flawed and edgy but very entertaining

Rating: Null/10 (25 May 2007)

Picking up right where the last film left off, Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner, and the resurrected Captain Barbossa attempt to enlist the aid of the merciless pirate Sao Feng so they can lead an expedition to the very ends of the Earth and rescue Jack Sparrow. They must also thwart the treacherous Lord Beckett who's using his control over Davy Jones' heart to try and eliminate the remaining Pirate Lords and rule the high seas. Overlong, exposition-heavy script fluctuates between confusion and coherency, but still manages to entertain with spectacular visual effects, rousing action scenes, an exciting, over-the-top climax, and big time laughs thanks to a first-rate cast, especially Depp as the irrepressible, larger-than-life Sparrow. Much rougher and tougher than the previous two installments making it too intense for the youngest audiences, but adults shouldn't have any complaints. Plodding at times, but lots of fun if patient. ***