Gonna post a POTC rant here because IDK I wanna say something and at the very least this hellsite will let me scream into the void without a text limit.
I loved the first three Pirates of the Caribbean movies, tolerated the fourth and won’t give the fifth the time of day to even give a second thought. With the new movie coming out, I don’t have high hopes. All because I think they lost what the original magic that the first three movies had.
The first three movies were a collection of supernatural love stories
Almost every character’s motivation was that of love. Elizabeth’s love for Will, Will’s love for Elizabeth. Barbosa's love for the pleasures of life and the sea, Norrington and his affections for Elizabeth. Boot Strap Bill’s love for his son and his desire to keep him safe.
Davy Jones WHOLE FUCKING BACKSTORY is the one of the most tragic love stories that could have been written. A mortal man who fell in love with the Goddess of the Sea, who did everything to be with her. And when her nature kept them apart, he tore his own heart out to be free of the pain. AND HE STILL LOVED HER AND HER NAME WAS HIS LAST WORDS.
Not to mention that the main character, Jack Sparrow, is characterized by his love and affections. His love for being a pirate, his love for his ship. His affections for the Turners, for the people he surrounds himself with. He’s the one that elected Elizabeth Swan for Pirate King; he gave up immortality to save Will’s life. He’s risked his life for his friends more times than he’s run away from danger.
The first three movies were wonderful because they were a collection of love stories intertwined in an adventure. It made the stakes feel important, the victories more sweet, and in general more relatable.
But with the fourth movie, something changed. It stopped being a story of love and perseverance. It became a treasure hunt, with love being incidental.
The relationship between Blackbeard and Angelica was the most interesting part of that movie, and I think it’s because of the unusual nature of their love for each other that made it that way. But they didn’t expand on that AT ALL. And the relationship between her and Jack felt less genuine and more of a manner of circumstance.
And from what I heard of the fifth movie, it’s not much better. I think that if they really want to do a six movie (and they really shouldn't) then I think they should return to what made the franchise so likable.
