Pirate thoughts - part 3
In the comment string for the last post, the question was asked: "Why can't you just enjoy the movie and not think about who the people are or what they do in real life?"
It's a good question. There's a sense in which I suppose you are right--that I would enjoy it a lot more if I didn't think in those terms--but consider this:
During the first movie, we asked Elizabeth's question "who's side is Jack on?" and come away with the vague answer in Will's line to Norrington, "but he's a good man." ok.
So the second movie comes out, and not only do we have the original (absurd) equation ultimately "proven": jack = pirate = good man... we also end up wondering what happened to our original lines between "bad" pirates and "good" pirates. Back came the original “bad guy” as the saving grace for Jack and the next film (or so we are to think).
I guess piracy (i.e. crime) is simply "freedom," if we understand Jack's philosophy correctly.
I'm just having a hard time working through all these atrocious conclusions all of the sudden. There's many more that come to mind.
It's a good question. There's a sense in which I suppose you are right--that I would enjoy it a lot more if I didn't think in those terms--but consider this:
During the first movie, we asked Elizabeth's question "who's side is Jack on?" and come away with the vague answer in Will's line to Norrington, "but he's a good man." ok.
So the second movie comes out, and not only do we have the original (absurd) equation ultimately "proven": jack = pirate = good man... we also end up wondering what happened to our original lines between "bad" pirates and "good" pirates. Back came the original “bad guy” as the saving grace for Jack and the next film (or so we are to think).
I guess piracy (i.e. crime) is simply "freedom," if we understand Jack's philosophy correctly.
I'm just having a hard time working through all these atrocious conclusions all of the sudden. There's many more that come to mind.
Labels: movies
posted by Mark at 9:47 PM
Ok, shockingly enough, I'm going to agree with you Mark. As you know, I'm the very first one to tell you to enjoy movies just at face-value; not to look too hard. However, in this particular movie, the question of trust WAS brought up by the movie's characters... and then insufficiently answered. Will and Elizabeth both trusted Jack and thought him to be, basically, a 'good' man. That belief was constantly contradicted until the climatic moment when Jack returns to the Black Pearl to save it from the Kraken. Ok, so supposedly Jack's character IS good, deep down inside. However, that realization doesnt stop Elizabeth from tying him to the ship to save the crew- showing us that she no longer trust him. So we are left with her trusting him in the first half of the movie (where he is proven to be singularly untrustworthy) but she doesnt trust him after he proves his is. Ok, this would work in a deeper, character-developing story with a point (he lost faith and has to earn it back) but this movie is decidedly NOT a deep character deveoping story. Its a movie meant to be taken at face-value. And at face-value it was VERY inconsistent and left the viewer quite confused.
Anyway, sorry, Mark, that my comment runs on so.
Jackie
I happen to agree with both Mark and Jackie on this one.
Jackie: don't you dare apologize for saying too much on my blog! feel free to say more (especially since you are a friendly critic in this case :p )
If you're looking for something that "can be taken at face-value", or a brain laxative, why not turn to something harmless like cartoons?
Hey Mark!
We enjoy your blog which we look at periodically. God's blessings in your studies and work, and also for your poor finger which Ruth told us about just on Sunday.
Jeremy, you are like the 3rd person to ask that question, and we have done our best to answer it. The answer is listed in all of the above noted atrocities.
There's a point for some people where a movie becomes bad enough (regardless of the action, pseudo comedy, etc), that they can't "just sit back" anymore because it has reached an in-your-face level of awfulness. Why not talk about it?
Does that make any sense at all?
Ok OK, so the plot's a bit confusing. When you watch it the second time (like me) it makes more sense. I actually loved it more! And I think the point with Jack is that we'll probably never know if he's a good or bad guy. That's what makes it interesting. We'll always be suprised by what he does. Just wait til the third comes out...should clear things up.
My head is spinning as I think of all the loose ends that the 3rd movie it going to have to tie up! For instance: what about the place that Jack comes out of with a picture of the key? What was that place and how in the world was a pic of the key ever even made?
I was most frustrated though w/ Norrington's character. You liked him in the 1st one!! What happened!!! They totally changed his charatcer - it isn't him! It really didn't make sense.
I was able to follow the rest of the movie for the most part with enjoyment. I was a little exasperated with the amount of things rolling and also they went to way too many little out of-the-way places!
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