The Pirates Trilogy is Pure Bliss

[@JustWrite]

Thanks for watching! See my other Gore Verbinski video here: shorturl.at/epuX2 And get a lifetime membership to Nebula here: go.nebula.tv/lifetime?ref=justwrite

[@MrGittz]

I subscribed and paid the fee. This Pirates video was great. The Gore Verbsinki video..not so much. There’s far too much talk about cancel culture. You’re criticism of Mouse Hunt is half baked & you criticize the ballsiest move the POTC trilogy made which is…what happens to Will. Your reasoning makes little sense. The film is “punishing” him? Will & Elizabeth living happily ever after is just..we’ve seen it before. You don’t look at Will’s overall character arc? It’s tragic. And it’s earned. The “Silver” (where is this example in The Ring? Mouse Hunt? Pirates 1? Weather Man?) thing is also a reach. I’m shocked you didn’t go for the ACTUAL thing that unites his movies. Water. It’s water. And time. I don’t know if Johnny Depp has Native American ancestry or not. He says he does. You mention he has offered no proof but are we under any obligation to prove who we say we are? I duno. That’s a slippery slope. If he’s lying, that’s on him. He played an Italian man in Donnie Brasco & I don’t think he’s Italian. He’s not wearing brown face in the movie. The movie represents Native Americans and their plight well. His accent is actually pretty well done. It’s not perfect but I don’t think it’s as terrible as you claim. And yes Armie Hammer was canceled. Which…I think “Kink Shamed” is a better word for it. And I do this he was miscast in this role. He’s not likable. He comes off as smarmy & arrogant & the issue of the movie is the Tonto/Ranger chemistry. There is none. You do make a lot of good points and observations. But like in this video where you go on a very odd tangent about the VFX industry…look. That issue is complex and it sucks but why not make a whole video dedicated to that issue. Paying it lip service for a couple minutes when all movies featuring VFX are under the gun and have underpaid over worked staff.

[@jansonshrock2859]

disagreeing with your point about s*x scenes, yes it can also be indulgent to, like your example, only go to watch John wick to see him kill every single henchman. The point is, if you're going to a movie to watch the s*x scenes, you shouldn't be going to a movie theater that's a different kind of store you need.

[@Adamkalb1]

This was a very good way to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, The Curse of the Black Pearl. Do you have a good idea for a video essay on Disney Channel's Descendants trilogy? They are a trilogy of TV movies that succeed to capitalize on the success and goodwill of animated Disney fairytale films in a way that most of their theatrical or streaming live-action remakes fail to do. If you do not have any interest in watching Descendants yourself, I guess I could make that video for you, and see if putting three months into a video that borrows your intricate style of writing break-downs can get me one million views in one year. If I do not attract that many viewers, I can still settle for one hundred thousand views in one year.

[@Atheismisbased]

@@jansonshrock2859 Sexuality is natural part of life and therefore should be natural part of media and and always was until this politically correct radfem era we live in now. You are sex negative prude that wants to censor media and promotes purity culture. No thank you artistic freedom,beautiful sex scenes and sex positivity ftw. His take on sexuality was spot on and correct. Sterilization of media in all forms is bad and human beings are sexual in nature. Also there where entire genres of movies like erotic thrillers before radfem era that where focused on sexuality and often still had great acting and story many of them classics like Boggie Nights,American Beauty and Basic Instinct just to name the few that where critical and commercial hits the fact that you think sexuality in general makes the movie worse is your own projection and insecurity.

[@Choryrth]

@@jansonshrock2859 that wasn't his point. and i'm pretty sure you know that.

[@edmeister4031]

It's honestly crazy how Davy Jones CGI still holds up almost 20 years later.

[@michazytecki965]

not only holds up, it's the best cgi character ever to be put in film

[@HK-gm8pe]

I wouldnt say that best ever .... but better than most that is coming out today @@michazytecki965

[@ianweir3608]

That's cause it's not CGI. Open your mind, we're not alone

[@michazytecki965]

What do you mean, of course it's cgi, motion capture​@@ianweir3608

[@davidkunakovsky3155]

It doesn't just holds up. It's better than most stuff nowadays.

[@BeatonFilms]

My wife and I just watched these for the first time in a decade and I was SHOCKED by how much better these films are than so many franchise films coming out today. Feels like real film making.

[@stephenpatterson2860]

I feel like this really just means that most films these days are absolute garbage, and so a couple movies in a series that are half decent becomes groundbreaking.

[@Electronica27]

@@stephenpatterson2860 Film industry is just looking at the video game industry and thinking that it's a good idea. Deliver garbage constantly, then deliver something half decent and then get showered in Oscars.

[@hydra7427]

You're wrong, Pirates is just junk food. Actual films come out today, with hard hitting questions and groundbreaking diversity. Old stuff cannot compete in the slightest.

[@maluse227]

@@hydra7427 lol hard hitting questions like, how much money can we make in china while paying lip service to whatever diverse demographic we wanna milk for money this month.

[@maluse227]

honestly same me and my wife put it on just to have something to watch one night and I genuinely couldn't turn away I was amazed at the quality compared to more modern stuff we watch. Wild that these films were seen as spectacle movies at the time.

[@EvilM0nkeyRules]

"BARBOSA MARRY US" "IM A LITTLE BUSY AT THE MOMENT!" it's My favorite line ever

[@barborajezkova8393]

yeeees💯😭😭😭😭

[@RipzCritical]

"YOU MAY KISS- YOU MAY KISS- JUST KISS"

[@stephaniemoura3214]

PURE CINEMA

[@ordevskidd]

Barbossa: Fine then. Dearly Beloved, we be gathered here today… [is set upon by a fish-person, who he kicks in the face] Barbossa: … to nail yer gizzard to the mast, yer poxy cur!

[@Double-R-Nothing]

Ive always adored how *real* the movies looked. The sets are vast and detailed, the costumes will have you staring at them taking in every stitch, you can almost feel the textures of Jack's waistcoat, or smell the rotting deck of the Dutchman. Such grounded realism was thoroughly obliterated when 4 and 5 switched to digital and went with gimmicky CGI.

[@AranelEnMirkwood]

Years ago I saw a costume exhibition that had Jack and Will's costumes from the first movie and the level of detail was stunning. Truely masterful work by Penny Rose. Honestly saddens me that I'll probably never get to see any of Elizabeth's costumes in person as the snippets about them in the making of book are fascinating, the details must be mind-blowing in person

[@dontburstmybubble686]

Okay, but the squid dude's cgi is way better than what marvel is forcing their overworked animators to churn out recently.

[@missoats8731]

@@dontburstmybubble686 I don't think I saw a more convincing and awe inspiring CGI character since Davy Jones. I love the movies mainly for him.

[@dontburstmybubble686]

@@missoats8731 agreed. The fact that he could still go toe to toe with cgi characters today is crazy.

[@jase276]

Not once did I catch myself going "this is so just a set with extras". It really felt like we were transported back in time. When the crew go to bars, it feels like it's a genuine bar with a life of its own rather than just a backdrop for exposition. When they're sailing on boats it truly feels like you're there with them on the all-encompassing open seas. Well, until the end bit in At World's End, lol

[@SadGirlHours_]

The chemistry between Elizabeth and Will is INCREDIBLE, you just don’t get that many action movies whose leads have romantic and physical chemistry like that anymore

[@leepdroon]

What? You mean you don't like seeing two characters bickering disguised as make-believe sexual tension? If I don't make my characters neg each other, how am I gonna indicate to the audiences they're into one another?

[@theun4giv3n]

The chemistry was as compelling as any found in Twilight. epic yawn.

[@nathanreimann4187]

If a Mcdonalds burger appears to you as a satisfying and delightful meal, perhaps.

[@downstream0114]

@@leepdroon Remind me where this negging happens

[@leepdroon]

@@downstream0114 Frozen, if you want a plain, bare bones example of it. The movie plays off Anna and Kristoff talking trash to each other as chemistry

[@TheForbiddenLean]

I love how we all just accept these movies are a trilogy (not that more exist).

[@kaibooxD]

later movies are to be ignored imo. they are cash grabby and superfluous

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

i dont. it's a single solid movie with 0 sequels.

[@JamesHowlett-qy3yq]

​@@kaibooxDI really liked the 4th movie. Its a good standalone one. But the fifth one,not that much. Its feels like a rehash version of the first movie

[@maycontainviolence5587]

Sort of like the Indiana Jones trilogy. 🤠

[@gonkdroid8279]

To be fair, the roles of Will and Elizabeth in the first three make a clear trilogy

[@dansmudge135]

Hans Zimmer captures how Will and Elizabeth feel in music, so that we resonate with the emotion, it’s incredible and glad you mentioned it.

