MovieChat Forums > Pirates (1986) Discussion > Polanskian through and through

Polanskian through and through

posted 13 years ago by Bloodfordracula
1 reply | jump to latest

This movie is extremely brilliant, one of the best, most watchable, most enjoyable pirate films ever. 'Pirates' is extremely Polanskian in every detail, every movement of the camera, every movement of the actors; it all glides seamlessly with a comic/dreamy/nightmarish flare that only Polanski is capable of weaving onto celluloid.

Polanski is a master of creating a tipsy, balancing act that's always on the verge of collapse yet manages to stay upright despite the chaos of the universe; I believe that 'Pirates' best exemplifies this quality more than any other Polanski film.

I might also add that 'Pirates' was a Polanski's dream project** and a worthy companion piece to his 'Dance of the Vampires' masterpiece from 1967.

Critics be damned. Pure cinematic bliss.

(**Polanski's first visit to Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean ride inspired him to make this film.)

[–] Eumenides_0 13 years ago

A 7/10 from me. It has excellent performances, it's bizarre, grimly comical, and it has excellent production values. I'm not sure what Polanski was trying to do with the pirate genre, I think he was simultaneously taking the piss and updating it, making the pirates mora ruthless. Whatever his intentions, I enjoyed watching it.

This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel.