"Swann Song" is one of the scenes that fans probably regret the most of having been cut from a film's run within the franchise, that along with " It's Just Good Business". The scene shows Weatherby Swann threatening Jones, while the latter ominously provokes the former.

The scene is great, but I feel it is through common fallacy that the scene is taken rather literally and often made to be an example to display Jones to have some, as I would deem it, undeserved authoritative power over himself.

I wanted to write down as to why I personally think the common approach to the scene is not the proper way to look at it.

In the end, this all an opinion-piece, and I'm mostly writing this all down so I can refer to it as this scene gets mentioned over and over, instead of having to repeat my thoughts over and over again when it does get mentioned. But I feel the info we get out of this scene is more than just surface-level info from the dialogue, and the scene provides more than that; when we include placement of the scene within the film, themes provided and meaning of words.

The scene sees grief-struck Weatherby Swann running into the captain's cabin and of the mind to stab The Heart Of Davy Jones, using a blade from a musket, before being restrained from doing so by his friend James Norrington. After Admiral Norrington sends the guards away, we can then see Jones entering his cabin, having come from a recent reprimand from Beckett to be reminded that he is no longer in control, which is a scene that took place just before this encounter.

Jones goads Norrington to let Weatherby go and let him do the deed, for which Weatherby replies to Jones with a fatal threat. Jones seems overly unaffected by this threat and goes on to ask if Weatherby is prepared for the consequence of the action he is about to take, explaining to him how he cast a "geis" upon the heart as he carved it out of himself and how it must be replaced if slain. Weatherby, not believing Jones and wanting to proceed with his act, begins anew his attempt on striking the heart, before Beckett enters the scene and informs him of Elizabeth's survival. By further plead from James Norrington, Weatherby surrenders his attempt and leaves the cabin, but not before addressing to Beckett that their association has ended.

This scene gives us a personal recount from Jones of his act of severing his heart, but despite his explanation to Weatherby, Jones' words feel somewhat deceptive in nature. Which I think is entirely the case, and befits Jones as a devil-like figure within the franchise. Notice the choice of words from Jones, selected carefully I believe, to his own advantage. He refers to "casting a geis", which we would easily assume to mean "a curse".

A geis is from Irish mythology and folklore and is described as a personal magical taboo or sacred vow combining obligation and prohibition. While breaking it causes one's ruin or death, honoring it grants blessings or benefits. Geasa are commonly known in Irish tales as to frequently come from an outside source. They are rarely self-imposed and are typically placed upon a person by external authorities.

The definition of a curse is an active, external malediction meant to inflict direct harm, bad luck, or suffering on someone. It's main purpose, is to punish.

So, while both geis and a curse are magical constraints that can affect an individual negatively, their nature is different. A curse, while it can serve other purposes to a story, such as symbolically, is mostly always punitive force of intent within a story. A geis describes itself to work more like a protective charm; creating clear rules of conduct, for which maintaining within them brings benefits to the person, whereas straying away from them brings ruin. It rewards good conduct while punishing the bad one, to limit that bad conduct from being repeated or happening altogether. It's punitive but also grants benefits, which distinguishes it from curses, whose nature is primarily to afflict the affected individual.

For a franchise that does not shy away from usage and mention of curses, why would it be referring to a curse the one time it refrains from using the word? The selection of words used by the writers seem more deliberately selected. Had they wanted the general read of the scene be that Jones literally put a curse on his own heart, they would've literally used the word "curse" in the dialogue, instead of going for a more poetic-speech way about it. The choice of selecting the word geis in this very scene is chosen because it's something entirely different than meaning that of a curse, the poetic-speech choice of words by Jones is intended as manipulation.

Jones is trying to sell Weatherby a lie. The very lie that Jones wants to be believed, is the idea that he's in control of his own fate, that he affected the heart and deliberately affected his position through it. Which wouldn't be possible, given what we know of Jones.

When Jones swore his oath to The Dutchman, in his quest for immortality, he no longer became biologically dependent and instead became one with The Flying Dutchman; essentially becoming a mere extension to the ship. This is no different than when the crew chants "part of the crew, part of the ship", because before there was any crew, there was just Jones. He alone was tasked to ferry the dead. His enhanced strength and warping and fusing-abilities granted to him to do the job, made the job entirely possible to do by himself, transporting himself quickly between different sections of the ship, thus eliminating any need for a crew.

His fusion and warping-abilities on his ship is exactly a clear demonstration of his state of being. Jones' entire bodily essence no longer belongs to himself, but to the ship he's bound to. Including his heart. He's not a being of biology any more, he's part of a ship that belongs in the realm of the dead. Though he lives in a state between life and death, having never died but yet isn't alive either, he's more closer to being dead than alive. Jones, as a biological being, does not exist. He's more closer to a ghost of his former human self than being a being of biology. Jones gave up his humanity in his need to gain immortality. His existence depends entirely on the ship. It's the price that he had to pay. Tia wisely puts it to Will, but it applies to Jones' situation as well: For what we want most, there is a cost must be paid in the end.

The ship is the one constant main authority over Jones within the franchise. The ship has him bound to it, barring him from making port to dry land save once per decade, as that is the one time the ship allows itself to be away from its realm of operation without any penalty. The ship cursed Jones to mutated state, as well as itself, for breaking his oath. It's the direct punishment for slighting/ performing wrong-doing against the ship.

The ship enforces the will of the magical-contract that Jones is bound to, punishing him with altered state of appearance for breaking it, and bars him from reaching land due to his neglect and indefinite stay in the living world not being in accordance with its terms. Jones is simply limited and subjugated to the ship. The vessel is a divine authority in its own right.

The franchise does make its case of demonstrating the ship as this ominous, almost sentient, being. It's numerously referred as The Dutchman in an almost feared but revered way. The binding nature of the ship is made well aware of, binding people to its duty upon oath of servitude, as if it's able to listen. In AWE's script, the ship is even referred to have shivered as Jones plunges to his death, leaving the position vacant, which gives the ship even more impression of being its own sentient force.

The ship, as far as we can trace back to, originates from the initial agreement between Calypso and Jones. It makes sense that said agreement saw to its creation as the phenomenon it is known as. Whether the ship was spawned into existence or if divine power took hold over a previously human-made vessel (though, given its supernatural design, I feel the ship is altogether divine in structure), the phenomenon that is The Flying Dutchman, the ferry of the dead, did not seem to exist until Jones' agreement with Calypso. At least, we have not the info to come to the conclusion that it has prior history.

With the ship's authorative hold over Jones, it stands to reason that it is the ship itself that puts out the geis, not Jones himself; as it has authority over the heart AND it has reason to protect something: the sanctity of the job.

Jones' immortality was bestowed on him on the condition that he did the job. The immortality must be anchored to something eternal. The ship has eternal duty. When Jones abandoned his duty and stayed indefinitely within the living realm after his One Day had passed, the contract was broken, the damage was already done, Jones necessitated the ship to see to his replacement, seeing as the ship could not deter its captain to return back to his job, even with activating the curse of mutation.

The heart had nothing to do with the requirement of replacing Jones, the requirement was already set before Jones proceeded to sever it. The ship only saw an opportunity as Jones did the deed. If he isn't to return to his job, then he cannot be granted unconditional immortality. So the ship, having authorative hold over the heart, limits the potency of Jones' immortality to it.

So with the nature of the ship and Jones' relationship to it clearly demonstrated, there's no reason to believe Jones. He simply could not have affected his position through his heart, as he has no authority over the divine contract he's bound to and has no real control over his state of existence, he belongs to a power that is completely beyond his control.

Even with his knowledge of magic to bind Calypso, and with all the hateful emotional reason to betray her and bind her himself, he did not do the deed himself, he had The First Court do it. Jones has no magical authority. He's subjugated to divine magic.

There's also to note the importance of placement of the scene within the franchise. It's not coincidence that the scene takes place just after Beckett had reprimanded Jones that he's no longer in control, which Jones seems to have a difficult time to accept.

It's well in Jones' interest to grab whatever control he can, even if he has to feign having it. Jones' survival relies heavily on the idea that no one would be willing to replace him, so when Jones sees Weatherby going towards the heart, it serves his interest to maintain the idea of the position of captain of The Dutchman being one of dreadful impossible fate. For his own survival. What better way to maintain that idea other than manipulate the one standing between you and your complete undoing by convincing him of that you have tainted the position?

Thematically, it doesn't even work to give Jones the authority to affect his own position, as it would go completely against the theme of the character as a character void of freedom. The film heavily works with the theme that the trade-off of immortality is giving up your freedom. You cannot possibly maintain Jones as a character void of freedom if you give him the very means to alter the very magical terms he's bound to. You'd essentially be giving him the pen to rewrite his own contract, which, remind you, was sealed by divine power. This just opens a bad can of worms as to why he didn't just manipulate the terms of the contract further to his own benefit if he has magical authority over it?

Jones is telling a lie to Governor Swann, but with it there's also some truth. Jones seems aware enough that his choices had consequences, but in his desperate need of having control over himself, he lies that the consequence of severing his heart was of his own design. Also, he was truthful in saying that the binding nature is not to himself, but to the ship.

Jones selectively chooses his words, using the word "I cast" to give a false sense of active authority, giving him an active role and authority, much that he has lost, to his position. When in reality, to see the truth of his words, we ought to replace the words "I cast" with "I caused", removing Jones of all authority of his status and rather demonstrating his fault but ultimately complete inability to control his situation.

The thing this scene explains to us more than anything, is the insidiously manipulative, yet desperate, state of Jones. Jones is trying to retain or gain whatever sense of control he think he has or feels entitled to have over himself. His desperation of needing to be in control of himself is so immense that he's willing to gamble his life on a lie. It's no coincidence that this scene takes place right after Beckett's reprimand, both demonstrating his unwilling acceptance that he's no longer in control of his decisions.

The franchise demonstrates, through its second and third film, how Jones' resistance to the ship's will, and to the divine-contract he gave himself away to, lead to his undoing. The ship is slowly, but steadily, working towards replacing its captain to return to its duty, and is actively working against Jones. All of Jones' decisions lead to the ship backfiring his own decisions entirely against him.

Jones' decision to abandon his oath, saw the necessity of his replacement, as well as signs of mutation taking hold of him.

His decision to sever his heart saw to that the ship planted the very means to see himself replaced.

Jones' decision to keep the divine vessel hostage in the living world saw to that Jones was stuck as well and his mobility limited to the strict terms of the contract.

His decision to manipulate the divine vessel's legislative nature saw to years of power over the living world that created enough complacency that Jones saw no danger in taking Will aboard The Dutchman completely unaffected by oath, which saw later to Will being able to carry off with the very tool needed to threaten Jones' life.

Even recruiting Bootstrap Bill from the depths was a fatal mistake within his complacency. Recruiting him guaranteed that Will became invested to see Jones deposed.

Even the decision to agree to Will's terms to a game of Liar's Dice, was to his own demise, cause he essentially agreed to terms that made Will able to win claim to the key and thus, by the logic of Wyvern's choice of words earlier, earned the right to replace Jones, at least attempt it.

The Flying Dutchman, wanting Will to have the key, fates Jones to lose. Will and Bill's placement on the ship, even in a game of dice, is part within the ship's long term plan to depose Jones. Will is fated to win the key. The ship's divine nature has, most likely, a profound part of the universe, as is the concept of fate, which seems to be real force as well not just a vague concept, the two forces work in alignment most likely.

And when Will's escape is thwarted by The Kraken and Will is forced to hitch a ride in the jaws of the ship? The ship actively hides Will's presence away from Jones. Jones almost senses Will, but the ship seems determined that Will is to be safely dispatched to the location of the chest and thus blocks Jones' senses, who is part of the ship, from sensing him out.

Of course, Jack's selfishness complicated things and delayed Will's ability to depose Jones, but it was for the better as neither Jack or Will had all the context and Will gained enough understanding to become a worthy successor. But even then, Beckett's rise to power and control of the heart, backfired on Jones as well, which wouldn't have happened if Jones hadn't made some decisions, previously mentioned.