[@SabiJD]

See, I think the music and what's on screen are at odds. I don't think there's a single iota of chemistry between Kiera and the oft flat and rather inert Orlando Bloom. I can't think of a role he's done that wouldn't be much better without someone else cast. I really like the full cut of Kingdom Of Heaven, but with a different/more compelling actor I'd like it even more. I found the romance resolution in the third film almost cringe inducingly hard to watch. Leo and Claire from Romeo + Juliet they ain't.

[@4zafinc]

​@@SabiJD Agreed. Bloom felt kinda off in that role, throughout

[@henrietta9394]

@@SabiJD I have to disagree here. I think Orlando suits the role really well, both in looks and how he presents turner. I think it's quite fitting to have him a little rigid, since he's had such a troubled upbringing with an absent father and a turbulent lifestyle - to then having an almost picture perfect romance woven throughout the chaos of the rest of the story. Though I am quite curious to know who you'd rather cast as Will and Legolas!

[@19ThreeLions97]

Omg yes that 17:52 is wild. So emotional. Very strong score over all.

[@doctorspook4414]

Klaus Badelt composed the first one.

[@maduross]

It’s not just Elizabeth Swan, every character has their own personalities, motivations, strengths and weaknesses, and all get enough screen time to learn and grow and change while staying true to their character throughout the whole 3 film arc with satisfying and emotionally resonant conclusions. It’s quite astonishing to go back and see how perfect the writers got it compared to what Disney/Marvel/DC writers rooms put out today.

[@sarasamaletdin4574]

Pirates is a Disney film so I don’t know why you critiqued Disney. Anyway the writers of the first film said Elizabeth was the protagonists in the commentary track, and I don’t know why she isn’t more popular. She is one of my favorite female characters of all time in this type of film

[@RTU130]

Hmm

[@maduross]

@@sarasamaletdin4574 So because Disney made some good movies 15-20 years ago they are exempt from criticism forever?

[@yosefyonin6824]

exactly, Master Gibbs was my favorite side character that always shined light in every situation

[@santiagoverdugo6972]

I love the original 3 Pirates movies and will defend them forever but there's no need for this retcon that the MCU, and specifically the Infinity Saga, was badly written. There's a reason Endgame was the massive juggernaut it was: people genuinely cared about these characters, most of them where incredibly fleshed out and almost everybody got a satisfying conclusion to their 10-year arcs.

[@sydneyice]

One thing i love about the trilogy is how brutal they are. They have no problem killing people on screen yet its not gory

[@unowndassombras509]

Its not gory, its _Gore_ .

[@loganmunoz5373]

@@unowndassombras509thank you for the correction I had no clue what the comment was saying

[@jeracaruna9]

@@loganmunoz5373 I think it's a play on Gore Verbinski, the director.

[@SpiderEnjoyer]

Yeah, I despise how most movies now are either "nobody ever dies, everything is a disney's kid movie" or "this is just a mortal kombat movie, with all the violence to appeal to edgy teenagers (but not a single hint of sexualization, sex is gross)"

[@TheBlueArmageddon]

But then it tries getting silly and a completely different mood

[@ThePonderer]

The whole original trilogy holds up so well it’s insane.

[@EyeMixMusic]

If you mean you'd have to be clinically insane to overlook the huge flaws in this bloated mess of a franchise, then sure. It's crazy.

[@ThePonderer]

@@EyeMixMusic flaws are subjective

[@OnionTheBat]

@@EyeMixMusic Nothing is perfect. Flawed movies can still be incredible, this trilogy included. One flaw I especially wanna point out is that cheap upskirt joke because as pointed out in the video, it's a shame when Elizabeth is such a strong female character and it's being undermined by that

[@Maniac61675]

@@EyeMixMusicmost flaws are bs, like what ever you wrote.

[@ajax3310]

​@@EyeMixMusic Or, you can say the original trilogy holds up so well it's insane, and the franchise afterwards became a bloated mess. These two things are not mutually exclusive.

[@OakViewFilms]

Back when $200+ million budgeted blockbusters actually LOOKED like they cost $200+ million to make. The production design, practical effects, and CGI were impressive for the time (especially on Davy Jones), and have aged like fine wine.

[@johnpaulcross424]

Incredible to think CGI peaked 15 years ago

[@MM-ux7kp]

It's not my favorite movie, but the design and execution of Davy Jones and his crew were great.

[@Im_helpless]

Trouble with marvel is they’re giving 200m blockbusters to random black female directors who’ve directed like 2 movies in their lives neither of which had a budget even close to a million let alone 200m, basically random no talent directors who don’t deserve the but get it solely because of their race and gender

[@MM-ux7kp]

@@Im_helpless you are a racist, a misogynist, and a wast3 of space.

[@froyocrew]

@@Im_helpless AND THATS A GOOD THING

[@attackfox]

I can't describe how much this trilogy meant to me when they came out. I was able to escape the confusing time of my teens and lose myself in this pirate adventure. Every single aspect of the films were spot-on from the characters, action, story, music, and more.

[@mirariarruti]

I share that feeling, that these movies helped me through confusing teenage years. I was obsessed with the trilogy, it's beautiful, powerful and well written. And the music!! I just wanted to live in this world and be as brave and crazy as the protagonists :)

[@LordVader1094]

​@@mirariarrutiIt really was (and is) perfect escapism, but with some very deep moments sprinkled in. Barbossa and Jack discussing the world in front of the Kraken's corpse sticks with me even now.

[@M4cTr1cK]

I LOVE the feeling of chaos in the third and 'final' movie. People call it messy, but for me it's pure pirate madness. Not even talking about how beautiful the movie holds up.

[@bekabex8643]

There is more chaos in the second one. but the ending of the third was good yeah

[@M4cTr1cK]

@@bekabex8643 Don't agree, but 2 and 3 should be seen as a part 1 and 2 anyway.

[@Rackstack234]

It feels apart at certain points yet I love it

[@skadi2911]

Same here, it's always been my favorite of the three. Just seeing everyone trying to stab each other's back is so funny all throughout the movie.

[@moemoeanisong]

This is madness! - This is politics

[@darko-man8549]

One hidden gem about this trilogy, is that it is actually Elizabeth's character whose growth we are watching. Jack may be the main character and the highlight, but Elizabeth is sort of the story

[@JaneXemylixa]

Jack is the highest-paid actor, lol. If Liz is the story, then she IS the main character

[@akademischungebildet5564]

@@JaneXemylixa well, not quite. The main character is the one whose stroy we follow, yes. But the one with the character arc is the protagonist. We may view Charlie and the chocolate factory from Charlie's perspective, but the movie isn't really ABOUT Charlie rather than Willie Wonka. I wouldn't say tho that the pirates movies are explicitely ABOUT Elizabeth. One way or another, Jack is the main character, because he's the focus of the movies, the one whose story we follow mostly and from the beginning on. So I'd say that the story is mainly told from his perspective and that he's in the middle of the movie plot, which makes him the main character. Who the protagonist is, is hard to say I think. I guess there are multiple ones as there are multiple characters taking strong influence on the story and having a strong character arc.

[@koboldcatgirl]

As a kid, I never understood people saying Jack was the main character or hero or whatever. I didn't know about big name actors or whatever, and to a contextless viewing, I think Jack just comes across as a fun tertiary character. If he's the main character of _Pirates,_ Maui is the main character of Moana.

[@josiahsimmons9866]

Fun fact, Jack Sparrow isn't the main character and that's partly why the last two movies were so lackluster. (the last two decided to write him as the main character with most action following him.)

[@MrQwertyman111]

The funny thing is, I know people for whom Liz is the main character, while for others it's Jack, and yet for another bunch Will is the main character. That's the beauty of this trilogy, people can identify with a wide range of characters because they're written and executed so well. It's incredible how good those films are.

[@patrikkovacs3216]

These movies were a big part of my childhood. Elizabeth was a character who I watched in awe everytime I saw her. She was THE woman for a lot of us growing up in the early 2000's. She was perfect in every way possible, even her flaws were perfect! Their romance with Will, especially the ending of Dead Man's Chestt can STILL bring tears to my eyes. I usually don't like romance in films like these, but this was different. It was, is, and will forever be perfection. I am so sad they don't write movies so well anymore. It really is a shame.

[@AlienSpaceship471]

I totally agree, I cherish these movie from my childhood too. I'm glad for the time period we came up in kids these days just got edgy cgi. These pirate movies always had mystery to them; movies today are too predictable.

