okay, I just looked at how whip smiley looked and yeah, maybe a little Yowie! lmao as well, all said and done. Too bad we couldn't work in that Craig Ferguson whip cracking noise.
Miz Sel&Bru, she's young, and if she doesn't make some more chops then yep, it will be the waste of a beautiful face. Some folks just look good, don't have the depth--we'll see. She wasn't given much by the writers do you suppose?
I think really the writing was awful for the Pirate's series but I think it was only PART of the problem because Johnny made it work for him. He created a memorable character and action hero even in the crap. Keira IMO had she been a stronger actress could have made Elizabeth come off better in the end too but really her characterout of the main characters in the series is one of the ones that is most polarizing. People either love or hate Elizabeth. Most people ignore Will or like him but he doesn't have a strong pack of haters and almost everyone loves Captain Jack. So the material wasn't impossible to do something with. It wasn't very good either. I think she is young though and can definitely grow but she will have to step out of her comfort zone and study different techniques for expressing herself on screen and learn to rely on her charisma more I think before she will be able to grow
Her transformation from COTBP to AWE isn't her fault, imo, but a fault of the writing. I've seen a wonderful actress go through the same thing.
Rachel Weisz. She is one of my favorite actresses ever, and I think she fits the criteria of a great female action star. In the first Mummy film, much like Elizabeth, she was the damsel in distress. However, she was a smart, resourceful one that held her own for as long as she could. Both of them might have been able to come out on top had they not been outnumbered and battling supernatural forces.
Then all of a sudden, the woman has become an action star. Her hair is straightened, she's lost some of her curves in favor of an action queen body, and she's fighting with knives. It's almost a complete character change because before, she was the librarian. It was like her intellect went out the window. But...8 years had gone by.
Elizabeth only gets a year between COTBP and DMC, in which time Will is supposed to have transformed her from a beginner with swords into someone pretty much on equal footing with him. I don't care if they practiced 3 hours every day. She still would not be great with them, especially compared to someone who has had years of practice like Will, whom T&T have called the best swordsman in the series.
Between DMC and AWE, we don't know how much time has gone by. My guess is at least a few months since it would take a long time to go from the Caribbean to Singapore back then. But she's a sailor there and I would think she would stop practicing 3 hours a day with her sword in favor of actually sailing the ship and doing whatever is necessary to save Jack. So given a script like that, what could she do? T&T turned her into an action star way too quickly, imo, but I loved that she was going that route. I liked seeing her fight because in COTBP, I at least got the impression she had that fight in her and just lacked the skill. So it's just another weakness of T&T if you ask me.
The transformation was the writer's fault partially but also remember it was Keira who asked for Elizabeth to be changed and to be able to learn how to fight. That's why that was just slapped into the movie Elizabeth wasn't originally going to be a master swordsman but Keira wanted to take more part in the action. Really a lot of Keira's suggestions are what helped screw up the Elizabeth character.
Well, in defense of T and T (shockingly enough) this film is an ACTION ADVENTURE film, and the natural progression of Elizabeth's character was always leading that way. Sure, they may have bent the rules of nature a little bit, but with a fifty-foot Tia Dalma and undead pirates and all that jazz, I for one wasn't bothered by the fact that Elizabeth (whom we know is naturally clever, very capable, and eager to learn) picked up some tricks of the trade and used them to advantage. Remember, in the final battle scene of the first film, she's fighting with swords and long pole thingies alongside Will--- so she started the series with some kind of skill, if questionably attained. She wasn't a total damsel in distress in film 1, she was outnumbered and naive.
In the next two films, she has training and experience under her belt. And do contemplate her action sequences--- she can use a sword (or two)... but not as well as Will. She doesn't battle any of the major villains who are known to be masters (except Jones for a few minutes, and he quickly knocks her out)... she only fights meaningless side villains (who, in action adventure films, are never very good). She can sail a ship (and you WOULD learn that quickly, if you were living on one and had spent your childhood studying methods)... but she is still shown to have weak moments--- with Sao Feng, for example, it's unlikely she would have been able to fight him off if it hadn't been for the lucky canon... and this fact is reiterated by how easily her newly acquired ship is taken over and she is held at knifepoint. Elizabeth, rather than being an action heroine, benefits from extreme good luck and some quick thinking more than anything else. Jack himself thinks her an unworthy Captain, and Kings her (arguably) to achieve his own ends alone. So I don't buy the argument that Keira's Elizabeth went from damsel in distress to action goddess overnight. I found the change gradual and believable, and more than anything, fun and necessary to the plot. Sure, if she had been fighting Jones and Beckett with a double sword and beating them, I would have found that a little far fetched. But aside from using her intuition and gumption, and her oratory skills, Elizabeth wasn't really an action heroine at all.
And in defense of Keira's portraying Elizabeth as harsh, let's just take a quick peek down memory lane--- she was raised an only child with an indulgent father, so she's naturally spunky, independent, and stubborn. She gets kidnapped and taken on the ride of her life in film 1, breaks some hearts, nearly dies any number of times, and mixes for long periods of time with uncouth pirates. Film 2, wedding interrupted, dreams shattered, she's got to buck up and save herself from prison and death, she's got to save Will, she doesn't have time to be a pretty girl or to be soft--- she has to survive in a harsh world. She kills someone she cares about, and finds herself confused about who she wants to be. Film 3, pretty much every one she cares about betrays her and then dies violently in front of her. If that doesn't toughen you up and make you harsh, nothing will. THANK GOD they didn't portray her as weak, weepy, or damsel-ish, because it would have been annoying as hell. I really admire her character. Sure, she does some stupid things, but I would have as well. Talk about intense situations.
And, lest we forget, Elizabeth-the-mum during that last little bonus scene looks considerably softer and more mature. She's been through her wild times, and from the looks of things, settled down (after a fashion) and raised her son. Single-mom power. Keira did a wonderful job of showing the subtle changes then.
Keira didn't portray Elizbaeth as harsh because she was raised by her father. That is a Keira Knightley acting tic the yelling and the whispering. That is what she always does in nearly every movie I have seen her in no matter who raised her character. There are other ways to show someone is tough and harsh other than yelling and whispering forcefully. Keira doesn't know how to do that.
And Elizabeth's progression was anything but natural. T&T were not planning to do that with Elizabeth's character right off Keira did a lot of complaining about her role in the Pirates series especially afte DMC which is why she is overdone in AWE and overkilled because she wanted more airtime. But she forked her character over in DMC by demanding to make her more apart of the action. Elizabeth could have been apart of the action in other ways that were believable. And in AWE Rambo wonder pirate was just too much. She was in like all the major battles and so skilled she could fight off an army of pirates and marry her true love at the same time *RME*
Keira and Orlando were both IMO sub par in the Pirates film series and it was only magnified how little subtext and layers they could bring to characters when they were up against Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Depp. Hell even the guy who played Norrington was able to develop layers and make his character likeable and memorable despite the hideous writing he had.
I'm going to take a step here and admit I haven't seen a whole lot of Keira Knightley movies.
POTC (all)
King Arthur
Pride and Prejudice
some of The Jacket
some of Love Actually
Harsh is one of the last words I would use to describe her in Love Actually. She plays a spunky, yet normal (albeit too trendy for me) girl who has just realized a friend of her new husband's is in love with her. She gives her role a sweetness and the scene where she realizes the guy's true feelings is heartbreaking not only because of his angst, but because she really is a nice girl who didn't plan on having to hurt someone. It's not a challenging role, but it's a different one for her.
Perhaps her most complex role isn't Elizabeth Swann but Elizabeth Bennet. In Pride and Prejudice, she is harsh at times, especially in her dealing with Mr. Collins (deliciously tackled by Tom Hollander) and her banter with Mr. Darcy. And yet, there is a real vulnerability to her. Her interactions with her father, her older sister, even Mr. Wickham, are much softer. She's not a harsh girl, rather just a tomboy who is confused about these new feelings in her.
So...I'm not sure just how much influence Keira had on the writers since she was the least biggest name involved. In the trailer for COTBP, her name doesn't even come up. She was in quite a few movies leading up to DMC, but compared to Geoffrey Rush, Johnny, and even Orlando Bloom, she was not a big name with a lot of clout. T&T are known for writing very capable women. Just look at Princess Jasmine, Elena, and Fiona. I'm sure they would have wanted Elizabeth to get into the fighting whether Keira suggested it or not.
Selina, eh, I suppose this boils down to taste and taste alone... you don't like Keira, I do. And despite the gaping plot holes of AWE, I still argue that the Pirates series is brilliantly written and extremely clever.
I love Keira as an actress, and I know she takes her craft very seriously, which is more than can be said for many other actresses her age. I'd rather she shout than whine.
