PAGE TWO

MAPPING OUT THE COURSE

Initially I was concerned that the number of writers involved (two credited for the script, four in total for the screen story) might result in a muddied, bilge slop of a story, filled with contradictory styles, themes and plot patches. Instead, the collaboration delivers layers of style and substance which blend together effectively and to the film's advantage. This Caribbean world is gritty and unglamorous at times, yet fantastic and humorous as well. The story relies on a surprising amount of backstory, but the writers paced out its revelations skillfully so you're not wading through swampy exposition while waiting to return to the action. In fact, some of these reveals happen unexpectedly late in the film, to strengthen the story as it develops – not a common trait in typical action flicks which dole out globs of exposition early on, then run rampant with stunts and special effects for the last ninety minutes. So kudos to the scribes on these counts!

Meanwhile, the script is peppered with a healthy blend of witty, lighthearted dialogue complimented by darker story elements not watered down for young audiences (note the PG-13 rating), nor so heavy they sink the story's buoyant, playful tone. Again, I was pleased how the writers wove together these two contrasting motifs. Many direct and indirect references to the Pirates ride appear throughout the story, none of which were "groaners" thankfully, and all were enjoyed by the audience. For the more specific gags and inside jokes, you get a laugh from them if you know and enjoy the attraction, but these moments are deftly incorporated so they don't stand out as blatant synergy "plugs", nor do they intrude upon the original story. Just as importantly, knowledge of the attraction is not required to enjoy these moments or the film at large. Smart moves all around by the filmmakers.

The best and possibly most subtle example of this is the skeletal curse on the Black Pearl's crew – and don't panic, this can't be a spoiler for you if you've seen the trailers or TV ads... or if you haven't seen such ads by now, you probably shouldn't know where to find this review to read it anyway! The storytellers went to significant length to develop the concept of the treasure's curse and its effects; and even though all the seeds for that inspiration are planted in the 36 year-old ride, its impact and results in the screen story are both familiar and original at the same time. The curse itself is an effective motif in the ride but it's secondary to the main action, yet the movie's curse supports and serves the main plot and characters, deepening the story and raising the dramatic stakes instead of being a mere gimmick for ILM eye candy. It's another example of how the creative team pays tribute to the ride's wealth of detail and design, while expanding on those same elements to craft their own pirate legend.

CAPTAIN'S ORDERS

Fans should appreciate Gore Verbinski's skilled navigation at the helm of PIRATES, balancing comedy and drama, action and suspense, horror and humor to achieve a smooth journey in an inherently wild, fantastic genre. As recent Hollywood history attests, the pirate film proved itself a difficult ship to steer for many directors who got beached by their reckless enthusiasm, or lost in the fog of their own misunderstanding. Verbinski apparently understood what made both the Pirates ride and film genre so enjoyably enduring, and realized that the two quite different formats celebrate the same spirit of rebellious yet heroic adventure. With this strong and steady thematic wind at his back, sailing ahead would inevitably lead to cinematic gold . . . as long as he kept true to his dramatic compass. [Enter it into the ship's log – flogged to death: one metaphor.]

With the mysterious and mirthful Captain Jack Sparrow at the heart of the story, Verbinski wisely gave Johnny Depp plenty of freedom to turn in a performance which spans the latitude of the film's emotional map: at times playfully intoxicated by the joy and gamesmanship of a piracy, yet serious, devious and determined when circumstances test his mettle. This is a broadly ranged, theatrical, stylized performance to keep on course, but Verbinski trusts Depp's skill in these waters to stay on target for the long haul, and this pact pays off for both.

The director aptly mixes the period environment with contemporary audience tastes and expectation, remaining fairly true to the history without letting reality get in the way of the fun and excitement. Verbinski and his cinematographer, Dariusz Wolski, treat our eyes to a sumptuous feast of scenery and action saturated with mood and detail. The result implies a devout love for the cinematic pirate's life, embroidering the film with all the foppish, grandiose flourishes of aristocracy in the colonized Caribbean, yet not afraid to expose the grimy side of these sea dogs whose lives teetered between astounding fortune and imprisoned squalor, or worse. In many ways, the filmmakers paint a richly textured portrait of this lost world, dutifully romanticized to satisfy an audience's fancy yet solidly grounded in its historic context and internal logic to respect viewers' intelligence. Much care went into the crafting of this sharp-edged and skillfully adorned salute to the celluloid buccaneers who forever sail the seas of our yearning and imagination.

If I had any complaint for Verbinski at all, it would be that the film could take a slightly tighter edit, although the running time is only slightly over two hours as I saw it – one week will tell if the final cut runs a different length. Still, at no point was I or the audience bored, and later I reflected on PIRATE's pacing and ended up appreciating how Verbinski and his editors allowed their period piece to unfurl and catch the wind in harmony with the era it depicted. Had they paced this grand and airy 17th century tale as a manic 21st century music video, the results would have sent such an anachronistic wreck straight to Davey Jones' locker. Soon, fans may well tip their tri-corner hats to Gore Verbinski and his crew for piloting PIRATES safely and successfully into theaters.

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