A few scattered thoughts...

[ealgylden]

... upon seeing PotC again, and enjoying it just as much as the first time. I did all my rhapsodizing already, so I have nothing insightful to offer this time, just bits and bobs. Never stopped me before though, did it. This movie is taking over my mind. I need to hook up my damned DVD player (yes, the one I got back in May is still not operational) and watch LotR again. The parts of my brain that were allocated to kings and rings and Rohan are being stolen away by pirates and the shinies tied into Jack's hair and the Black Pearl. That won't do a'tall. They should be able to share, but you know pirates.


The driving force of Barbossa's existence is craving unsatisfied: for wine, for women, for the ability to go for a moonlit stroll and not have George A. Romero chasing after him with a camcorder. But the thing that he craves above all others? Apples. I love that. The murderous, traitorous, damned pirate wants apples. Apples! That so amuses me.

So. Jack was marooned, hung around drinking for a few days, met up with some rum-runners and bartered his way to freedom. But what did he have to barter with? He was marooned with only his weapons, and he still had those in Port Royal. Maybe they had a fondness for the gewgaws in his hair?

At the end, Governor Swann gives his blessing to the pretty young things but comments that alas, Will is still only a blacksmith (although he doesn't make a fuss, being a Good Dad). But really, he should count his blessings that Elizabeth has her blacksmith. We know what happened (and didn't happen) while she was careening around the Caribbean in her underclothes with a bunch of pirates, but the masses don't. It's a good thing she still has her loyal Will, because that sort of gallivanting can hinder a girl's marriage prospects.

Johnny Depp? Not a tall man. Beautiful as all-get-out, but not tall.

So who sewed all those cute little clothes for the monkey? Is that Barbossa's hobby? Or maybe it's a job for Pintel and Ragetti. They seem like they could have hidden depths of domesticity.

Poor, poor Norrington. Elizabeth breaks off their engagement in front of everyone he knows. In front of all of his men. For a blacksmith-gone-all-piratey. Ouch. And he's so good about it. He's a bit of a prig and he was too old for her anyway, but I can't help but like him for that. Good show, Norrington.

When the curse is broken and Barbossa looks down at his bleeding wound while his crew suddenly realizes their advantage is gone, the score does something interesting. That section is "dying hero music," ie. the main heroic theme recast in a minor key. Between that and the fact that the pirates are vastly more charismatic than the good guys, the "piracy is bad" messages that Disney was duty-bound to include seem really half-hearted. It's a bit "they're bad! Really! So bad! Pay no attention to how much fun they're having, okay?"

Man, I love this movie. I want the DVD already, so I can wallow repeatedly without going bankrupt. And I still want a Jack of my very own. Yes indeedy.

Comments

[carmarthen.livejournal.com]

The driving force of Barbossa's existence is craving unsatisfied: for wine, for women, for the ability to go for a moonlit stroll and not have George A. Romero chasing after him with a camcorder. But the thing that he craves above all others? Apples. I love that. The murderous, traitorous, damned pirate wants apples. Apples! That so amuses me.

Oh god YES. I really want Barbossa fic about apples, but I'm not sure what it would be about besides the obvious. Hmm.

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

I admit, I really can't blame him. If I were undead and miserable, I know I'd be craving apples. Apples and bread. Poor Barbossa. Wine, women and song are all very well, but it's the little things that get you in the end.

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Apples! I'd almost forgotten that. You've inspired me, for better or for worse, and a ficlet insued...

~~~
Apples. That's all he really wanted. The ability to enjoy a bit of fruit if one so desired.

That is to say, piracy's all well and good, and he quite fancied the fighting and flair inherent to the life of a pirate (as well as the fabulous treasure, but really, that was only an afterthought now), but what Captain Barbossa really yearned for was a red, juicy apple. A pippin, if possible, although when one is undead one can't be too picky.

He often dreamed of apples. He kept a bowlful of the pommes on the table in the great cabin, perhaps a masochistic streak shining through. He and his men grumbled often of the things only the living could enjoy - wine, women, and other pleasures (although they had enough song, those damnable sea chanties of which he'd had quite enough at this point). Barbossa truly did desire those things as well, yet although he was an immortal of sorts he was no longer a young man, and the aged wish for simple pleasures.

An apple. Such a small thing, yet he would willingly part with a chestful of doubloons in exchange for one ripe fruit. Damnably silly, really, a vicious pirate who preyed on any merchant ship who dared cross his path, reduced to resisting the urge to ravage the closest fruit stand. Still, it could be considered a vice of sorts, and everyone knew pirates should always give in to vice.

It was settled, then. The first thing on the agenda once the matter of that pesky little curse was finished, he was heading to market.
~~~~

Ahem. Sorry about that. Spontaneous fic-writing, won't happen again.

You said gewgaws! This, plus the fact that you love pirates and ships and the like...I think I'm in love :)

Interesting point about the monkey's clothes. Sailors and pirates would have known how to sew, since they had to repair their own clothes, but I'm not sure they'd have the talent to make such small clothes to fit an animal. Maybe he came with them, from wherever Barbossa got him?

Hear hear on all your comments about Norrington. I really rather liked him by the end. He took being the loser with remarkably good form. I think he'd actually be my second choice to slash with Jack (still can't get past the fact that Will truly does love Elizabeth).

Intriguing point about the music. I hadn't noticed at first. The anti-pirate message didn't come through very strong, I agree, but then you have to have a bit of romance when it comes to pirates :)

Now I want to see it again!

