In the midst of this terrible blockbuster season, I looked back and pondered just why it has been such a miserable year for movies. The answer is simple: too much retreading, not enough originality. The plethora of sequels, 3-D movies, remakes, and comic book adaptations became overkill and worst of all none of them really made much of a push to be anything decent. The critical reviews and dismal box office numbers proved this, as there were way too few hits (Pirates 5, Harry Potter 7.2, Transformers 3, Horrible Bosses) when compared to the disappointments (Green Lantern, Cowboys and Aliens, Captain America, Cars 2, Fright Night, The Change-Up, etc.). The message is simple: we viewers are tired of all the sequels, and we are tired of the sequels just not even trying anymore. But there was a blockbuster film on television today that best exemplifies what type of movie we audiences are actually craving. I give you: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest.
Major Note: Now, in order for me to fully make this argument, you have to try to forget that the writers and director pretty much tarnished the franchise forever with the third installment. Neglect the fact that At World’s End ever happened. Lesson to all you aspiring filmmakers: never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever try to mix spaghetti western with swashbuckling action. This does not nor will it ever work. Now, back to our original article.
It has been 5 years since this movie came out, can you believe that? And special effects-wise, it still holds up. As a matter of fact, I would take this summer movie or anything we’ve seen this year. And for this reason mainly I still say in terms of summer movies throughout the history of film Dead Mans Chest is one of the most underrated. It raised the bar for special and visual effects like Jurassic Park, it delivered a very unique tale with high presentation like The Matrix, and does an excellent job raising the stakes and ramping up the action as a sequel like Terminator 2. And best of all, this movie has all the makings of a true Oscar contender, except having the personality that it actually gives two shifts about the Academy Awards.
The screenwriting, albeit a bit muddled, gives us a barrage of excellent and memorable characters. We have the irreplaceable Jack Sparrow, the feisty and unpredictable Elizabeth Swan, the sinister Davy Jones, the trusty partner Joshamee Gibbs, and the varied crew of the Black Pearl. The production effort in this film was to the scale of Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and all your other massive grand-scale cinematic mammoths. Just look at the movie again and look at the detail towards the set designs, the cinematography, the make-up (Naomie Harris, a naturally beautiful woman, was very uglified when she became Tia Dalma), and the sheer number of different locations used.
P.S.: where’s the Oscar nomination for best Original Score for Hans Zimmer? He aided this movie with his rounding musical compositions.
Dead Man’s Chest’s acting was also up to par. You think it’s easy to play pirates? You have to be a mix of intimidating, charming, entertaining, and also sympathetic. Remember, these are murdering monsters whose life mission is to rummage through the seven deadly sins without question. And yet, we are still rooting for them. That requires a good blend of writing and acting. There are very few heroes in this tale, and yet we quietly cheer for the scoundrels. Never easy to do. And of course, there’s Johnny Depp, who should have gotten an Oscar nod for his flawless performances in the first two Pirates (the latter two aren’t disappointing, but it’s unfair to ever nominate someone who has practically molded into said role).
Best of all, Dead Man’s Chest has something that has been sorely lacking in this summer season outside Fast Five (which actually doesn’t even qualify in the summer season since it came out in April): action. Lots of it. Remember the movie? Dead Man’s Chest had some of the best action sequences in the past 15 years, with the three-way showdown that started out simple and expanded into a massive sequence that looks like involved the entire island.
Come on now, two people were duking it out on a moving wheel while Jack Sparrow was inside the wheel desperately trying to get a key. At the SAME TIME, Swann and a few other pirates engage in a showdown against invincible henchmen of Davy Jones’ crew. AT THE SAME TIME (again) a massive monster was lurking in the depths, waiting for the return of Jack Sparrow to the ocean. Unlike the seemingly-endless fight in the end of Transformers 3, this movie never loses its creativity and variety, and never becomes redundant. Throw this skillfully directed sequence with the other fun sequences which includes: a chase scene between hostiles and the crew, a smaller showdown against the Kraken at another point in time, and a fun bar fight in Tortuga.
And finally, there’s something in this great popcorn flick that you just don’t see in any summer movie anymore: surprises. Looking back, Dead Man’s Chest was a very unpredictable tale that reeved up the number of plot twists and surprises in the second half of the movie. Let’s see: the treasure winds up in the hands of the East India Trading Company, Elizabeth Swann transforms from a higher-class citizen to a pirate, James Norrington betrays everybody involved, Elizabeth Swann assists in the murder of Jack Sparrow, Jack Sparrow actually dies, and biggest of all, Barbossa decides to make an appearance in the final shot. Doesn’t sound like a big deal now, but being in that audience back in the summer of 2006, this film turned lots of heads with its final act.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest: an underrated summer gem that doesn’t get enough respect. Even after 5 years and few movies that have been able to top it.
And remember, At World's End never happened.
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