Critical Consensus: "Dead Man's Chest" Is Overstuffed; "Scanner" Shines Darkly
This week at the movies, we've got pirates back for more box office bounty ("Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest") and a journey to the center of the mind ("A Scanner Darkly"). What do the critics have to say?
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" was a delightful left field surprise: a funny, rollicking, swashbuckling adventure (as well as the greatest film ever based on an amusement park ride). So what does director Gore Verbinski do for an encore? According to critics, more, more, more. And that's not necessarily a good thing. In "Dead Man's Chest," Johnny Depp is back as the scoundrel Jack Sparrow, with Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom along for the ride, this time aboard a craft containing the cephalopodan Davy Jones and his crew. The scribes say that while there are plenty of interesting effects and exciting set pieces, there's just too much in this "Chest," and it lacks the easygoing, organic charm of the original. At 55 percent on the Tomatometer, this "Pirates'" life may or may not be for you. And it's well below the high watermark set by the original (at 79 percent).
"Dead Man's Chest": Rated ARRRGH!
The writings of Philip K. Dick have inspired a bunch of good-to-great movies ("Blade Runner," "Total Recall," "Minority Report") and it's easy to see why: Dick spun futuristic, Orwellian sci-fi tales that are chock full of paranoia and multilayered plot points. With "A Scanner Darkly," Richard Linklater adapts Dick's novel with the rotoscoping techniques he applied to "Waking Life." The story involves a cop (Keanu Reeves) who is so far undercover in a drug investigation that it's unclear he'll ever find his way out. The critics say this one's a visually arresting head trip, but some say it's not quite as compelling as it wants to be. At 63 percent on the Tomatometer, this one may be worth a "Scan."
"You're sayin' the FBI's gonna pay me to learn to surf?"
Also in theaters, albeit in limited release: "Once in a Lifetime," a documentary about the New York Cosmos soccer team of the 1970s, is at 90 percent on the Tomatometer, and "Heading South," starring Charlotte Rampling, is at 62 percent.
Recent Johnny Depp Movies:
------------------------------------
31% -- The Libertine (2005)
83% -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
83% -- Corpse Bride (2005)
84% -- Finding Neverland (2004)
47% -- Secret Window (2004)
Recent Richard Linklater Movies:
----------------------------------------
47% -- The Bad News Bears (2005)
94% -- Before Sunset (2004)
90% -- School of Rock (2003)
75% -- Tape (2001)
79% -- Waking Life (2001)
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" was a delightful left field surprise: a funny, rollicking, swashbuckling adventure (as well as the greatest film ever based on an amusement park ride). So what does director Gore Verbinski do for an encore? According to critics, more, more, more. And that's not necessarily a good thing. In "Dead Man's Chest," Johnny Depp is back as the scoundrel Jack Sparrow, with Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom along for the ride, this time aboard a craft containing the cephalopodan Davy Jones and his crew. The scribes say that while there are plenty of interesting effects and exciting set pieces, there's just too much in this "Chest," and it lacks the easygoing, organic charm of the original. At 55 percent on the Tomatometer, this "Pirates'" life may or may not be for you. And it's well below the high watermark set by the original (at 79 percent).
"Dead Man's Chest": Rated ARRRGH!
The writings of Philip K. Dick have inspired a bunch of good-to-great movies ("Blade Runner," "Total Recall," "Minority Report") and it's easy to see why: Dick spun futuristic, Orwellian sci-fi tales that are chock full of paranoia and multilayered plot points. With "A Scanner Darkly," Richard Linklater adapts Dick's novel with the rotoscoping techniques he applied to "Waking Life." The story involves a cop (Keanu Reeves) who is so far undercover in a drug investigation that it's unclear he'll ever find his way out. The critics say this one's a visually arresting head trip, but some say it's not quite as compelling as it wants to be. At 63 percent on the Tomatometer, this one may be worth a "Scan."
"You're sayin' the FBI's gonna pay me to learn to surf?"
Also in theaters, albeit in limited release: "Once in a Lifetime," a documentary about the New York Cosmos soccer team of the 1970s, is at 90 percent on the Tomatometer, and "Heading South," starring Charlotte Rampling, is at 62 percent.
