Good trip and fictional musings

[veronica_rich]

Three weeks ago, my friend Susan got married, to a college professor she's known for more than a year. Like me, Susan is in her almost-mid-30s and I didn't think she'd ever get married, even though she did date and had lived with a guy before this one. At any rate, she was never searching for a husband, so I think that's the best way to go. (Unlike me - I do not live well with other humans, and I know this from experience. Sex would not abate that.)

Last night I went to her delayed wedding reception, and met a lot of new people (and some old ones, from the wedding and once or twice before, mostly his friends who'd adopted her into their circle). Susan was telling me how I ought to move closer to them (they live 100 miles from me, which is hard to visit because of gas prices) - of course I can't because of decreased job possibilities. But anyway, it was much fun and it's the first time in a long time that I've drank a LOT, didn't get drunk, and woke up this morning without a headache. Maybe I'm aging in reverse! LOL


Okay, fictional musings. In order to proceed to this next part, you have to have an interest in POTC2, you have to not be scared off by some spoilers (believe it or not, I am trying to avoid really major ones, but I've been sucked into looking at some of the still photos and seeing the two trailers now out), and you have to watch the current Japanese trailer first, especially near the end. It can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZhzUAs5W7I&eurl if you haven't seen it.


Near the end is a very brief cut-in scene of what looks like Jack and Elizabeth very close, facing, his hands up, almost like they're about to kiss or something. That's what I'm referring to herein.

I certainly hope this is either one of them leaning in to bluff and make a point, or a quick kiss that will result in the same reaction Marty McFly and Lorraine Baines had to each other in the 1950s part of "Back to the Future" when Lorraine tried to kiss him and felt icky for it.

HOWEVER ... I do not have the faith in the writers that others in this fandom seem to. My opinion is the first movie was saved much on the backs of Johnny and Gore fixing dialogue and plot points (I don't mean the other actors weren't good; what I mean is the writers did a less than stellar job and were saved from themselves. Listen to the writer commentary on the DVD sometime and how often they talk about being asked to change the script here and there, and THEIR ideas of what made the movie so successful). I have a worry - in the fictional sense, of course; I realize this isn't war in Iran or "real world" stuff - that these two are going to try to set up the old, tired, lame-ass "conflict between two men for the love of a woman" angle, using Will, Jack, and Elizabeth.

I know some on my f-list will disagree with my following statement just like some will disagree about my previous statement about Ted and Terry, but I'll say it anyway: Jack and Elizabeth are NOT a feasible pairing. They are too alike. They would work well together to achieve an end, and they could have a fabulous mentor-student partnership. But sexually? Just - NO. There IS tension in that threesome, but it's not between Jack and Will for the attentions of Elizabeth ...

Comments

[pseudoblu.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to avoid spoilers but I too have been looking at every picture and trailer that comes out. I accidentally came across a spoilery thing that I wasn't sure was true but it had to do with that tease of a kiss. I'll try to share it if you don't mind being spoiled that much.

[philosophercat.livejournal.com]

That was Elizabeth?! ...Hmnnn...

[gloromeien.livejournal.com]

Hey-there, longtime fan of your fics tuning in,

I don't necessarily disagree with your statements about the writers not doing it all on their own and certain other parties being involved in improving the script. I certainly think most successful movies and most certainly this one are a collaboration between all involved. I'm sure Ted, Terry, Gore, Johnny, and probably even Geoffrey Rush had as much to do with the finished film as any one of their individual contributions to dialogue. They each added their own unique elements and it all came together as a whole.

That quibble aside, I have read Orlando say only about a thousand times in recent press that Will is going to go quite 'dark' for the third film. If that's so, the only dramatically meaningful way to do that is if he's estranged from Elizabeth and she comes to question his character (which, as in all tales of this sort, in the end will prove completely fruitless because he was just pretending all along, blah, blah).