[@SlayerNinaFriki]

Elizabeth Swann, Lizzy Benett and Juliette Paxton were the sexual awakening of the 2000s and we will always be grateful to Keira Knightley for that

[@ZETH_27]

15:31 I still to this day absolutely love the tiny, but vital addition of Barbossa's little confused look as Swan pulls the gun out. It's such a light gesture, but from that character, at that time, with that level of confusion, just makes Elizabeth's delivery of the scene elevate even more!

[@DepravedCoTApologist]

Especially since Barbossa didn't have hardly any comedic moments in Curse of the Black Pearl, so it adds even more to the comedy by having him react to it

[@nutyyyy]

​@@DepravedCoTApologistBarbossa is hilarious in Black Pearl

[@pumitriii6160]

Those small details are in damn near every scene of the trilogy, especially with the core group of characters - whether in the dialogue or the facial expressions or background details or all the above. Just takes the movies to a whole other level and gives them so much rewatchability

[@gryphonvert]

@@DepravedCoTApologist I'd disagree, Barbossa has several really memorable comedic moments in Black Pearl. They're not always as pithy as Jack's, and so don't get quoted as often. But, "the code is more what you'd call 'guidelines' than actual rules" is a favorite. (Others I can come up with off the top of my head are "we named the monkey Jack", and of course the monologue during the big duel at the end.). And Rush is a master of the reaction expression, even in Black Pearl.

[@e-henne]

Davy Jones is an EPIC villain with outstanding CGI. Soundtrack is out of this world. Characters have depth and the plot isn't predictable, without just trying to blatantly subvert expectations. I am glad people have been coming around on this

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

The movies are borderline bad. They only reason people are coming around on them is because modern movies are much, much worse. So bad they make all the early 2000s schlock look like masterpieces.

[@drafezard7315]

@@JDoe-gf5oz Poor b8 m8 I r8 1/8

[@Patrick-tz3od]

​@@JDoe-gf5ozRage bait😂

[@drquack1217]

@@JDoe-gf5ozno one cares

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

@@drquack1217 You cared enough to comment. Face red, hands all shaky. Probably punched some drywall before calming down enough to type out your epic comeback.

[@marisamatson3103]

And this is why we have a Pirates marathon every year in our house

[@AMoniqueOcampo]

The 2nd and 3rd pirate movies were pure unhinged chaos. The scene where Will and Elizabeth get married is my favorite!

[@thekiss2083]

And Barbossa has to yell the wedding rites over a literal hurricane while sword-fighting two guys at once 😂

[@dudavasconcelos4736]

I LOVE the chaos in this movies

[@dudavasconcelos4736]

@@thekiss2083 this is one of my favorite scenes ever

[@Appletank8]

@andreacx Never too late to forge a sword as a wedding gift.

[@queenb2450]

like where did the fun in movies go??? It was chaos but had soooo much heart and touching moments - especially their last moment together on the beach. Like. Wow. Also, soundtrack.

[@nicholasdanner628]

Gore Verbinski is just one of those directors that understands fun. Like Sam Raimi, Stephen Sommers, or James Gunn, even when it's scary it's fun. Even when it's emotional it's fun. Even when it's a bad movie there's still fun to be had. It's the kind of director who's absence in a sequel to a film they directed is so obvious just by the difference in vibe. Here's to directors who know how to make movies - no matter the tone or genre - that people enjoy watching and rewatching until the end of time.

[@eliroth9978]

Absolutely fully agree. Gore Verbinski was the secret to the franchise. Hasn't been the same without him.

[@Bayuuk]

Would also add Soderbergh's Oceans films. Those are highly enjoyable as well

[@alexarias5717]

Don't forget Sonnenfield

[@peterDcontact]

yeah, even The Lone Ranger, everyone hates it, but i had fun while watching it

[@j.m.w.5064]

No it's not. Stop being apologetic for this nonsense. It's not better just because Star Wars became such a bad joke and people are still apologizing THOSE. The first one is absolutely fine but everything after is derailed cookie cutter check mark sanitized Disney and nothing makes sense. Bad stuff is not elevated just becasue you can find worse.

[@medievalgames4782]

The fact these 2 movies were derided is insane. They are literally masterpieces.

[@Warpwaffel]

Especially when compared to the next 2.

[@jishnujishnu1467]

I seriously think it’s because most of the dialogue and best lines went over everyone’s head with the old style of English. The deliveries are so quick it took a few watches and subtitles to catch them

[@Logan912]

That’s how I feel about Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions. I guess it doesn’t help that you really need to watch Revolutions immediately after Reloaded though whereas At World’s End is a bit easier to casually jump into.

[@le_meme_man8983]

​@@Logan912 Ngl, I like Revolutions more than Reloaded

[@thembelamawelela9821]

Never understood the stick they got. The entire trilogy(the 4th and 5th films are non-canon to me) is perfection.

[@mafiacat88]

I recently rewatched the trilogy; and I entirely agree. I thought they would only be enjoyable because of nostalgia, but I had a stupid grin on my face almost the entire way through. The soundtrack is insane, the camerawork is great, sincere scenes often aren't undercut with a joke (MARVEL), the action is well choreographed.... they're just great movies.

[@queenb2450]

Exactly!! The fact that they shot ON LOCATION, it was such an adventure, the characters were all interesting and there was not a single "boring" moment....man they just had fun with these movies

[@JJJ854]

Hans Zimmer is absolutely amazing. I feel like he's really good at capturing tension in his music.

[@supastar25]

Did the same earlier this year...the whole time they had me engaged and grinning at just how much fun they are...so good

[@JJJ854]

@@queenb2450 can't stand how nowadays movies use cgi for everything. I really prefer when they shoot on location and use cgi as little as possible

[@jaymorrison2419]

@@JJJ854 Its why Fury Road will continue to look AMAZING.

[@MunroPage]

17:38 Couldn't agree more with the whole point you made about how seriously the trilogy takes Elizabeth and Will's romance and that Zimmer scores it like its War & Peace. We haven't had soaring romance like that in an action blockbuster for so long, I really miss it.

[@kaylahuntington7059]

The music instantly brings shivers to my body! Zimmer is a master!

[@MononokeLynn]

There is a piece floating around here on youtube called the “Merry Me Suite” from Pirates; it’s a 10-min unreleased track that is so sweeping and beautiful that if I’m in the right mood, I will start crying.

[@MunroPage]

@@MononokeLynn Well guess I'm listening to that all day then.

[@toxicxhazard]

It's 2024, romance is completely dead, the jig is up. Better luck in the next two generations I suppose

[@Neutral_Tired]

the rare action comedy that has a good idea of when to be funny, when to take itself seriously, and how to appropriately blend the two.

[@TrueGamer22887]

Davy Jones walking through the capstan and spinning before scaring jack is perfection

[@aden538]

The action in these movies very much reminded me of Jackie Chan's style where things start simple and slowly getting more ridiculous in the best possible way.

[@emmaearthling444]

Don’t forget romance and lowkey horror, there’s so many genres going on here

[@mastrostrom5383]

"Such a great Trilogy, truly an amazing adventure." "Actually, it's really a pentalo-" "DID I STUTTER!?"

[@bentn13]

It's the Gore Pirate Trilogy.

[@connorhaley3190]

The 4th was a decent film, even if a bad sequel. Certainly still better than the 5th (which doesn’t exist).

[@ElectroTherapyFTSoul]

Same when I talk about Star Wars. "Not every film is great, but I still enjoy all six films." "But there's nine plus spin-" "ALL SIX FILMS!"

[@PalaceDude]

The 4th film wasn't perfect, but I remember it exists, it's still good on its own, plenty of iconic scenes. The 5th tho? We do not talk about the 5th, that film simply does not exist.

[@bigbubba0439]

​@@connorhaley3190 Yes, I feel like in the 4th movie the decline of quality is visible (although the introduction of the Spanish is a genius way to get a new, but not outrageous plot), but the movie still feels like a Pirates movie. The 5th one felt like they were milking it, with too many completely unknown characters, basic comedy, and over-emphasized magic (crystals are way too overused as a stand-in magic prop for making difficult parts of the plot to go away)

[@Onandagus]

The fact that people are finally realizing the pirates trilogy as a true masterpiece makes me so unbelievably happy. The explosion of video essays covering the pirates movies is proof of this!

[@nebiyouelias961]

I remember about a year or so ago there weren’t that many videos essays. I even considered doing one myself. It’s funny how a movie that made hundreds of millions could still be underrated.

[@jack.smith2958]

Pirates also has arguably one of the best title melodies ever. I've had the experience of watching Hans Zimmer perform the entire thing live, and it's a fantastic piece of music.

[@AutoAndChill]

I always thought it's weirdly similar to the Elder Scrolls music.

