A Pirates of the Caribbean Life For Me

~Warning: this is long and rambling, and yes, there are spoilers for movies almost 20 years old~

Earlier this month, I received an email from El Capitan, Disney’s movie theater located in Hollywood, that they were showing the five Pirates of the Caribbean movies for five days, one each day.

First, I was upset to not have more notice to figure out how to see all five. Then, I was confused as to why Disney even did this. None of the films have a milestone anniversary this year: Curse of the Black Pearl’s 20th was in 2023 (and had scattered screenings coinciding with Disney’s 100th); Dead Man’s Chest turns 20 next year (same as my high school graduation, ack); At World’s End’s 20th is in 2027; On Stranger Tide’s 15th is also next year; and Dead Men Tell No Tales hits its 10th anniversary in 2027 as well.

Eventually, the decision was made to see At World’s End as it fit best with my schedule. But also, it’s tied with the first one as my favorite film in the franchise (they flip flop constantly). While it’s been two years since I’ve seen Curse of the Black Pearl (yes, I went to the Disney100 screening, because duh), and I don’t even know how long since Dead Man’s Chest (although I did see that one the most times in theaters), I did worry that maybe I wouldn’t remember as much going into At World’s End.

But no, as the movie started with “Hoist the Colors” and multiple people being hanged for piracy, everything came flooding back and I was reminded just how much this franchise, even with weaker installments toward the end (I will defend Dead Men Tell No Tales though) and controversy around ~that~ actor, still means to me.

And I think it’s because how much the franchise felt like mine. I consider myself part of other fandoms, Star Wars, Marvel, Star Trek, but they were either introduced to me by my parents or had such vast histories making me feel more like a bandwagon fan or something. (Note: I’ve never felt this way IN the fandoms as most of them are pretty welcoming, but I do often feel as though I’m not a REAL fan, which is stupid. I like the thing, I’m a fan). Because the franchise’s heyday took place before Twitter existed and Facebook was very different than it is now, the only places to discuss it were message boards and Livejournal communities. And there was a blissful lack of discourse which is pretty much my biggest issue with other fandoms today.

Prior to the first film’s release, I had no real connection to the ride (I don’t remember riding it during my trips to Disneyland as a child; I do remember riding it during my first trip to Disney World in 1999 and not being impressed). The only actor I had seen and enjoyed previously was Orlando Bloom, though his work in Lord of the Rings is not at the same level as he is here. I never really had strong opinions toward pirates at all! So what happened here?

Curse of the Black Pearl was released while I was on a family vacation in California, and we had hectic days but one day became movie day, and I saw the movie and completely fell in love. It was a proper adventure movie with big set pieces, beautiful cinematography, wonderful costumes, a fantastic cast all playing fun characters, a cracking script, romance, humor, supernatural elements, mind-blowing VFX , an amazing score by Klaus Badelt (Hans Zimmer only scored the next three), and what I realized most of all when I rewatched it 20 years later, it’s a movie where everything works. Things brought up in the beginning are used by the end. There’s very little wasted, and I hate to say this, but they really don’t make movies like this anymore.

Something else that doesn’t happen anymore? There was a commitment to being weird as fuck. I guess one can blame Gore Verbinski for this (who may finally be exiting Director Jail soon!!). But seriously, as the films progressed, they went more and more out there, turning some people off, but for me, seeing a willingness to go out of the box THAT much was impressive! We need more risks!

Think about it: At World’s End was Disney’s big summer tentpole of 2007, opening Memorial Day weekend. It opens with the hanging of multiple people (including a child!), there’s multiple gruesome deaths (one by tentacles), a surrealistic section involving Jack, and sort of ends with a sex scene! That would NEVER happen today. It’s also almost three hours long and completely convoluted. More likely to happen today, but there would be a lot of bitching on the internet.

When I reflect on the movies, I think my favorite element always goes back to Elizabeth Swann. The trilogy is really her story more than anyone else’s (and why On Stranger Tides fails is because they made Jack the lead and he’s not supposed to be! He’s a supporting character! Thankfully they learned this for Dead Men Tell No Tales!), and that’s what really makes At World’s End great. She could have been one note, but Keira Knightley took her to bigger and better places, as well as the writers. Elizabeth could be the perfect governor’s daughter, but in her heart, she’s a pirate. That’s why she and Jack have the relationship they have. It’s not love, it’s understanding. They’re peas in a pod (fantastic cut scene from Curse of the Black Pearl), always strategizing to find the best way out (though hers are usually a little more logic-based). Elizabeth has desires and is unapologetic about them.

And I love her romance with Will even if it does have a tragic ending. Yes, this is exactly where my lore began. Keira and Orlando really have great chemistry and the YEARNING from both throughout the series kills me. (I am also partial to Elizabeth and Norrington for ~reasons~ and Scruffington in Dead Man’s Chest is actually the best).

My favorite pieces of entertainment always tie into how they make me feel. Pirates of the Caribbean awakened something in me at 15, and it’s like I’ve been chasing it ever since. I miss having this feeling to a movie, TV show, or book. And maybe it’s because I was younger then and had less responsibilities. I could yap about Pirates as much as I wanted to and sink into hyperfixations about it. Less time to do so now, though with this newsletter and the ability to see the films again proved I can carve out time to do so.

Is there any movie, TV show, book, or piece of music that makes you feel this way? Like you’re seeing special and maybe only you can appreciate it? Let me know! And thank you for letting me unleash my thoughts about this franchise.