This installment of the Pirate series has lush scenery, detailed costumes, amazing battle scenes, some truly hilarious moments and simply fantastic special effects. If you can put your brain on hold, you will probably enjoy the movie. The plot is convoluted to the point of absurdity and in some points the movie does drag. If you rent this lavish spectacle just remember, STOP TRYING TO THINK. Sit back, munch a tub of popcorn and ignore the entire lack of logic in the entire story line.
Spoiler alert!! Warning!!
One aspect that I found accidentally hilarious was that the enemy chosen was the West Indian Company-or East Indian Company?. Apparently, making money is bad if you are a business-at least that seems to be the message of the film. At one point the company hangs scores of people for associating with pirates, including one little boy with an angelic voice.(Yes, they hang the sweet faced child) To further illustrate that big business is the enemy, one of the representatives of the company repeats over and over again as his ship is exploding(great special effects, by the way), "It is just business, just business...."
Of course the real irony, and very funny if you think about it, is that the makers of this film are making an awful lot of money on the merchandising of this series. Although I see nothing wrong in getting rich, it does seem to be a bit hypocritical for the writers to make big business the bad guy without realizing that everyone involved in this film is a member of big business. Ah well, Hollywood and common sense probably are not compatible terms. LOL
Don't look for the love story of Will Turner and Elizabeth Swan to make any more sense. At one point the couple seem to have lost all affection for one another. This isn't as upsetting as one would think as Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley do not have much chemistry together. They both seem like decent actors, just not particularly well matched to play lovers together. At some point the writers must have remembered that they hadn't provided any romance for the young couple because near the end of the film Turner and Swan are suddenly back in love.
The advantage of the lovers' rediscovery of one another is that there is a rousing battle in which they fight a group of soldiers and fish human mutants. In the midst of this battle the two are wed-yes while fighting against amphibian people-by Captain Balbosa. Um..Okay...didn't I warn you not to think too deeply while viewing this film?
A plus for this movie is that many of the actors are pretty good in their individual parts. Johnny Depp apparently could make a reading of the phone book entertaining. Jack Sparrow is a great character not because of spectacular writing(take my word for it, this movie Does NOT have that) but because Depp throws himself into this part. In fact, I wish that they had killed off the young lovebirds and kept just the pirates!
Captain Balbosa, played by Geoffrey Rush, is a great foil for Johnny Depp as the two continue their fight for the Black Pearl. Bill Nighy manages to bring life to the character of Davy Jones despite being completely entrenched in tentacles. His method of killing one of the British men who had stolen his heart-literally, not romantically- and forced the Captain to fight on the East Indian Company's side made me squirm. In fact, the memory of this kill is causing my nose to itch right now.
If the movie could have simply stuck to a basic plot line it might have been a great popcorn movie. Sadly there are so many illogical twist and turns that your head begins to hurt keeping track of them all.
Tia Dalma, the witch, returns but now she is the former lover of Captain Davy Jones. This might have proved interesting, especially considering that Davy Jones is allowed to come to shore one day every ten years for some R&R. Strangely though, the writers decided to make Tia a fifty foot goddess in the form of a female mortal. Um...did I tell you not to think to hard? Apparently, the pirate ancestors, along with an angered Davy Jones-Tia had stood him up on their ten year date- had bound the goddess into human form. Moral of this particular plot is, don't play with the sensitive feelings of octopus men!
Once she is released she morphs into the above mentioned fifty foot woman and then into a very large pile of crabs. I think that she created a whirlpool to separate the pirates from the British ships but this wasn't very clear. Not wanting to give myself a brain hemorrhage, I've decided not to think about this section of the plot.
Very predictably, Swan becomes leader of the pirates because, like in every single modern movie with a plucky female, she has to teach the males in her life how to be strong and tough. Yawn.
I am not going to give away the ending, you will just have to watch this for yourself. It is worth seeing, just remember...DONT THINK!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Little Dorrit
Remember that famous line in Catcher in the Rye about "all that David Copperfield kind of crap"? Well pbbbtt... on you J.D Salinger, Charles Dickens is one of my favorite writers.
Years before, I had read Little Dorrit and I vaguely recall that it is about a seamstress, but admittedly I've completely forgotten the plot. I don't think that it is one of Dickens greater known novels like David Copperfield or Great Expectations. In fact, I was a little surprised to see it in the tiny library that serves my husband's military base.
Thus far, I haven't been disappointed in Little Dorrit but then I have only finished the first and part of the second chapter. My goal is to write about each chapter that I read until I finish. If you've read the novel please feel free to jump into the discussion.
Chapter one opens in a Marseilles prison. Dickens describes the August heat of the region adequately-I really don't think that describing surroundings is one of this writer's strong points.
