Nobody move, I've dropped my brain!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
I'm probably one of the last Pirates of the Caribbean fans to see At World's End which is still playing at a few cinemas as it nears the end of its run. The title of this post, which is a quote from the movie, aptly describes the difficulties of trying to get your head around the plot.
Although it does continue from the previous film in the series (all the characters are there) it doesn't seem critical to know the back story. The main plot is established right at the start. The East India Trading Company is out to wipe out pirates and anyone that so much as glances at a pirate. Our motley crew, Will Turner, Elizabeth Swan and Captain Barbossa join forces to bring together the Brethren of Nine pieces of eight (nine pirate lords who can unite all pirates) and stop the massacre of their kind.
Slight problem. Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the nine and he died in the last film. Since Captain Barbossa died in the film before that, we know that coming back from the dead isn't an impossibility in pirate world.
From this point on it's sub plot after sub plot and double cross after double cross. It all gets a bit confusing and most people don't see the end coming (or so I've heard), I certainly didn't.
There are new characters introduced with the nine pirate lords but their roles are little more than token. It is the main characters of the franchise that get all the screen time and drive the story. In fact by the closing battle you may even wonder why the nine lords really needed to gather at all for the amount of participation they actually had defending their existence.
That aside, Johnny Depp delivers yet again as Captain Jack Sparrow. I particularly enjoyed the surreal scenes in Davey Jones Locker (which apparently isn't quite such a bad place as is made out to be). Though I was disappointed some what by the fact that the last time we saw Jack he was leaping head first into a sea monster. I guess I would've rather seen him some how come out victorious rather than dead.
Jeffery Rush is a welcome return to the series as Captain Barbossa though I felt his character was far less menacing than in the first film. In particular, a ridiculous 'marriage' sequence towards the end of the film was just way off for his character.
Orlando Bloom as Will Turner and Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swan are effective but their characters really have very little left to surprise the audience with. Will became 'cool' by the end of the first film and Elizabeth proved just how tough she can be by the second film.
Bill Nighy as Davy Jones, Captain of the Flying Dutchman, is perhaps the only other character with a real screen presence that demands attention. In this film we learn much more about his predicament and how he came to be 'old squid face'.
Despite the confusing plots and the close to three hours of screen time this film moves along quite rapidly. Watch for the much talked about cameo by Rolling Stone, Keith Richards and, like the two films before it, don't question Captain Jack's almost superhuman aerial antics and balancing acts. It's all good fun.
I'd certainly buy the DVD and there's a good chance another outing for Jack Sparrow may just be in the works.
Contemplating the Apple iPhone.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
The recent release of the Apple iPhone in the USA prompted me to contemplate whether I should mention it in this blog or not? It hasn't been released in Australia so I certainly can't review it. However if you're going to talk about a new technology product you want to mention it while it's hot - and the iPhone is hot - right now!
Not that the iPhone needs any more publicity but I certainly do. Mentioning it means that this blog entry may just come up in search engines for anyone looking for information on the iPhone. I'll get maybe a few more people to my site and, so as not to disappoint, I've embeded a video review by technology expert, Walt Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal.
Walt gives the phone an overall thumbs up but does point out some very real concerns about network access that those of you in remote regions may want to think very hard about.
If you're not quite so technical minded then all you need to know about the iPhone is provided by MuggleSam in this very cute video posted on YouTube comparing the iPhone to the Blackberry. I think the choice is clear. You need technology that dances!
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