How much "Pirates" is too much "Pirates"?
posted by Jas, 05/31/06
Jim Hill Media talks about the Pirates franchise and perhaps Pirates IV

POTC 2 sneak peak at MTV Movie Awards
posted by Jas, 05/30/06
MTV reports that there will be several exclusive sneak peeks at some of this summer blockbusters including POTC: DMC during the pre-show of the 2006 MTV Movie Awards on June 8. As I mentioned the other day the official POTC 2 site is now live and has been updated, here's a message from the promo department (thanks Jen)

The official site for PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST is now live! The site takes you on a journey to seven exotic locations from the film. As you explore each location, interactive figures and objects reveal further secrets about the movie, including key items to be "plundered" and collected in order to face the formidable Davy Jones and unlock the mysterious Dead Man's Chest, which contains unique digital prizes! Interactive features in each location also take you to downloadable items such as desktop wallpapers and buddy icons, as well as e-cards, posters and digital trading cards. You can also view the trailer and check out the gallery of new movie stills, production photos and concept art.

Visit the official site and begin your adventure now! Be sure to come back often as new games and digital prizes are added to the site in the next month.

Volvo Stages Treasure Hunt to Promote Disney 'Pirates' Movie
posted by Jas, 05/28/06
Ad Age reports that Volvo plans to stage a worldwide treasure hunt online as part of its global sponsorship of POTC: DMC. All the details here

Celebrity Pet Calendar
posted by Jas, 05/28/06
Orlando is among other celebrities to appear in Tony La Russa's 2007 Celebrity Pet Calendar, which benefits the Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek.

Two Oakland Raiderettes cheerleaders will be joining a host of celebrities and athletes appearing in Tony La Russa's 2007 Celebrity Pet Calendar, which benefits the Animal Rescue Foundation in Walnut Creek. Raiderettes Jennifer Gatchalian and Mercedes Fortune are posing with a few cats from the animal rescue center, ARF general manager Elena Bicker said.

Other scheduled participants in the full-color calendar, due to be released this September, include actors Charlize Theron, Orlando Bloom and Fran Drescher, and St. Louis Cardinals shortstop David Eckstein, Bicker said. ARF works to rescue dogs and cats that have run out of time at public shelters and provide care for them until new homes are found.

On the set of POTC 2 on Starz
posted by Jas, 05/27/06
Donna reports that Starz will have a behind the scenes look at POTC: DMC on June 23 at 1:30 am ET

Official POTC 2 site update
posted by Jas, 05/27/06
The official site for POTC: DMC has been updated with info about the movie, a plundering game, new wallpapers, buddy icons, sound clips and lots more. Check it out

Bloom's Everest Bid
posted by Jas, 05/27/06
Teen Hollywood reports that Orlando plans to climb Mt. Everest after promoting POTC: DMC this summer

Orlando Bloom is planning to reward himself for undertaking extensive promotional work for the Pirates Of The Caribbean sequel this summer - by hiking up Mount Everest. The travel-hungry Brit has always dreamed of seeing how far up the world's highest mountain he can climb.He says, "I'd love to go to the Everest Base Camp. I'm just looking forward to getting away from it."

Orlando on Life magazine
posted by Jas, 05/26/06
Debbie reports that Oralndo is in the weekly issue of Life that now comes along with most newspapers. He's on the cover and there's 4 more pics inside.One is with Sidi.The reporter comments about how down to earth and nice he is. Update: Ka-Bloom has the scans here

First picture of Captain Sao Feng in POTC 3
posted by Jas, 05/25/06
Charlotte reports that she has the first picture of Chow Yun Fatt as Captain Sao Feng in Pirates 3, lol! I did not expect him to look like that.

Summer's men of action
posted by Jas, 05/25/06
Just got an email from Moviefone, Orlando is on their Summer's Men of Action list, Johnny Depp is on it too, go cast your vote on who you think is the ultimate hero.

Stars As: Will Turner in 'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'
Why He's Badass: Not only can Bloom fell Orcs and best Achilles, this prince of period action-adventures is also mighty good at battling killer ghost pirates -- with a little help from fiancée Elizabeth (Keira Knightley), of course.