In a jail cell are two prisoners: Monsieur Rigaud and the Italian, John Baptist. This is the area where Dickens shines as a writer. He is able to make his characters come alive. Already I dislike Monsieur Rigaurd and feel a fondness for the small, good natured, John Baptist.
Rigaurd views himself as a gentleman and to prove this he asks his fellow jail mate: "Have I ever done anything here? Ever touched the broom or spread the mats, or rolled them up, or found the draughts, or collected the dominoes, or put my hand to any kind of work? Have you ever thought of looking to me to do any kind of work?" John Baptist Cavalletto's response of "Never" seems to please Rigaurd.
One part of the chapter that seemed unrealistic to me, was the fact that the jailer brings his young daughter with him when he feeds the prisoners. Perhaps jails were safer in the 1800's then they are now. Having the very young, innocent child pass dinner to the prisoners does help to differentiate between the of the two prisoners.
Someone has sent Rigaurd a large meal to supplement his daily prison share of bread. As the little girl passes the food to him she seems to dread touching his soft, smooth, well-shaped hand. Yet her attitude toward the little dark Italian is notably different. She put the lump of coarse bread into the swart, scaled, knotted hands of John Baptist with ready confidence and when he kissed her hand, had herself passed it caressing over his face.
Once the jailer and his little daughter have left, Rigaurd begins to defend himself to the quiet John Baptist. Rigaurd first points out that there was nothing strange about the death of his wife's first husband. Men over sixty are likely to die after all and the widow was a beautiful woman of twenty-two. Her young age and his handsome appearance made it only natural that she would marry him-according to Monsieur Rigaurd.
Unfortunately, the first husband settled his will completely on his young wife, so she has charge of the purse strings. This, combined with the fact that her family dislikes and distrusts her new husband, is the source of many arguments between the young couple. As Rigaurd says of his treatment toward his wife: I may have slapped her face-nothing more. I have a light hand; and if I have been seen apparently to correct Madame Rigaud in that manner, I have done it almost playfully. Oddly enough, the family of his young wife aren't pleased with his manner of correcting his bride.
One day, the new groom and his bride take a scenic walk along a cliff overlooking the ocean. According to Rigaurd, his wife flies at him in rage, screaming loudly and then throws herself over the cliff. Neither the woman's family or the authorities believes the husband's story and he is imprisoned. Now he is waiting to see the judge who will decide if he goes free or gets the guillotine.
A guard of soldiers arrive to take Rigaurd before the judge. There is fear that an angry mob will tear him apart before he reaches his trial. John Baptist watches him leave under the protection of the guards.
The beginning of the second chapter confused me. It opens with a dialog between two men, Mr. Meagles and Mr. Clennam. At first I thought that John Baptist was talking to someone.
Apparently a group of english travelers have been detained on suspension of carrying the plague. Mr and Mrs. Meagles are traveling with their daughter, Pet,(I assume that this is a nickname) and Pet's maid, Tattycoram.
Tattycoram's real name is Harriet Beadle. At a young age, she was taken from a foundling hospital to work as Pet's personal maid. The name Tatty came about because Mr. Meagle felt that she would be happy to recieve something as fond as a nickname and Coram was the name of the hospital's benefactor. It seems arrogant to change a person's name but it seems that the Meagles meant well.
Their daughter Pet is described as a lovely but spoiled girl of twenty. Alreadyin the novel she seems, to me, to be very close to her parents. Mr. Meagles explains that she was concieved when the Meagles were older. Pet was not always an only child. Her twin sister died while still a toddler. This probably explains why Dickens describs Pet as being a little spoiled.
An interesting character in this chapter is Miss Wade, a very reserved Englishwoman who seems to want no company. She does display some hidden passion while discussing what her feelings would be if she had ever been imprisoned. If I had been shut up in any place to pine and suffer, I should always hate that place and wish to burn it down, or raze it to the ground. I know no more.
I haven't gotten any further in the novel, but I will try and continue to post as I read.
Years before, I had read Little Dorrit and I vaguely recall that it is about a seamstress, but admittedly I've completely forgotten the plot. I don't think that it is one of Dickens greater known novels like David Copperfield or Great Expectations. In fact, I was a little surprised to see it in the tiny library that serves my husband's military base.
Thus far, I haven't been disappointed in Little Dorrit but then I have only finished the first and part of the second chapter. My goal is to write about each chapter that I read until I finish. If you've read the novel please feel free to jump into the discussion.
Chapter one opens in a Marseilles prison. Dickens describes the August heat of the region adequately-I really don't think that describing surroundings is one of this writer's strong points.
In a jail cell are two prisoners: Monsieur Rigaud and the Italian, John Baptist. This is the area where Dickens shines as a writer. He is able to make his characters come alive. Already I dislike Monsieur Rigaurd and feel a fondness for the small, good natured, John Baptist.
