I'd never have recognized it before. >.<. Gawd, that was hot wasn't it? I'm glad that they stayed true to the characters, and as much as I want to hate dear ol' Lizzy, I can't. She was just too darned cute stomping around in the sand during the three man sword fight.

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I LOVED Elizabeth's tantrum while the men are acting like idiots, just loved it!

[godlikepiro.livejournal.com]

And her in those man's clothes ~drool~, she's just too irresistable. What do you think will happen between her and Will? D'you think she'll tell him what happened? And how dafuh did Barbossa come back? Bullet wounds just don't kill like they used to, eh?

[amanuensis1.livejournal.com]

I was totally believing he was still undead except I had to think about him crunching that apple, and realized they put that in there specifically to show that he must be flesh-and-blood living.

[godlikepiro.livejournal.com]

I think what they meant..was..well, er, you know when Tia Dalma said they needed a Captain that had "braved the weird and strange waters of world's end"? I think they meant that Barbossa had died, but he sailed he was out of the Land of The Dead, perhapes the "ocean" Styx? I heard a rumor that in the 3rd movie, Jack Sparrow is in purgatory and meets his father, which would pair nicely with the World of the Dead thing at World's End. Wooosh..