keevacaereni (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
keevacaereni) wrote2010-09-20 10:37 pm
keevacaereni) wrote2010-09-20 10:37 pm
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Yes, I know, I should be archiving. Give me a minute
I've just watched the first part of Film Brain's Pirates of the Caribbean review, and I have a few thoughts.
This film was disappointing for several reasons, and I agree with Film Brain overall about the film, but I have some problems with his arguments.
Yes, the movie was too long and too convoluted, yes, the characters have done complete 180s in their characterisation, yes, for an action movie it is boring. But a kid's film?
I might be arguing semantics here, but I think of a kid's film as a film aimed specifically at children, i.e. not at anyone else. You know the ones. There are some good kid's films here and there, but a lot of them are dreck, mostly because they assume you don't have to try for kids. Most of the best ones, I'd actually term family films, as in all the family, young and old can watch and enjoy them. You know these ones too. The Wizard of Oz, Shrek, The Sound of Music, everything made by Pixar ever...
PotC is most definitely not aimed just at children. There are several jokes, references and lines that are there specifically to appeal to a teen and adult audience. The villains are frightening for old and young alike, and the characters are suitably complex. Many adults enjoyed the films, and in fact when I went to see At World's End at the pictures it was mostly teenagers. (Whether they were there for the plot or Johnny Depp is debatable.) I think this was deliberate.
Another reason I believe this is because of the ratings. In the UK, all three Pirates films are rated 12. That means kids can only get in when over the age of 12. (Obviously this isn't hard to get past, but that's beside the point.) Amazon tells me that all three are rated PG-13 in America, which I assume the producers were mostly aiming for. Younger kids can get in, but they are forewarned that some stuff may not be suitable for them.
The reason this is so important is because I'm pretty sure 12 year olds are mentally equipped to deal with non-graphic deaths on film. Younger children should not be watching these films. In fact, these films are aimed at a higher age group.
The violence in At World's End is still over the top and not suitable for the general mood of the films, but that's not because it should be for kids, it's because the writers fucked up.
Also, PotC failed where Star Wars succeeded because Lucas managed to keep the Lancer from taking over the plot, y/y?
This film was disappointing for several reasons, and I agree with Film Brain overall about the film, but I have some problems with his arguments.
Yes, the movie was too long and too convoluted, yes, the characters have done complete 180s in their characterisation, yes, for an action movie it is boring. But a kid's film?
I might be arguing semantics here, but I think of a kid's film as a film aimed specifically at children, i.e. not at anyone else. You know the ones. There are some good kid's films here and there, but a lot of them are dreck, mostly because they assume you don't have to try for kids. Most of the best ones, I'd actually term family films, as in all the family, young and old can watch and enjoy them. You know these ones too. The Wizard of Oz, Shrek, The Sound of Music, everything made by Pixar ever...
PotC is most definitely not aimed just at children. There are several jokes, references and lines that are there specifically to appeal to a teen and adult audience. The villains are frightening for old and young alike, and the characters are suitably complex. Many adults enjoyed the films, and in fact when I went to see At World's End at the pictures it was mostly teenagers. (Whether they were there for the plot or Johnny Depp is debatable.) I think this was deliberate.
Another reason I believe this is because of the ratings. In the UK, all three Pirates films are rated 12. That means kids can only get in when over the age of 12. (Obviously this isn't hard to get past, but that's beside the point.) Amazon tells me that all three are rated PG-13 in America, which I assume the producers were mostly aiming for. Younger kids can get in, but they are forewarned that some stuff may not be suitable for them.
The reason this is so important is because I'm pretty sure 12 year olds are mentally equipped to deal with non-graphic deaths on film. Younger children should not be watching these films. In fact, these films are aimed at a higher age group.
The violence in At World's End is still over the top and not suitable for the general mood of the films, but that's not because it should be for kids, it's because the writers fucked up.
Also, PotC failed where Star Wars succeeded because Lucas managed to keep the Lancer from taking over the plot, y/y?
no subject
But I did love the first two movies, even if the shipping wars and the Die For Our Ship and the "JaCK iS SO HAWT11!!!!" made me feel like killing everyone.
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OMG yesssssssss. This.
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I think it was actually one of his written reviews. I'd dive into the site to find it but I may not survive.
no subject