"Fly on the Set" is an underutilized feature on DVDs. It simply shows the set during a shoot, where you can listen in on the crew discussing how to shoot it, untouched dialogue, and more. There's no unnecessary commentary of music. It's like being there. You can peek in on five scenes. A blooper reel runs for three minutes and not surprisingly, it's entertaining.
"Below Deck" is one of those annoying features that require you to navigate some cheesy video menus to actually get to the features. Thankfully, you can view the content, which has historians discussing real pirates, with a separate menu selection. Nineteen deleted scenes are crammed on here, each obviously varying in length. It's odd that during the extended scenes, the new footage is indicated by a change of aspect ratio, from the usual 2:35:1 to 1:85:1. Wouldn't a subtitle that says "new" make more sense?
A scene progression for the reveal of what the enemy pirates really are is about as deep as you can go for a CGI featurette. It runs about six and half minutes. "Pirates in the Park" contains an entire episode of "The Wonderful World of Disney" describing how the thrill ride the movie is loosely based on came to be. That's a great extra and the stock is surprisingly good shape considering the age. Numerous still galleries finish things off in your DVD player while those with DVD-ROM drives can continue with a few more extra features. (*****)
There's another version of this DVD out there that includes a third disc. Seems like overkill, but it's worth it. Here's a rundown of those extras:
"Becoming Captain Jack" - Johnny Depp featurette.
"Becoming Barbossa" - Geoffrey Rush featurette.
"Thar She Blows!" - The film's ship Interceptor, from building it to blowing it up.
"The Monkey's Name Is Jack" - Meet Levi and Tara, the film's monkeys.
"Pirates Around The World" International release comparison.
"Fly On The Set" on-set featurette.
"Spirit of the Ride" - Johnny Depp, director Gore Verbinski and others reflect on their earliest memories of the attraction.
"Sneak Attack Animatic."
If you're a fan (and it's likely you are), you might as splurge for that set.
Article comments
1 - Karl Eklund. Ph.D.
Letter to the Editor
The Vincentian
Vinpub@vincy.com
KentonChase@hotmail.com
It is generally known that Disney is set to start shooting Parts 2 & 3 of "Pirates of the Caribbean" in Domenica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines this spring. Unfortunately, unlike the first part, this time Disney intends to work in the native peoples of these islands, the Caribs and "Black Caribs" or Garifuna.
According to Paul Lewis of the SVG Archaeological and Historical Society Disney executives insist that Caribs in Dominica be portrayed as cannibals. Adrian Fraser in his column in the Searchlight (quoting Carib Chief Charles Williams of Dominica) says that the scene will show Caribs roasting another Carib in the style of a barbecue. Evidently the Disney executives said the script cannot be changed.
That, of course, is nonsense. Scripts have been changed even with films in the can, if the change is necessary to market the film. And the easiest time to change a script is while it is just words on paper. What Disney doesn't understand is that a community that survived the attempted genocide by the British Empire is not likely to be fazed by a corporation that is dependent on popular approval.
Whether or not the Caribs roasted people, or even ate bits of them for ritual reasons, is, on the one hand, something for academics to argue about. On the other hand displaying it in a movie that is likely to be popular based on its predecessor is unnecessary promulgation of a racist myth for political purposes. Disney's researchers probably don't know that there is a distinction between "Caribs" and "Garifuna" or what that distinction signifies.
A minor change in the script in which the europeans BELIEVE the Caribs are cannibals and in which the roastee is a european colonist, while the central characters discover, at the climax, that the Yellow and Black Caribs are fierce freedom fighters defending their homes and independence, would not only be much more acceptable to Caribbean academics, but would be considerably more acceptable to audiences in the Caribbean diaspora and the non-melanin-deficient international market. And it would be a lot cheaper to change the script now, before any shooting, than to change the final cut after a lot of demonstrations.
There are lots of interesting questions about the Caribs that I will be discussing in future essays at [http://blogger.karleklund.net] and on the website at [http://svg.karleklund.net]. The Garifuna who survived attempted genocide by the British Empire are an inspiration to us all.
But it would be a useful thing if a lot of people showed that they care how the Garifuna and other aboriginal peoples are portrayed in big production movies. It is too late in the twentyfirst century to slander an ethnic group simply out of ignorance and greed.
Karl Eklund, Ph.D.
Villa, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
2 - Eric Olsen
Karl, In the words of Captain Jack, "interesting."
Matt, what a great job. I don't say it often enough but I really enjoy the attitude and thoroughness of your reviews, and you shame me with your coverage and knowledge of the special features, which I never seem to get around to discussing. Thanks!
3 - Matt Paprocki
Karl, that's interesting. What's even more surprsing is the change Disney has went through. This was the first movie to carry both the Disney label and a PG-13 rating. It seems like the next one could be pretty graphic if they do end up going the cannibal route.
Eric: Thanks as always.
4 - Anthony g
i thought that pirates of the caribbean was brilliant, johnny depp is ace i especially like the part where the 2 guards say "this dock is stictly of limits to civilians" 'n' johnny sez "ok sure, if i see a civilian i will inform you"
5 - Anthony g rocks
pirates of the caribbean is ace .... i can't wait till the second 1 comes out. . .
Johnny also rocks...p.s i'm gettin fed up of people sayin how fit johnny n orlando is.... when we all know that kiara is the fittest..
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