This is Jacob from the Wisecrack channel, and welcome to Film Legends.
Where the most renowned films of our age
battle to be crowned the greatest of all time.
We'll be analyzing and awarding points for every single thing a movie does right.
Many will compete, but in the end only the strongest will have what it takes to become:
Film Legends.
Today's challenger: Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl.
# A pirate's life for me. #
The song is one of the many nods to the Pirates ride at Disneyland, which inspired the film.
Amusement park attractions don't always adapt well,
but Pirates gets it right;
using ride references to effectively further the plot,
or provide fun atmosphere.
Here the song establishes young Elizabeth's fascination with pirates.
Not since the One Ring has an object so small, been responsible for so much story movement.
The medallion is orphan Will Turner's only connection to his past.
Attaching plot-critical doodads to orphans is a useful storytelling device,
as it lends instant significance to the item and helps explain its presence in the film.
Period-correct details lend authenticity to the film:
The flag is based on the Jolly Roger of Calico Jack,
a pirate who operated in the early 18th century.
Elizabeth's corset symbolizes the constraints of her upper-class life:
ELIZABETH: I can't breathe!
FABRIC RUSTLING
When Jack rips it off, the message is clear:
Elizabeth must cast off the shackles of privilege,
and pirates will help her do it.
The camera angle fools us into thinking Jack's on board a mighty ship,
but pulling back:
we see that he's actually limping into town on a lifeboat.
This cleverly illustrates the difference between Jack's self perception,
and the way others see him:
You are without a doubt the worst pirate I've ever heard of.
But you HAVE heard of me.
Jack's eye make-up is called 'Kohl':
a cosmetic dating back to Ancient Egypt, that protects the wearer's eyes from the sun.
It's still in use today by certain Nomadic people
and by Moody Pop Stars.
This movie revitalized pirate film and Johnny Depp is a big reason why.
His unique performance provides a fresh take on a stale genre.
Blending the rock-star attitude of Keith Richards from 'the Who',
with the self-assuredness of Pepe Lepew,
both of whom inspired Depp.
This works so well, that Keith Richards was cast as Jack's father in subsequent films,
Pepe Lepew on the other hand, didn't make the cut.
Jack's character is an archetype called 'the Trickster':
an intelligent and devious troublemaker who bends the rules to suit himself.
Think 'Loki, the God of Mischief',
or 'Bart Simpson'.
I have seen a ship with black sails. - Oh?
'Pirates uses comedic characters to deliver exposition
so we don't notice that we're getting a big information dump,
The pirate counterparts, serve the same function.'
RAGETTI: I'm telling the story!
NORRINGTON: ...Sparrow, isn't it?
Both Jack and Elizabeth take their last names from birds:
Jack's evokes freedom, while Elizabeth's denotes her status -
ELIZABETH: It's Miss Swan!
- as a fancy-pants.
According to Charles Grey's 'Pirates of the Eastern Seas' :
captured pirates were at one point branded with the letter P on their foreheads.
Nothing like a good old catchphrase
to up a character's swagger.
JACK: You seem somewhat familiar, have I threatened you before?
I make a point of avoiding familiarity with pirates.
'Balancing the wacky energy of Jack Sparrow with a more conventional character,
prevents the movie from going off the rails.
Orlando Bloom plays it straight, as a classic Errol Flynn style hero.'
JACK: You're not a Eunuch are you?
Several of Depp's lines, including the recurring eunuch jokes,
were improvised by the actor.
- Savvy?
Bring me that horizon.
Smart move by director Gore Verbinski to let him run with it.
Slip-ups happen in filming,
but the idea that squeaky-clean Will, has a tattoo,
cuts against his character.
Especially since he's an Elvish:
Go back to Middle-Earth!
WILL: I cannot just step aside and let you escape.
Morality is a major theme of the film:
While Will's honor demands that he risk his life to prevent Jack's escape,
Jack's reluctance to kill Will, shows that he too has a code.
JACK: This shot is not meant for you.
But Jack's ambiguous moral system keeps us guessing:
On one hand: he risks his own neck to save Elizabeth,
on the other: he'll swap Will's life, just to get his boat back.
What makes you think Barbosa will give up his ship to you?
JACK: Let's just say it's some massive leverage.
At the end of the day: all we know for sure is that he makes his own rules.
This distinguishes 'Pirates' from the typical Disney films: that reward moral behaviour and punish deceit.
We root for Jack as he cheats and lies his way through the movie,
and celebrate when his deception and trickery yield success.
PRISONER: I've heard stories...
She's been preying on ships and settlements for near 10 years...
..never leaves any survivors.
JACK: No survivors(!?)
Then where do the stories come from I wonder?...
Jack may stumble around like a drunken sailor,
but his dialogue establishes that he's smarter than he looks.
His evil counterpart Barbossa shares this quality,
setting us up for a clash, - not just of swords - but of wits.
BARBOSSA: I'm disinclined to acquiesce to your request...
..Means no(!)
RAGETTI IN OILY VOICE: We promise we won't hurt you.
The pairing of fat and skinny characters, is often used to highlight distinct personalities:
here a goofy skinny guy, and a short-tempered big guy.
It's reverse Bert and Ernie!
ELIZABETH: I invoke the right of parley...
..according to the Code of the Brethren, set down by the pirates Morgan and Bartholomew,
you have to take me to your Captain.
More pirate history!
Morgan and Bartholomew are likely the pirates: Henry Morgan and Bartholomew Roberts.
Roberts' code contained rules about: gambling, desertion, and bedtime,
but nothing about parley.
However 'parley' is a real term in its own right, from the Middle Ages:
based on the French word: 'to speak'.
it refers to meetings of State, between Kings and their council.
A creepy way to introduce the supernatural element of the film.
ELIZABETH: Captain Barbossa
Barbosa's name is loosely based on Ottoman privateer: Hayreddin Barbarossa,
whose name means: red beard.
FOR HISTORICAL ACCURACY!
TOKEN UNLOCKED
WILL: This is either madness, or brilliance.
JACK: It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide.
We've seen examples of this throughout history: the blend of genius and lunacy,
is part of why Jack resonates with us.
It also helps us believe, he can pull off a feat like:
using the Dauntless as a decoy,
in order to steal the Interceptor.
Mr. Gibbs - who we met in the opening scenes - reappears as a pirate,
seems like his connection to Elizabeth's childhood SHOULD be significant,
but since we never understand HOW, it's just a confusing detail.
ELIZABETH: Mr. Gibbs???
FILM LEGENDS: My sentiments exactly.
Take what you can!
-Give nothin' back!
MUGS CLANK
What seems to be a synopsis of the pirate philosophy,
is actually a nautical phrase:
Meaning to pull in the slack of the sail and not let them slip back.
This is Aztec gold...
..one of 882 identical pieces they delivered in a stone chest to Cortés himself.
Barbossa refers to the destruction of the Aztec Empire,
at the hands of Cortés, in the 16th century:
a conquest fueled by lust for gold.
As the curse renders the greedy pirates unable to quench their earthly desires,
this historical tie-in makes a certain poetic sense.
GREED ISN'T GOOD!
ARR!!!
Geoffrey Rush uses the traditional pirate's: 'ARR!!!'
An homage to Robert Newton's portrayal
of Long John Silver in 'Treasure Island',
before Johnny Depp, the gold standard in pirate performances.
ARR!!!
'Pirates' updates the classic pirate-with-a-parrot trope
with a monkey, way funnier.
The visual effects team use the actors real eyes when the pirates go all skeletor,
in order to preserve some essence of their personalities.
WILL: So THIS is your able-bodied crew(!)
This scene serves no purpose
except to provide an extra goodie for Jack at the end of the film:
Captain Sparrow...
..the Black Pearl is yours.
So that's the reason for all the:
FILM LEGENDS: Another improvised comedic moment.
Punished we were, the lot of us...
..disproportionate to our crimes!
Barbosa's logic is based on the theory of retributive justice,
whereby a punishment correlates to the severity of the crime.
It's basically an eye-for-an-eye,
which seems awfully appropriate for a pirate.
BARBOSSA: My bank agent.
JACK: You're welcome.
Not you, we named the monkey: 'Jack'
Barbosa with the burn, and the monkey rubbing it in!
ELIZABETH: But we've got to save Will!
SWAN: No, don't haste now!
100 minutes in, and it feels like we should be wrapping up;
but instead we're going back to the cave, on yet another rescue mission.
This long-windedness is especially problematic, as we see the same jokes we enjoyed earlier
trotted out for unnecessary encores in the final act:
I invoke the right to parley. - Parley?
That's the one, pur-lay!!
- Parley???
RAGETTI: Any of yous so much as thinks the word parley...
-Parley?
YO-HO-SLOW!
PINTEL: So this is just like what the Greeks done at Troy.
A reference to the tactic the Greeks used to infiltrate Troy, and end the Trojan War.
I'm surprised these guys know their history!
So what now, Jack Sparrow?
Are we to be two immortals, locked in an epic battle,
until Judgment Day and the trumpets sound?
According to the book of Revelation:
"seven trumpets will sound a signal... ..apocalyptic events at the end of the world."
I didn't figure Barbossa to be a religious man, but I guess being cursed may do that to you.
ELIZABETH: I can't breathe!
In the beginning; Elizabeth's fainting showed her dissatisfaction with nobility,
now she's using it to distract Jack's captors.
Likewise; where Will used his sword earlier to deter Jack, now he's using it to save his life,
Both characters have embraced their inner pirate.
You forget your place, Will Turner.
WHISPERED: It's right here...between you and Jack.
Physically yes, but also metaphorically,
Will's morality ends up somewhere between the good guys of the royal navy,
and the unabashed hedonism of Jack.
SWAN: Perhaps on the rare occasion... ..pursuing the right course demands an act of piracy.
Piracy itself, can be the right course.
The Governor invokes a consequentialist philosophy,
where the moral value of an action is defined by its outcome,
in contrast to his earlier view:
that a pirate must be punished, despite any mitigating good deeds.
SWAN: Hang him!
Don't forget to leave the door open for the next film, with a little love post-credit!
All right 'Pirates', let's see how you did:
solid marks all around,
but slick storytelling and solid gold performances,
deliver a treasure chest full of points for technique.
And all those historical references
earn you the ancient token of lore.
500.000 points!
Now onto the leaderboard:
Pirates of the Caribbean sails into fourth place,
and Finding Nemo and Captain America walk the plank!
But will it hold water against the next challenger?
We'll find out next time: if it bleeds.
For real this time.
Is the next Challenger ready?
Before you go: click here to check out our other film Legends episodes.
Or click here to visit the Wisecrack Channel:
diving into the smarter side of movies, TV shows, video games, and more.
You'll want to check out our Rick and Morty playlist while you're over there:
exploring the philosophy of the show.
I'll catch you over there theorists, wubba lubba dub dub.
OUTRO MUSIC