# Pirates of the Caribbean: It's rated "Arrrr!" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308 "2003-07-09T19:54:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/121 "2003-07-15T08:27:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by SolGrundy \* > And I guess I’m satisfied with the explanation of why Elizabeth didn’t suffer from the curse, but just barely. It was an interesting twist to the story – since she stole a piece of the treasure as well – that they didn’t touch. Here’s an idea. Maybe it’s because she didn’t steal the treasure out of greed. Hey that reminds me. One of my favorite lines is when Will makes a deal with Barbossa, and Barbossa says, “Agreed.” and you can see all his pirate teeth close up. Very sinister. I think maybe it’s because the word ends with “greed” that it was so evocative. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/122 "2003-07-15T09:32:32Z")
Just saw it yesterday, I liked it! The ending see too happy for me, but oh well… Bryan, they say they didn’t know until later that they needed to recover the gold pieces and obtain blood from a descendant to lift the curse. They probably didn’t know he was descendant, nor that he had the gold piece. Also, he’s never in the water properly, he’s in a piece of ship turned raft, not drowning like Elizabeth was. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/123 "2003-07-15T12:17:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KarlGrenze \* > \*\*Just saw it yesterday, I liked it! The ending see too happy for me, but oh well… > > Bryan, they say they didn’t know until later that they needed to recover the gold pieces and obtain blood from a descendant to lift the curse. They probably didn’t know he was descendant, nor that he had the gold piece. Also, he’s never in the water properly, he’s in a piece of ship turned raft, not drowning like Elizabeth was. \*\* Well, it’s pretty reasonably to assume he fell in the water when the ship was sunk, then climbed aboard a piece of wreckage. If the gold piece needs to touch the water in order to signal the cursed pirates (which seems kind of an odd requirement, I’ll admit) they should have sensed it then. Also, why _did_ Bootstrap send a piece of the gold to his son? To make it harder to lift the curse? That’s pretty spiteful, since we assume Bootstrap was also a victim of that curse. Also, the pirates didn’t learn that the curse even _could_ be lifted until after they’d tossed Bootstrap overboard (ironically enough). The more I think about it, actually, the less sense the movie makes. Obvious solution: stop thinking about it, matey! ---
**Author:** ![Stccrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Stccrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stccrd)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/124 "2003-07-15T13:00:28Z")
If Bootstrap was hit by the curse, why is he dead? Is it possible that a sequel might include the not-so-dead Bootstrap? ---
**Author:** ![richardb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/96bed5/32.png) [@richardb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/richardb)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/125 "2003-07-15T13:00:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bryan Ekers \* > \*\*Also, why _did_ Bootstrap send a piece of the gold to his son? To make it harder to lift the curse? That’s pretty spiteful, since we assume Bootstrap was also a victim of that curse. Also, the pirates didn’t learn that the curse even _could_ be lifted until after they’d tossed Bootstrap overboard (ironically enough). \*\* I think you answered your own question. Since they didn’t know the curse _could_ be lifted until after they’d tossed Boostrap overboard, that means that when Bootstrap sent the coin to his son he hadn’t known the curse could be lifted either, so why not send a piece of treasure to his son as a nice gift (he presumably had many more to keep for himself). Which leads me to another question: Since Bootstrap was affected by the curse as well, and since those who were afflicted by this curse COULDN’T DIE, that means that Bootstrap didn’t die when they sent him overboard, either! Of course, this could be telling for a possible sequal: Unless Bootstrap Bill remain tied to the cannon (and bored out of his skull) for the whole time the Black Pearl sailed the seas during this curse, which means that when the curse was lifted he then drowned, what if he managed to eventually untie himself from the cannon (the ropes rotted away, some fish ate them, he just eventually was able to untie them, whatever) and then walk back to shore (underwater the whole time, of course, but we did see those other skeletons do just that) and just hang out on some island or in a city someplace minding his own business. Now that the curse is lifted, he can try to find his long lost son! Maybe the Commodore guy decides to jail Will Turner after all, and Jack Sparrow and Bootstrap Bill have to save him. Would that make for a good sequal, or what? ---
**Author:** ![richardb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/96bed5/32.png) [@richardb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/richardb)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/126 "2003-07-15T13:02:55Z")
Arrrrg, **Stccrd** , ye beat me to it by seconds! I thought of it first, says I, and you’re just a yeller-bellied land-lubber!!! Ye be warned, says I. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/127 "2003-07-15T15:06:47Z")
It seems to me that you couldn’t kill them in any kind of flesh inducing way, but if the bones were smashed into a powdery mess and then strewn about the four corners of the earth, how could they still be living? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/128 "2003-07-15T16:03:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gangster Octopus \* > \*\*It seems to me that you couldn’t kill them in any kind of flesh inducing way, but if the bones were smashed into a powdery mess and then strewn about the four corners of the earth, how could they still be living? \*\* Glue, matey! When one pirate gets his arm pulled off, yet it continues to roam around, nearly strangling that guy, it suggests severed limbs are similarly cursed, though whether or not they could be reattached remains unclear. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/129 "2003-07-15T17:10:37Z")
