It's too long, too complicated ... too bad.

Rating: 5/10 (17 January 2008)

The third film in this mega-franchise has been called many things (my favourite being "At Wit's End"). As the third film finishes (assuming, and it is a big assumption, that this is the end in a trilogy) the trio of films feels very much like "The Matrix Trilogy": it started with promise but cashed-in in a disappointing manner that ruins the fine start.
Now, this is not as bad as has been made out. The plot (or rather plots) is a complete mess, but there is still fun to be had. Johnny Depp is still thoroughly entertaining, as is Geoffrey Rush. Gore Verbinski also directs the film, at times, with a great deal of ambition and a bit of visual style. It is a truly cinematic film with many sequences that push boundaries and that are clearly made for the big screen. If you can follow the basic plot there is enough to get you by.
However, the film is far too long and, though many actors try hard, you are bored and ultimately don't care what the outcome of the climax is. Also, individual characters get lost in the mêlée of this film (there isn't even enough of Johnny Depp) and so many people cross each other that you haven't really got a clue what anybody is doing. Orlando Bloom is complete tripe and I remain bemused at how he is a major film star, whilst Keira Knightley, that's Oscar nominated Keira Knightley, isn't much better, even though she's shown that she can be good. Furthermore, it's a geeky complaint but, Hans Zimmer's music is crap. It's so crap, you notice it, which is a real measure of how bad it is.
Anyway, the film as a whole is pretty rubbish, but there are worse films out there and it isn't all dreadful. It is also questionable as to whether this film can really be seen as family entertainment. There is a lot of death; it's too complicated and too dark, though teenagers will love it. There are things to enjoy but I would, on the whole, advise against.