Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Grading

[JD]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

I just finished the On Stranger Tides segment of LEGO Pirates of the Carribean the other day, and from what I could follow of it it seems like I'm probably going to like this one just as much as the first three (all three of them are some of my favorite movies).

 

[Dream]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

I just finished the On Stranger Tides segment of LEGO Pirates of the Carribean the other day, and from what I could follow of it it seems like I'm probably going to like this one just as much as the first three (all three of them are some of my favorite movies).

I'm playing LEGO Pirates of the Carribean right now too. But I've decided to not play the OST levels until after I've seen the movie. I'm staying away from all spoilers!

 

[JD]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

I figured things were vague enough that I could think of it as an extended preview for the movie. Oh, and I loved the game, best LEGO platformer since Batman.

 

[Dream]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

I'm going to rewatch the first three Pirate movies over the next few days before seeing OST.

I may even go to the OST midnight showing. The last time I went to one of those was TDK...

 

[Captain Craig]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

Grade: B-

For reference I grade the others:
COTBP: A+
DMC: C+
AWE: C-
OST: B-

The movie is quite entertaining and strong in the first and third acts. The entrance of Jack Sparrow here is good. His first 'escape' at the King's palace is well done. The entrance of Penelope Cruz's Angelica, also good. Gave me overtones of the dual with Will Turner at the Blacksmith's in COTBP. Keep an eye out in the first act for a Dame of a cameo that was amusing.

The 3-D is used good at times but again, it's not really needed for the whole film. I'm not a fan of Avatar but it did use the 3-D in nearly every frame and make the movie as a whole worthy of it's use. Curse you Avatar for this damn overused trend. I can think of about 3-4 scenes where, for about 2-3 seconds, the 3-D really jumps out at you.

The second act of hunting for the chalices was just overall dull. The mermaids come into play here and that is the bright spot. The lead mermaid is a beauty and will no doubt be googled a lot over the next few weeks. I'm left wondering though if Ponce DeLeon's body is still somehow "alive". A sequence in the movie had me thinking yes.

As for the third act I'll say this:

Spoiler: musings on some of the end parts

The ending was easy to predict but it was done good enough. Also, I had always thought Blackbeard's legend was that he had a peg leg, here he didn't. But Barbarosa does and he ends up with the Queen Ann and Blackbeards enchanted sword, thus will become the de-facto Blackbeard. Also it appears the Missionary(name escapes me) is going to become a Merman? Not sure if the fangs they have were meant to imply they possessed a vampiric nature but Serene did say she could save him from his seemingly mortaly inflicted wound.

As with the other Pirates movies stay through the credits for one last 10 second or so scene.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

I'm too lazy to go back to link it, but www.moviehole.net gave it a good review; the reviewer liked the first movie but hated the second two. I liked the first but found the second so boring I didn't see the third.

One thing puzzled me - he described this one as a prequel. That's the first time I heard this. Anyone else know about this?

 

[AvBaur]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

One thing puzzled me - he described this one as a prequel. That's the first time I heard this. Anyone else know about this?

Nope, definitely not true. It clearly takes place after the other films. I don't even know how someone could make that mistake.

 

[Captaindemotion]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

^ Thanks for the clarification. I found that puzzling all right.

 

[jadcox@mindspring.com]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

Tim Powers' book predates the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It does NOT feature Captain Jack Sparrow. From the looks of things, Disney bought some ideas (and the title) from Powers, then made up their own story involving Sparrow and company. (The original book is great, though, and definitely worth reading.)

Tim Powers' book was, however, inspired by the ride. I hope the film lives up, and that Tim Powers got a nice check. I adore the ride, I adore the films even when I know better, and I'm looking forward to number 4.

 

[Captain Craig]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

One thing puzzled me - he described this one as a prequel. That's the first time I heard this. Anyone else know about this?

Nope, definitely not true. It clearly takes place after the other films. I don't even know how someone could make that mistake.

Agreed.
There are a few cast away lines that at the minimum serve to let the viewer know this is chronologically after the others.

Jacks line to Barbosa about "going straight" with Barbosa replying "nothing wrong with casting your lot with the winning side where it's all legal"

Barbosa to Gibbs: Welcome back to the service of His Majesty's navy. (Gibbs of course is shown as a member of the Royal Navy in the very first scene of COTBP)

 

[JD]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

Don't forget that they also set up Jack's hunt for The Fountain of Youth at the end of At World's End.

 

[Captain Craig]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

I wonder if Zoe Saldana's character Anamarie will:

Spoiler: about a closing plot point of OST

...be on the Black Pearl when they unbottle it? Her character didn't die did she?

With her rising name recognition since COTBP might not hurt to have her back on deck, if Anamarie is alive. I can't recall. Plus she was fiesty and that dynamic is always fun around Jack.

 

[Procutus]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

^

Well, there's no indication in the films that she's not alive, though I was surprised no explanation was offered in DMC for her absence, as she was on the BP at the end of CotBP.

I'd like to see her back as well, if only briefly.

 

[Dream]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

I remember reading in an interview that Zoe Saldana kept getting seasick during the film of COTBP, which is why she didn't want to be in the sequels.

Her character was actually one of my favorites from the first movie, so I was disappointed when she didn't return.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

This was close too being an A for me, but while they did reduce the bloated feeling of the last two, there was still some. There were far too many story lines and too little time devoted to them, so the story seemed very sparse at times. I'd enjoy going back to see it again. It is a tighter story than the last two, but it could have been improved with a little more tightening.

 

[Procutus]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

^


At least it sounds like an improvement over AWE in terms of the story. I've liked all three movies, but the last one was a bit overburdened at times.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

^


At least it sounds like an improvement over AWE in terms of the story. I've liked all three movies, but the last one was a bit overburdened at times.

It is better that AWE. The story really does wrap itself up, though things are set to continue various plot elements. It just would have been a tighter story to have removed a few threads. I am glad they tried to bring it back to more of a sense of the first film. I really wish they hadn't gotten so much of the supernatural so early in the film. The Spanish angle could have been left out all together. That would have improved it for me, I'm sure there are a number of other suggestions that would have helped.

This review, though more negative than I feel about it, does mention one point that I agree with. Capt. Jack doesn't feel like he's in charge of his scenes.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/movies/2015089507_mr20pirates.html

In the first film, there was always a feeling that Jack was the one in control of the moment or ready to take control if he didn't have it. The commentary by the writers on the first film mention that Jack is in a sense like Bugs Bunny. He creates chaos then uses it for his benefit. The last two films and even this one don't seem to do that with the character any more. It was fun, but still not as mush as the first. I am happy to go back and see it again none the less.

 

[23skidoo]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

Doesn't look (at first glance) that any theaters in my region are showing the 2-D version so I won't be seeing this until the Blu-ray comes out later.

Alex

 

[Dream]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

Doesn't look (at first glance) that any theaters in my region are showing the 2-D version so I won't be seeing this until the Blu-ray comes out later.

Alex

If you wait a few weeks, the 3D only theaters should start showing the movie in 2D. That is what usually happens.

I hate when studios try to force the audience to watch their movie in 3D. Thankfully, theaters around here are showing it in both 2D and 3D. The audience should always be given this option.

 

[Gov Kodos]

Re: Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides - Discussion and Gradi

Fortunately the theaters here had both 2D and 3D so there was a choice. I can't think of what might have needed being in 3D (I saw 2D.) I wasn't bothered seeing Thor in 3D, but there was very little that needed the effect that I noticed. Pirates would be about that level so I'd say the price gouge is unwarranted.