Pirates of the Caribbeanbecame one of Disney’s most lucrative franchises in the past 10 years before falling into disrepute, yet I maintain that one element could have saved its entertainment value.Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearlwas a runaway hit back in 2003,surpassing everyone’s expectations for a movie based on a theme park ride and working with a historically unreliable cinematic genre. Yet the high-sea tale cemented itself as an instant Disney classic with a combination of strong performances, stellar design, beautiful action, and a timeless story.
On top of it all was the brilliantly original character of Captain Jack Sparrow, earning Johnny Depp a surprise Lead Actor Oscar nomination. However, nowadays, nearly everyranking of thePirates of the Caribbeanmoviesreflects the sentiment that the franchise only got worse as it progressed. There are many reasons for this, likely being heavily analyzed by those makingPirates of the Caribbean 6or aPirates of the Caribbeanspinoff. Yet, as a huge fan of the swashbuckling fantasy aesthetic, I think that maintaining one element could have made even the worst storytelling worth it.
Pirates Of The Caribbean Used To Have Very Elaborate, Well-Choreographed Sword Fights
Old Pirates Of The Caribbean Action Worked Because It Was Outlandish But Still Incorporated Real Fencing Technique
Curse of the Black Pearlcreated a highly censored but highly enjoyable version of the Golden Age of Piracy, inviting longtime fans of the Disneyland ride to indulge in it more. A huge part of this setting’s atmosphere is the meticulously choreographed sword fights. The first big sword fight of the franchise, between Jack and Orlando Bloom’s Will Turner, is shot in such a way as to show a lot of the actual technique. Following in the footsteps of the infamousPrincess Brideduel, this sequence makes me (and I’m sure others) feel fully immersed in the setting.
Later movies show how both the world and the characters feel hollow when this complex element is lacking.
The following twoPirates of the Caribbeanmovies uphold the fight choreography standards set by the original,even if they represent a minor step down from the storytelling. The crazy water wheel battle is a favorite of mine — but I actually also love the lead-up to it, which shows the dueling happening among the ruins of a church. The wide shots of Will and Jack Davenport’s Norrington are the best of the movie’s swashbuckling essence, in my opinion.
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BothPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s ChestandAt World’s Endshow the sword fights happening in increasingly unlikely locations — which contributes to the fantastical tone of the series — but hold the shots long enough to show that the actors/stunt doubles are performing a lot of complex choreography leveraging real fencing techniques. Later movies show how both the world and the characters feel hollow when this complex element is lacking.
The Action In Pirates Of The Caribbean Has Been Getting Worse
The Staging Of Pirates Of The Caribbean 4 & 5 Is Lazy Compared To Its Three Predecessors
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger TidesandDead Men Tell No Talesare the low points of the series' storytelling — but also action.On Stranger Tidesstill includes some interesting dueling scenes, but the initial confrontation between Jack and Penélope Cruz’s Angelica is more focused on the gimmick of her being disguised as another Jack Sparrow. Additionally, the movie’s cinematography makes it so the actors don’t have to do as much work as in the previous installments. Popular YouTube channelCinemaSinsruthlessly criticizes the excessive cutting during this movie’s action scenes, which hides that the actors aren’t doing anything all that impressive.
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YetDead Man Tell No Talesis the biggest disappointment yet — there is not a single substantial sword fight in the entire movie,something that is sadly easy to miss due to its poor writing. The movie exemplifies how the writers feel like they need to top previous action sequences and construct absurd concepts like the Poseidon Tomb’s sequence where it is literally impossible for any kind of sword fighting. The result is that Jack and his fellow pirates are involved in increasingly slapstick action, rather than the grounded battles that made us believe the characters had actual combat skills.
Pirates Of The Caribbean Would Still Be Worth It If The Action Was Up To Par
Pirates Of The Caribbean Would At Least Be Fun To Watch If Jack Was Still A Brilliant Swordsman
It’s no secret thatPirates of the Caribbeanhas been getting worse — Jack and Barbossa’s (Geoffrey Rush) characters aren’t as sharp as they used to be, and the overall plots have gotten bogged down in convoluted supernatural lore.However, I would still be willing to go out to the movies forPiratesif I knew the action would be as good as it was in the original. If nothing else, Disney can sell the aesthetic. The franchise’s PG-13 version of this period of history lets the audience revel in the same dashing, romantic adventure vibes as always.
Yet the action is a huge part of this aesthetic, as it lets me believe that the characters are highly competent pirates, even if what they say is stupid, while making the movie visually stimulating.
Throw in some attractive period costuming and the iconic score that is so good it’s inexplicably played at every Oscars ceremony, and I will buy into it. Yet the action is a huge part of this aesthetic, as it lets me believe that the characters are highly competent pirates, even if what they say is stupid, while making the movie visually stimulating. The pirate genre has had a tumultuous history in entertainment, but if Disney at least still invested in the quality ofPirates of the Caribbean’s action, I think the overall feeling of the story would still be enjoyable.
Source:CinemaSins
Pirates of the Caribbean
A series of fantasy swashbuckler films produced by Disney, featuring the adventures of Captain Jack Sparrow. Known for its supernatural elements, high-seas action, and iconic characters, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon and was loosely based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name.
