And most wickedly I did as I sailed

[sovay]

Just got back from seeing Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest with my family. I realize that I am building up a positive backlog of posts that must be made about this, that, or the other, but I must here take a moment to say:

DAVY JONES' SAILORS.

DUDE.

Whatever the flaws of the overall film, that entire thread just made me smile. Stellan Skarsgård's Bootstrap Bill plays right into one of my favorite character obsessions, and if someone was going to fuse the legends of Davy Jones and the Flying Dutchman (not to mention Koschei the Deathless), this was actually quite a good way. It's the combination of metamorphosis—so long under sea that the sea has changed them into itself, like something out of Patricia McKillip or Caitlín R. Kiernan—and moral compromise, tarnish and sea-change. As matociquala might say: kicked me right in the squid.

Er. So to speak.

Comments

[yukihada.livejournal.com]

I was struck as well. I kept repeating the words a great sea change to myself.
I was definately reminiscing about Something Rich and Strange while watching the film...I kept wanting to turn to someone and point this out but no one with me had read the book. Most of my friends were more interested in pointing out possible ships (yes the puns) in a pirate film. So I am glad you brought it up.

[sovay]

I was definately reminiscing about Something Rich and Strange while watching the film...

She is very good with the sea—you've also read The Changeling Sea (1988), yes? But Something Rich and Strange has the sunken ship where figures whose hands are kelp leaves and whose faces are moon shells drift in the bubbles and drowned light behind the bar, and that clicked.

[yukihada.livejournal.com]

Oh yes The Changeling Sea was the first book I read by Ms. McKillip. I have a sudden desire to reread both books now. I wish they weren't packed away for the moment.

Yes, she is a siren for the sea. I want to drown in the sea she creates, no matter how dangerous and sinister its beauty. I find myself like Peri longing for the Sea Prince, although as an adult I can love the magician more than I did as a young girl first reading the tale.

[sovay]

although as an adult I can love the magician more than I did as a young girl first reading the tale.

I love Lyo. His first entrance is marvelous.