The night was deep, but California's Disneyland was brightly lit. After the premiere, Disney arranged for the main cast and crew to step out of the Hollywood Theater and conduct open interviews with the media. Naturally, as the two biggest stars of the crew, Matthew and Johnny Depp were the focal points for the journalists.
As soon as Matthew stepped out of the theater, he was surrounded by more than thirty reporters. Fortunately, Disney had coordinated beforehand and had staff maintaining order, so the scene didn't descend into chaos, allowing the interview to proceed smoothly.
A female reporter from The Hollywood Reporter was the first to ask, "Matthew, many people have been discussing the staggering $300 million cost of this film. What are your thoughts on that?"
Wasn't this question supposed to be for Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer? Why ask an actor like him? Although thinking this, Matthew's mind quickly raced. In such a situation, he had to provide a suitable answer.
"When you board a yacht to go to sea, you don't consider how much the yacht costs. You only care about its performance, appearance, and decor," Matthew said with a smile, spreading his hands. "If you constantly worry about the cost of the airplane engine, you probably wouldn't go on vacation."
Laughter erupted around him.
The Disney spokesperson also laughed. This response was unexpected but extremely reasonable.
"Mr. Horner!" a male reporter with a badge from World News Weekly shouted, "Don't you think 'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End' is too superficial? Such a grand world is presented in such a shallow way. Isn't that lacking in ambition?"
Matthew felt a bit helpless. Why was this question not directed at Disney or Jerry Bruckheimer? Why trouble him?
He coughed lightly and replied unhurriedly, "That's an interesting question." He looked at the reporter. "You spend $10 to enter the cinema to find joy in the movie. Only happiness is true wealth. As long as the story brings joy, people are willing to spend money on it."
A reporter from Entertainment Weekly asked loudly, "Last year, many viewers complained that 'Dead Man's Chest' was too long. Now 'At World's End' is even longer. Does Disney care about the length of the film?"
Matthew wanted to say, "You should ask Disney," but instead, he maintained professionalism and answered, "During the test screenings, many fans who watched 'At World's End' felt the film was not draggy."
This was, of course, a lie. Even he found the film lengthy, let alone the average viewer. But he would only say good things about the film. "'At World's End' is very engaging, with many attractive elements. The over-two-hour length is justified, providing a more detailed story. As the plot unfolds, your attention is drawn into the film, making you care about the characters' fates. Even if you start watching halfway, you will still find something new."
Matthew continued, "Everyone in the crew agrees, from the director to the writers and actors, that we shouldn't include outdated elements in an epic film. Whether the production cost is $30 million or $300 million, the crew must push forward. The question is, how far can we go? How do we avoid clichés? We are making a pirate film, so we must abandon some conventional elements and always use fresh aspects to pay homage to the genre."
Finally, a reporter from Premiere asked a relevant question, "Disney has decided to make more 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films. It was confirmed that Jack Sparrow and Johnny Depp will return for 'Pirates of the Caribbean 4'. What about you and Will Turner?"
Disney hadn't required this to be confidential, so Matthew replied, "In 'At World's End', Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann have their conclusion. Will takes over Davy Jones' job and is very busy, leaving no time for adventures with Captain Jack Sparrow."
"So you won't be in 'Pirates of the Caribbean 4'?" another reporter immediately asked.
"Yes, I don't plan to do another pirate film," Matthew said slowly. "I want to challenge myself in different areas."
The reporter asked again, "Is it a forever decision?"
Matthew laughed, "You know, never say never."
The interview lasted over ten minutes. By midnight, Disneyland in California finally quieted down. "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" had officially set sail.
This year's summer box office season kicked off the first weekend of May with a bang. The market was extremely hot and fiercely competitive, marking what seemed like a great year for commercial films in North America. "Spider-Man 3," released at the beginning of May, grossed $150 million on its opening weekend. "Shrek the Third," released mid-May, was equally impressive, setting a record for an animated feature with over $120 million in its opening weekend.
Both "Spider-Man 3" and "Shrek the Third" had something in common: high box office returns but very poor critical reception.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" couldn't escape this fate either. After raking in over $17 million in early screenings, media and critics began to criticize the film the next day.
While Walt Disney is strong and getting stronger, it couldn't control all media.
Before the film's release, many critics at the screenings praised it as the best "Pirates of the Caribbean" film, with various exaggerated soft articles appearing.
Some critics praised all three films, "The first was lively and entertaining; the second added more characters and fights, establishing a grand worldview; the third, though chaotic, had more spectacle and gimmicks."
To set up "Pirates of the Caribbean 4," praise for Johnny Depp's portrayal of Jack Sparrow was abundant, commending his performance as sublime and expressing no objection to more sequels.
But as the film premiered in North America and more people saw it, Disney couldn't maintain its grip on the film's reputation.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" was quickly criticized.
"Don't expect a clear, innovative, and tightly-paced story. The film is underwhelming in satisfaction and narrative."
—The New York Post
"It doesn't matter if you've seen the first two 'Curse of the Black Pearl' and 'Dead Man's Chest,' you'll still be confused."
—The Hollywood Reporter
"Following the story's complex outline isn't hard, but the two hours and forty-seven minutes runtime is exhausting."
—Los Angeles Times
"The nearly three-hour film continues 'Dead Man's Chest' excesses, losing the romantic charm of the first 'Pirates of the Caribbean.'"
—The Washington Post
This outcome wasn't surprising. Matthew had anticipated it after seeing "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest." Looking at Hollywood franchises, few sequels consistently improve.
In essence, "At World's End" followed the path of "Curse of the Black Pearl," but with more characters, a larger world, and bigger special effects scenes.
With a successful formula, why would profit-driven Hollywood studios risk innovation? Innovation could ruin an established brand.
Hollywood loves sequels due to their brand appeal.
For studios, the ultimate goal is profit. Establishing a brand's reputation is difficult. With a successful first film, sequels using the same formula are a safe bet. Brand appeal and a top-notch production team draw more attention.
Today's Hollywood films not only churn out sequels but also remake old films, showing a decline in originality. Major studios are increasingly cautious about investing in original films.
Since the 1970s with "Jaws," Hollywood has fully embraced commercial cinema. Sequels, providing higher market returns, justify investments in new standalone films. This mindset has solidified Hollywood's lasting success.
Of course, sequels require Hollywood's mature industry chain.
Sequels are clearly defined products, relying on a complete industry chain, including copyright ownership, actor contracts, creator agreements, and quality control.
Globally, only Hollywood can continuously produce big-budget sequels.
Though Matthew would exit the series, as Disney didn't want to pay his high salary for Will Turner, he saw clearly that as long as "At World's End" was a box office success, "Pirates of the Caribbean 4" wouldn't be halted. More sequels, even prequels with a young cast, were inevitable.
All depended on the box office performance of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."
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