|
| |
SPILT POPCORN
– By SGT Damian Griffin
Edition 1169, June 28, 2007 |
Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End
Johnny Depp, Keira Knightly, Orlando Bloom, Geoffrey Rush
2.5/5 stars
This third instalment of the hugely successful Pirates of the Caribbean series is unfortunately not as good as the first two.
In this film, Jack Sparrow (Depp) has been consigned to Davey Jones’ locker (after his battle with the Kraken in the second film) before he had the chance to appoint his successor as one of the nine pirate lords.
Will Turner (Bloom), Elizabeth Swan (Knightly) and Captain Barbossa (Rush) reunite to rescue Sparrow so he can attend a meeting of the Nine Lords of the Brethren Court, who intend to free the imprisoned goddess Calypso so she can restore the order of the sea – but all have differing motives.
Unfortunately, it feels like too many twists and turns have been added into the plot in an attempt to give it a bit more life. The result, at least in my opinion, is too much thinking about where the story is going and not enough of the swashbuckling that made the first two films so enjoyable.
I also felt myself cringe at several points in the film, especially when Miss Swan jumps up and gives her impression of a rallying-the-troops Braveheart-style speech. |
| |
|
| |
As It Is In Heaven
Michael Nyqvist, Freda Hallgren
4/5 stars
With some critics labelling it the best thing to come out of Sweden since Abba, As It Is In Heaven is fast being appreciated as a refreshing alternative film.
The story tells of international conductor Daniel Darieus (Nyqvist) who decides to return to the small village of his childhood after a heart attack. He soon attracts the attention of the church choir who convince him to “offer a little advice”.
His presence in the small parochial village impacts on the choir members’ lives in more ways than just their singing, as his unconventional methods of helping them find their own song also helps them access repressed emotions. Soon, choir practice has a larger following than the local Lutheran pastor’s church services, and through jealously and resistance to change, the pastor and the choir’s ex-cantor find reason to have Daniel removed from his position. But the choir stays loyal and remains with him as he leads them to an international choir competition.
Although at times I found the outpourings of honesty a little overdone and would have liked a little more subtlety, I did find As It Is In Heaven to be the delight I’d anticipated and a film well worth seeing. |
| |
|
