DVD Recommendation: "The Pirates! Band of Misfits" (2012)

I watch a lot of movies, but only occasionally discover a film that takes me completely by surprise. The Pirates! Band of Misfits is one of those films. Based on the first installment of Gideon Defoe's The Pirates! book series, the film centers around the Pirate Captain (Hugh Grant) who has fallen on hard times because his plundering efforts have been largely unsuccessful. He even considers changing careers, until his "number two," known as the Pirate with a Scarf (Martin Freeman), encourages him to try one last time with a ship called the Beagle. Alas, there is no treasure to be found, but the Pirate Captain and his crew capture Charles Darwin (the film is set in 1837), which proves to be fortuitous for them all.

Darwin has no money to speak of, but he informs the Pirate Captain that his pet parrot, Polly, is actually a Dodo bird, a species that has been long thought extinct. Darwin wants to enter the bird into the Scientist of the Year competition, which is being held in London, and promises that if he wins, it will mean untold treasure for the Pirate Captain. However, England's Queen Victoria (Imelda Staunton) hates pirates and that is made abundantly clear through sight gags, as well as her venomous outbursts. The Pirate Captain and crew decide to go to London anyway and since they are all experts in creating disguises, they will try to pass themselves off as scientists. That is no easy feat, since the crew members are not intellectually gifted. However, they are willing to do anything to help their leader.

While in London, Darwin's true colors are revealed, as he tries to steal Polly, but the seemingly incompetent Pirate Captain is lucky, if nothing else, and he is able to save his beloved bird. After Polly wins the Scientist of the Year award for the Pirate Captain, the untold treasures do not amount to much, but they do include a visit from Queen Victoria, who arrives promptly after the winner is announced and orders the Pirate Captain to be killed after his duplicity is revealed. However, Darwin intervenes and encourages the Queen, who he is secretly in love with, to pardon the Pirate Captain and she does, on the condition that he find Polly, who is actually hidden in the Pirate Captain's beard! The balance of the film finds the suddenly confident Pirate Captain entering into the Pirate of the Year competition, after sneaking out of England and away from the Queen, with Polly in tow. However, their paths cross again when the ruthless Queen makes him an offer he cannot refuse and then in the finale during an exciting seafaring adventure.

The aforementioned Gideon Defoe wrote the screenplay, which is consistently funny, often absurd and features countless sight gags that more observant viewers will appreciate. The deadpan delivery from the talented voice actors is hilarious, as they try to play the material straight, which is no easy feat. I enjoyed the risque nature of some of the situations. For instance, the Pirate Captain appears to really love Polly and the exact nature of their relationship is left up to viewers to decide. I also enjoyed the way Charles Darwin's theory of evolution is skewered, via his relationship with Bobo the monkey, and the unconventional names of the pirates. For example, Pirate with Gout (Brendan Gleeson) and Albino Pirate (Anton Yelchin). Finally, the camaraderie among the crew members is admirable. They all accept one another, without condition, and will seemingly do anything for their beloved, if challenged, Pirate Captain.

The Pirates! Band of Misfits is a rare film in the sense that it should play equally well to both younger and older viewers. Children will enjoy the animation and overall silliness of the story, while adults will recognize more subtle references, including the more risque ones. I had a smile on my face from start to finish while watching this film and I sincerely hope there will be a sequel. An outstanding effort overall. By the way, watch out for maps that depict sea creatures. They may not be just for show!

The Pirates! Band of Misfits is nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 2013 Academy Awards.



Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" (2012)

Peter Jackson returns to Middle Earth for another trilogy based on the novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, starting with An Unexpected Journey, the first installment of The Hobbit. Like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, I have not read the original source material, so I went into the screening with no real expectations and without feeling the urge to compare the book with the movie, which I think is an advantage. While I admit that I have not watched The Lord of the Rings films since their theatrical debuts, I found The Hobbit to be more enjoyable overall.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens with an older Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm) putting pen to paper in an effort to share a great adventure with his nephew, Frodo (Elijah Wood). The film then time travels back six decades, where the younger Bilbo (a perfectly cast Martin Freeman) is visited by Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellen), who tricks Bilbo into hosting a dinner for thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin (Richard Armitage). The ever persistent and, yes, manipulative Gandalf sees something in Bilbo that leads him to believe that he can help the Dwarves succeed in their mission to take back their former home, Lonely Mountain, which was usurped by Smaug the dragon.

Although initially reluctant, Bilbo agrees to aid the Dwarves, but is soon faced with unimaginable threats from a variety of nefarious foes, including Trolls, Orcs, Goblins and Stone Giants. Each encounter seems more harrowing than the last and tests the mettle of the group who bond in unexpected ways. Even though Bilbo was sought out for this mission, he must prove himself to Thorin, who believes that Bilbo is a weak link and will cut and run when the journey becomes too difficult. To his credit, Bilbo hangs tough with the Dwarves and soon discovers that he may possess abilities that were unknown to him until now. Indeed, he may serve a higher purpose in life than he originally imagined.

Bilbo is repeatedly challenged and almost loses his life in the Misty Mountains when the Stone Giants collide. Soon thereafter, the group is captured by Goblins, but Bilbo manages to get away, only to encounter Gollum (Andy Serkis). Bilbo is frightened by the little creature, but uses his intellect in a guessing game that he hopes will save his life. Bilbo also finds a mysterious ring that Gollum loses while moving his prey, which soon becomes essential to his survival. Later, when the Orcs catch up with the Dwarves, Bilbo appears in time to be tested once again, as Thorin and Orc leader Azog, who are old and bitter enemies, have a brutal encounter, which places everyone in danger and leads into the pulse pounding final act. 

The New Zealand scenery once again provides an ethereal and appropriate backdrop for Middle Earth and the breathtaking cinematography provides an essential element to the success of this film. The special effects are also outstanding, as the various creatures come to life in realistic fashion throughout the epic film, which boasts a run time bordering on three hours. Peter Jackson, who serves as director and co-writer, has done a great job in assembling a terrific cast, many of whom reprise their roles from The Lord of the Rings films. In addition to the aforementioned Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis and Ian McKellen, other returning cast members include Cate Blanchett (Galadriel), Hugo Weaving (Elrond) and Christopher Lee (Saruman the White), who all add an essential element of continuity to the film. Among the newcomers, I was most impressed with the performance by Richard Armitage, as Thorin, and I was pleased to see Aidan Turner, who did exceptional work on the British television series Being Human, as Kili, a member of the Dwarves.
Finally, the outstanding score, by Howard Shore, has a Celtic and sometimes otherworldly feel to it and singer Neil Finn's "Song of the Lonely Mountain," is appropriate and heartfelt.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy was an epic achievement in filmmaking and received much critical acclaim and won countless awards. I am now eager to watch those films again. However, I became more attached to the characters in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and I found the editing to be better than I remember from the previous trilogy. Perhaps most important is my great anticipation for the next installment, The Desolation of Smaug, which will be released later this year. Overall, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a thoroughly entertaining and exceptional effort.