queitus

Usually I can move past the plot and situations of a movie and appreciate at least the themes, acting talent, and character development. Sadly, this film was severely lacking in all above areas.

The highly predictable climax eliminated its possibility of generating suspense, as most of the movie lacked any sort of tension anyway. The trite assignations of badguy immigration police, completely twisted and evil boss, completely goodhearted and innocent main characters caught in a big mess, etc. just didn't do it for me. Then the sudden turn of each innocent main character to undesirable practices just didn't work; perhaps a different script and better director could've done it, but the script simply didn't allow for it.

I'm willing to ignore such questions as, why flush a heart down the toilet? Why isn't the heart just with the rest of the body? I was trying to invent interesting situations, such as the other body parts having made it down the piping, but that didn't sit well with me, and I doubt the writers thought of it anyway. Why didn't Ogwe just call in anonymously to the police, and bring the whole thing down, or at least try?? So many questions like this, the answers to which either didn't exist or made no sense. This had more plot holes and less character development/sympathy than a lot of American summer blockbusters I've seen. Pirates of the Caribbean comes to mind!

And if it had the character development and empathy and such to back it up, I could forget about things like that. But it doesn't. Ogwe will never take money to keep quiet, but he will steal a kidney and 10 grand to save himself? alright, I can buy that... NOT!

And just to let you folks know, the entire concept upon which the movie is based, organs on the black market, is completely farce and ridiculous. I believe other people have mentioned why it simply doesn't work and would never work.

3 out of 5. Not really high up there as far as dramas go. Too many holes and overall lack of substance to ignore.

This movie is reminiscent of virtually every Hollywood blockbuster I've ever seen. It did its job: charmed the charmable, roused those appreciative of trite, forced humor, wooed those susceptible to petty, undramatic romance, and overall, won people over by general appeal and advertisement rather than by substance. Granted, a lot of people like that sort of thing. And frankly I should have expected it. But I went in expecting something a bit more riveting, involved, and overall, something that perhaps would take itself seriously.

I was looking for more of a period action film with its own aspects of fantasy that remain consistent and serious (Lord of the Rings trilogy comes to mind, though that's not technically a period action film, it falls into the category right up there with Braveheart, Last of the Mohicans, Gladiator, etc. and still has its fair share of humor). I was interested to see how this would be done. The trite humor and cleches in the beginning, I thought to be something that would pass. Then I realized that they were to remain and then I of course saw the wonderfully comic CG skeleton pirates! And said to myself, "oh, it's one of these."

So I'd just like to let everyone else know, this is a Hollywood blockbuster and nothing more. Don't expect it to stick with you for long or to make you think about anything. Also, the plot twists just got annoying after a while. However, some good points: Geoffrey Rush and especially Johnny Depp in some roles that they obviously enjoy, and can overact wonderfully with reckless abandon! Great job by the two of them, very entertaining. Especially when Barbosa grunts, simply, "ARRRR!" The action is superb, with some brilliantly choreographed sword fights and wonderful effects throughout. Plenty of eye candy and humor for the whole family.

I'd hardly call it great cinema, but it was certainly fun. Go into the theater in the mood for a fun movie and you'll probably enjoy it much more than I did.

Like others have pointed out, this movie is based on a wonderful concept but the delivery is just poor. I'd say the best part about it was the casting... maybe. But misidentifying the archangel Gabriel as the angel of death? Come on now, most christians can see that one. Not to mention a celtic bible from the 2nd century, sure. And to add to the other flaws pointed out, the characters were just so NOT human that it was boring. "I just saw satan." It wouldn't have surprised me if she added "Wow, he was scary. Phew!"