Rigaurd views himself as a gentleman and to prove this he asks his fellow jail mate: "Have I ever done anything here? Ever touched the broom or spread the mats, or rolled them up, or found the draughts, or collected the dominoes, or put my hand to any kind of work? Have you ever thought of looking to me to do any kind of work?" John Baptist Cavalletto's response of "Never" seems to please Rigaurd.
One part of the chapter that seemed unrealistic to me, was the fact that the jailer brings his young daughter with him when he feeds the prisoners. Perhaps jails were safer in the 1800's then they are now. Having the very young, innocent child pass dinner to the prisoners does help to differentiate between the of the two prisoners.
Someone has sent Rigaurd a large meal to supplement his daily prison share of bread. As the little girl passes the food to him she seems to dread touching his soft, smooth, well-shaped hand. Yet her attitude toward the little dark Italian is notably different. She put the lump of coarse bread into the swart, scaled, knotted hands of John Baptist with ready confidence and when he kissed her hand, had herself passed it caressing over his face.
Once the jailer and his little daughter have left, Rigaurd begins to defend himself to the quiet John Baptist. Rigaurd first points out that there was nothing strange about the death of his wife's first husband. Men over sixty are likely to die after all and the widow was a beautiful woman of twenty-two. Her young age and his handsome appearance made it only natural that she would marry him-according to Monsieur Rigaurd.
Unfortunately, the first husband settled his will completely on his young wife, so she has charge of the purse strings. This, combined with the fact that her family dislikes and distrusts her new husband, is the source of many arguments between the young couple. As Rigaurd says of his treatment toward his wife: I may have slapped her face-nothing more. I have a light hand; and if I have been seen apparently to correct Madame Rigaud in that manner, I have done it almost playfully. Oddly enough, the family of his young wife aren't pleased with his manner of correcting his bride.
One day, the new groom and his bride take a scenic walk along a cliff overlooking the ocean. According to Rigaurd, his wife flies at him in rage, screaming loudly and then throws herself over the cliff. Neither the woman's family or the authorities believes the husband's story and he is imprisoned. Now he is waiting to see the judge who will decide if he goes free or gets the guillotine.
A guard of soldiers arrive to take Rigaurd before the judge. There is fear that an angry mob will tear him apart before he reaches his trial. John Baptist watches him leave under the protection of the guards.
The beginning of the second chapter confused me. It opens with a dialog between two men, Mr. Meagles and Mr. Clennam. At first I thought that John Baptist was talking to someone.
Apparently a group of english travelers have been detained on suspension of carrying the plague. Mr and Mrs. Meagles are traveling with their daughter, Pet,(I assume that this is a nickname) and Pet's maid, Tattycoram.
Tattycoram's real name is Harriet Beadle. At a young age, she was taken from a foundling hospital to work as Pet's personal maid. The name Tatty came about because Mr. Meagle felt that she would be happy to recieve something as fond as a nickname and Coram was the name of the hospital's benefactor. It seems arrogant to change a person's name but it seems that the Meagles meant well.
Their daughter Pet is described as a lovely but spoiled girl of twenty. Alreadyin the novel she seems, to me, to be very close to her parents. Mr. Meagles explains that she was concieved when the Meagles were older. Pet was not always an only child. Her twin sister died while still a toddler. This probably explains why Dickens describs Pet as being a little spoiled.
An interesting character in this chapter is Miss Wade, a very reserved Englishwoman who seems to want no company. She does display some hidden passion while discussing what her feelings would be if she had ever been imprisoned. If I had been shut up in any place to pine and suffer, I should always hate that place and wish to burn it down, or raze it to the ground. I know no more.
I haven't gotten any further in the novel, but I will try and continue to post as I read.
Shameless Plug
By the way, Amazon gives me a tiny bit of money for each book that you buy through my website. If enough books are sold then I can buy even more books! Hooray! So, if you are interested in any of my reviews and want to read the corresponding book, please click on the books that are listed on my blog to do so. I really, really, really want to buy more books. LOL
Sunday, October 14, 2007
According to Wikipedia, NC-my location- is 77% Protestant and only 10% Roman Catholic. This means that as a convert to Catholicism, I get asked a LOT of questions. Personally, this doesn't bother me but it is very important for my children to understand not just what they believe but why they believe it. Amy Welborn's book PROVE IT is not only informative but at times humurous as well. I found myself learning a lot from this little book. I also very much appreciate that she was not mean spirited in her defense of Catholic beliefs while at the same time presenting the truth of our faith without any sugar coating. I am going to assign this book to my sixth grader this year.
Friday, October 12, 2007
My Favorite Poem
This was written by William Ernest Henly. The poem is a reflection of the author's own resilince after having his leg amputated.
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of Circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of Chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of Circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of Chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
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