Willo, I agree about the strong women.
It has little to do with liking or disliking Keira when it comes to analyzing her acting as a whole. Will Smith is my favorite actor and even I can concede to his weaknesses as an actor including the one example I gave where he has so much charisma and screen presence that it is hard for him to disappear into roles and NOT be Will Smith.
Keira may take her craft seriously but it doesn't negate the possibility that she has flaws as an actress. She needs to expand her bag of acting tricks. Falling back on yelling and whispering all the time is lazy there are other ways to express yourself. Once she diversifies and learns other ways to do so I am sure she will be a much more effective actress. And if she chooses not to then she will stagnate at this stage in her career. But her portrayal of Elizabeth Swann got progressively worse as the series went on as did the writing.
POTC is not a clever series at all IMO. I enjoy it for the popcorn fun it is but it's a weak trilogy that overall would have served best as one movie the Curse of the Black Pearl. And I say that as a fan of the series and someone who owns all three movies. They had the potential to be something more if Disney had not gotten so caught up in the money making machine and actually tried to craft good stories that didn't have a bunch of plot points.
I'm not saying my opinion is the final say. Where did I ever say that? It isn't my problem if that is how you chose to interpret what I wrote. My post includes IMO which is an abbreviation for IN MY OPINION.
I am just saying that actual acting techniques can be pin pointed without it being a matter of taste necessarily if you've studied film and theater.
It's like watching a dance contest. You can like or dislike an actual dance someone does but if you're trained in dance you can critique a person's actual technique as a dancer. That's what I am saying. Whether I like or dislike Keira Knightley as an actor is a matter of personal taste. Talking about Keira Knightley's actual training as an actress and the techniques she employs as an actor is an entirely different matter. Again referring to my Will Smith example where I have said that he is my personal favorite actor but I can still critique some of his choices he has made as an actor in regards to his technique.
And several actors or actresses who do subpar work are popular with the general public. I would say that Will Ferrell is a popular actor in his genre but he isn't exactly a good actor. Steve Gutenberg enjoyed success as a film actor in the 80s but I wouldn't say he was phenomenal as an actor. And Johnny Depp didn't have a lot of mainstream success at the box office and yet I would argue he is one of the best actors of his generation.
And really many of my critiques are not news or anything as I have also studied film and acting I also read a lot of movie reviews from some of the top reviews in the country and a lot of critics on actors and actresses and some of the same things I picked up on were also picked up on by them.
I'm not saying one cannot like Keira Knightley or think that she is a good actress. I am just saying that I feel she has a lot of growing to do as far as her technique because she does rely on the same sorts of things to portray emotion and they do not work in every situation. And I'm not saying I am the final say on her acting at all. If you like her that is fine and dandy and a okay I am just saying that she has a lot of room to grow and I think as she does more roles if she finds more ways to express emotions rather than falling back on the few ways she has been in all the films of hers that I have seen then she will be fine.
Originally posted by willofthewisp.........my........effing.........goodness. D*MN YOU HEATHER GRAHAM! I WANNA BE YOU!!!!
Private Resort? What's it about?Tex, see From Hell. There's no real nudity or sex, but there is a beautifully sexy scene.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=KttIDybZOvU
If you want this clip to have a set up, see below because it may contain spoilers.SPOILER: Johnny is investigating Jack the Ripper. Heather Graham plays Mary Kelly, a prostitute who slowly becomes his informant because according to a popular theory this movie embraces, she knows the other women murdered and seems to have stumbled upon a secret that obviously endangers all their lives. Needless to say, they both are attracted to each other and that just escalates into kissy goodness.
Don't have time to read the long posts...but just wanted to say Hi...I haven't forgotten my friends here at KMC or my love for Johnny....but I've had to cut back for the sake of my own sanity. I must say our Johnny is looking smashing in his new role for Public Enemies....He looks very handsome with the short hair, clean shaven face..and toting that gun in hand...and my oh my...that long coat and hat! Wow....he looks awesome....have I said that already??!!!
Thanks Diva for posting the pics.......you're a gem!
hey ya'll, a bit of self-pimpage, but I was inspired by some of the conversation about Jack's past a while back, and scribbled a bit of a fanfic whilst at work. It's called "Nights in the Bayou" and I'll probably continue it, though it won't be long... I would love if you guys took a look...
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4161950/1/Nights_in_the_Bayou
Cheers!