Films/DVD Asylum

Pirates of the Caribbean --How did it make so much money?

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Jon L

(A)

I'm usually pretty forgiving of big-budget, Hollywood, no-brainer, "entertainment" movies like the first "Pirates.." but the sequel is much worse than I was expecting, and I was not expecting much at all.
Problem List:
1. Boring. REAL boring, from start to finish.
2. Ridiculous, pointless, non-sensical excuse for a plot.
3. ZERO charisma and ZERO chemistry regarding all actors/actresses.
4. Long. WAY too long. There's enough material here for perhaps a
1-minute late-night extended commercial, like those fancy BMW
commercials.

Follow Ups:

My kids loved it, they woke me when it was over. nt - geoff 10:25:45 08/03/06 (0)
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Depp lost the amusing charm of Jack Sparrow . . . - mr grits 18:35:30 08/02/06 (1)
I guess expanding Cap'n Jack from a character to a lead was not sustainable.

Ex nihilo, nihil fit . . .
- You may have a point, but I suspect there's more to it than that. - Audiophilander 21:59:19 08/02/06 (0)
  He probably had to dial back the "stoner" side of the Jack Sparrow character in order to make the sea captain role a little more believeable (to carry the central theme of the story), but it still works. If he had overdramatized the Jack Sparrow character in Dead Man's Chest like he did the first one the character might have become too predictable and cartoony. In this film he seemed a bit more "together" and focused, not quite as much at the mercy of precious coincidence. After all, this second effort was carefully orchestrated as a set-up for the 3rd film in the series in which all the stops should be pulled out.
  AuPh
And...no ending... - mkuller 15:23:38 08/02/06 (0)
...Johnny Depp is a big attraction - especially playing Keith Richards - even in a bad movie.
Especially when there aren't much better movies to cempete with it...
IMO; teenagers. - grantv 12:21:45 08/02/06 (0)
Just about everything nowadays is funded by teenagers. I went to pick up our nieces and nephew from a movie a while back and took notice of the fact that about 80% of all attendees at the multiplex were teenagers. If you market a movie for teenagers IMO you'll do better than any other age group. I know my wife and I rarely (once every 3-4 years) go to the movies (only rentals for us). Our same age (30's and above) friends and relatives, basically the same. Our nephews, nieces and their friends; all the time.
This movie has teenage attendance/rentals all over it. All the kids I know have seen it (at least once) and will again when it rents. Me, I think I'll pass.
Sorry you didn't like it. IMHO, it was not as good as the first, but not as bad as the critical consensus. - Audiophilander 08:23:44 08/02/06 (3)
That's my take on it. I'll agree that it lacked the zest & cleverness of the first film, but while the charisma between the actors wasn't as strong this time around my wife and I didn't find this film boring. There were places that I felt PoTC: Dead Man's Chest went a little too far over the top to work it's magic. Note: When one's suspension of disbelief fails to kick-in then it becomes more of an exercise in appreciating the FX eye-candy.
Still, overall I'd give it a 2 1/2 to 3 star rating on a 5 star scale; enough that we'll be buying the DVD when it comes out. The movie was fun, the characters likeable and the lush tropical settings interesting enough to merit another look, IMHO.
Oh, BTW, the 3rd installment will have "Keef" (Keith Richards), who inspired Johnny Depp's take on the character, portraying Jack Sparrow's father; that should be worth the price of admission all by itself! :o)
AuPh
- Agreed, and it's not like it has much for competition. What a crappy summer. Gimme some scifi! ..nt. - late 13:09:56 08/02/06 (0)
  .
- Only if Richards can find the set.nt. - jamesgarvin 09:36:36 08/02/06 (1)
  nt
  - A scary thought. Keith Richards surronded by Cocoanut trees. - Analog Scott 10:15:34 08/02/06 (0)
    Haven't we already established that this is a bad idea?
Hype hype hype hype hype hype hype - mishmashmusic 06:21:41 08/02/06 (4)
and a little more hype thrown in for good measure. Don't forget the Happy Meal tie-in, either.
- I would love to agree with you - Analog Scott 08:15:58 08/02/06 (3)
  But many a hyped movie fails at the box office. I didn't care for this one at all but I did like the first. This one was everything I expected in a bad sequel. I really can't explain it's success. Maybe people liked the first one soooo much that many of them were ready to enjoy anything with these same characters aboard. It's a tough one to explain. I suppose one could just say dumb audiences unite.
  - Re: I would love to agree with you - mishmashmusic 08:19:41 08/02/06 (2)
    I was just being snarky. I haven't actually seen the film, so I can't comment on its relative suckiness. But, I know that the month leading up to its release, I was constantly bombarded by hype and tie-ins to the point where I couldn't go anywhere without seeing a reference to pirates in general.
    Not many films get that much media hype & "synergy"---it has to count for something, no matter how bad it is.
    - A fair point but - Analog Scott 10:13:24 08/02/06 (1)
      This sucker is doing AMAZING BO. I'm sure the hype you cite was important. I just think there had to be more behind it's success than just hype. It is frustrating because I geniunely don't see what it was.
      - Never underestimate the power of bad taste - mishmashmusic 11:02:21 08/02/06 (0)
        
        In Reply to: A fair point but posted by Analog Scott on August 2, 2006 at 10:13:24:
        
        There seems to be no shortage of it ;)

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