[Chuck Mayer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael:M

Davy Jones is a far meaner mutha than Barbossa. Jones is the boogeyman, and he's more "pure" evil than Barbossa. My SO thought Barbossa was scarier for his humor; I think it's the opposite. People without humor are some of the scariest critters alive, because they take everything so seriously and there's no reasoning with them. Jones doesn't want to be human and enjoys it when his crew suffers and hurts. He struck me as more implacable and fearsome than Barbossa.

Davy. Effing. Jones. Award fo VFX right there - the sunlight on his face, the blowing of his mouth, the sway of his tentacles, and the expressiveness of his eyes. WETA better be taking notes, because ILM just said "What about THAT, bitch!"

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrettGallman

The character design of Davy Jones was one of the first things that stuck me as particularly awesome when I saw the trailer.

ILM would be absolutely robbed if they don't get the award this year.

I heard that last year. And the year before. Maybe it's jinxing ILM. We should quit saying it in May or July. Let's call a moratorium on that sentence.

Technically, Davey Jones is the most realistic CG character in screen history. But I doubt WETA is terribly worried, having 4 of the past 5 Oscars (beating TWO Star Wars films, the earlier Pirates film, and the Matrix sequels), and having done the same thing and adding evoked sympathy on a villain and a giant monkey with no dialogue. How can we determine if ILM will be robbed before we see The Fountain??? Hmmmmmmmmmm...

As for the no sequel rule, a series got the Oscars 3 years in a row, and Spider-Man 2 the year after. I think that is still speculated. It's not like ILM would have won last year Their work here was their usual fine work, with some added spark and creativity for the crew of the Dutchman. I can't get too excited about the Kraken, because I saw Deep Rising. This is more polished, but nothing new.

For the record, I praised the effects before seeing it. And they were mostly great, as expected from ILM's varsity efforts. I LOVED the crew, and would love to see the concept art and CG models for them. So many layers and details. Best and most creative work I've seen out of ILM since Pirates 1.

I think Barbossa was a far superior villain than Davey Jones. If for no other reason that the line: "A man so evil, hell itself spit him back out." Rush actually made that work throughout the film. But Rush had more screentime than Nighy.

[Chris Atkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yee-Ming

As for the East India Company, my colonial history escapes me, but IIRC even in real life, the East India Company to all intents and purposes was the epitome of a large corporation run amuck, trying to carve out its own fiefdom that answered to just about no one but its profits, and maybe in passing to the Crown.

To quote my good friend Chuck Mayer: "none of that is in the FILM."

[Ricardo C]

Quote:

To quote my good friend Chuck Mayer: "none of that is in the FILM."

I thought Beckett's interest in Davey Jones' heart was enough to peg him as the villain. He is not only willing to pact with the devil to accomplish his goals, he's actually going to try to command him? At the very least, he's a madman. Forcing Elizabeth's father to turn his authority over to Beckett wasn't an exercise in nobility, either. He does a pretty good job of painting himself as a power-hungry weasel.

[MikeRS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Mayer

I think Barbossa was a far superior villain than Davey Jones. If for no other reason that the line: "A man so evil, hell itself spit him back out." Rush actually made that work throughout the film. But Rush had more screentime than Nighy.

My favorite line reading in P1 was Barbossa's:

Quote:

We are not among the living, and so we cannot die, but neither are we dead. For too long I've been parched with thirst and unable to quench it. Too long I've been starving to death and haven't died. I feel nothing - not the wind on my face nor the spray of the sea, nor the warmth of a woman's flesh. [walks out into the moonlight and reveals a skeleton]

You best start believing in ghost stories Miss Turner. You're in one!

Loved it.

[Lou Sytsma]

Hard to believe that a light movie like this warrants so much discussion. I admire the enthusiasm but am mystified because of the source.

Definitely not part of the tidal wave of appreciation that exists for this franchise.

My verdict, enjoyable but quickly forgotten.

[Chuck Mayer]

I'm the opposite. I thought it decent in the theater, but now I'm itching to see it again. It's by no means the equal of the first to me, but it's...compelling. I love the Flying Dutchman and crew, though they looked out of place on the sunny island. Better suited to grim, moonlit shipwrecks.

[Will_B]

moved to Review thread

[Chris Atkins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck Mayer

I'm the opposite. I thought it decent in the theater, but now I'm itching to see it again. It's by no means the equal of the first to me, but it's...compelling. I love the Flying Dutchman and crew, though they looked out of place on the sunny island. Better suited to grim, moonlit shipwrecks.

Chuck:

I had the exact same itch to see it again after my first viewing...and in fact I went back the next evening. But it didn't hold up for me on second viewing.

[Dome Vongvises]

Quote:

Hard to believe that a light movie like this warrants so much discussion. I admire the enthusiasm but am mystified because of the source.

Sometimes arguing charcter development and plot points is more interesting than philosophy and intellectual rabbling about a dishwashing scene in a foreign movie.

[MikeRS]

I enjoyed this film much more on second viewing.

It still took too long to get started, but everything else got better.