Anyway, point being that if Elizabeth is canoodling with Jack, it lowers the dramatic stakes of this considerably. Of course, that itself could be the impetus for Will decamping to the dark side (depending on what that in itself actually means plot-wise), but that seems more like a fanfic plot than it does the actualy, humor-driven and action-oriented films.

Basically, I think such a scene has more value comedically than it does in genuine intent (and by the gods do I hope I'm right on this one). Also, there was that moment in POTC1 where they were flirting on the deserted island and Elizabeth had zero interest in pursuing that. Not to menion the last line Jack speaks to her in the original film, which indicates that Jack thinks Liz is interested in him, as all women are, but that this is another sun-baked delusion of his. And that, really, is a much funnier notion, and way to play that scene, than if it's true and they really are flirting. Keira does do craftly indignation only too well (even got her an Oscar nod).

Sorry for the veritable thesis, but I do get excited about these things! Take care!

-G. ;D

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

I think their egos are both too large to suffer each other.

[vejiicakes.livejournal.com]

I went ahead and read the (reputable or not) spoilers via the ML .. up to a point because I wanted at least some of the movie to be a surprise, if any of the spoilers turned out to be true. And upon reading them, grew to be ... concerned, in the manner which you seem to be concerned, and on the same matter.

I'd become quite fond of Elizabeth, much to my surprise. But I think this Will/Jack/Liz threesome (and not a threesome in that sense, which I might actually enjoy) would just push her over into Suedom. I really think it would. She had two men vying for her attention in POTCI--she damn well doesn't need three.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

If you'll restrict it to just that, sure, go ahead and post it here. I'd be curious ...

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I believe so. Photos I've seen her feature her in pirate garb and a tricorn hat.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I believe you're correct.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

To me, Jack is the quintessential single guy. He does NOT need a love interest (well ... at least not a woman, heh). He needs to travel the seas making port and deflowering squealing, happy women as often as possible.

[philosophercat.livejournal.com]

*frets* Hmmn... I have a faint hope it is someone else. It was hard to see in the clip.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I read Orli's interviews too, and to me, it's possible that he teams with Jack for whatever reason and goes pirate for some reason (or that he goes pirate and opposes Jack). But I would hate for it to be over a dame. Cripes, how predictable!

And to think, I was more worried a year ago that it would turn out Jack is Will's blood relative ...

[pseudoblu.livejournal.com]

I can't find the link to where ever I read it, but it said that she did that to distract him so she could handcuff him to the ship. She then said that they only want Jack and they'll leave her and Will alone, and that she's not sorry. Jack understands.

[queenoftheeggs.livejournal.com]

Movie preview people like to trick us...I bet this is one of those times...Elizabeth is probably an inch away from slapping him. Besides, I can never picture Jack settling down with any female...(or in general...anyone...he's too much of a backstabber in my mind)

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Okay, now THAT sounds like Elizabeth, yeah.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

He would definitely need someone he really cared about and who could handle themselves - wouldn't need his constant protection - in order to think about being monogamous, yeah. Someone who'd live his lifestyle and let him be the boss, without being a doormat about it.

Hmmm, I have just the man ...

[captsparrow4evr.livejournal.com]

I must agree with queenoftheeggs that the teasers are always used to trick us into wanting to see the movie to see if something they hint at is true or not. Heck, as I like to point out, one of the first trailers for DMC that I saw showed prominently Will kissing someone in a tricorn. The first time I saw it it was such a quick glimpse that my heart started beating fast and I actually squeed--It looked like Will was kissing JACK!! Then I saw the trailer again and some stills and saw Elizabeth dressed as a boy and, well, then I knew. But if I had just seen that first trailer and nothing more, you better believe I'd be at the theatre at that first showing to see if the Disney execs had fulfilled my fantasies.:)

I agree with you, though, that of all the pairings I've seen come from the movie, Jack/Elizabeth is my least favorite (I'd rather read Moog, frankly) because it's just so not happening. I do hope that Keira Knightley has more chemistry with the male leads in this one than she did with them in the first. As Jack put it so succinctly, "One can only hope."

