So. I'm thinking of making my own one of those "best of" or "top 100" lists, but I know that there are awesome things out there that I have yet to read or watch.
This is why I wanted to give anyone reading this a chance to chip in and let me know if there's something out there that you consider a must-read or a must-see. Is there a book or book series that you think I should check out and take into consideration for my list? Or perhaps a movie or tv series?
So yeah, leave a comment and let me know what stories in the genre you think are unmissable. If it's a longer series, though, please tell me where to start! This could be the name of the first book, for example, but it doesn't necessarily have to be. For example, I would always tell people hesitant to try Harry Potter that they should start reading from the 3rd book and just watch the first two movies to get caught up on events/characters.
Leave a comment, let me know.
Showing posts with label potc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label potc. Show all posts
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
World-Building: Great
Characterization: Awesome
Plot: Great
This is the second installment of Pirates of the Caribbean and while there are some new things that were very annoying - like the whole cannibal episode - there were also some improvements over the last one. The most noticeable improvement is in the characters of Will and Elizabeth. I mentioned in my last review that their story was what anchored the whole thing, but this time it shows even more. These characters are more interesting and more driven now that they've had some pirating experience and are on the run from the East India Company. I think there's also a slight, but noticeable, improvement in Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley's acting.
Jack is the same old Jack played brilliantly by Johnny Depp. Like last time he has his own motivations, but this time instead of getting his ship back his motivation is staying alive/escaping Davy Jones. And again, he'll do almost anything to achieve his goal, including risk the lives of those around him.
One of the great improvements was the Davy Jones storyline. It brings this movie more solidly into the genre and shows us a new version of the undead. Davy Jones and his crew of sea-creature-men is awesome in a creepy kind of way.
Some have complained that the plot becomes convoluted in the second and third PoTC movies, but I never saw why. Just like the first movie this one relies on the story of Will and Elizabeth to keep it grounded while following many different motivations and plotlines. It's realistic. It's also a trend that's becoming very common in the genre. It's now common to pick up a fantasy book with over 6 POVs and in my opinion this is a good thing. The speculative genre shouldn't be restricted to the limited perspective of just one "main" character.
As I mentioned there are some very annoying things like the cannibals and the stupid dog with the keys and the Jack/Elizabeth plotline, but overall it's a great movie in which the characters show some development and do interesting things.
I especially liked the angle they took with Norrington and the East India Company guy, Lord Cutler Beckett. He's a much more frightening villain and I like Norrington's constant sarcasm and pessimism when he's with the pirates.
I would highly recommend this movie just like the first, but be prepared to watch the third movie as well because this one will not give you a satisfying ending.
Characterization: Awesome
Plot: Great
This is the second installment of Pirates of the Caribbean and while there are some new things that were very annoying - like the whole cannibal episode - there were also some improvements over the last one. The most noticeable improvement is in the characters of Will and Elizabeth. I mentioned in my last review that their story was what anchored the whole thing, but this time it shows even more. These characters are more interesting and more driven now that they've had some pirating experience and are on the run from the East India Company. I think there's also a slight, but noticeable, improvement in Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley's acting.
Jack is the same old Jack played brilliantly by Johnny Depp. Like last time he has his own motivations, but this time instead of getting his ship back his motivation is staying alive/escaping Davy Jones. And again, he'll do almost anything to achieve his goal, including risk the lives of those around him.
One of the great improvements was the Davy Jones storyline. It brings this movie more solidly into the genre and shows us a new version of the undead. Davy Jones and his crew of sea-creature-men is awesome in a creepy kind of way.
Some have complained that the plot becomes convoluted in the second and third PoTC movies, but I never saw why. Just like the first movie this one relies on the story of Will and Elizabeth to keep it grounded while following many different motivations and plotlines. It's realistic. It's also a trend that's becoming very common in the genre. It's now common to pick up a fantasy book with over 6 POVs and in my opinion this is a good thing. The speculative genre shouldn't be restricted to the limited perspective of just one "main" character.
As I mentioned there are some very annoying things like the cannibals and the stupid dog with the keys and the Jack/Elizabeth plotline, but overall it's a great movie in which the characters show some development and do interesting things.
I especially liked the angle they took with Norrington and the East India Company guy, Lord Cutler Beckett. He's a much more frightening villain and I like Norrington's constant sarcasm and pessimism when he's with the pirates.
