The Waterbury Republican-American reports that the Waterbury, Conn., Board of Education has announced plans to crack down on student absences. Only proof of a “serious chronic illness” would suffice to excuse a child from school under its new plan. “We now are looking for school to be the priority,” said Kennedy High School assistant principal Michael Yamin, who served on a committee to draft the new regulations. “I think we need a policy with some teeth in it,” said Walsh School Principal Erik Brown.
Try this on for size: even a letter from a doctor would not be enough to excuse an absence, the new policy says, and appeals by parents for any absence ruled “unexcused” would be limited to one each for elementary, middle and high school. A fine of $25 per absence would be enforced by sending police officers along on home visits by attendance monitors.
Categories:
Movies & Television,
Pirates
Posted on Saturday, 8 July 2006 15:32 by pfitz
Yes, I got to see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest today. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and would put it about on the same level as the first one. Here’s the review that I’ve posted on IMDb:
The first thing that has to be said is that the acting was terrific! Totally believable, drawing you right in and making you feel like a part of the story. And the movie was loaded with action–probably more than in the first movie.
Since this was a sequel, several factors came into play. We already knew the characters, so there wasn’t much need for introduction. Only for catching up on what has happened since the first movie. Also, the Disney ride wasn’t a part of the story any more, which led to a plot that wasn’t quite as “piratey.” At least as stereotypically piratey as the first movie.
I’ve heard some comments about the movie not being as interesting as the first one and that maybe the effects were overused, but I didn’t feel that way when I was watching the movie. The effects are used on two separate incidents (without giving away the plot), but it’s more like we get used to them after seeing them the first time. The dread is still there, though.
And I felt that the plot was more interesting and complicated in Dead Man’s Chest. You’re introduced to some new characters and get to know the original ones better. Motivations become more complicated and complex, so you don’t really know where the story will take you.
I found myself laughing out loud more frequently in this movie than in the first one. The humor was intentional and built in to keep the movie fun as well as action packed.
All in all, I’d say there are just as many moments of exclamation or “wow” or laughter as in the first movie. It’s just a different tone from the first, which keeps Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest enjoyable and fun, yet distinct from The Curse of the Black Pearl. And it definitely makes me look forward to At World’s End!
So there you go. And without ANY spoilers. Even if you haven’t seen any of the trailers, this won’t spoil anything for you.
I have to admit that Captain Jack Sparrow is still an enigma. Even after these TWO movies, you don’t really know what truly motivates him. Is he a trustworthy friend? Or is it really all about him? Even at the end of the movie, you don’t really know.
There were also plenty of lines that are quite quotable and will be sure to be often quoted. All in all, I think, after watching Dead Man’s Chest a couple more times, I’ll end up liking the SECOND movie even better than the first. The first movie was classic, true. But the second is richer and has more action and probably more laughs.
One more comment (sorry): I went to the 11:00am showing this morning and the theatre was maybe half full. Probably because it was the first showing of ANY movie at that theatre today (they’d just opened their doors a little while before). However, a TON of people stayed in the theatre for the entire movie credits. It’s interesting to read, the music is great, and, YES, there IS a little surprise bit at the end. I won’t say what it is, but you’ll leave the theatre laughing.
For a bonus, here’s a bit of trivia I learned off of IMDb:
For the film’s release, the Walt Disney Company had the Pirates of the Caribbean rides in Walt Disney World and Disneyland redesigned to feature captain Jack Sparrow, Barbossa, and Davy Jones as part of the attraction. They began to be featured on the film’s opening day (yesterday).
Na