Speaking of summer hunks, E! Online also has a video clip of the Boys of Summer which includes Orlando, Johnny, Colin Farrell, Jamie Fox and that Superman guy. Click here to watch the clip (click launch player)

Video Download: POTC 2 TV Spot #1
posted by Jas, 05/23/06
The Movie Box has posted the first TV Spot for POTC: DMC, download clip here or here

New POTC 2 images
posted by Jas, 05/23/06
suzan00 has posted scans from July issue of Roadshow and Screen magazine (Japan) which has lots of new images from POTC: DMC

Video Download: New POTC 2 behind the scenes footage
posted by Jas, 05/23/06
stopjaxh has captured a behind the scenes footage from POTC: DMC which was aired on Sky Movies, download clip here, Jack is sooo funny!

A bigger, better "Kingdom of Heaven"
posted by Jas, 05/23/06
Reviews of Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut DVD from LA Daily News, Zap 2it, Arizona Daily Star and MSNBC. The DVD is in stores today! go grab a copy!

Hollywood composer of note
posted by Jas, 05/22/06
San Francisco Chronicle has and interview with Hanz Zimmer where he talks about writing the score for POTC: DMC

A few hours after finishing "The Da Vinci Code" at 4 in the morning, he began writing the score for "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." Sitting down at the keyboard where he works out "temp" scores, the wispy-haired maestro glances at the video monitor freeze-framed on "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Johnny Depp.

"This morning I'm in the shower and I suddenly realized that what I wrote yesterday for the opening of 'Pirates' is complete garbage," he says. "I have a much better idea, so I dived in here a few hours ago and got rid of all the notes and started redoing everything."

With "Da Vinci Code" behind him, Zimmer turned his attention to "Dead Man's Chest," which brings him to the task at hand. Swiveling to face the video screen perched above his keyboard, Zimmer fast-forwards to a sequence that begins with an octopus-like appendage darting above the surface of the sea. " 'Sea monster rising from the deep' has been done quite successfully by many people," he says, "the most successful being 'Jaws.' " Trying to find a novel tack to the familiar scenario, Zimmer says, "I thought, 'Hang on: Sea monster is tied to Davy Jones, so let's have a look at him." Zimmer checked out pictures of the villain, played by Bill Nighy.

"I took one look at him and thought: biker gang! Once that thought popped into my head, the music started to develop from this slightly different slant. That's the whole point; each time out you've got to reinvent the language a little bit or give it a twist." "Dead Man's Chest" director Gore Verbinski, who previously used Zimmer on "The Ring" and "The Weather Man," says the film is all about "genre perversion." "We need to celebrate the swashbuckling archetypes," he says, "but at the same time we want to warp and mutilate them."

Zimmer was happy to comply, spiking "Pirates" classic orchestrations with greasy synthesizer riffs. "I rely on whatever makes the appropriate noise at the appropriate time. Yes, it's appropriate on a pirate movie to have a horn section swaggering about," he says, "but that doesn't mean that there isn't hidden away down here" -- Zimmer plunks his finger on a key to produce a deep-pitched growl evoking revved up Harleys -- "fuzz bass!"

KOH director's cut DVD giveaway
posted by Jas, 05/22/06
The Man Room is giving away copies of the Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut DVD, details here

KOH director's cut DVD review
posted by Jas, 05/21/06
A review of Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut DVD from DVD Times

Are you Orlando's biggest fan?
posted by Jas, 05/19/06
Teen People is looking for Orlando's biggest fan, if you think you're the one email them at TPWhatsNext@aol.com and you may end up in a future issue of the magazine, details here

Now it all adds up with scenes restored
posted by Jas, 05/19/06
Miami Herald reviews the Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut DVD

KOH director's cut DVD contest
posted by Jas, 05/17/06
Rebecca, over at Ka-Bloom reports that they are in the midst of a random drawing giveaway of the Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut DVD. They gave away 2 sets last Monday, and will be giving away 3 additional sets on Monday, May 22. Anyone can enter for a chance to win by clicking on the giveaway button at Ka-Bloom.org forum. Entries for the next drawing must be submitted before midnight, US Eastern time, on Sunday, May 21.

KOH director's cut DVD release in Italy
posted by Jas, 05/17/06
Ekate reports that according to Medusa distribution the Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut DVD is expected to be released in Italy sometime in October

Preview of POTC 2
posted by Jas, 05/17/06
A preview of POTC: DMC from Creative Loafing

The gist: Johnny Depp's tipsy Jack Sparrow returns, pursued by a monstrous, tentacled Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) who demands his soul.

