It would be fine if he actually gained respect for him, but he didn't. He despised him even more, and he continued searching for him. All he had to do was order his men to shoot him, and then he wouldn't have become an alcoholic. Why he let him escape made no sense.
share
I've never seen the sequels, so I didn't know that Norrington became an alcoholic because he let Jack go in the first movie, if that is indeed the case.
Aside: this is why I hate so many sequels - they change the characters to fit the sequel and usually not for the better, but I digress.
As far as the first movie is concerned anyway, Norrington did indeed have respect for Jack (particularly after he helped rescue Elizabeth), even if he continued to outwardly despise Jack for his way of life of piracy and debauchery. I think he not only respected Jack on some level, he may have even secretly admired him on another.
I don't think it was ridiculous at all. I don't believe Disney intended sequels to be made at the point this movie was going to be made. It was a light hearted family movie and all the characters have arcs, including Norrington. He went from hating Sparrow to having respect for him. No way would a Disney movie like that end with Sparrow being shot dead. I haven't seen the movie in a while but my memory (and I could be wrong) has it that it was assumed Norrington and his men would be going after Jack, eventually. just not at that moment. any incoming sequels would have Jack still on the run, I assume.
Sadly, the producers of the next 2 decided to take a much darker, depressing, and ridiculous turn (I'm not a fan of the sequels at all) so who would have known they would have given Norrington the story they did. But, again, for a one off family movie with a 'happy ending' this was a fine ending.
I haven't seen the movie in a while but my memory (and I could be wrong) has it that it was assumed Norrington and his men would be going after Jack, eventually. just not at that moment. any incoming sequels would have Jack still on the run, I assume.
I was not a fan of the sequels. I think the first movie was just a perfect blend of light hearted pirate fun mixed with just a little darkness. it was a real swashbuckler. The sequels, in my opinion, tied to be too shocking and 'realistic' with some of the plot points. and then go over the top with other points.
Personally, I think I am still traumatized from taking my grandmother to see the second one. She LOVED Orlando Bloom (78 yr old woman, lol) and she really enjoyed Black Pearl. So when the sequel came out, we both went. Then they had this scene where Orlando Bloom gets whipped and it was not comfortable watching it with my grandmother. It was just NOT a fun movie to me.
Anyway...I've only seen the sequels once, when they were in the theaters. basically, my memory is that there was a Lord from the easy India trading company that came in to take control of the town because of the events that happened with Jack. Will/Elizabeth gets arrested for being a pirate. Norrington is fired so he loses all his prestige and livelihood. he gets a redemption ending where he helps out later on. You could probably wiki the plot to each movie for a better idea of what happens.
I think, if you liked the first movie, you might as well watch the next 2 just to complete that particular story of Elizabeth and Will's story line. I would never want to tell someone NOT to watch something because you may enjoy it. And if you do, you can watch the next 2 sequels. I disliked the movies so much i never followed up with the other sequels. I might find some time to watch them all again, maybe my taste has changed after so many years but i am in no rush.
Thank you very much for your well considered comments. I may at some point watch the next two. Like you, I really enjoyed Black Pearl.
Pirates 2 & 3 are, like Back to The Future 2 & 3, one movie split in to two parts. First viewings of them (for me) were ok. Repeated viewings are better. Pirates 4 & 5 are ok, worth a look.
sharei liked 2, it was a fun adventure, 3 was just weird, 4 was not too bad, loved blackbeard, 5 was meh and prob shouldnt have been made...
shareactually I thought Stranger Tides and Salzarr's Revenge/Dead Men Tell No Tales were far better than 2 & 3, although other posters on this board seem to disagree.
For me, 2 & 3 shouldn't have been made and On Stranger Tides should have been the first sequel (but without Barbosa). Will and Elizabeth's story (and that of everyone connected to them, including Norrington) was wrapped up nicely at the end of the Black Pearl, and any follow up was just going to ruin the happy ending (which it did).
Was better to just start with a fresh story with only Jack and the surviving members of his crew involved.
I can only assume the reasoning was that they thought the audience would want to see as many of the cast of the first one again as possible, hence them bringing back the people already mentioned, and even Mackenzie Crook's character too.
Instead it just weighted the story down and many of the previously fresh characters now just seemed tired.
In short, I actually think the sequels got better as they went along, even if none of them captured the magic of the first one
I didn't think too badly of it. I admit I never cared for the sequels that much except the 4th one. I decided to buy the whole series though on bluray as it was going to cost more to just get the 1st and 4th one on bluray than it did to buy the whole series. I admit I could probably watch them a bit but I myself like the other guy in this topic didn't care for 2 or 3 that much. I refused to see the 5th one as it just looked stupid to me and felt almost too similar to the story of Elizabeth in the first one with the woman professor.
shareWell, he did rescue Elizabeth, ended the Curse of the Black Pearl, killed Barbosa and got dozens of Pirates arrested.
It warranted some respect.