Scott vs. Captain Jack
20/06/11 09:43
I saw Scott Pilgrim vs. The World the other night. It’s easily one of the most creative and imaginative movies I’ve ever seen. It’s a merging of movies and comics that actually tries to merge the two rather than be a movie version of a comic. The only other movie I know that has ever attempted this was Tank Girl. Neither one did very well at the box office. Failure as a movie happens for a variety of reasons, sometimes because of poor advertising. I think that was a problem for both of these movies.
But Scott had another problem. No matter how original the special effects within the context of this type of movie, no matter how clever the concept and plot were, the movie was just...slow. It didn’t move well. Instead of flying through the air like Scott and his foes, it just sort of floated and went nowhere. Too bad.
On the other hand, the latest edition of Pirates of the Caribbean began with contrived artifice and obviousness. Even a cameo from the delightful Dame Judy Dench didn’t help. But after the opening scenes the movie just takes off and flies, thanks to a new story line. The plot is filled with double crosses and people who lie by telling the truth and pretending it’s a lie. But the truth is, this is still a character-driven story, and Depp’s Captain Jack is quite a character. Geoffrey Rush, an absolutely brilliant actor, has a whale of a time as Captain Barbossa, now peg-legged and seeking revenge. Jack’s love interest, Penelope Cruz, is gorgeous, talented, and in this film, forgettable. Perhaps in the next film (set up at the end ofter the credits run) she’ll have a chance to dig into a deeper part. Or maybe not. Geena Davis tried it in Cutthroat Island, and failed. Perhaps American audiences don’t want women to swash and buckle.
There were other odd things about Pirates. Hans Zimmer, who did the music on the previous Pirates movies (as well as brilliant music in numerous other films), seems to have lost the spark in this edition. Many people don’t realize how important music can be to a film. The driving scores of the Pirates films helped make them a success. Even the themes from the previous films are presented in more laid back versions, more for Perry Como than Captain Jack Sparrow.
And what is it with Geoffrey Rush’s make-up? At the beginning he looks like an extra in yet another zombie movie, but becomes healthier as the movie develops. Is this lack of continuity or an abandoned or unexplained plot point?
But Scott had another problem. No matter how original the special effects within the context of this type of movie, no matter how clever the concept and plot were, the movie was just...slow. It didn’t move well. Instead of flying through the air like Scott and his foes, it just sort of floated and went nowhere. Too bad.
On the other hand, the latest edition of Pirates of the Caribbean began with contrived artifice and obviousness. Even a cameo from the delightful Dame Judy Dench didn’t help. But after the opening scenes the movie just takes off and flies, thanks to a new story line. The plot is filled with double crosses and people who lie by telling the truth and pretending it’s a lie. But the truth is, this is still a character-driven story, and Depp’s Captain Jack is quite a character. Geoffrey Rush, an absolutely brilliant actor, has a whale of a time as Captain Barbossa, now peg-legged and seeking revenge. Jack’s love interest, Penelope Cruz, is gorgeous, talented, and in this film, forgettable. Perhaps in the next film (set up at the end ofter the credits run) she’ll have a chance to dig into a deeper part. Or maybe not. Geena Davis tried it in Cutthroat Island, and failed. Perhaps American audiences don’t want women to swash and buckle.
There were other odd things about Pirates. Hans Zimmer, who did the music on the previous Pirates movies (as well as brilliant music in numerous other films), seems to have lost the spark in this edition. Many people don’t realize how important music can be to a film. The driving scores of the Pirates films helped make them a success. Even the themes from the previous films are presented in more laid back versions, more for Perry Como than Captain Jack Sparrow.
And what is it with Geoffrey Rush’s make-up? At the beginning he looks like an extra in yet another zombie movie, but becomes healthier as the movie develops. Is this lack of continuity or an abandoned or unexplained plot point?