Carlton: Did you like the first Pirates?

Curt: I thought it was big and stupid, but the acting and dialogue were a lot better than I expected. It didn't seem like a movie that lent itself to a sequel.

Carlton: I don't remember anything about the first movie, but this one looks pretty good. But why are Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom sword-fighting each other? I thought they got past all that. I hate buddy movies where they don't like each other.

Curt: This looks like it has more monsters than I expected, almost like The Lord of the Rings. If it's got giant squids, I'm excited. It might have kind of a Ray Harryhausen quality to it. I want to see any movie where someone says, "Summon the kraken!"

Win tickets to POTC 2 L.A. premiere
posted by Jas, 05/15/06
Attention New Zealand fans, TVNZ is giving away two tickets to the world premiere of POTC: DMC in L.A. There are also consolation prizes of POTC 2 toys and interactive POTC 2 game to be won. More details here

POTC 2 production photo
posted by Jas, 05/15/06
Yahoo UK's has added this production photo to their POTC 2 site. Speaking of stills, I'm aware of all the new stills posted on various fans sites, the reason for not posting is because they are not officially released by Disney yet, once they appear in books, magazines or newspapers I will add them to the stills page.

KOH director's cut DVD review and contest
posted by Jas, 05/15/06
Inside Pulse is giving away copies of the Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut DVD, details here and Home Theater Spot has a review of the DVD. Thanks to Preksuperteacher for the tips.

KOH director's cut DVD review
posted by Jas, 05/14/06
A review of Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut DVD from DVD Talk

'New' POTC 2 poster
posted by Jas, 05/12/06
Amazon.com has a new wall poster of POTC: DMC, actually it's an old pic from POTC 1

Orlando to attend POTC premiere in LA and London
posted by Jas, 05/12/06
Just got confirmation from Lori that Orlando will be attending both POTC: DMC premiere in L.A. and London. Lori said Orlando "hopes the fans come out in force to cheer him on"

POTC 2 soundtrack out July 4
posted by Jas, 05/12/06
According to Film Music World the soundtrack for POTC: DMC will be released on July 4

Walt Disney Records will release Hans Zimmer's original music for Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest on July 4. It will be a score album featuring the orchestral music Hans Zimmer begins to record at the Sony Scoring Stage in Los Angeles this week. The music for the first film, released in 2003, was composed by Klaus Badelt and a group of other composers and produced by Hans Zimmer. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley all return in the sequel, and they also star in the third film, which is also being scored by Hans Zimmer. Dead Man's Chest will open theatrically on July 7.

KOH director's cut DVD review / UK release date
posted by Jas, 05/12/06
Digital Bits has posted a review of Kingdom of Heaven Director's cut DVD. The DVD will be released on May 23. XC reports that according to Amazon UK the release date of the DVD has been been pushed back to September 11 and Preksuperteacher reports that Virgin Megastore has a different DVD cover.

Bono, Waits and Cave on new Pirate-themed album
posted by Jas, 05/10/06
Chart Attack has a report on a new Pirate-themed album which is executive produced by Johnny Depp. Some of the artists to contribute are Bono, Bryan Ferry, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Antony And The Johnsons, Richard and Linda Thompson, Loudon Wainwright III and former Virgin Prunes singers Gavin Friday, Guggi and Dave-id. The album is set to be released around the POTC: DMC July 7 premiere. Full report

A sneak peek of POTC 2
posted by Jas, 05/08/06
Disney Insider takes a sneak peek at what we'll see in POTC: DMC

It's been a long three years, but on July 7 Captain Jack Sparrow and crew will be back, with dastardly new villains, a heart-thumping new quest, and a full shipload of familiar faces. "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" reunites Jack (Johnny Depp), Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) in a quest that will bring them face-to-face with a terrifying new menace in the person of Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) – and reunite Will with his long-lost father, Bootstrap Bill (Stellan Skarsgard). There's some rough sailing ahead in the Caribbean -- and we'd hate to miss a moment of it!

