DMC Reviews

[dwgm]

I must say, it might be helpful to the movie-going public to have a reviewer that actually likes summer action/adventure popcorn-munchers review movies like Dead Man's Chest. I just read the very negative review written by Mick LaSalle for the San Francisco Chronicle, which, juxtaposed with the positive and very even-handed review by the Yahoo Movie Mom, makes me wonder if they watched the same movie.

Comments

[honorat.livejournal.com]

As you have read at BPS, I have now seen the movie twice. :D And I am combusting under the lack of DVD. When I saw the first movie in 2005, I could rewatch it to my heart's content. But now I have to find the time to go to the theatre and can't just pick it up here and there in spare moments. Blah!

Part of the problem with some of the reviewers I've read was that so many of the jokes in the movie were so inside. If a reviewer hadn't seen the original movie since 2003, how were they going to remember why it's a scream that Jack shoots the monkey all the time, that Giselle sends a slap to Jack via Will, that the rum is always gone and must be hidden around Elizabeth, that Jack burns the rum, that Jack is still rooting for Norrington, and that Jack hits Will over the head with an oar, to name a few. And how are they to remember why there is so much poignancy in the threat of mutiny, in the sight of that red-hot letter P and Jack's hand going to his arm and his wince when Elizabeth mentions Beckett, in the look on Jack's face when he says "It's only a ship" and then turns to her like a man to his dying lover, to name a few more. One reviewer complained about all the spare characters with little bit parts that meant nothing--by which they meant Governor Swann and Giselle and the dog and so on. This was a sequel people. Not a stand alone movie. And PotC has always been about the people--as Gore said, the things people respond to in PotC could be filmed with a set of lights and a camera in the trunk of a car. The people who didn't care about the characters in this one didn't care about them in the last one.

I actually think the scope for fanfic will remain just as great with PotC2 because of the nature of the story. Ted and Terry love dumping hints of stories into their script and not explaining them--Jack's relationship with Bootstrap, Jack's adventure in the Turkish prison, Davy Jones' backstory with Jack and with his beloved, Jack's backstory with the Pearl, Ragetti's perversely educated illiteracy, Jack's relationship with the Pelagostos, Jack's relationship with Tia Dalma, Jack's relationship with Giselle, Barbossa's relationship with Jack, Barbossa's relationship with Tia Dalma, Davy Jones' relationship with Tia Dalma, Will's time on the Flying Dutchman, Norrington's pursuit of Jack into the teeth of a hurricane, Norrington's resignation of his commission, what happened to Governor Swann, Jack's interaction with Beckett--I think I'd better stop here, but I could keep going. What other movie opens so many possibilities?

I loved the increasing complication of all these characters and their relationships. I'm fascinated by Bootstrap and Will and I want to see more of Bootstrap and Jack. And Jack and Elizabeth are dynamite, or possibly nitroglycerin, together in this. I think those of you who write posthumous-Will J/E fics are certainly vindicated that that is within canon. I really can't wait to see how the next movie sorts things out.

Oh I want a DVD! All this talk makes me want to go see it again!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I want a DVD, with all the deleted scenes and commentaries, NOW. And I may have to go see it again this week -- saw it for the third time and enjoyed it just as much, if not moreso. I like Davy Jones as a character more each time. And I'd go just to see the J/E interaction. *G*

Two things: 1) so sorry I have not yet replied to your wonderfully detailed feedback on Dark of the Moon -- have been meaning to do so for days and days, but have not due to Scattered Brain Syndrome. Soon, though. And 2) 17? < puppydogeyes >.

[honorat.livejournal.com]

I think we should demand the release of the DVD with commentaries NOW, too. I am so hoping that Johnny will comment again, because I want his take on his character so badly. And I am slavering for deleted scenes. I may have to go see it a few more times this week!

I'm glad you've enjoyed the feedback on DotM. I don't worry too much about responses. After all, you beta my work! Speaking of which, I have the worst case of writer's block on 17. I keep trying to finish it, but I am not at all happy with it yet. It moves like a spavined mule and I need it to gallop.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear. Maybe I could read it anyway? Maybe I could figure out why it's spavined. You never know. It could happen. ;)

[honorat.livejournal.com]

There are some major portions of it that are unfinished. So it is probably beyond all but muse inspirational help. I know what has to happen. I just need the words. I'm happy with the dialogue between Duncan and Jack, however. Duncan is coming along nicely as a character. I'm having to balance Jack's coming up with a plan to modify the ownership of the Defender without giving away all the details of said plan so as to surprise my readers a bit.