[@gryphonvert]

I keep adding this: Black Pearl's score was composed by Klaud Badelt. He and Zimmer were frequent collaborators. Badelt's Wikipedia page clearly lists them as collaborating on some notable big soundtracks (for example, Gladiator). But Badelt is listed alone for Black Pearl. I think we have him to thank for some of those amazing leitmotifs, including the title track. Movie 2 and 3 are all Zimmer. (They were both at Zimmer and Rifkin's company at the time; so it's hard to say how much unofficial collaboration might have gone on within the company. As I said, though, Badelt's page seems to try to be very clear when he was a collaborator, and with whom. So it seems notable that only he is listed for Black Pearl.)

[@OttoHorst888]

@@gryphonvertThank you. I still get a bit mad due to the fact, that Zimmer gets most of the Credit for the Music of Badelt. He just reused his Themes (apart from for example the Davy Jones Theme) in the other two Movies and when you compare it the his other scores like Gladiator or Interstellar you notice it‘s not even his style to compose

[@Gazulolima]

I feel so bad for Commodore Norrington. Am I the only one who remembers him fondly?

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

He was kind of an annoying asshole but he ended up being a decent guy. He didn't deserve his fate.

[@a.n.9800]

I once saw someone say that Norrington’s biggest issue is that with the way he’s written as a suitor, he’s a regency-style love-interest in an early-2000s action-comedy. (Wrong historical era I know but I’m talking about genre trappings.) If he were plucked out of the Pirates movies and put in an Austen-type story he’d be framed by the narrative as ideal husband material. But Elizabeth Swan doesn’t want the same things out of life as Elizabeth Bennet so Norrington just isn’t her match.

[@TimeandMonotony]

I rewatched all five movies recently and it was the first time I realized that Norrington is actually a great and tragic character.

[@darthswagedorn]

"So it would seem." Jk I love Norrington

[@chibidakis1]

Wish he had a bigger role in the 3rd film... 😢

[@nemowindsor8724]

The writers and Verbinski were such a weird dream team, and I’m shocked these films were allowed to exist. They are my favourite blockbusters of all time.

[@Richard_Nickerson]

They basically lied to executives whenever they visited the sets of the first one. Pirate movies were always flops before Curse of the Black Pearl

[@Headtalk]

The fact that I still, to this day, want to be a pirate entirely due to these movies is their mark of quality for me. I’m 28 years old. I think that they’re some of the best action movies ever made. I know they’re not complicated or deep, but they still resonate deeply with me.

[@madstork91]

The reason she is a good character is because: 1) She fails, 2) she has room to grow, 3) she grows, 4) she can be saved by others, and 5) she retains flaws.

[@benrig89]

Bingo. The blueprint to real strong movie women. Side note, this is why the Wednesday series on Netflix was so refreshing, because she meets all of these criteria.

[@randynielsen1413]

Yea, the "anti-woke people didn't see this" comment kind of misses the point. People are annoyed with robotic super mary sue womyn and when the plot/writers are focused on pushing a clumsy female empowerment message. No one had a problem with Elizabeth Swan because she didn't outshine the rest of the cast to push a director's agenda, she was a character that people could connect with because we got to watch her and Will, both sheltered and inexperienced, grow and do their own parts in their story. If this series was made today, Elizabeth would have been more clever than jack, more determined than will, more ruthless than beckett. She would have been the best helmsman in the movie, "I've lived in Port Royale my whole life, of course I'm good at sailing!!!111!", She'd outduel Barbossa, probably beat the crab people in an unarmed fight, and other sorts of ludicrous antics.

[@SwainixFPV]

@@randynielsen1413 I would almost just dumb it down to "she's just another character", she's not written differently than the other leads. She's "just" a good character, something Arcane does really well too for example. I kinda hate when a stupid OP character is pointed out as "woke" just because she's a woman, no just point it out as a bad character lol

[@thedapperdolphin1590]

@@randynielsen1413”robotic super may sue women” are not actually all over the place though. People are just way more critical of female protagonists than male ones.

[@RafitoOoO]

​@@thedapperdolphin1590of course they are. Especially in the big blockbusters. Just look at Rey and Marvel where every teenage girl can build a nuclear reactor in their room or whatever.

[@RJKilroy]

The only huge gripe I have with the original trilogy is that the extended Liar’s Dice scene fucking slapped and it should’ve been kept in the final cut, like I’m almost mad they decided to cut it that short

[@moscanaveia]

Damn, I never watched them deleted scenes for those movies

[@resathe6760]

there is a really great video here on youtube analyzing the Liar's Dice scene. I can't remember the channel it was on on the top of my head though

[@chazcmeekins83]

​@@resathe6760 The channel is called Lord Ravenscraft.

[@resathe6760]

@@chazcmeekins83 👍that's the one

[@noahhelsee1340]

also Jack's "people aren't cargo, mate" from the third film. it's my favorite line in the series and it didn't make it to screen.

[@ibana_5718]

I was born in 2007 so I didn’t watch those movies as a teen. I literally grew up with them. I remember watching the first when I was 5 or 6 with my mother and then I got obsessed. The soundtracks, the characters, the world. I should’ve been scared at a young age like that but I never was. The film was so amazing to me that I wanted to live in that world so badly. I dreamt about the characters and imagined myself to be a pirate. This is where my love for Hans Zimmer started and it’s also why I started piano and why I love books about pirates so much. It’s safe to say that this masterpiece of a film changed my life in the best way possible… and I wouldn’t change a damn thing about the trilogy.

[@jonahthrane812]

Elizabeth Swan should be a case study for how to write a strong female character. She's incredible, she's very much a woman, and shes very sexual, she uses her sexuality against Jack, and wins. Yet she's still an incredible character. I've never seen anyone complain about her being a bad character or a woman etc, she's just written that well.

[@CoffeeStained]

Pirates of the Caribbean 1, 2 and 3 was Elizabeth’s story, after all. She started as a young woman with no agency, to be married off to a man she didn’t love, then became a pirate, then a fugitive, then a pirate, then a captain, then the pirate king, Will became a pirate (pardoned), then a pirate again (privateered by Cutler), then a pirate again, then the captain of the Dutchman. Jack started and ended as “the greatest pirate I’ve ever seen”.

[@BossPlayaaaaaaaaaaaa]

Same applies to Hermione Granger (or how Emma Watson portrayed her) in all HP movies. While she isn't the focal point of the story she still is a hero. Smart and strong at the same time. Nothing forced in our face (like in the new James Bond...). Just great writing and character development.

[@skylersimpson4692]

Lol yeah J.K Rowling writing her to be OP and great at everything is totally “good writing” and totally not feminist bs 👍@@BossPlayaaaaaaaaaaaa

[@WCLCooke]

​@@BossPlayaaaaaaaaaaaa The book version of Hermione was better written and more realistic.

[@EximiusDux]

I absolutely love the pirates movies, even Dead Men Tell No Tales, but "Elizabeth" and "will" barely register to me as being part of the movies. They always felt as small filler for the actual bigger stories (and or parts) of the Flying Dutchman and everybody else. She is a really simple character in the movies. Rebellious pretty woman choosing a rough lifestyle with an "unconventional weird man" who happens to have the looks of a movie actor.

[@calebgonzalez599]

Thank you for both talking about the beauty of the VFX and the abysmal treatment of the artists.

[@princessthyemis]

it's awful!!

[@distributistsshrekvideo]

hey, you can't make an omelette without overworking and underpaying a few eggs, am I right?

[@Lucas-fo8ci]

7:42 i love how jack looks so pleased with himself X)

[@_ddoraemon_]

As a pirate fan girl all my childhood..... This soothes my soul. Such a healing and reassuring video

[@LaResistanceMedia]

The Malestrom battle at the climax of Worlds End is honestly one of my favorite action scenes of all time. I’m talking like top 10. And I’d narrow that down to my top 5 if we’re just talking big budget mostly CGI action set pieces. The build up, the atmosphere, the music it’s all sooo perfect. I still get absolute chills when Elizabeth, without prompting instantly understands Barbossa’s attack plan and screams “PREPARE TO BROADSIDE!” That’s the thing great action movies are made of.

[@brianmattei7134]

Yes, it is SO FUCKING GOOD. Like I remember watching that in the theatres at 14 and lost it.

[@TheMissEmuhlee]

This whole scene gives me chills

[@jaymorrison2419]

"...Just Kiss!..." Such a dumb, throw away joke, that is STILL SO DAMN GOOD.

