POTC Johnny Refurb

[Gn2Dlnd]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

Ah, a Disney press release ... the height of integrity and factualness.


Sorry, in this case (as with the deleted Haunted Mansion dialogue), I will trust my own extensive personal experience of the ride since 1970. In all that time - till last week - I've never heard a smidgeon of music added back in. So, unless it was removed during the first 3 years...

Yeah, they're fudging - big surprise. Isaac could probably play you the specific bit of music, but, if I remember correctly, the slightly abbreviated "Scare Me" music was replaced with a more complete recording during the PC rehab.

I listened to a ride-thru recording on Window to the Magic dot com to get a better idea of why the new music additions don't work. Well, with the exception of the extended banjo picking, which I think works fine. It has to do with the split-personality of the ride now. Is it jolly fun adventure, or is it moody self-reflection?

Later on, when my brain isn't so hot, I'll try to expound. One thing I can point out, the new music in the Battle scene completely slows the rhythm of the scene, same with Downer Jack at the end. Remember how by adding music to Space Mountain the Imagineers made it seem as if the ride goes faster? In this case they've done the reverse.

Unhappy...unhappy...
Very very very very very
Very very unhappy

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

I distinctly dislike the illusion that I am in a movie about a pirate cavern rather than that I am in a pirate cavern.

I have no idea why Disney couldn't have just been happy with their great/fun/fantastic pirates ride and the great/fun/fantastic movie based on the pirates ride. Why did they have to go and marry the two? I honestly thought they were adding in Jack Sparrow into one or two scenes. I didn't really understand that it was a complete re-do. I didn't know they were going to change the narration, change the music, etc., etc., etc.

I'm tempted to not see it for myself, to keep in tact the memory of the ride I love, and continue to enjoy its derivative film.

God. It's like that time I was in a book store and saw the book adaptation of Little Women that was based on the movie Little Women that was based on the *actual* Little Women book.

What. The. FRIG? Read the original book, dammit. Don't read the book based on the movie based on the book.

Just like that, I don't want to ride a Pirates that's based on the movie Pirates that's based on the ride Pirates. I JUST WANT TO RIDE THE ORIGINAL PIRATES. And watch the movie now and again.

Bummer!

[BarTopDancer]

EH - It is pretty much a Johnny in two/three scenes (depending on how you classify a scene). There is a some music re-do but the original base of the ride remains unchanged. I was staring at the pirate captain trying to see if it was Barbossa or not, and someone had to tell me it was.

I really liked it, but I get the feeling I'm in the minority. I'll live.

[innerSpaceman]

Having been on two more times in the last two days, I have a few more observations about the music.

Whether it was ever there way back when or not ... they have now started the "Scare Me" theme the minute you pass the storm vignette ... whereas it used to start only upon approaching the treasure room. Now the harpsichord is not the sole source of music ... it's score (albeit authentic PoC score) all the way through.

In fact, from the first drop until the well-dunking scene - - the entire experience is musically scored .... radically changing said experience, imo.

Some of the music I like, and some I don't. But there's just too frelling much of it. Just as it's inartful when a movie is wall-to-wall score, so is this ride in its new incarnation, says me. Movie score is most effective in the transition from non-score to score. It's the starting points that pop out most. If you never stop having music, there's no opportunity to start it up again.

I think the start of the music AT the treasure room was a great sound effection. Lost.


On the plus side, I sorta see where they were trying to go ... and some of it works in an observorish kinda way. The ethereal music in the big waterfall cavern, for example, is not completely unpleasant or without psychenautic effect in that most trippy environment. But the non-stop musical score makes the whole thing seem like more of a diorama presentation, and less like a pretend adventure.

Bah, says I, to that!

[BarTopDancer]

I don't think I've ever thought of Pirates as an adventure instead of a ride-through. Maybe that's why I grew tired of it, same ride over and over and I bet that is why the changes don't bother me.

I'm sure I'll be on it again on the 9th and again on the 17th.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

I really liked it, but I get the feeling I'm in the minority. I'll live.

I've gotten more than a few huffy comments (not here) that my opinion is in the minority.

Originally Posted by BarTopDancer

I don't think I've ever thought of Pirates as an adventure instead of a ride-through.

Cuz you're a girl.

[Gemini Cricket]

Originally Posted by Gn2Dlnd

Unhappy...unhappy...
Very very very very very
Very very unhappy

Thank you, sir. Now I have 'The Producers' in my head...

[CoasterMatt]

Most of the guests we rode with seemed to think that "they didn't really change much at all"

[RStar]

The average guest who only rides once every couple of years may not notice much of the changes. There is so much to look at that they may even miss some of the Jacks in there.

[Gn2Dlnd]

If "average guests" were allowed to design attractions, everything would be go-kart races. The "average guest" takes what is given, few questions asked. The de-imagineered Tiki Room in Florida is an example of the "average guest" accepting sheer crap as quality entertainment. I went to a performance of Les Miserables here in L.A. a few years ago. The show was dreadful. Most of the actors had gone on auto-pilot years ago. At curtain-call, the audience dutifully rose to its feet in a standing ovation. WTF? All I could figure out is that most of these people don't see much theatre, they paid 80 bucks to see this, therefore it must be brilliant!

If Light-Magic hadn't premiered at an AP exclusive event, we'd probably still be enduring it.