Fans of "Black Pearl" are thrilled – and so is Terry Rossio, who cowrote both films (and the upcoming third, which will complete the trilogy) with his partner Ted Elliott. According to Terry, when they wrote the first film no one was sure that it would spawn sequels … or even that anyone would want to see it! "Given the cursed nature of the pirate genre, we thought there was a good chance we were making the last pirate film that would be made for the next 20 years," he laughs. "My writing partner, Ted Elliott, predicted the final box-office number pretty closely. I think he was the only person in the world who knew." Now Captain Jack Sparrow will become part of a truly classic Disney crew in July, as Disneyland park and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World resort will unveil some fresh additions to the classic Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Captain Jack will now appear in the attraction, along with his ... nemesis, Captain Barbossa, and the ghostly Davy Jones.

It's a fitting step in the ring of inspiration that led from the attraction to the films, which are full of loving tributes to the pirate experience that has delighted generations of Theme Park Guests. The attraction was the source of Terry's favorite moment in "Black Pearl"—"When Barbossa drinks the wine and it splashes down through his chest. That's where the story of the movie dovetails exactly into a key image from the attraction (and a special nod of gratitude to designer Marc Davis for that image)." And in "Dead Man's Chest"? Says Terry, "We used so many key attraction images in the first film, there weren't a lot left! But be on the lookout for the dunked-water-spitting mayor."

Terry promises us that each film in the trilogy will offer its surprises, and its own unique feel. "Pirates 2 is more action-packed and effects-packed and introduces four new main characters to the pirates world. As far as Pirates 3, let's talk this time NEXT year!"

Will there be a "Pirates 4"? Terry laughs, "That's like asking someone who has just collapsed at the finish line to run the marathon again!" Fans will have to wait and wonder to see what the upcoming chapters of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" saga will hold. Terry does say that the third film will wrap up the story of Captain Jack, Will, and Elizabeth in a satisfying way -- but as old sea dogs know, there's always room for more adventure, if that's what the cards should hold. -- Full report

An interview with Jack Davenport
posted by Jas, 05/08/06
Jack Davenport talked a little bit about POTC: DMC in an interview with Times Online.

His last job was filming two Pirates of the Caribbean sequels back-to-back. He plays a naval officer, Norrington, who has his own dialectical contradictions — "a bad goody, or a good baddie, depending on how you look at him". Davenport scratches his revolutionary new beard at the whiff of absurdity that hangs over the blockbuster. "Pirates of the Caribbean is the kind of job that never ends. The first film made so much money that Disney thought it is better to make two now than wait five years to get Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley together again. Making a period film on water never makes sense; you have to send the armada out if someone wants a sandwich."

DMC trailer on Malaysian TV
posted by Jas, 05/08/06
Malaysian fans can catch the new POTC: DMC trailer on TV3 today and on Thursday at 9pm, and on 8TV Quickies on Saturday at 10am. Channel (V) (Astro channel 72) will be showing it on Wednesday during The Ticket. From today, you can also catch the trailer, among others, on Red Box, Cinema Online and www.cinema.com.my.

Lights, camera, action figures
posted by Jas, 05/08/06
A preview of upcoming POTC: DMC toys

The second "Pirates of the Caribbean" film comes with a lot of playtime options, including construction sets, dress-up gear, board games and action figures of the main characters (Will Turner, played by Orlando Bloom; Elizabeth Swann, played by Keira Knightley; Davy Jones, played by Bill Nighy; and Jack Sparrow, played by Johnny Depp).

Keep an eye out for USAopoly's "Dead Man's Chest" dice game, modeled after a game played in the movie, and for Jack Sparrow's gear, a role-playing set that includes a headband with dreadlocks, beads, a compass, belt, sword, pirate jewelry and a temporary tattoo. (Zizzle, prices range from $4.99 for basic action figures to $44.99 for the Black Pearl playset. Dice game and Jack Sparrow's gear are $19.99 each.)

Hand drawn POTC 2 poster
posted by Jas, 05/06/06
Yahoo has added new images from POTC: Dead Man's Chest, nothing that we've never seen before. There are some new ones I think at the official site and speaking of official site, Pamela reports Taiwanese POTC 2 official site is now up and running and she has sent pictures of hand drawn theater poster here and here.

