Pirates of disappointment

I really loved the first Pirates of the Caribbean. I rarely buy DVD's, but I purchased it. I loved the story, the special effects and I thought Johnny Depp created one of the best characters ever to be shown on the silver screen. I was tremendously excited for the sequel Pirates of the Caribbean: The Dead Man's Chest. Early reviews on Ain't it Cool News said it was great. I was really excited. It broke box office records in its first week, but some reviews said it wasn't that great. I still had my hopes up. I trust AICN more than anything else. So on Saturday I went to see it.

I was extremely disappointed. Depp didn't seem to have the same love of the character as he did in the first movie. Jack Sparrow, or should I say Captain Jack Sparrow did not exude the same coolness he did in the first movie. Orlando Bloom I could take him or leave him and Kerr Knightly was very nice to look at and she had the most interesting story by movie's end.

I love when I watch a movie and feel like I was there for five minutes. Batman Begins made me feel that way, Superman Returns did as well. Pirates, well I just kept thinking to myself will this movie EVER END? The Special effects were great I will give them that. The action sequences were too drawn out creating little suspense. Even when the Black Pearl was being attacked by the Kraken, I was happy because the movie as almost over, and not that these characters are in a life or death situation. Not good.

When the movie FINALLY ended about 30 minutes later with a cliff hanger, everyone got up and left. They were all quiet. It seemed like the movie drained the life out of everyone. I was really let down. Especially after seeing Superman 2 weeks earlier and witnessing a standing ovation when the movie ended. You could feel the love of the movie in the theatre. There was no love for Pirates. I'm shocked it is still doing so well. It's a shame Superman isn't making the ridiculous amount of money. It is an infinitely better movie.

Will I see the 3rd movie? Yes, but only because I've invested time in the first 2. I am not expecting a good movie. I just hope it's better than the 3rd Matrix movie.... At least Spiderman and Transformers are coming out next summer.

Superman returns Post

On my recent trip out to California I was able to catch Superman Returns. I really liked this movie, but I didn't love it. I thought Lex Luthor's plot was silly although Kevin Spacey was awesome as Lex. The Best part of the movie, bar none was Brandon Routh. He IS Superman. He played Superman with a weight that Christopher Reeves didn't. I know many will say I speak blashphem, but it is what it is. Prime example is when Reeve's Superman saved people and went to tell his father how great it felt, he almost seemed like a whiny nerd baby. Routh's Superman soaks up the attention, but does so with a quiet confidence. Routh's Superman is more mature and comfortable with his power. He also plays Superman as an outsider, an alien, something you don't get with Reeve's Superman. Reeve's Clark Kent is better, because he has better comedic timing, but Routh held his own.

Mardsen was great as Lois' new love interest, and in a way he was his own Superman. Willing to risk life and limb to save his life, and in the end Superman's life. It will be interesting how the relationships play out in the next films.

The only weak link in the movie was Kate Bosworth. I didn't believe she was Lois. I didn't believe she won a Pulitzer, I didn't believe she was a reporter.

Now on to the kid. I like the fact the Superman left to find home, only to ultimately discover home was right on the planet earth. He has a son. I like how the ending played out. You could see how happy Superman was that he has a son. How will this work in the next film? I don't know, maybe make Braniac the bad guy, have Lex kidnap the kid, and brainwash him against Superman. That might make an interesting story.

Overall, Superman was a really good, close to great movie. I felt like I was watching a classic. When the credits rolled, the audience gave it a standing ovation. I'm looking forward to see what happens next. Mr. Singer, you have never made a bad movie and I applaud you for it.

Next stop the Caribbean so I can meet up with pirates......