Pirates of the Caribbean: Nth Time

For her birthday, Emily wanted to see Pirates of the Caribbean (the first one) again.

If you haven't seen it yet, and you plan to, DON'T READ THIS POST - it's FULL OF SPOILERS. Potential Viewers, ye be warned.

As with the last time I watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I decided to use the occasion to capture some favorite lines, scenes, and other notes.

Three Scenes I'd just as Soon Skip:
1. The pirates attacking Port Royal - too wantonly, happily, graphically brutal
2. Carousing in Tortuga - ugh!
3. Skeleton crew extendedly in the moonlight - yuck.

Four Island Visits, some of which can be confusing (and three ships to get there)
1. Port Royal (base island)
2. Tortuga (finding a crew for Jack's commandeered ship, the Interceptor)
3. Isla de Muerta, 1st time - with the Black Pearl carrying Elizabeth, and the Interceptor carrying Jack & Will
4. Isla de Muerta, 2nd time - with the Black Pearl carrying Will & Jack, and the Dauntless carrying Elizabeth & Commodore Norrington

Five Great Things About Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl:
1. The MUSIC! I love it, even after all these times.
2. Jack Sparrow's facial and vocal expressions.
3. The dialogue in general - such clever screen-writers. Very entertaining, witty, funny.
4. Will's puppy-like (and then determined and honorable) love towards Elizabeth.
5. Elizabeth's hairstyle in the near-final scene, after the attempted hanging - it's a beautiful sweeping up-do, with curly tendrils and the ocean in the background as she stands by her man. :-)

Five Favorite Scenes:

1. Jack arrives into Port Royal on sinking ship (uniquely funny situation, and introduction to the wonderful music!)

2. Elizabeth feels hot and bothered in the tight dress, while Jack tries to steal the ship, while Norrington becomes Commodore in ceremony...(cool tying together of three simultaneous themes).

3. Will & Jack's sword-fight in the smithy (lines, action, and the music again)

4. View up from underwater, and fish and teal-colored water at the desert island

5. Attempted hanging of Jack ("egregious" crimes read out while Jack laughs to himself at the memory, e.g depravity, degradation, impersonation of a cleric of the Church of England...then Will's forward flip off the gallows, then Jack falling backwards off the cliff, like Elizabeth before, only more on purpose, but still prematurely, in the middle of a sentence. However, now that I think about it, Jack is the personification of unrepentance and self-centeredness, but at the same time so funny and endearing in a way; hmmm, making evil seem good? Same issue with having pirates be the good guys, or likewise in The Italian Job, there are "good" thieves and "bad" thieves - but is there such a thing? We're all deserving of hanging, but Jesus took the curse for us and redeemed us, so if we repent and take our sin and our Maker seriously, we can change the direction of our lives and live for Him instead of ourselves...with His real security, peace and joy - but we can't if we pretend we haven't sinned or it wasn't bad to do so)

18 Favorite Lines:

Governor Swann: Does a father need an occasion to dote upon his daughter?

Elizabeth: It's difficult to say... (when asked how the dress-donning is going - too tight)

Will: At least once more, Miss Swann... as always.

Dock Official: Welcome to Port Royal, Mr. Smith! (to Jack Sparrow, after bribe)

Jack Sparrow: It's such a pretty boat.... ship.

Elizabeth: I can't breathe.        Norrington: Yes, I'm a bit nervous myself. (before she falls off cliff)

Jack: Will you be saving her, then?

Jack to Will: Have I threatened you before?

Will to Jack: You threatened Miss Swann!      Jack: Only a little.

Jack to Will: Move away.        Will: No!          Jack: Please move?

Jack: How's that? The key's run off. (with the dog)

Will: I'd die for her.     Jack: Oh, good.

Jack: That's not much incentive to fight fair, then, is it?

Jack: I know it's difficult for you - but stay here and try not to do anything stupid.

Jack: Inescapably clear.

Barbossa: It's not possible!       Jack: Not probable.

Jack: You can always trust me to be dishonest.

Jack: Or you could surrender...

Two Quiz Questions for those familiar with the movie:

1. How many of the all-important gold coins were there in total?

2. From which ancient civilization did they come?

Anyone?