[@iiiiitsmagreta1240]

And there's a FUCKING WEDDING right in the middle of it 😂😂😂 God I love these movies 🥰

[@emmab4587]

and it's one of the few action scenes that are that long but still manage to keep you captivated the entire time

[@Hellohou]

I am SO (!!) happy to see there‘s a video in 2023 with nearly 1m views that praises this trilogy. I recently rewatched it, too, and everytime I do (I‘m a serious rewatcher of all sorts of movies and series lol), I am absolutely fascinated and awed by the brilliance of everything this trilogy ties together. This video plus reading all the comments of agreement make me feel weirdly but seriously thrilled that I am not the only one keeping these movies close by heart lol I thought nobody would think of these anymore. Also - amazing review, well done!

[@pandapotato5121]

I absolutely adore the pirates trilogy, they are so bonkers and such a good time to watch each time i go to rewatch them. Also i suppose its not a hugely popular opinion but i quite like how complicated all the characters' motives get and how they keep fighting each other and other people for their goals.

[@agilemind6241]

Absolutely, my issue with the 2nd and 3rd movies is purely bloat, the story is good, the complex relationships is good, the "feels" are good. The problem is the action-comedy out stays its welcome, it's like the joke that you laugh at the first 3 times you hear it but at the 4th you groan. Cut out 20% of the action scenes and Jack sparrow being funny scenes and the whole trilogy would be perfect.

[@HAHA4625]

It's not the complicated relationships by itself that's bad, it's that the movie handles it poorly and it's way too bloated. Game of Thrones has fifteen different main characters all doing different things but that works because it's a TV series and everyone gets to breathe and expand on their plot (except for season eight lol)

[@d.rabbitwhite]

I agree and was penning a similar comment until I saw yours.

[@caelincoolz5814]

It gives your mind a bit of a workout, but it's pretty awesome how everything is all wrapped up in the end.

[@jase276]

I have to disagree, unless by action scenes you mean the ship fights? The sword combat were absolutely superb in my eyes. And I enjoyed Jack being whacky. He was always off and quirky, that was a whole plot point in the first film as a lasting effect of his crew's mutiny. I will, however, give you the entire beginning sequence of At World's End where Jack is in limbo interacting with himself. That portion dragged oooooooon way too long. @@agilemind6241

[@kimberlyterasaki4843]

I love that you take note of Elizabeth Swann because she is iconic and undervalued as arguably the true protagonist of the series

[@LordSeth-hf8ew]

because its well written and not shoved in your face

[@theun4giv3n]

Yawn character. Naff actress. Too much pouting.

[@Aurilion44]

I also adore her character, but let's stop with things like canons or true protagonists. Works can have multiple protagonists that are just as important and are playing off of each other. That is the case with Pirates trilogy

[@ceshmate1953]

@@Aurilion44 true protag situations happend, don't just neglect it by saying there can be many. You go watch a show, you get introduced to the mc, only for the mc to be outshined by a different character 1 episode later for the entirety of the show.

[@vikashkumarsharma1412]

@@ceshmate1953 bro jack sparrow was the character around whom was everything revolving .....he was the most unique character that we have ever encountered ......you can find bunch of elizabeths in all the princess movies ......saying that jack was the main charcter is absolutely disrespect.......Captain Jack sparrow is pirates of the carrebian

[@jacklougheed4561]

At worlds end is the near the top of my list. There was never just one thing happening, there were layers, Jack using Wills betrayal to betray the crew himself, Will and Elizabeth getting married during the fight, the singapore opening with the british, spying on the pirates while they are cheating each other. Bonus points for using an orchestra. I think too many modern movies want to make a terrific stand alone soundtrack, and use popular songs then modify scenes and cherry pick songs that sort of line up, but orchestral music is composed to add to the scene, and draw the viewer in with a piece of music they don't recognize yet and can't draw on any other memories for how to feel or react.

[@crunchysalmons]

the sets and costumes are SO DETAILED in every single scene. every table have knife marks and is blasted with water and barnacles it’s so tactical to watch

[@wyattlines7228]

Something you didnt go into was also the incredible characterization of most of the named cast. Davy Jones is up there with Darth Vader with Screen presence and has an extremely empathetic back story. Will's waffling motivation in the second and third films really are accurate to what a early 20's male orphan would feel when confronted with commitment to the love of his life and to finding his family. Elizabeth deals with overwhelming patriarchal value and gains her own autonomy in a completely organic way, even putting her love for people aside and dealing with multiple male advances responsibly, or utilizing them for her own ends. Even the pirate with one eye gets character developement. These movies were incredible, and really shows how important characterization is when most of the film is people sailing on a boat.

[@Fakeslimshady]

"responsibly"

[@freekmulder3662]

Jack deserved to get eaten@@Fakeslimshady

[@skriisi]

Bill Nighy and Geoffrey Rush are both oscar level "serious" character actors, casting them in action comedy was the glue that holds this all together.

[@staylor0902]

You hit the nail on the head throughout. I love watching these three movies every other year or more. And to your point on Zimmer scoring the romance like War and Peace, I still get chills when the music swells in that last scene. Sheer blockbuster brilliance.

[@GemAndMoth]

I still remember being in high school getting to see a midnight showing of the second movie and the absolute thrill at the end when Barbosa walked down the stairs. It was before I could easily find spoilers, before I expected twists and it totally took me by surprise.

[@chuckschwa]

I remember sitting with my brother through the credits of Dead Man's Chest, mostly for the awesome music, but also because we figured there would be a secret after the credits scene like the first movie. A couple younger kids threw popcorn at us and chided "the movie's over idiot!". Fast forward to today and EVERYONE is sitting through all the marvel movie credits for a peak at what's to come. Smh

[@ZachBobBob]

You just unlocked a memory for me there. As a kid watching I was like hooolllyyy shiiittttt

[@annjay2581]

The music is the gigantic cherry on top of this already delicious cake of a movie trilogy. I dont think Ive ever seen another franchise use a soundtrack so well. Its an active part of the scene, not just a backround noise. Absolutely incredible.

[@frank2510]

Hans Zimmer

[@LSG101097]

On the same level as Lord of the RIngs. and actualluy first Dune movie either with the same Hans Zimmer. But something strange happened on the second one.

[@beedaweirdo]

i find the fact that you called Norrington ‘whats his name’ pretty fitting to his character as he was always kinda overshadowed by Will, and even in his death, when Norrington stabs Davy Jones, Davy Jones compliments the sword that Will made, showing that Norrington was never on first place for Elizabeth (i hope this makes a little bit of sense)

[@Mr.StevenKerr]

That main Pirate's theme is imo one of the best if all time. It does so many things at once

[@Advent3546]

Say what you want about the overly convoluted story with the sequels (especially in At World's End) they absolutely nailed ramping up the visual splendor from the first one. They still look and feel like a big-budget blockbuster you should experience in the cinema. Davy Jones looks goddamn amazing and I can't believe those effects are almost 20 years old

[@vitablackbird]

Thank you so much for talking about the wild expectations and pressure put onto artists of the VFX industry. Artists are passionate about what they do and sacrifice so much personal time or mental health trying to achieve unrealistic expectations. Studio culture is often extremely toxic in the bigger studios and managed by ego boosted CEOs who want to establish their name in cinema. I truly hope things will improve in the future for all those who love movies and making them.

[@thehappyheartwanders]

The “One Day” soundtrack for Will and Elizabeth is so underrated. It’s so good I immediately burst into heavy sobs in the 5th movie when that track busted out at the end. Didn’t matter how mid the 2 hours of movie before that moment was. 30 seconds of that track and I was lost.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

Same.

[@lumidaub]

Haven't seen the 5th one but yes, this. I can't listen to their theme without having an uglycry meltdown. Even just the tiny part of it in this video here gave me so many goosebumps.

[@tomatosoup1304]

Honestly the fifth movie is worth watching just to hear that music and see them reunite

[@sinistersaint]

gods, same. I even misted over a little just hearing it in this video. That scene in the movie always breaks me... I don't think I've seen 5 yet, but I'm going to look for it now lol

[@iplayeddsharpminor]

If you ever get the chance see Hans Zimmer live. Hearing those themes live is one of the most breathtaking moments of my life to the point of tears.

