ericadawn16: (Optimism)
[personal profile] ericadawn16
Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio didn't just read On Stranger Tides before writing that film, I think they read it decades ago...

SPOILERS, I MEAN IT, BIG FAT LAST PAGE ONES

Jack and Elizabeth get married...seriously...

The main character in the book is known as Jack. He's also a Jack of All Trades. He was also raised to be a puppeteer. I was intrigued about him until he shot the Royal Navy Captain dead at point-blank range. I get it. I was raised on the Disney/Gasparilla version of pirates where they only shoot bad guys and even then, the person usually gets right up again. I've come to realize I don't really like the actual historical/present day facts of pirates and what they're really like.

Yes, Angelica in the book is named Elizabeth. Elizabeth was an incredibly common name back then. Heck, I even have an extremely distant great-aunt from that time period named Elizabeth Swann but it was still weird to read.

"Angelica" is the daughter of a college professor who went crazy when his wife died so he sent her to a convent, definitely not Blackbeard. However, like the film, her dad doesn't seem actually care for her except as a commodity to use at the Fountain of Youth...he wants to put his dead wife's spirit into their daughter's body...which he wasn't so crazy would definitely bring up the issue of incest...

"Angelica" is developed even less than the one in the film since she really hasn't been allowed to develop. Her commune banned books and seemingly personal development of any kind and she was taken out of it by her father once he came up with his plan. Then, she spends most of the book in the custody of one male after another where she's finally allowed to read but not always able to do what she wants, even less than would be typical for that period and such a very stark contrast to our Disney heroines.

The novel also has men wanting to rape her at several different moments in it. Even Blackbeard feels she needs to be his wife. At first, I was happy that this wasn't transferred to the film, but then, Angelica seemed to feel that Jack had stole her innocence from her. Also, there were the mermaids. Yes, they ate all the men we saw on-screen, but considering their reputation and voracious appetite...what if they also rape the men if they had the opportunity? They looked like they were turning the ship over, but unless it's entirely submerged, they would still be out of the water and be human in appearance...how are baby mermaids made when they all appear to be women? Or is it like lions where the lionesses do the hunting?

Blackbeard has learned magic because apparently, it is common. However, it does take years of study and hard work to maintain, but at least it's a better answer than, "Blackbeard does magic, deal with it" like the movie did.

Also, to me, it begs even more for a Pirates of the Caribbean/The Sorcerer's Apprentice crossover especially with that bit in the children's book...

Anyway, the Fountain of Youth, no weirdness with Spanish, no Royal Navy or one-legged man. It's unfortunate that the idea of the Bermuda Triangle wouldn't be around for over two hundred more years since that's basically where they're going. Blackbeard refers to it as Erebus, but all agree that they're not really in Florida anymore. Yep, I agree, Florida can be weird. I used to think Polk County had a Hellmouth that spanned the entire county. Then, I found out that depending on who you talk to, the Bermuda Triangle extends into central Florida.

Yes, the book does have zombies. I think, unless you have written off the POTC fandom entirely, you need to read this book.

I also read the latest Larten Crepsley book. I LOVE that series.
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ericadawn16

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