PotC4 SuperbOwl Commercial

Because it’s not just any owl, it’s a SUPERB owl, here’s the latest from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Mostly the same stuff we’ve seen in earlier trailers/teasers, but a little bit of new material here and there. I think it’s getting clear that the Jack Shandy/Beth Hurwood story arc from the book is on some level finding its way onscreen, although anyone looking for a loyal adaptation had best make their peace now.

As for me, I need to come to terms with the fact that Penelope Cruz still seems to have no role in this movie. The trailer has her belting out only a single cliché (“Steady as she goes!”) and magazines still describe her character simply as “fiesty.” I hope to be gravely mistaken, but thus far it looks like Angelica Beard (Blackbeard’s daughter) will be little more than a tag-along in this film.

On Stranger Tides Full Length Trailer!

You’ve been waiting for it, so here it is! The preview for next year’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides:

It looks interesting, to be sure. And I wonder at the clear elements I see from the book (Fountain of Youth, Zombies) balanced against the clearly non-book parts (mermaids, the entire cast except for Blackbeard). Don’t get me wrong, I hope they make the best movie they can, regardless of which side of the “true to the book” spectrum that means. I’m just eager to see what that balance turns out to be. Sadly, you know what I’m not eager to see? PENELOPE CRUZ. Seriously, I look at this movie and I don’t see Johnny Depp and Ian McShane, I see Jack Sparrow and Blackbeard. But with Cruz I see the same feisty latina I see in virtually every movie she’s in. These movies have always been character driven, and I don’t see a character when I look at Cruz, I just see an A-list fifth wheel thrown in for no good reason. I’ll gladly eat crow should I be wrong and ‘Angelica’ turns out to be a bundle of pirate awesome, but right now she just makes me sad and cranky.

Also interesting in this preview were the two unnamed fresh-faced youngsters – the guy and the girl (I think she was behind bars.) Could this mean some elements of Jack Shandy and Beth Hurwood will find their way into the film afterall, I wonder?

Your PotC4 Updates…

So now that Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides has wrapped up filming, it’s just a short wait until the fever truly sets in. The trailer premeires on December 13th, and the film itself May 20th. But meantime, here’s some tidbits for ya:

  1. Jack Sparrow is gay. No, not really – that’s just what Johnny Depp said to mess with some numbskull Disney executive.
  2. Jack Sparrow was originally supposed to be played by Hugh Jackman. Yes, really. This, of course, would have so profoundly changed these movies as to be an entirely different franchise. Trying to speculate what they’d be like is as pointless as wondering what the world would be like if sharks were vegetarian.
  3. PotC 5&6 already in the works. Errr… entirely feasible, but I wouldn’t bank on this “exclusive” story from HitFix being the gospel truth just yet.

So there yah have it – a few nuggets of info (or mis-info, as the case may be) to tide you over until the preview strikes later this month 🙂

Here we go again…

It happened time and again with Pirates of the Caribbean 3. During development, Keith Richards made headlines for his pending role as Jack Sparrow’s father. Then he made headlines when the role turned out to be just a rumor. Then again when the rumors turned out to be true. Back and forth, back and forth, lots of gossip with no actual news.

Well, guess what? Headlines have been made again during the filming of Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides, once again suggesting that Keith Richards will return. I found this dubious, since Disney had pulled him from promoting PotC3 after he publicly suggested he’d mixed up his father’s ashes with cocaine and snorted them. Those were the rumors, anyways. So you’ll understand why I found his return to be less than likely. And so now I find myself utterly not-surprised at the latest headline:

Keith Richards Role Cut from Pirates of the Caribbean 4 for Drug Use?

Shock!!! But don’t worry, Captain Teague fans – I’m sure we’re in for a ping-pong match regarding Keith Richards’ participation (or lack thereof) in this latest PotC installment. The only thing not in question is his history of drug use, so perhaps Disney should just make its peace with that one way or the other.

Dumbest PotC4 News Story Ever…

With pirate excitement brewing again, the news is fairly saturated with Pirates of the Caribbean news. I mean, every grainy photo of the back of Jack Sparrow taken from 400 yards away becomes headline-worthy. But this has got to be the best headline ever, from Disney Dreaming:

“Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” Is Still Filming

Yup. PotC. Still filming, yo. Not in theaters yet. Nope. Still a… work in progress, as it were. And just to prove it, Jerry Bruckheimer posted a picture of a bunch of people on the beach, presumably doing film-related stuff. Busy, busy, busy. Try not to wet yourself in excitement.

PotC 4 Pix

So the last couple of days, all sorts of images from the set of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, have found their way online. Perhaps most famous currently is this one of Angelica (Penelope Cruz) and Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in costume and strolling along the beach:

Call me a cynic, but this shot of Angelica really dissappoints me. Continue reading

Gibbs is Back!!!

I know that lots of fans have been concerned that not enough of their favorite characters will be returning for Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Personally, I’m all for fresh blood, but I also appreciate that a great character is a great character. And guess what? According to Internet Movie Database, it looks like Kevin McNally will be returning to play Gibbs (!!!).

I don’t know how IMDB is updated – if it’s at all like Wikipedia, then this isn’t very reliable. And I’ve yet to see a single news story confirming this. But IMDB has done us right so far with their cast list, promptly listing confirmed cast, and consistently ignoring the whole Megan Fox rumor-mill, so perhaps there’s hope for Gibbs fans after all.

MovieFone FAIL

So after prattling on for a full minute about what an ubergeek she is, and lamenting/bragging on her extreme knowledge of obscure comicbook/movie characters, this reporter goes on to report that Salma Hayek will be starring opposite Johnny Depp in the upcoming Pirates film. If you need me to explain why this is funny, then you haven’t been paying enough attention, and therefore should hang your head and share in her shame.