New DMC trailer at official site
posted by Jas, 05/05/06
The official POTC: DMC site now has the new theatrical trailer up for viewing. Click here to watch the trailer in various formats

Dead Man's Chest preview
posted by Jas, 05/04/06
A preview of POTC: Dead Man's Chest

From SJ-R
Plot: But then we may not have seen Depp come back as Captain Jack, whose come-due debt to Davy Jones (Bill Nighy) endangers pals Will (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth (Keira Knightley).
Preview: All Jack, all the time. It's almost as if the filmmakers would like you to forget Bloom and Knightley are even in this movie. It's mainly flashes of impressive swashbuckling and stunts.
Prognosis: Let's put it this way - no other movie this year is going to make more money. The first one did $300 million and this has the potential to best that by $50 million, if not more.
Particulars: Keith Richards, upon whom Depp said he based his performance, won't cameo in this as Captain Jack's papa. There's still no word about the still-in-production third film.

From Ugo
What We Like:
The same creative team behind the first Pirates film all return for this first of two sequels (the second comes out next summer). The trailer makes the movie look very appealing: you've got the return of Captain Jack and his pals plus an all-new bad guy that looks like he's been kissing an octopus at the bottom of the ocean for a century or two. Johnny Depp stole the first Pirates with his witty, Keith Richards-inspired portrayal of Sparrow and in this case more of the same isn't a bad thing.

Why We're Worried:
Remember the anticipation for the Matrix sequel and the letdown after you saw it? The third Matrix suffered drastically lower box office as a result of the inferior second chapter, which was also made at the same time as the third. With Pirates following the same approach, could it be that making back-to-back sequels isn't the best way to cash in on a successful film franchise? Look for a solid opening weekend, but if the reviews come in and they're not as favorable as the ones for the first movie, the ticket sales drop-off will be massive come the following week.

Video Download: DMC behind the scenes - Extra
posted by Jas, 05/04/06
Jan has captured behind the scenes footage from Dead Man's Chest aired on Extra. Download clip here

French DMC trailer
posted by Jas, 05/03/06
If you have problem watching the hi-def Dead Man's Chest trailer at MySpace, you can go to Commeau Cinema site to watch the trailer in windows, qt and real format. Update: Allocine too has the trailers in various formats.

New DMC trailer download links
posted by Jas, 05/03/06
Buena Vista has sent in links to the new Dead Man's Chest trailer in 7 formats. Quicktime clips are available for download, right click link and save target as...

QUICKTIME: super high, high, medium, low
download: super high, high, medium, low

QT HIGH DEFINITION: high, medium, low
download: high, medium, low

WINDOWS MEDIA: high, medium, low

REAL PLAYER: high, medium, low

IPOD: download

PSP: download

FLASH (progressive download): high, low. Flash player required, download one here

Video Download: DMC behind the scenes - ET
posted by Jas, 05/03/06
Serein has captured a clip of Mackenzie Crook launching the M&M's DMC candy in New York yesterday from ET, there's also more behind the scenes clip of Johnny and Orlando. Download clip here or here

DMC trailer for Myspace member
posted by Jas, 05/03/06
If you have a MySpace account you can now add the new Dead Man's Chest trailer in your profile, get the code here

Catch Mackenzie Crook in NY today
posted by Jas, 05/02/06
Another report on the launching of the new M&M's DMC candy, Mackenzie Crook, who plays pirate "Ragetti", in the film, is helping to launch the product today at the South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan.

More Pirates on ET today
posted by Jas, 05/02/06
Watch ET today for highlights from today's event at New York City's South Street Seaport, where Pirate Ragetti (Mackenzie Crook) leads his band of pirates ashore to reveal the newest chocolate treasure from M&M's®: White Chocolate M&M's -- aka White Chocolate Pirate Pearls -- on shelves now for a limited time! Update: Read the press release about the promotion or visit the M&M'S and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" promotion website at http://www.mms.com/pirates for loads of fun.

Video Download: DMC theatrical trailer #2 - Myspace
posted by Jas, 05/01/06
Thanks to Loren, the winner of the Myspace contest, you can now watch the new Dead Man's Chest theatrical trailer here or download here (right click link and save) LOL! Jack is as funny as ever!. You can download a smaller windows version here. Screencaps are both at Ka-Bloom and Orlando Love boards.

Video Download: DMC preview - ET, Daily 10 and Access Hollywood
posted by Jas, 05/01/06
Guitarchick has captured a preview of Dead Man's Chest from Entertainment Tonight and Daily 10 and Serein has captured another preview on Access Hollywood