[@jonnytap]

The Pirates Trilogy has to be my favorite of all time. I'd like to add that I love how it connects the smaller details between movies. Do y'all remember when we saw the dog left at the island in the 2nd movie but then we see the dog again with Jack's dad at the Brethren Court in the 3rd movie. "Sea turtles, mate"

[@stelliosbonadurer359]

Also the subplots of the two pairs of dudes. (the pirate guys and the redcoats that turn to pirates)

[@ethel-c]

The whole Parlay subplot! The thing that saves Elizabeth's life in 1st movie, proceeds to 2nd when Will is send to Jones, Jack's remark about Pirate King having parlay rights, and then Elizabeth becoming King and parlaying with Beckett and Jones

[@alicethemad1613]

FINALLY someone giving the first three movies the praise they deserve instead of just dismissing every film except the first. I’ve been saying for years that the second and third ESPECIALLY At World’s End are legitimate masterpieces. Also, I find that the second and third have legitimately really salient and well executed themes, especially about colonialism, imperialism, freedom, race, gender, and abuse. Davy Jones “loved” Calypso, but she is the sea. He wanted her to be a singular woman for him, waiting for him on land consistently. But her fundamental nature is inconstant and unpredictable. He loved her but assumed she would change for him, wanted her to be something she was not and could not be, all just for his sake. He loved the idea of her rather than her actual self. So in rage he punishes her by binding her in a human body and ripping her away from her home (in a ceremony that we kind of assume is inherently romantic since it required someone to speak to her like a lover to release her, to it probably worked like that to bind her too). This feels a lot like an intimate act of violence and a violation of her body, and maybe a vague allusion to slavery but idk it’s a bit of a stretch on that one. But her blackness is actually important to her character. She spends most of her narrative serving the central male characters, but it turns out it’s only for her own ends. She makes them think she’s helping them for their sake, and when she’s finally released she’ll be merciful to the very people that bound her just because they released her. And when she’s finally able to be free, she speaks Creole. There’s something really powerful about that, that she’s been speaking English the whole time and when she’s finally free she returns to a language that’s very associated with black people. She basically says “you’re all idiots for thinking I would forgive you, I will sink your ship and drag you all down with it”. Then turns into crabs and immediately opens a big ol whirlpool right under them. She’s honestly my favorite character in the franchise and I feel like people don’t talk enough about how surprisingly deep the themes her character arc explores are.

[@unowndassombras509]

I was *shocked* when I came to the internet and realized how hated the 2nd and 3rd one were.

[@fumseck9924]

Also, about Davy Jones, the VFX is really good, but more than that, he is just a damn good villain, possibly the best Disney villain of all time. He is just perfect in every aspect : he is terrifiying, cruel, unpredictible, strong, cold, but somehow moving with his story with Calypso. Just his musical theme is pure gold and reflects the complexity of the character. He is completely mad and broken, but you can still see where he is coming from and while the movie never tries to justify his actions, he isn't a one-dimensional character. He should be over-the-top, but he isn't and that feels so good to have this kind of over-dramatic character that is completely justified. Also, he is so connected to the plot, not only because everyone wants his heart, but also because of the thematic connections with Jack, Elizabeth and Will. So I think he is a big part why these movies are pure gold.

[@emmab4587]

YES!!

[@PrimerCinePodcast]

Even as a kid I could feel just how amazing these movies were. Tons of personality and care. And the actors were really giving their all.

[@MichaelDub]

The Pirates movies are personal favorites of mine and I think you explained why perfectly. Something a lot of modern movies have been doing is relying on their IP and their CGI to carry the movie to box office success, their dumping money into a can and hoping it'll 10x by the time the movie releases. A genuinely good movie uses its large funding not to make the movie, but to enhance it and make it better.

[@rige229]

Dead Man's chest has always been the best one imo, perfect balance of action, comedy and epicness

[@ZachBobBob]

Agreed! It's in my top 5 movies of all time

[@kool4209]

to me it the best because they genuinely ( idk how) made Davy Jones look legit real........ like it blows any CGI in the last 20 years. (aside from Kong in his film in 4k its crazy how realistic it is).

[@JosephQuillen]

Easily the best one!!

[@unowndassombras509]

My favorite as well. I didn't really feel how "superior" the 1st was, as most people say. I think people really didn't like the goofiness of the 2nd one. Though Indiana Jones had the same campy tone and its still one of the most beloved trilogy ever.

[@Logan912]

Likewise, Matrix Reloaded is my favorite of the Matrix trilogy for the same reasons… maybe not as much comedy though.

[@Joviaero]

I also feel these movies achieve an epic feeling that few films have even come close to since. That scene with the commanders ship getting blown apart while he casually walks down the steps accepting his fate is one of my favourite film moments of all time

[@ankymrn]

I just rewatched that trilogy. It still is fantastic, wraps up up nicely all the character arcs. I refuse to accept anything that comes after the third film.

[@TheGallifreyanGal]

I've been a Pirates truther for the past 15 years, and so this video was incredibly vindicating. Thank you!

[@buccaneercat]

Movies like Dead Man’s Chest, At Worlds End, Spider-Man 3, Revenge of the Sith, and Tron Legacy were all movies that were harshly bombed critically, but growing up with them, I ADORED them as a child! I still adore them to this day, and will never understand how people were so dissatisfied in the early 2000s.

[@__-fm5qv]

Tbh the 90's and 2000's had some absolutely incredible movies, maybe its just not quite what they were expecting? So they ended up dismissing them.

[@jase276]

You're damn right. Idk about Tron Legacy, though, couldn't stay awake for that one. i should revisit it. But, the common thread between all these films is that they all came out during a turn of the tide(pun unintended). There was a shift in society and pop culture and we still feel it to this day. I consider myself lucky to have been able to experience all of them in my adolescence, though.

[@alenor210]

My favorite thing about these films isn’t actually the films themselves, amazing as they may be. It’s the memories I have associated with them. One summer when I was like 9, my family went to the beach for a vacation. My parents were checking us in and I, bored out of my mind because my DS had died, decided to just wander around the lobby while waiting. In the lobby, I found a huge stack of DVDs next to a sign that said they were free to borrow for hotel guests, and in that stack was all three Pirates movies. Now, I was absolutely not allowed to watch PG-13 movies at that age, but my mom was distracted by the concierge and the sign said the movies were free, so I grabbed the DVDs,stuffed them into my pillow, and prayed my parents wouldn’t notice the suspicious DVD-shaped outlines on my pillow case. As fate would have it, the room that my sister and I shared in the condo had a TV with a DVD player in it, so for the entire week, after my mom would tuck us in at night, my sister and I would secretly watch like an hour of Pirates before falling asleep. We watched them out of order and half the time I didn’t know what was going on, but I didn’t care. It was awesome, the movies were amazing and it felt like I had successfully pulled off this huge heist (though I did return the DVDs once we finished bc I felt guilty about stealing lol). So now, whenever I see these films, I think back to those days when life was simpler and happier.

[@Mpiewizard]

My mom and I watched Dead Man’s Chest for the hell of it a couple months ago and we were both kinda shocked by how entertaining and overall well-made it was. I’ve always been a supporter of the idea that these films are better than people give them credit for but it still surprised me. All of the characters are after the same macguffin for different yet completely plausible reasons for their character and that's just amazing writing to me. Also, Davy Jones still looks phenomenal for being over 10 years old.

[@MotesofDust]

"I'm Canadian, our money is all different colors"... this made me laugh more than I feel like it should have.

[@zadarthule]

I am european, all our money has different colors.

[@kirbythecreatoroftheundyin1237]

@zadarthule I'm pretty sure most currencies in the world have different colours for different notes

[@zadarthule]

@@kirbythecreatoroftheundyin1237 that is very likely

[@anaiscardot6674]

@@zadarthule I'm european, and thanks to this thread, I just realised that I haven't payed anything with something else than my card for so long that I barely remember how our money looks :p

[@zadarthule]

@@anaiscardot6674 my grandma gives me cash 😅

[@Wierdly-]

Wow, what an incredible analysis. I particularly liked the analysis of Elizabeth Swans character and the VFX unionizations. Thank you!

[@pogo8050]

The early 2000s was such an incredible time for cinema. We had like 5 huge franchise trilogies running at once, on top of getting iconic comedies dramas and historical epics. And all these series were content with leaving it at the 3rd installment putting a neat bow on it all.

[@superwebster9449]

Could you share what other franchise you're saying? I wanna watch em all 🙈

[@pogo8050]

@@superwebster9449 I’m sure I’m forgetting something here, but The Matrix, Lord of The Rings, Star Wars prequels,Pirates of The Carribean and Harry Potter ( which is not a triology but still ).

[@chai_lattes]

​​@@pogo8050don't forget Batman and Spiderman!

[@pogo8050]

@@chai_lattes oh god you’re right!

[@chai_lattes]

@@pogo8050 2000s was definitely the decade of the blockbuster. So many FUN movies that were quality films too.

[@HurricaneDDragon]

I don’t know what I’m more impressed by, the fact that you made me realize the incredible way Elizabeth was handled in this trilogy (something I never bothered to notice or appreciate back when I was a teenage boy obsessed with the first three films in this franchise), or the masterful way you completely sidestepped praising Johnny Depp in this video.