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Since the first movie, Orlando and Keira have both had "grown up" acting experiences (Balian, much?) that I think have made them more solid actors. Plus, it looks like Elizabeth gets to be a bit more independent in 2 than in the first one, and Will is less timid around her, so maybe there'll be some more chemistry flowing freely all around ...

[vejiicakes.livejournal.com]

*snickers* I did think of mentioning that the idea of Jack hooking up with anyone was out of character, but I couldn't help but think of how much I love Turrow, so I said nothing.

Eh, we're just sexist. XP

[captsparrow4evr.livejournal.com]

Orli is not my concern here. No, I'm saying that Keira is the problem. Damn but she had more chemistry with Zoe Saldana

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Orli is not my concern here. No, I'm saying that Keira is the problem. Damn but she had more chemistry with Zoe Saldana <sp?> than with any of the male leads. Both my sister and I speculated that she was a lesbian after seeing her in PotC the first time. I think Orlando will do a very creditable job though he will still be playing opposite Mr. Depp and who can compete with that?;) I'm just wanting July to be here already almost as much as I'm dreading it. DON'T RUIN MY MOVIE, DISNEY!!!;)

[captsparrow4evr.livejournal.com]

a) Liz is an intelligent woman, so why would she have to distract Jack with her sexuality when she can quite easily match him in wits. I really loved her character in the first movie, but I fear that I may strongly dislike her in this one.

I HATED Liz in the first movie. So if they change her character, maybe I'll like her more in this movie.

e) I wanted this movie to be full of slashy context, not a dramatic love triangle with Jack and Will fighting for Elizabeth's heart.

*sigh* Unfortunately, this is Disney. And if, as I suspect, the writers etc. have been checking out the fan-fic, they may be trying to get away from the slashiness. Now that doesn't mean the writers _have_ been dropping by to read a fan-fic or two and that we slash-girls won't be very pleased with the results (after all, the scene I mentioned in the first trailer) but I don't know that I trust a Mouse with only three fingers!:)

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Addition: What I should've said was, I believe you're correct, but I'm not sure the Disney collective has enough sense to realize that, and will somehow try to cram one of their personalities down (or both) to fit with one another.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

Okay, you might as well warn me. Are there other scenes where I'm going to be wincing as I watch J/E approach getting it on? (Try to keep out other things if you at all can.)

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

But - BUT - part of me has to think the whole J/E thing is a smokescreen, an act or a ruse of some sort. The only way I could take it seriously is if Johnny thought it might work some way, because I would think he has as much or more control over his character in this movie as in the first one.

I told a friend some months ago that I thought the "twist" for the series might be that Jack turns out to be Elizabeth's biological father. I'm still sort of hoping that, because it would make a great scene.

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

Liz is an intelligent woman, so why would she have to distract Jack with her sexuality when she can quite easily match him in wits.

Because it's Disney. The strong heroine has to conquer or team up with the strong hero and then glom onto him matrimonially. Don't you watch your fairytale canon? *G*

We know from the first movie that Liz is infatuated with Will, so why the hell would she pull this act, which could potentially damage her relationship with him.

Why kill off Bambi's mother? Good drama. More ticket sales for POTC3.

Jack and Will had definitely formed a bond in the first movie, so would Jack stoop so low as to betray that trust?

See immediately above.

Johnny himself stated on the PotC DVD commentary that he felt very uneasy filming the island scene where he had to come on to Keira, due to the age difference.

Ah, but she was 17 filming the first movie. Now she's 21. And there's a great age difference between him and Christina Ricci, too, that he has no problem working around, and has, in more than one movie.

I wanted this movie to be full of slashy context, not a dramatic love triangle with Jack and Will fighting for Elizabeth's heart.

Viva La Fanfic!

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

*WINCES*

Well, I did ask for it.

Then again, maybe some good will come of it in that if Will has to confront Elizabeth, there'll actually be some sexual chemistry between the two of them.

Of course, the worst part is whatever they do in 2, they'll amplify in 3.