Get It Off Your (Dead Man's) Chest: Pirates Movie Reviews

[Prudence]

I don't think there's room for a truly "noble" character among the pirates. They have significant flaws; that's why they're there. I have no issue with Bootstrap Bill being pathetic. I don't consider it a contradiction, either. He's pathetic and he knows it. He knows his own weaknesses. He knows it's not a good life, and he wanted better for his son, but at the same time he knew he couldn't resist it for himself. Seems pretty classic stuff to me.

I also think that serving on Davy Jones's crew has a psychological effect. He's spent years on the crew, he knows he can't escape, and he knows what will eventually happen to him. Despair is mighty discouraging. And I can see why he hasn't had much fire in the ol' belly lately. However, now that he has a glimmer of hope again, he might change a bit for number three.

And I don't see much conflict for Jack Sparrow, either. I wonder if some of his actions were deliberate on the part of the writers. We want Jack to turn out to be the ruffian with the heart of gold, the loveable scamp, the bad boy tamed by love, whatever. And maybe he's just a pirate. A self-serving pirate. And it's not necessarily bad intent - he just doesn't consider consequences. Consequences don't exist in his world. Why should he think they exist for anyone else? Why not give up Will Turner, who has so far managed to wriggle his way out with the best of them, as a stalling tactic? And by the time it gets to the souls, they're already on the quest for the key, right? I can't remember now. If so, giving up the souls is again a stalling tactic to gain ultimate control over Davy Jones. I don't think it's intentional malice, but a failure to consider consequences beyond the immediate self-serving goal.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

I also don't have any problem with Captain Jack's behavior. If nothing else it certainly helps shed light on why the first crew of the Black Pearl mutinied and left him to die.

I always felt that the first movie made it seem they mutinied because they were greedy, and Barbossa swayed them as well. The way Barbossa whips them into a frenzy is indicative that they aren't the brightest crew. There was no indication that Jack mistreated them.