[@torva360]

I didn't even notice that he barely mentioned Jack. And as far as I've seen, you're the only one to point it out.

[@steffenjensen422]

I mean Johnny is obviously a *big part of those movies but he's been praised enough anyways, it was really interesting seeing all the other stuff explored that made these films great. And we know from pirates 4&5 that Depp alone can't carry these

[@torva360]

@@steffenjensen422 he didn't even want to be in those, and the writing for his character was awful. Someone pointed out that in 4, 99% of his jokes are random comments on his situation. I'd give examples, but all I can remember is him saying "wet again" after falling in water. Same dialogue as a toddler haha

[@Parker--]

@@steffenjensen422 No actor can entirely carry a movie by themselves and he was far more than a bit part. The latter movies lacked originality, meaning, etc. You still have to have good story and filmmaking.

[@oneandonlysound99]

Yeah, I admit I'm still a fan of 5 "Dead Men Tell No Tales" but gg, "On Stranger Tides" was SO BAD. The villains were super-boring, the ships in bottles amounted to nothing. It was so high budgeted yet was kinda off-looking and even cheap/ugly at times. It must've been because of it being rushed AND the hawaii filiming that makes it look like hawaii on TV than the carribean. At least 5 wins on the latter front. And 4 had "aslyum/knock off film Elizabeth/Will" while 5 briefly actually had Will and the son and daughter were far more interesting and better written. Saying this however doesn't change how aside from wishing they'd also been aloud a little more time (maybe for Calypso) to start filming "at world's end" with an incompleted script, the original trilogy really is just straight up fire. @@torva360

[@TheImmediatePastPrez]

Still wish Gore Verbinski got to make his Bioshock adaptation. I don't know if he was the director I would have specifically chosen, but he seems to make interesting films and I appreciate that deeply now

[@KajianTemp]

Hans Zimmer and his crew decided to go all-out for these movies, and it resounds well.

[@cyberpokey]

The Pirates movies were the only trilogy after the original Indiana Jones trilogy that gave me that same sense of fun, humor, playfulness, danger, excitement. Every beat, character, set piece is purposeful and impactful. Just whole rounded blissful fun. It sounds simple, but that's all we really want when we go to he movies.

[@thenonexistinghero]

Back to the Future though...

[@marikroyals7111]

@@thenonexistingheroThey did end around the same time with BttF 3 coming out the year after IJatLC, 1990 and 1989 respectively.

[@unowndassombras509]

I watched both pentalogies (oh sorry, trilogies*) back to back last month. They really share the same sense of fun and adventure while not underestimating the danger in the story and how it take itself seriously enough.

[@achronos178]

I really wished had more adventure films like these!

[@eseguerito2629]

You’ve probably already seen it but if not i HIGHLY reccomend The Mask of Zorro (1998)

[@ZelphTheWebmancer]

@@eseguerito2629 I watched The Mask of Zorro so much as a kid, great movie. I need to rewatch it some day.

[@europeansocialdemocrat]

@@eseguerito2629 The Mask Of zorro was amazing so entertaining and fun.

[@VegimorphtheMovieBoy]

Those are the kinds of films I want to make!

[@VegimorphtheMovieBoy]

@@eseguerito2629 LOVE The Mask of Zorro. Good old fashioned swashbuckling adventure and classic storytelling.

[@FrameDevice]

The first three Pirates movies were glorious and I will plunge headfirst into the Kraken's gaping maw to stand by that declaration. You can't tell me that scene of Beckett walking down the ship while it explodes isn't the coolest goddamn thing you've ever seen!

[@kalmarr120]

Or the ship wedding!

[@queenb2450]

@@kalmarr120 I'll never understand why movie studios don't include a romance adventure....like everyone was rooting for them to be together

[@princessthyemis]

that scene has stuck in my head for years!

[@oneandonlysound99]

Beckett basically got a live-action, well-done, good-looking death of the Renaissance period that Disney has basically failed to do ever since, whether it's an original, or yet another live-action adaptation. They used to make movies like this and stuff like Tron: Legacy and now we got superhero overkill, bad CGI, and ugly AI looking trash.

[@pandaheero]

Please, and THANK YOU for this video! I've felt like the odd one out for the longest of times loving Pirates 2 and 3 (my favorite being At Worlds End being my favorite of the three actually) I think the music translates so well and the VFX for these movies also (I feel) are WAY better than A LOT of the movies that are coming out now. It sucks to learn that my favorite movie started the unfair working constitutions for VFX artist. But DAMN all the ppl who worked on it made it look SO DAMN GOOD! Even the kids I babysit think that Davy Jones still holds up today and they are very impressed! Thanks for diving into this, it was very interesting!

[@karenlusted298]

I got the OST for At World's End back in the day and I constantly listened to it. Probably one of the best music scores ever. Still sends chills up my spine.

[@teejaykaye]

One of my favorite trilogies ever. Just pure unadulterated fun and action and emotion and intrigue and cinematography. And you know the pirates movies hit their mark when even you narrating the reason the scene is funny, over a clip of the wheel yanking Jack out of the ground, got me to start snickering in genuine amusement. God I love these movies.

[@TheSmartboy64]

Correct me if I am wrong, its been a while since I've watched this films. the use of the main theme is absolutely beautiful. There are so many variations of it that you hear throughout the trilogy. At different moments and scenes that convey different emotions there is the theme just hanging out and playing. Because that theme song IS Pirates and Pirates involves so many different things to be truly epic. Its funny, action packed, romantic, and everything in between. And altering the theme to reflect those moments, beautiful.

[@rainbowstarfall]

These movies are just pure fun. And Hans Zimmer's soundtrack is definitely a big reason why.

[@r.c.c.10]

He didn't compose the first soundtrack though.

[@attackfox]

@@r.c.c.10 even so, At World's End's soundtrack is a massive accomplishment

[@heatherrockwell9012]

It makes me so happy that people are starting to really appreciate World's End. When I was a kid, it was always my favorite because of the spectacle---but now I love it both for that, and for the brilliant way it handles all the character arcs. I don't care that it's too long and has incomprehensible worldbuilding; it works as a conclusion and it's incredibly fun, and I'd argue it has the best music of the trilogy.

[@gonkdroid8279]

This video inspired me to rewatch the trilogy. It holds up amazingly. Completely agree about how the movie does romance in a way that is so refreshing compared to modern stuff

[@oneslikeme]

I mean... Elizabeth wasn't JUST a lying femme fatale. But she did lie using her femininity in a big way. She conned Jack to his death. Otherwise, I agree. I love Elizabeth, and seeing a character like her in film was eye-opening for me as a young woman. I'd love to see more women like her in film

[@condogslocombe]

This is the only time that someone’s described a bunch of jokes and it wasn’t terrible. Truly well done

[@tangroro]

Till this day I haven't seen anything better than the battle of maelstrom

[@EchoEckoEkho]

It speaks to quality of the comedy in the Pirates films that I kept snickering at the clips you included. Even when it was the third time a clip played. They’re just so well done.

[@VarjoPira]

Dead Man's Chest has always been my favorite Pirates movie. It has everything, without being too much of anything. Or too little. It really is an underappreciated form of art what a director like Verbinski is able to do.

[@Power5]

20:10 Being in computer aided design myself, I find this a very young perspective. I remember taking my first job and just accepting what they offered me. After that, I demanded at least 20% increase in pay, and more PTO, and profit sharing. I am good at what I do, and companies used to search me out to hire. Now with all the young blood taking way less than they are worth, my offers have also dried up. Luckily I am at an office that appreciates my skills. But they have also hired more designers to be able to do what I can do in the same time. It does take time but there is a reason Hans Zimmer can still demand whatever he wants to score a movie. He has not reduced his quality or his cost. You want that score, you pay for it from the master. You could hire a dozen people to score a film and get it done faster but it will not be the same quality. He has not reduced his price to compete with the new young digital composers or second tier composers that marvel likes to hire. There are those directors that will not agree to skimp on their VFX and hire the people who are best able to bring their vision to life. There are also directors that will allow their movie to get budgeted by the producers to turn it into garbage.

[@nadchan2043]

I care so much about these three movies. I could never really put my finger on why exactly, they're just that good. The score is incredibly epic AND beautiful, the general esthetic hasn't aged, the humour still works, it's still THAT good. Couple that with the nostalgy and I'm on the verge of tears whenever I rewatch some scenes.

