Movie Review Black Los Angeles

BlackNLA Movie Reviews

*****THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*****

by Edwardo Jackson

BIASES:30 (yikes!) year old black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST (PG-13)

MOVIE BIASES: My #1 anticipated movie of the summer - super duper pre-sold.

MAJOR PLAYERS: Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean), Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean), Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean), producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean), and director Gore Verbinski (yep - Pirates of the Caribbean)

The most anticipated movie of the summer according to studio tracking information, which posits its debut in "Spider-Man" range (the all-time weekend opening at $114 million), "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" is that all too double-edged Hollywood sword: a sequel. But filmed back-to-back with "Pirates of the Caribbean: At the End of the World" as part of a purported trilogy, is this installment merely the umpteenth example of studios' artistic bankruptcy in the face of commercial success or an inspired response to rabid consumer demand?

Starting off much darker than "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl," "Chest" opens with the arrest of Will Turner (Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Knightley) on their wedding day by Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander), an instrument of the nefarious East India Trading Company. Wanting to rid the seas of pirates among other things, Beckett dispatches Will to find Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) in order to bargain away a personal item of Jack's that the Company seriously covets. Of course, Jack is up to his bootstraps in trouble of his own: he owes the supernatural, slimy Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), who commands an amphibious crew of the semi-dead (as well as a giant, squid-like "beastie" called the Krakken), his soul. He has three days to offer up 100 souls in his place or be doomed to an eternity of servitude on board Jones' ship of the damned, the Flying Dutchman.

Please believe when I tell you that this isn't even HALF the story of this movie's entirely convoluted plot. Striking a darker tone thematically and visually (there's rarely a blue sky in the film) from "Pearl," "Chest" is plagued by an odd energy despite all hands on deck. Scripted by the original witty duo of Ted Elliott & Terry
Rossio, this voyage through the Caribbean returns all of the elements of the first movie yet still lacks a heartwarmingly reckless something, a gleefully pillaging, cheating, pirating je ne sais quoi. If anything, this movie is over-plotted, featuring at least three highly sought after MacGuffins (a key, a chest, a beating heart) and
amazing set pieces that FEEL like set pieces, not organic scenes of a naturally progressing story. "Chest," although exposition-heavy, contains even more CGI-effects than the first (imagine that) that often dazzle in their technical proficiency but still leaves an aftertaste of empty entertainment, like watching a Pussycat Dolls
video. While the costuming, makeup and art direction are as flawlessly period and grungy as the "Pearl," "Chest's" score - debatably given an upgrade in reputation by employing movie music magician Hans Zimmer (Gladiator) - lacks the zest of Klaus Baudelt's rousing, orchestral action anthems.

Not only is more money splashed on the screen but also more actors mixing with the old favorites. Jaw-droppingly fine Naomie Harris (After the Sunset) gets dirtier than Cajun rice, simultaneously seducing and repulsing as a sexy, grotesque sha(wo)man. Bill Nighy (Love Actually) oozes sly villainy as the tentacle-faced Davy Jones. Jack Davenport returns as a disgraced, "I've let myself go a little" Norrington as Kevin R. McNally cheerfully hams it up even more - to great effect - playing Jack's first mate Gibbs. Bloom again dons the inner shield of righteous determination and REEL DEAL Crush Knightley continues her Elizabeth's clever, avant garde rebellion on the social expectations of women in that era.

But you paid ten bucks to see Captain Jack come back. Almost like lightning in a bottle, mainstream-allergic Johnny Depp perverted an action pseudo-hero role into a comically acted, Oscar nominated cinematic confection. Depp's commitment is in league with the production's esprit de corps, but he lacks the rapidity of amusing
lines to match his even more amusing line readings as he did in the "Pearl." This go 'round, Depp's Jack - sorry, CAPTAIN Jack - Sparrow still loves his rum, the attention of a bonny lass, and his "effects" (although his precious hat is shortly replaced by a jar of potentially magical dirt), but lacks the overall humor of the original. Don't get me wrong - whether he's running away from doing "the right thing"
(hands first, of course) or posing as a god to island cannibals eager to turn him into a shish-ka-Jack, the not-so-bad/not-so-good captain is still entertainment personified. Despite an intriguing three-way swordfight, a giant squid-like "beastie," and occasionally witty banter, I wish the same could be said of Captain Jack Sparrow's latest cruise.

Following "The Empire Strikes Back" trilogy playbook, "Chest" perfectly positions you for next Memorial Day's sequel with multiple cliffhangers and plotted loose ends. If only there were more EMOTIONAL loose ends like "Empire's" "Luke, I am your father" moment, this movie would truly set sail awash commercial and qualitative high seas. Instead, like the pirates they so revere in this franchise, Hollywood is, once again, Sir Mix-a-Lot: it's all about the booty.

@@ REELS
(TWO REELS)
Extra medium

Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com!

Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com




			BlackNLA Movie Reviews ***THE REEL DEAL: Reviewz from the Street*** by Edwardo Jackson BIASES:30 (yikes!) year old black male; frustrated screenwriter who favors action, comedy, and glossy, big budget movies over indie flicks, kiddie flicks, and weepy Merchant Ivory fare PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST (PG-13) MOVIE BIASES: My #1 anticipated movie of the summer - super duper pre-sold. MAJOR PLAYERS: Johnny Depp (Pirates of the Caribbean), Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean), Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean), producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean), and director Gore Verbinski (yep - Pirates of the Caribbean) The most anticipated movie of the summer according to studio tracking information, which posits its debut in "Spider-Man" range (the all-time weekend opening at $114 million), "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" is that all too double-edged Hollywood sword: a sequel. But filmed back-to-back with "Pirates of the Caribbean: At the End of the World" as part of a purported trilogy, is this installment merely the umpteenth example of studios' artistic bankruptcy in the face of commercial success or an inspired response to rabid consumer demand? Starting off much darker than "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl," "Chest" opens with the arrest of Will Turner (Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Knightley) on their wedding day by Lord Beckett (Tom Hollander), an instrument of the nefarious East India Trading Company. Wanting to rid the seas of pirates among other things, Beckett dispatches Will to find Captain Jack Sparrow (Depp) in order to bargain away a personal item of Jack's that the Company seriously covets. Of course, Jack is up to his bootstraps in trouble of his own: he owes the supernatural, slimy Davy Jones (Bill Nighy), who commands an amphibious crew of the semi-dead (as well as a giant, squid-like "beastie" called the Krakken), his soul. He has three days to offer up 100 souls in his place or be doomed to an eternity of servitude on board Jones' ship of the damned, the Flying Dutchman. Please believe when I tell you that this isn't even HALF the story of this movie's entirely convoluted plot. Striking a darker tone thematically and visually (there's rarely a blue sky in the film) from "Pearl," "Chest" is plagued by an odd energy despite all hands on deck. Scripted by the original witty duo of Ted Elliott & Terry Rossio, this voyage through the Caribbean returns all of the elements of the first movie yet still lacks a heartwarmingly reckless something, a gleefully pillaging, cheating, pirating je ne sais quoi. If anything, this movie is over-plotted, featuring at least three highly sought after MacGuffins (a key, a chest, a beating heart) and amazing set pieces that FEEL like set pieces, not organic scenes of a naturally progressing story. "Chest," although exposition-heavy, contains even more CGI-effects than the first (imagine that) that often dazzle in their technical proficiency but still leaves an aftertaste of empty entertainment, like watching a Pussycat Dolls video. While the costuming, makeup and art direction are as flawlessly period and grungy as the "Pearl," "Chest's" score - debatably given an upgrade in reputation by employing movie music magician Hans Zimmer (Gladiator) - lacks the zest of Klaus Baudelt's rousing, orchestral action anthems. Not only is more money splashed on the screen but also more actors mixing with the old favorites. Jaw-droppingly fine Naomie Harris (After the Sunset) gets dirtier than Cajun rice, simultaneously seducing and repulsing as a sexy, grotesque sha(wo)man. Bill Nighy (Love Actually) oozes sly villainy as the tentacle-faced Davy Jones. Jack Davenport returns as a disgraced, "I've let myself go a little" Norrington as Kevin R. McNally cheerfully hams it up even more - to great effect - playing Jack's first mate Gibbs. Bloom again dons the inner shield of righteous determination and REEL DEAL Crush Knightley continues her Elizabeth's clever, avant garde rebellion on the social expectations of women in that era. But you paid ten bucks to see Captain Jack come back. Almost like lightning in a bottle, mainstream-allergic Johnny Depp perverted an action pseudo-hero role into a comically acted, Oscar nominated cinematic confection. Depp's commitment is in league with the production's esprit de corps, but he lacks the rapidity of amusing lines to match his even more amusing line readings as he did in the "Pearl." This go 'round, Depp's Jack - sorry, CAPTAIN Jack - Sparrow still loves his rum, the attention of a bonny lass, and his "effects" (although his precious hat is shortly replaced by a jar of potentially magical dirt), but lacks the overall humor of the original. Don't get me wrong - whether he's running away from doing "the right thing" (hands first, of course) or posing as a god to island cannibals eager to turn him into a shish-ka-Jack, the not-so-bad/not-so-good captain is still entertainment personified. Despite an intriguing three-way swordfight, a giant squid-like "beastie," and occasionally witty banter, I wish the same could be said of Captain Jack Sparrow's latest cruise. Following "The Empire Strikes Back" trilogy playbook, "Chest" perfectly positions you for next Memorial Day's sequel with multiple cliffhangers and plotted loose ends. If only there were more EMOTIONAL loose ends like "Empire's" "Luke, I am your father" moment, this movie would truly set sail awash commercial and qualitative high seas. Instead, like the pirates they so revere in this franchise, Hollywood is, once again, Sir Mix-a-Lot: it's all about the booty. @@ REELS (TWO REELS) Extra medium Like what you read? Agree/disagree with The Reel Deal? Think he's talkin' out his...HUSH YO' MOUF! (I'm only talkin' about The Reel Deal!) Email him at ReelReviewz@aol.com! Edwardo Jackson is the author of the novels EVER AFTER and NEVA HAFTA, (Villard/Random House), a writer for UrbanFilmPremiere.com, and an LA-based screenwriter. Visit his website at www.edwardojackson.com Â© 2004, Edwardo Jackson