Recent Johnny Depp Movies:
------------------------------------
31% -- The Libertine (2005)
83% -- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)
83% -- Corpse Bride (2005)
84% -- Finding Neverland (2004)
47% -- Secret Window (2004)
Recent Richard Linklater Movies:
----------------------------------------
47% -- The Bad News Bears (2005)
94% -- Before Sunset (2004)
90% -- School of Rock (2003)
75% -- Tape (2001)
79% -- Waking Life (2001)
Related Items
(1-20 of 26 posts) | Reply
 on Jul 06 2006 07:35 PM um, why didnt critics say the same thing about Superman? Pirates is actually a few minutes SHORTER than Superman. Critics are really two-faced it seems... seeing Pirates tomorrow, screw the critics (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 06 2006 07:52 PM In reply to this comment (#839628) because that wouldnt make much sense, kinda like your comment. superman returns was critiqued as not having enough action, and being way too slow. This is quite the opposite of "over-stuffed" (Reply to this) |
 on Jul 06 2006 08:12 PM Well I am a fan of POTC so I will be seeing it. However A Scanner Darkly looks intresting as well so I may catch that one. (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 06 2006 08:34 PM well, many critics complaints for Pirates have been it's too long, well Superman was longer, so critics should have complained about that, which would make sense. whatever, like i said, screw the critics, i'm seeing this anyways. (Reply to this) |
 on Jul 06 2006 09:37 PM The running time doesn't matter; the pacing does. Just because a certain movie is longer than another doesn't mean that it also feels longer. I'm not a fan of Pirates but I'm still seeing it tomorrow anyway because of friends. And anyone who compares Pirates with Superman... etc. etc. I'll just leave it at that. (Reply to this) |
 on Jul 06 2006 09:52 PM A good movie always seems too short. A bad movie always seems too long. Actual running time is moot. This movie is critic-proof anyways, it will open HUGE. However, if too many people agree with the critics, it could hurt the next sequel (like the third Matrix movie.) (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 06 2006 10:13 PM yeah i know, and blah. so many others were comparing the 2 movies, and im just chiming in i just really want this movie to be good...but yeah, superman was fresh, i didnt like it. pirates is rotten, so maybe i will like it? lol yeah that sounds dumb. but here's hoping for the best! (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 06 2006 10:23 PM I won't say anything. I've done a similar thing, only offline, so I'm pretty sure I sounded dumber. Anyway, I try not to sway my opinions towards the tomatometer percentage because, after all, I'm pretty open-minded about movies. As far as Pirates goes, that opening sequence looks cool so maybe I'm just going because I'm hoping there'll be a lot of pretty scenes in it =/ (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 06 2006 10:44 PM yeah I have to say the critics have been a lil off lately, like I saw Superman and I really thought it was maybe just sub-par, par at best. And then I saw Click tonight and I was pretty much blown away! It had a great story, very touching and heart warming, and the comedy really delievered. And Adam Sandler really did a great job acting, it wasn't just his usual "I'm Adam Sandler and I will yell to get attention and you will laugh at me routine" he really created a heartfelt character. It really was like It's a Wonderful life. If I had to I would rank it in the top 5 movies I've seen this year. If you have a heart go see Click you won't regret it. (Reply to this) |
 on Jul 07 2006 04:49 AM Critics and cynics be damned and stay home because this isn’t Brokeback Mountain, The Assassination of Richard Nixon or even Crash. This is just what you want and expect to see during the summer, an old fashioned popcorn blockbuster that leaves you wanting more when it ends. It's a sequel and anyone going to see it shouldn't be surprised to see more of the same and Dead Man's Chest delivers. I loved it so bring on Number 3! (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 07 2006 07:33 AM I'm glad you guys don't care about the latest reviews on "Pirates." All I'm hearing is that it ain't as funny as the first one, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightly are horrible actors (a positive review said that they're not in it for long), and - the usual - it's too long. But who cares. I'm seeing it for Johnny Depp. (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 07 2006 07:42 AM [b]Pirates was good[/b] I see why they say over-stuffed but it was well worth waiting around for midnight to come around. Johnny is hot and witty. Special effects are very cool. There are some "oh no, he didn't" parts. This movie is definately concentrating on Captain Jack Sparrow. I recommend and I think it deserves a fresher rating. (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 07 2006 08:47 AM I thought that POTC : Dead Man's Chest had it's good moments, but was too long (as far as pacing and what not). Depp was good as Sparrow once more, the set pieces were good, and the action sequences were good. However, they tried to cram too much into this film. There are a few characters and sub-plots that, although they advance the story, could have been left out and the story changed to accomodate. For a summer movie, it's fun, but compared to the excellence of the first POTC, it's a disappointment. (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 07 2006 08:53 AM I saw Pirates of the Caribbean last night at 12:01, and I did enjoy it. I thought it was more fun than Superman Returns and a lot of other movies I've seen this summer. The special effects are great and the cast does well also. I'd say it was at least on par with the original, although I didn't care for Davy Jones as much. (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 07 2006 10:15 AM [b]AMAZING SEQUEL![/b] I just saw the midnight show and I must say it was nothing short of amazing. It's a lot darker though. There is very little "light-heartedness" in the movie. It's very funny but also kinda scary. But it's the best movie of the summer. All the theaters around me sold 4 theater's of PIRATES each!!! I thank Walt Disney Pictures for bringing people back to the movies. So far, X-MEN and Pirates have received big numbers. Yeah, PIRATES debuted only last night, but it was obvious that this movie will do good. Plenty of people dressed as a pirate, including myself wearing a bandana and earring, items I got for free on Disney Cruise Line. GO SEE PIRATES 2!!!!!! (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 07 2006 10:28 AM All pirates are GAY!! (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 07 2006 10:29 AM Johnny Depp sold out big time. I won't see it. (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 07 2006 10:30 AM Disney sucks. (Reply to this) |
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on Jul 07 2006 11:32 AM Sellouts who get big movie checks and Academy Award nominations all the time. That's why this guy is great. He didnt' have to do an independent film. He still gives quality in big popcorn blockbusters. (Reply to this) |
 on Jul 07 2006 12:18 PM [b]He's a sellout[/b] You're a fucking idiot -- do you even know what a sellout is? God forbid you do something because you like it AND it appeals to the masses. (Reply to this) |
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