no you dont underSTAND!! this is THE jack moment of ALL time because
1. he literally looks like a wet sad animal. the costuming and setting is PERFECT to delineate his emotional condition. the two downturned corners of his tricorne hat look like actual Sad Cat Ears, combined with his giant animated cat eyes make him look like a literal kitten left out in the rain. it articulates this moment and his distress SO WELL. it's soooo poignant omg. it's like an ASPCA commercial. poetic Cinema💖
2. his utter heartbreak that Will was hurt. he can't even breathe.
3. the IMMEDIATE freeze of his motion. he is so jarred to his core at this crossroads he doesnt even move. Even his body refuses to take the ONE THING he has always truly wanted and dreamed of - sailing the Ocean for Eternity - the millisecond he realizes it means Will will be lost forever. just like Teague said, Jack could never live with himself, his eternal dream would be lost, every day of all of eternity would be misery for him knowing he traded Will's life for it.
4. his concern over Elizabeth's heartwrenching sobs and begging
5. his point blank honest realization that despite all his 4D Chess and scheming that Jones truly nailed him with this one. there's no clouded reaction or nebulous intentions or joke or plan b - this is 100% pure genuine unfiltered Jack, and he is in utter shock. he lost. it's genius.
6. the crux of all three movies: his opportunity to be a Good Man, and he takes it. without hesitance. without anger. without even a word. the next shot is him holding Will's hand to pierce Davy's heart. surrounded by the people he loves.
jones may have stolen his dream, but by giving up the heart Jack proved beyond a shadow of a doubt his could not possibly be more pure. that's his legend and 'eternal' legacy. he saved both Will and Elizabeth's lives now with this (Elizabeth in COTBP when she falls off the cliff).
ALSO!!! it ties back to Norrington's line to Jack in COTBP and links all three movies.
One good deed is not enough to redeem a man from a lifetime of wickedness.
But it seems enough to condemn him.
Indeed.
bruh.