[@emmab4587]

I am also constantly baffled at why people think AWE is 'too long' when endgame exists, it's honestly ridiculous. Plus, with all the new characters, you can still generally follow the story if you know the characters from the first one: Regardless of the new stuff, Will always wants to save Elizabeth, she always wants to save him, and Jack always wants something selfish until he inevitably makes the better choice in the end. The bad guys are bad and you can tell that based on vibes alone, even if the nuance goes over your head. Even if you don't realize Tia wants the pirate lords to free her, you still understand that she has some stake in what happens because of her relationship with Davy Jones. And you definitely at least know by the end of the movie that Bill is Will's father. All of this is part of why rewatching is so much fun!! You get to notice all the details you might have missed. I usually don't like too much sexualization in movies, but the stuff between Will and Elizabeth really adds to the weight and intensity of their relationship (especially since we only get 3 films), and the stuff between her and Jack, while it is a little much in my opinion, really shows her transition from damsel into pirate into pirate king. She starts using her femininity as a means to an end once she realizes that it'll be a part of how other pirates see her forever. By the end she has just as much respect as everyone else, if not more. The "what shall we die for" speech is more than enough to prove that. She is genuinely portrayed as strong, smart, cunning, and driven, and to me everything else comes as an afterthought to that. The movies are so beautiful (and not super dark where you can't see anything!), so funny especially during the action sequences that in other franchises would be a good time to check your phone, the music is god tier, and aside from that they're genuinely just really fun. I'm absolutely obsessed with these movies. Thanks for helping me putting that into words!!

[@SabiJD]

Having only watched the Pirates trilogy this year for the first time, my take would be; 1 was the best overall (best script by far), 2 was my favourite but where issues start to manifest, and 3 was a big, noisy, convoluted letdown the dragged. That third film almost reminded me of the Transformers films at times - I was completely disengaged and rather bored. So re At World's End and Endgame's runtimes; I feel AWE never earnt its length, and I checked how long was left several times. Endgame really wasn't long enough, as it was capping off a decade's worth of build up, as well as bidding farewell to key characters. One film has an overly complicated - and to me just not interesting - plot, and the other despite its scale is very simple, and generally grounded by its focus on characters, not plot or indulgent scheming. So I think one film uses its relatively hefty runtime superbly, and with purpose, and the other feels like its treading water. Lots of Pirates fans seem to think the central romance was successful, but I feel it was just a dud - especially in AWE, where it becomes even more prominent. Kiera is fantastic. Orlando? Is not (in the final scenes it really doesn't help that he looks like he's just wandered from the set of a naff early 2000s boyband video shoot... ). I wouldn't try to say he's a bad actor at all, but I do feel he's very bland. In terms of big budget epics, I think he's best suited and used in the full cut of Kingdom Of Heaven, where his inherent good-guy innocence and simplicity is specifically juxtaposed with the moral complexities, compromised politics, and savagery of the Crusades. Anyhoo, I'm glad I watched the Pirates trilogy. I enjoyed and admired the original more than ever, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed/admired Dead Man's Chest. I disagree with key points in this video, but I do agree that, at their best, the Gore Verbinski films really do put to shame most current blockbusters, and it'd be nice if studios took note of why that is.

[@attackfox]

I'm a massive fan of the franchise, but I think they could have cut Calypso's part from the film. She just poofs off the screen and it feels like the buildup between her and Davey Jones is for nothing

[@gonkdroid8279]

Completely agree with your takes!

[@colinpowers7]

Bullet Train and The Fall Guy really restored my hope in action comedies

[@masterludovicus802]

I think that the complexity you mentioned early on the video is handled perfectly by the movies because they all have the same anchors: Davy Jones's heart/chest and Jack's compass. Even if you can't follow their specific motivations in the movies, every single one of them has a vested interest in the chest or the compass. Whether it is to save a loved one, protecting yourself or redeeming yourself, one of those two items WILL be involved at all times

[@SabiJD]

The original Pirates film is still all the better for its lean clarity, though. I saw the trilogy for the first time this year, and whilst the second actually ended up being my favourite for a number of reasons, it's also where the problems that seemingly blighted the series from 3 on first manifested; self-indulgent plot and digressive sequences (the entire - rather 'problematic' - cannibal native island section should've just been axed/replaced). In 2, it manages to overcome those problems. 3 was just the plot folding in on itself, into a singularity of paradoxically pointless sound-and-fury... I think the romance between Elizabeth and Will is a complete dud (largely due to Orlando), so I found it hard to really connect or care about what was happening. Still some superb action and setpieces, but that's not really enough in what was supposed to be a trilogy conclusion - that immediately undermined itself with sequel bait. I doubt I'll ever watch the films that came after it, so it'll have plot strands forever blowing in the wind, so to speak. I'm glad I rewatched the original, and was surprised by how much I enjoyed the sequel, though.

[@JacobYaw]

At World's End has one of the best soundtracks of all time

[@MarcusAureliusSeneca]

"like WIll and Whatshisface are fighting here" I burst out laughing

[@beckobert]

Wow, the writing of this essay is just so incredibly sharp! I've been a fan of the channel for years, but this video feels a step above the rest. Bravo!

[@jasonblalock4429]

I have a theory that this ^^^ is one of the reasons the live action One Piece became such a big hit - it has a lot of POTC vibes. Not just the fantasy pirate setting, but the diverse crew with their own agendas, and the blend of action AND comedy together. (Not to mention the score openly aping Zimmer.) I think audiences want that blend, and One Piece is the first thing to properly do it in years. Sure, right now it doesn't quite have the budget to rival POTC's level of epic silliness, but perhaps it will in seasons to come.

[@thenonexistinghero]

Dude, One Piece was already a huge hit even before there were any Pirates of the Caribbean movies. It's because no other anime nails a sense of a fun adventure as well as it does. No movie does it either, but the PotC trilogy does come very close.

[@jasonblalock4429]

@@thenonexistinghero I was talking about the **live action** show, not the anime. It was a big hit even among people who had no previous interest in watching the anime.

[@thenonexistinghero]

@@jasonblalock4429 It's trash compared to the manga/anime though and it's only a big success for a Netflix show.

[@rKhael53]

I feel the same. Watching the surprisingly good One Piece Netflix show reminds me how much I miss Pirates of the Carribean. There was really a Pirates of the Carribean tone in it (in dialogues, humour, ambiance, situations and places), especially in the first two episodes. We definitely need the pirate movie genre to resurrect.

[@rKhael53]

@@thenonexistinghero No, it's a good and faitful adaptation (albeit imperfect). One Piece anime is trash since a decade, cause the rythm is pure torture (thank you stretched episodes). Live action reminds the fun and simplicity of the first arcs, leading to a great rythm and real adventure vibe.

[@myseaside]

I just rewatched these 3 movies recently after years of not watching them and they're still some of my favourites

[@SadThrash]

A new Just Write AND it’s gushing about the good Pirates movies?! It’s like Christmas! Here to give a shout out to screenwriter Jay Wolpert, who wrote the original script for Black Pearl and has a screen story credit on the film. If you see his only other produced feature, 2002’s “The Count of Monte Cristo” it’s a lot easier to see his fingerprints on Pirates. His ability to communicate the entirety of a character in a single line is incredible.

[@robertking4645]

I hate it so much how Pirates are not only not considered as one of those perfect trilogies (Back to the Future, Lord of the Rings) but you can find so many people genuinely saying that Pirates 2 and 3 'are average at best', these reactions seem so stupid in retrospect, that's probably the reason why Disney doesn't do films like 'at worlds end' anymore, the reason why pirates franchise itself fell off and couldn't replicate the magic of the original trilogy, the reason why still in god-damn 2023 Davy Jones, Kraken and Maelstrom look better than SGI in the newest marvel films. God I miss 2000s Disney

[@jmsmys13ify]

They're average at best, though I personally consider them pretty terrible. Especially in the writing department.

[@ryanm2628]

They are average at best IMO

[@haroldp.sadwood1181]

@@ryanm2628 Your comment makes me angry, but that's my problem, not yours lmao

[@EyeMixMusic]

The level of cinematic illiteracy required to think these godawful films are up there with classic trilogies like Back to the Future and LOTR...well, there are no words.

[@haroldp.sadwood1181]

@@EyeMixMusic Brother, the second Back to the Future movie is actually pretty weak. The pacing is off, and the tone is waaaaay off. The third one is fun, but again, not great. It's really just the first one that's really good. You don't have to like Pirates, but it's not cinematic illiteracy.

[@igorrodrigues2532]

The third film is my favorite and precisely because of its complexity. There are so many interesting characters and each of them has their own motivation and goals. It's really good

[@sadgeman4589]

You have not necessarily convinced me that these movies are as amazing as you said, but you have fully convinced me that I need to give these a second watch and I am legitimately excited to do so.