its interesting how much Jack's character has changed by movie 3. a little off topic i know, but in movie 1 he seemed so vulnerable and edgy--- more dangerous, perhaps, than the other 2 films, and yet, at the same time, more human.
film 2 he was a riot, but he had stepped deeper into the realm of "cartoon character"... except, that is, for that final scene starting with the line "we're not free yet, love" there's something about that scene that makes me want to see Jack older and more jaded, to see him less as a funny person and more as an emotionally complex novel-type figure.
film 3, for me, was the simplest his character had been. they seemed to massively reduce the depth of his character in this one. in my mind anyways. his motivations were "rum and salty wenches" and "not dying"... which are pretty lame motivations to drive his actions. Which is probably why I didn't fancy him much in that film. Revenge, Lust, Insatiable greed for some heathen treasure--- all of those would have re-worked much better.
The thing is, Jack is the character in the series I identify most with-- see most of myself in. So it was important to me that they completed his character arc in a satisfying way.
And for some reason, I always assumed because Jack was the money-maker of the series, they would give him what he wanted in the end. That was my one comfort. T and T are notorious for granting their hero's heart's desire in the final moments. In a good way, of course. And I always thought, Jack is the money of this series. Whatever he ends up wanting, they will have to give him or the audience will hate it (especially after forcing us all to watch Jack DIE a tragic painful death, among other things). But I was sooooo wrong. Not only did Jack not get what he want (and I'm not saying it was Lizzie--- it was immortality, the Pearl, and continued freedom) he LOST EVERYTHING that was important to him except his ability to drink, it seems. And not only did Jack end badly, but EVERYONE lost what they wanted most, it seems. Barbossa and Gibbs seemed to do pretty well out of the deal, but they were the only ones.
I'm sorry. I keep saying the same thing over and over. I guess I'm in denial.