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

Eeeee!! A ficlet! About Barbossa and apples! Yaaaay! And it's lovely, it says exactly what I was thinking (only in a coherent, well-written way. And funny. And sad. Neat!)- that it's the loss of the simple pleasures that hurts most, that even an evil pirate can't subsist on treasure and rum alone. Mmm, pippins. "although they had enough song, those damnable sea chanties of which he'd had quite enough at this point." Heeeeee. And I love apple-lust as an acceptable vice, and "pommes," and him plotting to head to the market, and... yay! *BG*

Maybe he came with them, from wherever Barbossa got him?

Hm, yeah, that's probably it. Or maybe one of the Tortuga working girls or somesuch was inspired. I just wasn't sure if any of the crew would be able to work on such a small scale (rough hands and all), and it's not like they can just go to "Mr. Small and Hirsute" when they're in town. It's cute to picture Barbossa sewing away on little monkey pants, though. Aw.

I think he'd actually be my second choice to slash with Jack (still can't get past the fact that Will truly does love Elizabeth).

Yes! Yes yes yes. Me too. Um, heh. Yup. Norrington could use a little of Jack's freedom in his life, poor guy (and Jack could no doubt use a little of Norrington's good sense). He's very slashable too- he obviously proposed Elizabeth because it's his duty to get married, she's suitable and safe, and he gets along with her father. I mean, obviously. ;) But they're more like relatives (cousins, maybe) than lovers. He has much better chemistry with Jack, if you go by the romantic comedy rule (which I often do) that attraction is often disguised as sniping or disdain. Besides, he's a good guy, so I want him to be happy. He cares about his duty, but he's not so hidebound that he'd blindly choose what's proper over what's right (like when he let Jack go, despite the law). He can adjust to circumstances (not necessarily a given in this sort of character). He's a gentleman, and he could use a rogue in his life. He could use a first name, too.

Unfortunately, Jack/Norrington seems to be as hard to find as Jack/Bootstrap. I've only seen a couple, by gileonnen (actually I read one other, too, but I don't remember where or by whom)- Freedom (http://www.livejournal.com/community/pirategasm/31234.html) and Under the Uniform (http://www.livejournal.com/community/pirategasm/33782.html#cutid1) (Will butts into that one a bit). Both are good, if not perfect. Hopefully she'll write more. But for most authors that darned pretty Will keeps hogging Jack. I just don't see it, but whatever. shrug We're a minority. As usual. Yay for rare fandoms and pairings, again!

[castalianspring.livejournal.com]

Eeeee!! A ficlet! About Barbossa and apples! Yaaaay! And it's lovely, it says exactly what I was thinking (only in a coherent, well-written way. And funny. And sad. Neat!)- that it's the loss of the simple pleasures that hurts most, that even an evil pirate can't subsist on treasure and rum alone. Mmm, pippins. "although they had enough song, those damnable sea chanties of which he'd had quite enough at this point." Heeeeee. And I love apple-lust as an acceptable vice, and "pommes," and him plotting to head to the market, and... yay! *BG*

You liked that? Yay! :) This is some of the best feedback I've ever had, and all for a silly little snippet. I'm so very pleased you like it :)

It's cute to picture Barbossa sewing away on little monkey pants, though. Aw.

What an adorable image!

Very good points re Norrington. He *is* a good guy and after getting shafted so publicly, he deserves a bit of happiness. I wonder what his first name is...

Thanks for the links, I'll go and check those out :) I'm so glad you share my pairings!

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Poor, poor Norrington. Elizabeth breaks off their engagement in front of everyone he knows. In front of all of his men. For a blacksmith-gone-all-piratey. Ouch. And he's so good about it. He's a bit of a prig and he was too old for her anyway, but I can't help but like him for that. Good show, Norrington.

Hee! Yeah - that's something I really liked about the movie - Norrington was a bit of a prig and a stickler for the rules, but he wasn't *evil* and that was a nice little touch. I think he was OK giving up Elizabeth, because he realized that it was Jack that he *really* wanted ;) Because they ALL want Jack even if they don't know it at the beginning.

I've always been a fan of Johnny Depp's (*cough21JumpStreetcough*) but he outdid himself in this movie and I'm absurdly in love with Jack Sparrow now ;)

[ealgylden.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I really liked that they didn't go the easy way and make him a cardboard military baddie. It would have been so easy, since he's in the way of both of the happily ever afters, the pirates and the romance. But instead they let him keep his dignity (poor guy, though, to be dumped in front of everybody), and let him be smart and flexible enough to work around the rules if need be (and really, where's the fun in catching Jack without even chasing him first?).

I think he was OK giving up Elizabeth, because he realized that it was Jack that he *really* wanted :)

Heee! Yeah! I don't really see Jack/Will (can't help it- Will loves his Elizabeth and I think they're sweet), but I'm all in favor of Jack/Norrington and Jack/Bootstrap. And now that Norrington's nobly sacrificed his own hopes in favor of his lady's True Love (smart of him), he's free to dedicate himself to chasing after Jack with no distractions and a good cover story, which makes me happy. Dutiful and a sucker for a pretty rogue. I really do like this guy.

Mmm, Johnny Depp. He's been a favorite of mine since I was wee (since he was too, actually), and I was still surprised by how much I enjoyed his performance. It seemed like he was having so much fun (and he looked fabulous). Jack is just... wonderful.