Extremely entertaining, if a little bemusing!

Rating: 8/10 (30 May 2007)

The third film was always going to be the most explosive, and my god, it does deliver. At the very beginning, you are thrown into a very complex, but nevertheless entertaining plot, and the movie grabs you by the scruff of the neck and takes you through just under 3 hours worth of adrenaline filled fun.
Laughs are plenty, and although the film is much much darker than the previous two, it never loses its comedic value. In the major battle scene near the end, a war was being fought, but the jokes and little sketches provided plenty of laughs. The Characters? Depp is amazing as usual, and you're almost wanting him in every scene! Keira and Bloom are much improved, and Barbarossa is a very welcome return. Adding to that, the cameos from Keith Richards and an increasingly influential role for Barbarossa's Monkey! However, the film's plot is rather confusing - after 1 or so hours, you might find yourself thinking "what?!" as yet another twist is revealed, but although very complex, you'll never lose complete control of what is happening.
Overall, this film is not quite as good as th first, but it shat's all over Pirates of the Caribbean 2 in my opinion. The action is superb, The characters are much improved, added to the genius that is Jack Sparrow. It's genuinely entertaining and funny, and although the plot is in places too complex, it draws you in for the long running time.
8 - 8.5/10