sweinberg was right

[yendi]

Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest? Damned fun. You know how the first movie was a perfectly fun popcorn movie, full of good actors hamming it up, great action sequences, and lots of humor, but not attempting to be anything more than that? Well, shockingly (especially to critics who are clearly upset that this isn't The Tempest), this is a perfectly fun popcorn sequel, full of good actors hamming it up, great action sequences, and lots of humor, but not attempting to be anything more than that. Yes, it does leave a cliffhanger in place for the third movie, but this is more Empire Strikes Back in tone (offering a complete and fun story) than, say, Back to the Future 2 (offering to take your wallet without even so much as a handjob).

Yes, there's an after-the-credits moment, although it turned out to be exactly what I'd expected. And the ending of the movie proper (which I can't talk about, as it's spoilertastic) was genuinely something I didn't see coming (and which basically guaranteed that the one I didn't like about this film won't be a problem in the next movie).

And the penultimate action sequence -- a ten-minute pair of running swordfights on an island -- is about as enjoyable as anything I've head the pleasure to watch. The essence of popcorn.

Overall, I'm damned pleased.

Comments

[muse0fire.livejournal.com]

Wow! I just read two SCATHING reviews - but you liked it that much? Guess I'll have to see for myself, then!

[yendi]

If one of those reviews was EW, it's worth remembering that Lisa hated the first one, and that Gore Verbinski did, to be fair, rape her goldfish (at least, that's the only thing I can think of that would account for her take on things).

[fiddledragon]

yes yes yes yes yes :):):):)

[muse0fire.livejournal.com]

Actually no - one was Salon.com (and I do take their reviews with a bucket of salt), and I've already forgotten where I saw the other one.

But the goldfish thing - LOL!

[norda.livejournal.com]

Arrrrrrrrrrrr, indeed. I'm so glad it's a fun flick. I need fun these days.

[yendi]

*nod* Ditto.

[celticfeministw.livejournal.com]

"sweinberg was right"

Now there's a subject line you don't see everyday.

:P

Glad you liked the flick - I'm hoping to catch it soon!

[yendi]

I figured it was worth using now, since I suspect I'll continue to disagree with him about other movies (like, say, Superman).

[fiddledragon]

Thank you- thank you thank you thank you *chuckle* :)
And agreed :)

"sword! [hack hack hack] Sword! [hack hack hack] Sword!"

*giggle*

Empire Strikes Back reference number 3 and counting ;)

[stephen-dedman.livejournal.com]

Make that 4; when we left the cinema (having cheerfully sat through the end credits), I commented that I hadn't enjoyed a sequel so much since Empire, nor one that left me so eager to see the 3rd movie in the series.

Let's just hope there are no Ewoks in Pirates III.

[fiddledragon]

*chuckle* agreed!

[ckd]

"But why is the yubyub gone?"

[yendi]

Let's just hope there are no Ewoks in Pirates III.

*Shudder*

Then again, the same director who did Pirates 2 is doing Pirates 3, so I've got faith.

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

I'm going tonight, but I'm pretty sure that will be my impression as well.

I went to Tomatoes and read all the critics bitching that the movie had too much fun in it. Sheesh.

[montykins.livejournal.com]

I went to Tomatoes and read all the critics bitching that the movie had too much fun in it.

Awesome. Also, this chocolate truffle is too delicious. I am outraged!

[unwilly.livejournal.com]

My bank account has too many zeros, I protest!

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Methinks you're protesting too much. =)

[justanotherg33k.livejournal.com]

This makes 2 pirate movies that I want to see in the near future. :)

[jmfunnyface.livejournal.com]

Oh yay! So happy to hear that. After some of the reviews I've read I thought it was going to be a real stinker.

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

I do want to see this. How kid, young kids 6 and 8, friendly do you think it is. Both my girls saw the first one with no problems but I'm always leary of taking them to a PG-13 movie without seeing it first myself to judge. Which often means I don't get to see the movie till much later. For that matter, same question for the new Superman movie.

[fiddledragon]

I would view it first. I'm not sure that my 9, 10, and 11 year old would be ok seeing it as it's a bit more intense, I think, than they're used to seeing (think pirates in English jails , and crows and hanging cages :P ) and my girls *adore* the first movie :) But looking back on it maybe not. The very beginning surprised my housemate and I in a not so favorable towards kids light.

With Superman my 2.5 year old was in 7th heaven to see it (he loves Superman) :)..and the 9 to 11 year olds loved it as well. I think I would have felt comfortable with my kids seeing it at a younger age.

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I think I'll take my kids to the Superman at some point then and hold off on the Pirates till I can see it myself.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Hm.

Elayna saw the first one with no problems. But I'm going to talk to her about this one before she sees it (hopefully - will call now), because Davy Jones's crew is more gruesome than Barbossa's was.

*thinks* That's it, I think.

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I appreciate the feedback.

[shadesong.livejournal.com]

Update: She saw it on Saturday and loved it and was not scared.

[ian-gunn.livejournal.com]

Great, if the opportunity comes I may take Sarah, but not Elizabeth. We'll see if a natural family split can come up soon.

[sitaangel.livejournal.com]

I wasn't too keen on the cliffhanger - I hate waiting. But I don't think they couldn't have ended the movie any better than they did. I loved the ending.

[gwynraven.livejournal.com]

I know. I was worried by the bad reviews, but I absolutely loved it. I was bouncing in my seat the whole time. And actually, I *did* expect what happened in the last scene, but I still cheered :) Plus, Jack going face to face with the Kraken -- an *incredible* scene.

[sweinberg.livejournal.com]

Yay I love being right!