Intoxicating high while you're at it, but forgettable the next moment

Rating: Null/10 (30 May 2007)

As expected, this third installment of "Pirate" is the sort of movie that is vastly entertaining while you are watching it, but immediately forgettable once the end credit starts to roll. In a sense, this one is modeled out of the same mould as its two predecessors  too long but with a redeeming last 45 minutes. I particularly enjoy the excitement of the finale. Had I been equipped with the experience of a frantic high attained from drug usage, I would probably be able to better describe the feeling from watching it. Anyhow, this is about two ships locked in a titanic combat, whirling round and round the vortex of a hedious sink hole in the roaring ocean. Right in the middle of it, among numerous other things, you have a wedding going on.
The plots have been enriched. In addition to the continuing quests (Will Turner trying to save his father, Davy Jones trying to save his heart and everybody trying to save Jack Sparrow) we now have the conference of the 9 pirate chiefs to decide whether they should release terrifying sea goddess Calypso from the bond they put her in ten years ago. There is of course treachery piled upon treachery, with double-, triple- and multiple- crossing anywhere you turn. But none of these matter. You're just in for one hell of a big roller-coaster ride.
Hong Kong audience will be happy to see that despite the banal stereotyped Fu Manchu packaging, Chow Yun-fat has a rather sympathetic role, even when that is pirate chief Captain Sao Feng. He certainly has his fair share of mischief but as mentioned above, everybody is betraying everybody else. He comes out almost a hero, of sorts.
In addition to the video and audio pleasures, the fantastic cast is another attraction. While Chow is the new addition, the whole gang from the previous installments is here. Of the top three billings, it comes as a mild surprise that Johnny Depp hasn't got more screen time - a wise strategy though, as this is really an ensemble movie. Orlando Bloom and Heira Knightley do their usual hero and heroine thing, as Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann. Geoffrey Rush who appeared for only two minutes in Pirate 2 as the resurrected Barbossa gets some compensation this time, in a much heavier role that places him and Depp into a sort of odd-couple duo. With most of his face covered in tentacles, Bill Nighy is amazingly effective acting mainly with his mouth to communicate some rather complex emotions of Davy Jones.
The rest of the delightful and impressive cast include:
Ultimate bad guy Lord Cutler Beckett is Tom Hollander who was such a funny Mr Collins in "Pride and Prejudice" (2005)
Witch Tia Dalma is Naomie Harris who was so impressive as Selena in "28 days later" (2002) and also appeared recently in "Miami vice"(2006)
Appearing briefly as the dead Governor Swann (Elizabeth's father) in limbo is veteran Jonathan Pryce, whom some might be best remember as Juan Peron in "Evita" (1996)or Gabe in De-lovely (2004), or any of his other fine works.
Will's father "Bootstrap" Bill Turner is Stellan Skarsgard, Cerdic in "King Arthur" (2004) or Father Merrin in "Prelude to the Exorcist" (2005), whichever you prefer.
And there are lots more.