About Sparrow and Elizabeth’s relationship: I always thought it seemed more brother/sister dad/daughter than something else, except for the moment he was too drunk. Also, if he’s her father, he was very young (not rare in those times, but still)… he doesn’t seem to be older than 35 and she’s about 20 years old, so the difference is only 10 years or so… ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/130 "2003-07-15T17:26:45Z")
On the other hand, Johnny Depp is actually 40 and Keira Knightley is actually 18, so he could be her father… ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/131 "2003-07-15T20:54:14Z")
Fun movie! The last sequence was a total bust, though. Clearly the whole movie is setting up an ending where Elizabeth, Will, and Jack all jump off the fort walls and sail off into the sunset as pirates, while a sputtering Commodore vainly tries to catch them. Instead we got a lame, tame, limp ending where everyone acts very sensible, generous and gracious, without any melodrama. And what’s a pirate movie without melodrama? ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2003, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/132 "2003-07-15T21:38:30Z")
Wumpus, that was my main trouble with the movie… there was no kind of emotion from the other characters… On one side, it’s good that they didn’t do what you suggested, as that is what is expected… but the ending it has is no better. ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/133 "2003-07-16T14:42:21Z")
Third veiwing: Regarding the curse and Elizabeth’s non-cursed-ness: Barbossa says that only those who remove coins from the chest are cursed–not those who steal the coins or possess the coins. Elizabeth never took a coin from the chest, so she cannot be cursed. Regarding my confusion of Will’s bleeding at the end: What I thought had been a gunshot wound from Sparrow’s shot that went through Barbossa was actually an incredibly quick shot of Will’s bloody knife–and the wound on his hand is quite open, though not very angry looking. All in all, I loved it yet again, and I hope to break my record of amount of times I’ve seen a movie while it was still in theatres. (That record’s four, at the moment.) ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/134 "2003-07-16T14:59:57Z")
Mr. Amanita said something last night which hadn’t occurred to me… that Johnny Depp’s movements as Jack Sparrow were occasionally reminiscent of the animatronic figures in the park ride. I’ll have to see it again to consider this. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/135 "2003-07-16T17:21:52Z")
Interesting… because I’m still wondering why Jack Sparrow had such movements even though he only drank a lot once, and the rest of the time he didn’t drink more than the others… ---
**Author:** ![BuckleberryFerry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/5f9b8f/32.png) [@BuckleberryFerry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BuckleberryFerry)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/136 "2003-07-16T17:30:00Z")
**KarlGrenze** , I think that’s partially due to being on the ship for so long…I don’t think he staggered as much when he was on any of the ships–it was only on land, a result of having “sea-legs” but not “land-legs.” It could also have been due to so much sun exposure. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/137 "2003-07-16T17:39:36Z")
I think Sparrow’s walk is a side effect of the movie being PG-13 (i.e. he’s _really_ supposed to be a drunk, but they took out any explicit references to it so as not to upset the kiddies … by which, of course, I mean the MPAA.) ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/138 "2003-07-16T18:33:51Z")
It’s supposed to be 17th century? The clothes are 18th century. I think Elizabeth’s gowns are all mid-18th- they’ve got wide ruffles instead of cuffs. The freaking stupid line that really, really, really bothered me, from an historical point of view, was Elizabeth saying, “You want pain? Try wearing a corset!” 18th century corsets don’t bloody hurt! It’s like wearing a pushup bra! Also, as I mentioned in another thread, Mr. Lissar looks astonishingly like Orlando Bloom, only taller and he can manage better facial hair. I’ll find a pic. ---
**Author:** ![Quantum\_Butterfly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e79b87/32.png) [@Quantum\_Butterfly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quantum_Butterfly)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/139 "2003-07-16T20:01:14Z")
Just saw Pirates last night, and I totally agree with the other Dopers here- it ROCKS! Must see it again. And buy the DVD. **Wumpus** , I agree with you about the ending though. IMO it would’ve been better with all three making a Daring Escape and sailing off into the sunset as pirates… Jack as Cap’n and Will as first mate. > [@](#): > > _Posted by HelloKitty_ > Since Bambi’s mother was killed, I don’t think any major character in a Disney movie has had a mother figure into the story Seen The Lion King lately? Simba’s mom plays a fairly active role up until the point where his dad is killed and Scar frightens him into running away. And one of the arguments Nala uses to get Simba to return is that his mother misses him. [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Peg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Peg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peg)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2003, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308/140 "2003-07-16T20:25:06Z")
Apparently the movie rocks sufficiently for a … [sequel](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=794&ncid=799&e=2&u=/eo/20030716/en_movies_eo/12163)! Not that anyone’s surprised. I hope they get the writers back, because they were good. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pirates-of-the-caribbean-its-rated-arrrr/187308.md?page=8)