How to make a successful trilogy.

Rating: 5/10 (18 June 2007)

Here's how contemporary trilogies work: the first movie introduces characters and circumstances that capture the imagination. The second movie goes by the rule "the same, only more of it". The third movie has the same rule as the second movie, but this time it twists the situations around a bit more and organizes the characters differently. Often the third film is known as "darker than the other two" (have you ever noticed how often that happens?). Thus, we have Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, the almost three-hour action adventure story featuring Jack Sparrow.
I like it! But then again, who doesn't? It's exactly what it promises to be, and that's what makes it good. The rule of thumb for this situation is, if you liked the other two, then you'll like this one. If you didn't like the other two, then why are you even taking the time to read a review of this one? C'mon man, it's more of the same! Just go out to see it like you're supposed to.
Anyway, the plot is a little lengthy and convoluted to detail in this space at this moment (plus I'm still a little exhausted from it, so it's kind of hard to write all that much about it), but the whole company is back and battling the forces of evil, which I think is the trading company and their new merger, The Flying Dutchman, but since the ongoing joke is that pirates are only self-interested, really it's more like a continuous saga of bickering with each other. Captain Barbossa is back, but unfortunately Geoffrey Rush and Johnny Depp aren't given as much time to be foils to each other, which is literally the relationship that set off the series and really made the first movie so much fun to watch. However, at least there's enough Jack to go around and have seconds, and best of all, there's the scene where Jack goes slowly insane... which is one of the most fun and funniest moments in contemporary mainstream cinema! I loved it! If there's anything I would really say is "poor" about this movie, it would be the unfortunate tendency of the music to play over the dialog. Actually, on that note, I'd really appreciate it if somebody could e-mail me and tell me what, precisely, giant Calypso was saying, as I kind of want to know and was very disappointed when I couldn't hear past that "Womm woomm grarrr raaahhh!" tempestual voice she had.
--PolarisDiB