I feel vindicated

[terrie]

The new Pirates of the Caribbean movie came out today. The reviews are largely negative. I've been dreading this movie for over a year, because it steals bits and pieces from a book I love -- On Stranger Tides, by Tim Powers. It would have been a difficult book to adapt on its own, but welding bits and pieces onto PotC seemed a recipe for disaster.

A friend, who is very young, kept insisting that I couldn't know that is was a bad movie. It could turn out to be good, right? She just couldn't wrap her head around that idea that a movie that butchers a good book is unlikely to be good. To me, it was like trying to look forward to PotC: The Tempest. After all, they both have magic, right? And they're set in the Caribbean. I think her anticipation was, partially, based on thinking Jack Sparrow was cute. And she's still young enough that disagreeing with her opinion is seen as something personal.

But, hey, I was right. The reviews are not good, so hopefully, no one will try to make me see it, further sullying a great book. Seriously, if you want good pirate adventure, go read Power's book. I suspect meeting Jack Shandy for the first time will be much more fun than yet another round with Jack Sparrow.

Comments

[zortified.livejournal.com]

I recall that people didn't like the third movie, and I enjoyed it. Are they saying it's worse then the third one? Or 'just as bad'?

Alternatively, I can highly recommend LEGO Pirates, the video game. :-D

[kittydesade.livejournal.com]

See, that's the thing I don't get. Just because someoen else disagrees with you, or just because critics say it's a bad movie, why does that have to mean you don't enjoy it?

I fully intend on going to see it and enjoying the hell out of the scenery and Ian McShane chewing the scenery to bits. That's by now my sole motivation to see it. Jack Sparrow's appeal flickers in and out.

[terrie01.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I don't care if other people see it or even enjoy it. I know many people have never read the book, so they won't be bothered by the rip off. But it does bother me, and I'm kinda hoping that the poor reviews will keep Hollywood from wrecking any of his other books (which can't be welded onto any Disney movies, so that's something at least).

[terrie01.livejournal.com]

Well, some of the problem seems to be a new director, and the fact that the 3D is lousy, despite being filmed in 3D.

[kittydesade.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure there's a power on Earth to keep Hollywood from ruining any books they really want to sink their teeth into.

[rosewildeirish.livejournal.com]

I do believe they bought the rights, so Tim Powers at least has that going for him.

[rosewildeirish.livejournal.com]

Ian McShane! :D That's one of my reasons for WANT. He was fabulous in Kings.

[kittydesade.livejournal.com]

I've loved him since Deadwood. He's been highly entertaining in everything I've seen him in, so I figure that's a good enough reason.

(I kind of hope the new director sucking isn't true, though. Eep.)

[terrie01.livejournal.com]

They did. I just wish they'd bought the rights and not used them. Or at least not used the title. Then I could pretend one has nothing to do with the other.