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.

[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*

[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. :)

[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.

[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!

[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.

[ladyrelaynie.livejournal.com]

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

Also, Norrington=YUM.

(got here from epicyclical, BTW)

~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.