As a generalisation I do not go to the cinema to see sequels, the big exception being for Harry Potter movies (for my sins). Last summer was described as the year of the movie 'threequel' with new entries from some of previous years' biggest hits. Contrary to popular belief this was not the failure (except of course creatively) that was expected, with nearly all of them doing good business to offset their escalating costs. Thinking back, I did actually like the first entries of nearly all of these movies, finding them painless eye candy. I even, if the truth be told, liked the second entries. (Mind you, I'm not that certain about the Jason Bourne series which some people think the most successful of these.) So I decided to celebrate the new year by viewing two of the biggest grossers, "Shrek the Third" and "Pirates of the Caribbean at World's End".
I shall not sit here and try to convince you that either of these films represent great cinema, but there is not a lot wrong with either of them as plain entertainment. It is obvious that the charm of a new concept like Shrek's revisionist take on fairytales or Depp's camp interpretation of pirate captains can not continue to enchant in the same way, but that's not going to stop their moviemakers from trying. While Shrek's ogreish charm may be wearing a bit thin and while the film now seems to try harder to appeal to adults than to kids, there still is enough going to make most of its 90ish minutes easy viewing. And while on one level I hope that we have now seen the last of these characters, it would not surprise me to discover a fourth film or a spin-off movie, and I might even end up enjoying that one too.
As for the Pirates series, part three was the longest yet and definitely overstuffed in the attempt to mask the sheer incomprehensibility of the plot. Depp continues to amuse, even if the cameo from his role model Keith Richards proved something of a non-event. The rest of the cast also seems to be having fun, although I still fail to react to the would-be charms of Orlando Bloom. For me the big attraction was a role for Chow Yun Fat, the coolest man in the world and in his own way the biggest movie star, when one admits that movie fandom does not end outside the borders of the U.S. As always he was wonderful, although killed off far too soon for me. While I sincerely hope that this entry is indeed the last, I did feel that things were left for more to come. God help us!
Missing link...
1 comment:
Shrek was mildly amusing the first time round, less so the second time and not
really that good on this outing though this may be a certain aversion to Mike
Myers.
Pirates of the Caribbean 3 was overlong but great fun. Depp and his role model
for his part in the film played well together and it shows that flat chests,nay concave ones, do not mean the end of a film career but it also shows that pretty
looks can hide a lack of any great talent. Geoffrey Rush overacted delightfully
as he did in the previous film and the inimitable Chow Yun Fat was just that - but
not for long enough.
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