Continues it's unfortunate descent into confusion rather than entertainment

Rating: 6/10 (4 June 2007)

I will start this review right off the bat by saying it needs a second look by me. When I see it again under proper context I may completely re-edit this review. What do I mean by that?? Pirates of The Caribbean 3: At World's End needs to be watched back to back with it's predecessor Dead Man's Chest. At World's End is so closely entwined with the previous installment that if you haven't seen #2 so that it's completely fresh in your mind you will be confused and completely overwhelmed. This is exactly why the professional critics are calling the film so confusing because Dead Man's Chest was kind of forgettable and because of that At World's End is more of the same. Somewhere along the way during Dead Man's Chest this brilliant Pirate premise and epic lost it's magical touch. Curse of The Black Pearl was downright brilliant but by the third installment you're a little bored with most of the characters and they seem equally as bored. The 300 Million dollar budget is unnecessary when you consider the best part of the trilogy (the original) was made with a 'paltry' 140 million and was brilliant and stunning. That being said the special effects still are very strong in At World's End. The sword play and fight sequences are still amazingly fun but there is far less of it in this installment.
I'll start with Johnny Depp who completely changed cinema history by bringing Captain Jack Sparrow to life in 2003. I still find that since Dead Man's Chest and now with At World's End Depp's Sparrow is very toned down and changed. He's more powerful and less subtle and likable. His clever one liners and over the top personality just isn't what it was with the original. All that being said Depp's Jack Sparrow is still memorable and he does still have some great lines and the 'trippy' effect of multiple Jack's is hilarious. He still is great in the role and certainly no one else could play the part. Geoffrey Rush returns as more of an ally as the scurvy Captain Barbossa and really does steal the show. Rush is basically everything Depp's Sparrow used to be. He's funny and evil and yet likable and such a strong anti-hero and he is brilliant. Orlando Bloom returns as William Turner but I'm not sure why because his character is now seemingly useless. He does the usual sword play but he's hardly the hero and barely makes a blip on the radar and is kind of boring now. Keira Knightley also returns as a very different Elizabeth Swann. Her character certainly made the most changes from the original film and not all of them good. She was much better as the damsel in distress who longed for adventure than as a Pirate King who barely resembles a lady any more. She was the balance in a film chock full of testosterone and she certainly left that behind in At World's End. Bill Nighy also returns as the diabolical Davey Jones and his performance is as good as Rush's Barbossa. Davey Jones is a terrific villain and the special effects on him are stunning. Most of the supporting cast are all return character from the original films which is good to see them come back but they really don't add any new character to the series with the exception of Naomie Harris as Tia Dalme and the Ocean Goddess Calypso in a rather unnecessary turn to the story.
As a trilogy Pirates of the Caribbean certainly holds it's own but it needs to be seen one after another in a day long Pirate extravaganza. The characters and stories are timeless and instant classics but certainly the series has gradually declined in quality since to the original brilliant beginning. Nonetheless the series is moving on taking 2+ Billion dollars since starting so don't be surprised to see another one coming. I would be fine with this if they take a close look at carefully recreating the characters and coming up with a new less complex storyline. At World's End is a little more violent, a little more dark and still leaves itself wide open for another sequel. If you did love Dead Man's Chest then At World's End will be right up your alley. I was disappointed that they made the catchy and action packed music a little more subtle in this installment and in the entire film Jack Sparrow only says "Savvy" ONCE!! It's worth seeing but don't expect to be blown away. 6.5/10