I would highly recommend this movie just like the first, but be prepared to watch the third movie as well because this one will not give you a satisfying ending.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
World-Building: Awesome
Characterization: Great - Awesome
Plot: Great
I feel like there's a tendency to sneer at these movies or overlook them as something not to be taken seriously. In my opinion, however, Curse of the Black Pearl has many of the makings of a great fantasy story. By far the best thing about this movie, as many have said before me, is the genius insanity of Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow. The other characters are also great, and one of the great things about this movie is that characters have real logical motivations that drive the plot. The world-building is just there in the background providing the perfect backdrop for the story to take place with the cursed gold, the skeletal crew of the black pearl, the British royal navy going after the pirates and so on.
The movie starts with Elizabeth Swan, the daughter of the governor of port royal. Even as a young child she was fascinated by pirates, something which concerned her father. She sees a young boy floating in the water, and, when she sees a "pirate medallion" hanging on his chest she takes it away to protect him from Norrington (a Navy man obsessed with catching/killing pirates). After this scene we fast-forward a few years to when Elizabeth and Will Turner - the boy she saved - are grown up and ready to embark on a pirate adventure. It is Elizabeth and Will that provide the main plot arc and the main hook for the audience. Their story anchors the plot so that even when really weird things are happening or we're revisiting the same scene we have their motivations, goals, and fates to worry about. Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom deliver great performances in these roles.
Johnny Depp's performance isn't awesome just for it's nuttiness, it's also clear that he is very motivated to get his ship back - and to get revenge for Barbossa's mutiny. The scene when Elizabeth is getting him drunk on the island so that she can make a signal is great because we get to hear him actually talking seriously about his ship and what it means to him. You could say that Captain Jack Sparrow's character is responsible for the main action and suspense in the movie as well because you never know - and neither do the characters - just what Jack will do to get his ship back. He's the pirate captain, but he's also kind of the hero of the tale, despite his questionable morals. And by the time the ending rolls along and he's in actual danger you don't want him to get killed.
Geoffrey Rush as Jack's mutinous first mate, now Captain, Barbossa is in short awesome. He's another well-rounded character with a very strong motivation. The moment when he reveals the curse to Elizabeth is not only a frightening horror-movie scene, it's also a a moment when the audience is forced to sympathize with him a little bit and feel his pain.
I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. A thoroughly enjoyable adventure!
Characterization: Great - Awesome
Plot: Great
I feel like there's a tendency to sneer at these movies or overlook them as something not to be taken seriously. In my opinion, however, Curse of the Black Pearl has many of the makings of a great fantasy story. By far the best thing about this movie, as many have said before me, is the genius insanity of Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow. The other characters are also great, and one of the great things about this movie is that characters have real logical motivations that drive the plot. The world-building is just there in the background providing the perfect backdrop for the story to take place with the cursed gold, the skeletal crew of the black pearl, the British royal navy going after the pirates and so on.
The movie starts with Elizabeth Swan, the daughter of the governor of port royal. Even as a young child she was fascinated by pirates, something which concerned her father. She sees a young boy floating in the water, and, when she sees a "pirate medallion" hanging on his chest she takes it away to protect him from Norrington (a Navy man obsessed with catching/killing pirates). After this scene we fast-forward a few years to when Elizabeth and Will Turner - the boy she saved - are grown up and ready to embark on a pirate adventure. It is Elizabeth and Will that provide the main plot arc and the main hook for the audience. Their story anchors the plot so that even when really weird things are happening or we're revisiting the same scene we have their motivations, goals, and fates to worry about. Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom deliver great performances in these roles.
Johnny Depp's performance isn't awesome just for it's nuttiness, it's also clear that he is very motivated to get his ship back - and to get revenge for Barbossa's mutiny. The scene when Elizabeth is getting him drunk on the island so that she can make a signal is great because we get to hear him actually talking seriously about his ship and what it means to him. You could say that Captain Jack Sparrow's character is responsible for the main action and suspense in the movie as well because you never know - and neither do the characters - just what Jack will do to get his ship back. He's the pirate captain, but he's also kind of the hero of the tale, despite his questionable morals. And by the time the ending rolls along and he's in actual danger you don't want him to get killed.
Geoffrey Rush as Jack's mutinous first mate, now Captain, Barbossa is in short awesome. He's another well-rounded character with a very strong motivation. The moment when he reveals the curse to Elizabeth is not only a frightening horror-movie scene, it's also a a moment when the audience is forced to sympathize with him a little bit and feel his pain.
I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who hasn't seen it yet. A thoroughly enjoyable adventure!
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