Musings part 2

So the night before I wrote this I went with my younger sister to see 'Pirates 3' at the 'dollar' theater (which really costs two dollars) in town. She asked me to take her and well, was I really going to say no? I sat there and enjoyed the film without having to critique or judge (which was very hard not to do/hard to to even thought I had already seen it and written a review), and afterwards as I was sitting patiently for the thirty second extra scene after the credits I was thinking, 'Why on earth did I go see this a third time? Why do I even like these films? Why this one? This film is a mess. So why on earth do I like it so much?' Well, what's not to like about the first film, even for a critic? It was very well done, very good. The second less so, but still good, and the third, well, we know how most critics thought about it ('Boo.'). But I like it still. I believe that film is art, but that there are a lot of cheap picture book skecthes out there and very few Picassos. I adore great cinema and I love those truly great films (although we know that everyone, including me, has his/her own opinions as to what is truly great, although most critics tend to agree on a general group of films) such as 'King Kong', 'Brokeback Mountain', and 'Master and Commander'. I do not endorse or even watch those idiotic comedies such as 'American Pie', Adam Sandler films, nor do I enjoy so-called 'torture porn' (horror films solely made to make you sick, not to prove a point or really scare you) such as 'Saw' or 'Hostle'. I admit that I don't like overly violent or explicit or bloody films a'la 'Grindhouse', even though those certain films might be very good. I also tend not to like romantic comedies or romance in general, although there are certain films from both genres which are very good and deserve high marks. Needless to say I am picky and enjoy only the best, but also enjoy some good escapist fun. The 'Pirates' films seem to have little in them to account for me liking them: they are too long, have very convoluted plots, sketchy and even stiff characters, some parts are embarassingly silly, plot issues run rampant, and really shouldn't be films I enjoy. So why do I? But just as importantly, why do we all? I am sure that there are other critics like myself who have issues with these films and have no reason to like them, yet do so. But why? I'll look at this from both sides, that from a typical movie-goer's view and a critic's view.

Obviously the average movie-goer and the film critic have different levels of intelligence when it comes to film. I am not here to debate so I won't elaborate. But what the movie-goer might see as pure gold the critic might stamp with an 'F' rating and name it as trash. It also happens the other way around. So it goes. You noticed with the third 'Pirates', and even the second, audiences loved it, critics, not so much. Critics and regular audience members look at films differently, or audience members don't look at all. They just watch. But why the difference? Audience members aren't looking to judge a film but simply enjoy it (not that critics aren't either; we just do things differently, i.e. actively watch). So what they see as a great adventure film with lots of silly laughs critics see as stupid pointless fun and witless humor. But it's more than that; with 'Pirates', people do what they want when they want with little regards for consequence. We're only human and no doubt everyone has wished to live like this at one point. The characters here also represent freedom, which we are often promised but rarely get completely. We want to live as they do, free from laws and society, living our own way. How wonderful would it be to live the way we wanted, where we wanted? Of course here you could get caught and hanged, but still. We want what they have, the chance to be free and have few rules and have fun and adventures all the time. Plus, we enjoy watching attractive men run around and be heroes for three hours on screen. We like funny people and here we get no shortage of them. Simply put, these films are fun. They have what we want: hot men, funniness, adventure, good times, and things that we might not have but want, such as freedom. We long to do this ourselves. If we can't, well, perhaps we can watch others doing it and imagine we were there too.

From a critic's point of view it's different. These people live bad lives. They do bad things. If we were all like them there would be nothing but chaos. These are not the most honorable people. Technically speaking, the films lack what true film art does: flawless production, a rock solid script, perfect acting and execution; in other words, perfection, and a new look at things. These films offer no new way of viewing pirate films or piracy, and while the acting may be good and the script funny, things suffered in the last two films, and it was the first one which, while flawed, was closest to being perfect. But wit and adventure aside, these films offer more to the critic. It's clear that the people who made them are familiar with and influenced by some of the greatest film makers ever. Not only that, these people are scholarly. You can see the influence by written works as well, notable authors. The director and script writers are not ignorant; they've read or seen this stuff and know it well (there is, of course, the issue of corrupting and twisting certain stories to fit the narrative of 'Pirates', and while that pisses me off, it's to be expected). The films never copy the works of others, they honor them. Many films may seem like they are paying tribute to other film makers but really all it is is copying ('Eragon'). Look closer at these films and you see the echoes of Herman Melville, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Sergio Leone (among others). I have seen very few films in which authors and not film makers were so greatly admired (the latest is 'Stardust', which hails Shakespeare). Most films echo other film directors, not authors. Clearly, these 'Pirates' are well-learned. And for a critic who has seen many films from many genres, to see these tributes to men like Mr. Leone is amusing, to say the least, and entertaining. And these tributes are done tastefully. The 'Pirates' films might not give a new outlook on life or anything philosophical, but they do give a new look at these stories that we know, particularly the written works. Some critics will notice these things, others will not. Some will be more like the average film viewer and like the adventure, silly dialogue, and witty banter offered. Others will be too picky and not look deeper to see what's waiting beneath the surface. Others won't care (which shocks me).
For me personally, these films offer a chance to imagine myself in an ideal situation, completely free (within limits, of course) to sail the ocean for ever (I would never be a sailor, though, I am, I admit, much too upper class--ahem, snooty--to be so; I like daily showers, clean and plush accomodations, clean and stylish clothes, etc. Fashionista I am, commoner I am not. Ah, you get the point). Who does not value freedom? And what I wouldn't give to live near the ocean for ever. Plus, I do like adventure, and fun is good (again, though, within limits). And from the average movie-goer's point of view (though I am not one), I love adventure, big pointless fun, and good times. But I am also a critic, so therefore I have my tastes and opinions, and not just any bit of pointless fun will do. If it is too pointless there is no point. Looking at these films as a critic, I relish the homages to other films as well as the scholarly bits which appeal to my English major side. I know these stories too, and while it might annoy me that they've twisted a few of them, to be able to connect these films so totally with what I've seen and read is enjoyable. I haven't seen any other films which I have been able to so totally connect to what I've studied, what I've seen, and even what I like. There aren't any other films where I can watch them and point out every few seconds the parts that I remember from a book or other film. These films are art, yes, because all film is. But while they aren't masterpieces, they aren't silly picture book sketches either. They're more akin to the drawings of an up and coming artist. They are flawed, perhaps deeply, but the genius is there if you look closely. The artist knows what he's doing.
In conclusion, the films and their characters represent a world which is gone now, and values which are increasingly promised today but are being infringed upon. They are able to capture our minds and spirits in ways that other films can't and are entertaining and amusing as well as smart and clever. Of course everyone has their own reasons why they like them. And everyone can take what meaning they want from them. But the fact remains that there is something about them, even if we can't place it, that makes them different. They have a charm and appeal, even at their worst, that is like super glue: it sticks and is hard to shake. I think my reasons for liking them are about the same as everyone elses, just put in different words. These films don't ask anything from you, except perhaps your time. You needn't take anything away from them if you don't want to. But if you do want to, there is so much there to be had. I don't think we'll ever be able to say why these films are so appealing and why they are so good even when they're not, by a critic's view point. But I think that's the way it is with almost anything. You know what I think of these films, you've read my reviews. So even though I know I'll probably wonder again why I would ever like these films, I know why. And I know that I probably will even with the known issues I have with them. It seems impossible to not be able to like them. It's like you can't even if you tried (I'm certain that those people who don't like them at all haven't even given them a chance). You know why that is though, right? It's all the fish people's fault. I blame them.