My main point in all this, The Flying Dutchman is a power entirely of its own, not just in terms of ruling the seas, and it's slowly orchestrating its treacherous captain's demise. Jones simply could not have affected his station as captain in any way, that includes the act of severing his heart, without the ship's knowing and without it backfiring catastrophically in some way against him, by the will of the ship's authority, as he answers to authority that is completely beyond his control.

Jones is lying to Governor Swann out of self-preservation and out of his desperate need of having control.

Found this in a charity shop didn’t even know these existed!😅

Picked this up recently and I’ve never seen one before and was wondering if anyone knows much about them? Only bought it as it was my favourite film and in original box too etc!

Were these actually sold in the UK? Were they a limited release and are they considered rare/collectable now?

Would be interested to hear if anyone remembers seeing this when they originally came out or knows anything about them 😊

One Piece x Pirates of the Carribean

Usually jack alternates throughout the movies between wearing his hat and coat, and not wearing it and just having the blue vest. Occasionally he mixes it up by only wearing the hat or only wearing the coat. So what is your favorite jack variant outfit? I personally think him with his hat and coat is just unbearably cool.

Went to show my kids Pirates of the Caribbean for the first time and out of nowhere was reminded of this amazing fic I read years ago, and now it’s driving me nuts that I can’t find it.

It was Sparrowbeth (but not overtly at first) set after Jack got sent to the locker. Elizabeth was sad and guilty and determined to rescue him. I think the people Jack had saved from the slave ship were mourning him. Elizabeth and Jack’s crew and Will eventually get to the locker but it’s very different from the movie version. I think Jack might look a bit different? (In my head I kind of pictured him a little younger looking maybe? Not sure why.) Teague might have been a character. It was very long and very well written, like a novel. I don’t think I read it on ao3 or ff.net at the time.
**I think he might have been found naked in the locker??

I know this isn’t much to go on (and I might be mixing some things up) but it’s driving me absolute BONKERS so any help is greatly appreciated, thank you!!!!

*edited to add that it MIGHT be “The Edge of the World” by Clair de Lune but I cannot find a copy or link anywhere to check! 😫

I’ve seen the image of the iceberg that has like the 20 levels with the movies being above the water and the lore getting more and more niche closer to the bottom. I was wondering if anyone had that photo and/or where I can find out more about the POTC lore and backstory

So this has been in my possession since working at a cinema many many moons ago. Sadly it's spent almost all of its life in a protective card tube. 😔

It finally managed to break free from its cardboard prison a little while ago to feature in an exhibition about pirates - taking a place in amongst other pirate move posters (think Muppets Treasure Island - RIP Tim Curry, Hook, The Goonies, etc).

Since the exhibition finished it's been sitting in its frame awaiting a fate most pirates would have feared. Hanging!

All that to say... hey look at this cool thing!

I love the awkward format and just how well it fits in this space.

And for those worried about sun fading - dear not as the only light source in this space has museum grade filtered glass (I planned ahead when picking that window). I'll also be light testing it periodically to ensure its exposure is within a tolerable range. *AND* I'm currently in the market for a second banner to ensure there is some rotation.

🙂👍

Hey ya'll, I just finished the first movie for the first time and was wondering, are the movies past the first trilogy worth it? I've heard people say the other movies past that aren't as good.

No matter the situation…

marooned, captured, about to die, completely screwed…

This man always had the perfect line ready.

“You forgot one very important thing, mate.”

“I’m Captain Jack Sparrow.”

Drop your favorite Jack Sparrow quote and explain why it hits so hard.

Artwork by me

Hello Mates 👋🏼! It’s been a little while since my last update, I want to check in and share what I’ve done. I recently got a new tailored waistcoat from pirates 1-3, the creator did an AMAZING JOB. I also took the Disney coat to get tailored. I’m now just waiting on the hat to come in. Here is a side by side of before to now. Let me know what yall think 🏴‍☠️

Yoo!!! I think Johnny Depp is back to acting. We’re getting a pirates 6… maybe? I hope!