So Much Untapped Potential

Rating: 7/10 (31 May 2007)

The third part of a trilogy is often the hardest of the three. By the time the third film roles around, there is a great deal to be expected: plot lines must be resolved, visuals must be on par with previous films...indeed, there is far less wiggle room available for a third installment than in any other. And, in addition to all of these pre-requisites, the film itself must stand as a separate work- it cannot be simply "Part 2 (cont.)".
At World's End tries to reconcile these two aspects-tying up plot lines with introducing new stuff so the film doesn't seem old. The problem, though, is not that the plot lines are not interesting or poorly done, but rather not expanded on enough.
For example, Chow Yun-Fat's character, Sao Feng, is, at first, a simplistic, shallow, and over all unpleasant pirate lord, but as the film progresses we see some interesting sides to his character. These, however, are never expanded on. Captain Feng had the possibility of becoming just as recognizable and memorable as Depp's or Bloom's characters, albeit for different reasons. Instead, this plot line is thrown to the side.
The other pirate lords are also interesting, or at least comedic, and yet they too are brushed aside. Norington had a lot of promise, yet he too is not expanded on. His mini-plot is given closure in the most remote sense of the word. We never really get to know Cutler: sure he's nasty, but WHY is he nasty? Even Davy Jones, ripe as he is for character development, doesn't feel properly expanded on.
Indeed, so much new material was presented, and so much time was spent closing the stories of the 4 main characters, that the possibilities of the new material were forsaken, making much of the movie seem like little more than filler.
It is my opinion that a Pirates 4 ought to have been planned, given the new material in this movie. I would gladly wait another year or two for closure if it meant that the new characters and plots were given the time they deserve. A great film tomorrow is better than a good film today.
The ending, however, is perhaps the most appropriate one for the series. It is not a fairy tale ending, as this has not been a fairy tale. Fairy tales have shining, glorious champions of good astride noble steeds, where the lines between good and evil are clearly drawn.
The Pirates of the Caribbean are a band of daredevil thieves and rogues; their foes are clearly evil, but that doesn't make them good. The values of a knight- justice and honor and a pretty girl- are different from those of a pirate- freedom, wealth, and fame- and therefore their ideal endings are going to be different.
While many will say that the ending is a cop out and meant to allow for a fourth film (which is a understandable conclusion to draw), I also believe that is the ideal situation for them- they all love freedom and adventure, and the most thrilling thing in the world to them is the sight of adventure on the horizon- and that is what they get.